The 10 Best Waterproof Spotlights
This wiki has been updated 20 times since it was first published in January of 2019. Waterproof handheld spotlights are a smart item to have on every boat and in every car trunk. You never know when you'll get lost at night or caught in an unexpected downpour and need illumination to find your way. Whether you are trying to locate someone or something that has fallen overboard or fixing your engine on a dark roadside, these flashlights can help save the day. When users buy our independently chosen editorial selections, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. Streamlight 44910 Waypoint
2. Stanley Fatmax FL5W10
3. Rayovac Sportsman OT6AASP
Editor's Notes
October 15, 2020:
As noted in our editor's note from the last time we visited this list, many spotlights marketed as waterproof, aren't actually waterproof at all. It is not uncommon to find models with an IP4 rating listed as waterproof. For those unfamiliar with the classifications of Ingress Protection ratings, the IP4 designation simply means that a product can withstand splashes, so if you were to drop such a flashlight into the water, there is a good chance it may stop functioning. In our minds, in order to deserve a spot on a list of waterproof spotlights, the items in question must actually be able to withstand total immersion for a period of time, and all of the spotlights we have included on this list meet that qualification.
While the majority of the models we have selected can withstand depths between three and six feet, the PowerSmith 700 takes things a step further and is rated for depths down to 10 feet, making it the most suitable option for use when snorkeling or trying to retrieve an item that has fallen overboard and sunk in shallow water. That being said, you should note that none of these are intended to be dive lights or kept submerged for extended periods of time over 30 minutes.
When it comes to ruggedness, few can compare to the Rayovac Sportsman OT6AASP, which is drop tested from 15 feet. Just looking at this spotlight, you can tell it is built like a tank. In fact, the company boasts that it is virtually indestructible, and we have no reason to doubt that claim. From a throw distance and brightness stand point, the Streamlight 44910 Waypoint and Goodsman C102 top the list, with the former offering a more than 2,000-foot beam, and the latter bearing a 6,000-lumen rating.
During this update, one of the changes we made was to replace the Durapower AM17 with its newer iteration, which bears the same model number. However, while the number may not have changed, they did make one important modification that we feel greatly adds to its ergonomics, and that is to move the power button from the bottom of the trigger, which was an odd place, to the back of the unit.
January 23, 2019:
We noticed something very funny when searching for the best waterproof spotlights — many of the models marketed as such, actually aren't. Instead a lot of companies try and pass off water-resistant models to unsuspecting buyers. We spent a lot of time thoroughly researching ever item on this list to ensure you never wind up making that mistake. All of these are submersible to a minimum of three feet deep.
Special Honors
West Marine 3000 Spotlight As any boater can tell you, West Marine makes reliable products, and this 3,000-lumen waterproof spotlight from them is no different. It offers a near three-hour battery life on its highest setting, incorporates three powerful LEDs, and has a textured grip to provide a secure hold. Plus, it can be used while charging, which is a feature a lot of competing spotlights don't offer. westmarine.com
4. Goodsman C102
5. Goodsmann 3000
6. Zohi ZML102
7. Durapower AM17
8. Black & Decker 500
9. PowerSmith 700
10. Cyclops CYC-300WP
A wandering writer who spends as much time on the road as in front of a laptop screen, Brett can either be found hacking away furiously at the keyboard or, perhaps, enjoying a whiskey and coke on some exotic beach, sometimes both simultaneously, usually with a four-legged companion by his side. He has been a professional chef, a dog trainer, and a travel correspondent for a well-known Southeast Asian guidebook. He also holds a business degree and has spent more time than he cares to admit in boring office jobs. He has an odd obsession for playing with the latest gadgets and working on motorcycles and old Jeeps. His expertise, honed over years of experience, is in the areas of computers, electronics, travel gear, pet products, and kitchen, office and automotive equipment.