Best Flare Lights Reviewed & Rated for Quality

In a Hurry? Editors choice:
LED Safety Kit
Test Winner: LED Safety Kit
Amazon Link
You can never be too careful. This is especially true when you are out driving, or boating. Visibility is very important for any time that your car, or other vehicle breaks down. A set of road flares can do a great deal in making sure that other drivers on the road can see that you are on the side of the road. This makes you feel more comfortable in moving around your car and getting the work you need to do done. The kit you keep in the back of your car could greatly benefit from having some of these road flares in it. This is a list of ten of the best road flares that you can find on the market. Look around and find the one that best fits your situation.

Standout Picks

LED Safety Kit
These road flares use reliable LED light to make it so you never have to worry about your safety when you are in a situation where you need to pull over.
Amazon Link
$29.48
SlimK LED
These SlimK flares are in a totally different style, but are effective in their own way. This is a set of batons that stick right up for added visibility.
Amazon Link
Promondi 4 Pack
This set of disc LED lights comes with one extra flare when compared to the HOKENA, and also comes with a few extra goodies.
Amazon Link
ABN Safety
ABN's roadside flares are the disc-shaped ones that have been seen on other parts of this list. This is the simple man's choice for roadside flares.
Amazon Link
Weems & Plath
This is the first entry on the list that is specifically designed for use with boats. This powerful light will make sure that you won't be stranded for long.
Amazon Link
Stonepoint
This is a powerful set of LED road flares that is designed to give you heaps of visibility in a very small case.
Amazon Link
$24.99
Reese Towpower
The Towpower is a very versatile and useful little road flare that can be used in a number of ways that make it useful for more than just as a distress light.
Amazon Link
$39.99
MIUHIU
This is a very simple and effective choice if you are looking for a flare light to keep yourself safer when you have to pull over to the side of the road.
Amazon Link
$12.99
BolerGifts Rechargeable
The BolerGifts entry on this list is great for those who want a flare light that they can take anywhere with them.
Amazon Link
UST See-Me Waterproof
This is a multi-purpose light that you can leave in the back of your car and bring out in case of any emergency, or any interesting activity.
Amazon Link
$15.10

Criteria Used for Evaluation

Visibility

There is a wide variety of ranges that you can expect from your flare light. Obviously, the more power that you can get out of it, the better. A flare light is most important for giving visibility to the user when they are in a situation where it is less likely that they will be seen. The most important times that you need a flare light are for situations that occur at nighttime, or in bad weather like rain or snow. If you are pulled over on the side of a busy highway, a set of flare lights are the difference between other drivers knowing that you are there or not. The ranges that you can find on this list are quite varied, but they should all be good enough that you won't have to worry about someone who is not able to see you while you are walking around your vehicle. There are some lights on this list that can be up to a mile away. This is more than enough, and might be especially useful if you want someone to find you, not just know you are there.

Versatility

Another important thing to look for in a flare light is the ability for you to be able to change the way that you are using it. This is because there is a big difference between changing your own tire when you are on the road, and if someone in your car is having a medical emergency. Having flare lights that can switch between steady light, and flashing light will help other drivers make decisions on how they should treat you when you are on the side of the road. There are many kinds of flashing and colors that you can find among the lights on this list. It is important to look for lights that have all the options you might be able to think of. There are many light on this list that have nine different kinds of lights that you can choose from. This is more than enough, but it is still important to have at least two or more types of light. Being able to choose between steady and flashing light is important, as is being able to change the color of your light from white to something more urgent looking.

Durability

Durability is another important factor that you should take into consideration when buying your flare lights. For the most part, when you need your flare lights will be in situations that they are in the most amount of danger of being broken. There are things to consider like that they might be hit by a car, or get rained on for long periods of time. This means that the construction of these lights needs to be strong enough to survive harsh conditions. All the flare lights on this list will do a good job of keeping themselves together up until you think you are safe. Many of the flatter flare light son this list are great for being able to withstand getting run over by a car, quite easily. This allows you to put the flare light far enough away from the car to give you a good lane for movement around your vehicle. Also, make sure to look for products that promise that they have a watertight seal. Even if you are not using the lights for your boat, it might turn out that you have to use the lights for extended periods in the rain or snow. This is when most roadside emergencies occur, so make sure that you have enough the strongest and most durable equipment for such a situation.

