How Many Lumens Do You Need?

When you're shopping for a torch, one of the first things you'll notice is the lumen rating. It's easy to assume that more lumens automatically means a better torch, but that's not always the case.

What Are Lumens?

Lumens are simply a measure of how much light a torch produces. The higher the lumen rating, the brighter the light. That said, brightness is only one part of the equation. A well-designed torch with a focused beam can often feel more effective than a brighter torch that spreads its light too widely.

It's also worth remembering that higher brightness usually comes at the cost of battery life. For many everyday tasks, you won't need to run your torch at its maximum output all the time.

Choosing the Right Torch

Think about where you'll be using your torch before focusing on the lumen number.

If you're camping, walking around a campsite or finding gear inside a tent, a lower brightness setting is often all you need. Most quality torches include multiple brightness modes, allowing you to conserve battery life when full power isn't necessary.

For hiking after dark, exploring trails or working outdoors, a brighter torch provides better visibility and makes it easier to spot obstacles further ahead. If you're searching large properties, hunting or preparing for emergencies, a high-output torch with a long beam distance becomes much more valuable than lumen output alone.

Beam Distance Matters Too

While lumens tell you how bright a torch is, beam distance tells you how far that light will reach. If you regularly need to see well into the distance, it's worth looking at both specifications rather than choosing purely on brightness.

For example, the Powertac Huntsman XLT produces up to 1,200 lumens and features an impressive 1,000-metre beam distance, making it a strong option for hunting, property inspections and outdoor adventures where long-range visibility is important.

If you want more versatility, the Powertac FlexBeam GEN2 delivers up to 2,000 lumens while allowing you to smoothly adjust the beam from a wide floodlight to a concentrated spotlight. That flexibility makes it useful around camp as well as for lighting up distant objects.

Finding the Right Balance

The best torch isn't necessarily the brightest one. A good torch combines practical brightness, useful runtime, reliable construction and a beam pattern suited to the job at hand. Choosing a torch that matches how you'll actually use it will usually give better results than simply chasing the highest lumen number.

Explore our full range of Work & Outdoor Torches for camping, hiking, work and emergency use. You can also browse our Camping & Hiking Gear collection to complete your outdoor setup.