Unless you fly a lot at night, the handful of lights you have stashed in the flight bag, glove box and map pockets are used infrequently. That makes selecting a model with decent quality important. In our experience, some models that sit for long periods while subjected to heat, cold and humidity don’t work that one time they’re needed.
That’s not to say inexpensive models sourced from a local hardware store won’t do the job, and we realize you have a favorite flashlight we didn’t include here. We scanned the market and consulted with high-volume mail order retailers, including Sporty’s, to get a feel for the best sellers with the fewest returns. We also talked with mechanics (not a gentle crowd) to see which lights survive life outside the cockpit.