Fit

An often overlooked aspect of a good flare light, is its ability to stay wherever it is that you put it. On top of that, the more places that you can put it, the better. There are flare lights with many kinds of features that make them useful for being able to plop them anywhere that you want. Some things to look for that will make it easier for you to set up your flare lights are things like a magnetic bottom, a loop for hanging, and a stand. The magnetic bottoms that you can find on some of these flare lights are very important for being able to just put your flare light somewhere and then forget about it. This is possible because the light will stick and stay, without being carried away by the wind. You can also put it on the curved surfaces of your car, very comfortably. The loops are good to look for because you can easily hang them so you have some extra light for if you need light under the hood of your car, or maybe on the inside of the car if the battery is completely dead. Finally, some of the lights have stands, which makes them much more visible because of the added height that they will give you.

Portability

This is an underrated aspect of a useful flare light. There are a few things to consider in this department when choosing the roadside light for you. Firstly, the ability to move the flare lights. Some of the lights on this list are more cumbersome than others. The small discs are all designed to be under six inches around, and it is very easy to keep them all in your hands while you are placing them around your car. This is important because sometimes you won't have as much time to set yourself up as other times. Another thing to think about it the package that the flares come in. Some flare lights do not come with any bags at all, which means that you will either have to leave them loose in your vehicle, or find a bag for them. The durability of the bag is important, as well. If you open up your bag of flare lights, and they are broken from crashing around in the back of your car, it would put you at a great disadvantage.

Top 10 Picks

1. LED Safety Kit

Where to buy
Amazon Link
$29.48
LED Safety Kit
Amazon Link

These road flares use reliable LED light to make it so you never have to worry about your safety when you are in a situation where you need to pull over.

Full Safety Kit
This safety kit comes with three LED lights for when you have to pull over to the side of the road, but it also comes with everything else that you might need. It comes with tools that make it very easy to replace the batteries in the lights if they die. It also comes with a window breaking tool that you can use to get out of your car if you need to. That tool can also quickly cut a seat belt if it becomes stuck.

Other Features
This kit is great because it comes with some other features, as well. This kit comes with and easy to zip up bag so you have a convenient place to put all your things in a very visible place. They are incredibly durable, and are also waterproof. You don't even have to worry about if they get hit by a car. The lights themselves are very high quality too, and come with nine different kinds of setting that you can enable.

Cost and Value
All the pieces that come with this kit are made to be reliable, and of the highest quality. The lights come installed with AAA batteries so you don't have to do any extra shopping. The kit comes with everything you need to ensure your safety in a bad roadside situation, and it does all that at a very reasonable price that won't break the bank.

Amazon Link
$29.48

2. SlimK LED

Where to buy
Amazon Link
SlimK LED
Amazon Link

These SlimK flares are in a totally different style, but are effective in their own way. This is a set of batons that stick right up for added visibility.

Safety LED Batons
These are different than the lights in the HOKENA. These are like little batons that you can stand up beside your car, or boat so that people can see you. The added verticality is great for extra visibility. They are also LED batons that will shine more than brightly enough for it to be seen in any kind of conditions, and from at least a thousand feet away.

Other Features
The SlimK have some other features that make it a good choice for anyone looking to bolster their roadside safety kit. The batons come in a very durable box that seals tightly enough to keep water out. These batons also come with three different lighting styles. Those are a solid beam, a strobe light, and they can even be used as a flashlight.

Cost and Value
This kit is much simpler than the HOKENA kit, but it is also much cheaper. There is something that feels very reliable about having something that equates to having your own set of pylons. These batons are a great choice for someone who already has their whole kit ready in their car, and just need some individual roadside lights to top it all off.

Amazon Link

3. Promondi 4 Pack

Where to buy
Amazon Link
Promondi 4 Pack
Amazon Link

This set of disc LED lights comes with one extra flare when compared to the HOKENA, and also comes with a few extra goodies.

Four Pack
This set of LED lights comes with enough road flares that you can completely surround your vehicle, which is great for being able to ensure the best visibility possible. This kit also comes with tons of other useful pieces, such as a window breaker, some batteries, a bag to put the kit in, and even a pair of gloves so you can do your work in the cold.

Other Features
The LED discs here are made of very high quality material. They are also magnetic, so you can stick them onto any metal surface that you need to when you need to get a good view at anything, These lights can be seen up to a mile away on a clear night, and come with nine different modes of light so you can better choose what is most befitting your current predicament.

Cost and Value
This kit of safety gear costs about the same as the HOKENA, and you get some extra gloves and an extra LED light out of the deal. The Promondi set is a great choice for anyone who likes to feel more safe than sorry, and comes with enough gear that you should never feel like you have been left in the lurch.

Amazon Link

4. ABN Safety

Where to buy
Amazon Link
ABN Safety
Amazon Link

ABN's roadside flares are the disc-shaped ones that have been seen on other parts of this list. This is the simple man's choice for roadside flares.

