Rechargeable or disposable batteries in a portable light?

Rechargeable for regular use. Disposable, stored separately, for emergencies.

Built-in rechargeable lights cost less to run, are brighter for their size and always ready if you charge them. They are the obvious choice for anything you use weekly.

For a light that sits in a drawer or a glovebox against an emergency, the calculation changes. A sealed lithium cell self-discharges slowly but does degrade, and a built-in battery cannot be swapped when it eventually will not hold charge. A light that takes standard AA or AAA cells can be revived in seconds anywhere in the world.

Whichever you choose, do not store alkaline cells inside a light you rarely use. They leak, and the residue destroys the contacts. Keep them in the packet alongside it.

A hand-crank or solar light guarantees nothing about brightness but guarantees something, which is the point of an emergency light. Treat it as a backup to a proper flashlight rather than a replacement for one.

Part of the Stalwart guides. See all guides.