Reliable 3-Pack of Flares
This pack of three flares use LED lights to make themselves as visible as possible. They each have sixteen different LED lights on each of the disc-shaped flares. Those flares have nine different modes of light that they can emit, which is useful for choosing the severity of your situation. Those modes include things like blinking, pulsing, a spotlight, and a low powered mode.

Other Features
These LED lights are designed so that they are as simple as possible. They don't come with a bag, or any other tools. This is a good choice if you already have your kit in your car or boat, and just need some road flares to throw inside of it. These discs are guaranteed to work for up to one hundred and fifty hours on a single set of two AAA batteries.

Cost and Value
The ABN LED lights are the perfect choice for anyone who wants to keep it simple. The lights themselves come with many important features that will make sure that you can stay safe on the road or the seas, but they forego the extra equipment, which makes these a perfect choice for an already established road kit. They cost a bit less than the other disc LED road flares on this list, as well.

Amazon Link

5. Weems & Plath

Where to buy
Amazon Link
Weems & Plath
Amazon Link

This is the first entry on the list that is specifically designed for use with boats. This powerful light will make sure that you won't be stranded for long.

SOS Distress Light
This light is designed for boats, so it needs to be extra powerful. It is often the case that there is not many other people at sea, which means the light needs to be much more powerful to compensate. This distress light uses an LED light that can be visible for up to ten miles all around, which means that if there is someone out there, they will be able to see you.

Other Features
This light has some extra features that make it a good choice for anyone who needs to deck their boat out for safety. It is designed so that it can last for sixty hours when it is put on the distress beacon setting. This light is also designed to fit the United States regulations for safety equipment, so it makes for a good choice for anyone who needs a light for their commercial boat.

Cost and Value
This light costs quite a bit more than the LED roadside lights that have featured previously on this list. Buying this one for your boat is worth it, just because it is so much more important to be prepared if you get stranded out in your boat. This beacon runs on three C batteries, and will give you as much visibility as is possible from a small light like this.

Amazon Link

6. Stonepoint

Where to buy
Amazon Link
$24.99
Stonepoint
Amazon Link

This is a powerful set of LED road flares that is designed to give you heaps of visibility in a very small case.

Powerful Roadside Kit
This package of flare lights from Stonepoint are designed to make sure that you can be seen from literal miles around. These lights can be seen from two miles away on a clear night. The lights are also designed so that they can be seen from all angles, and don't just emit light to go straight up into the air. If you want to be seen, this set is a choice you can make with confidence.

Other Features
The Stonepoint set of lights are great for a bunch of other reasons, as well. The lights are designed so that they can each last for around twenty hours without having to worry about faltering. They also have a flashing mode that will allow the lights to last for sixty hours in stead. The lights come with a convenient bag that will make it easy for you to keep them all in one place.

Cost and Value
The Stonepoint set has another good selling point for it, and that is that they cost much less than the other sets of LED disc flare lights. This is a great choice if you are on a budget, but don't want to sacrifice anything in the way of performance. The one thing is that you are going to have to put three AAA batteries in each of them to get them to work, and they do not come with the package.

Amazon Link
$24.99

7. Reese Towpower

Where to buy
Amazon Link
$39.99
Reese Towpower
Amazon Link

The Towpower is a very versatile and useful little road flare that can be used in a number of ways that make it useful for more than just as a distress light.

Versatile Safety and Lighting
This lighting system is a great choice if you want a light that you can use in many kinds of scenarios. The Towpower comes with eight different light modes, including as both a roadside warning light, and as a work light, for if you need to get under the hood of your car while on the road at night. It has two different powers of light, as well, which is useful when you don't need something too powerful.

Other Features
The Towpower has many other features that make it a useful choice for anyone who needs a multi-purpose road light. The light that comes out of the Towpower can be seen from all angles, which makes it more useful as a road flare. It is also useful for if you need your light to be able to be mounted, as it has many options for setting the light up, including a useful magnetic base.

Cost and Value
The Towpower comes in a set of one, which puts it at a disadvantage when compared to many of the other road flares on this list, but it is also incredibly useful in many other ways. This light has been designed with a lot of thought, and is incredibly useful to keep in your car in many ways. The light is very powerful so you don't have to worry about visibility, and you can use it for work, or just finding something in your car.

Amazon Link
$39.99

8. MIUHIU

Where to buy
Amazon Link
$12.99
MIUHIU
Amazon Link

This is a very simple and effective choice if you are looking for a flare light to keep yourself safer when you have to pull over to the side of the road.

Simple and Effective
The MIUHIU light is designed to keep it simple, but to do the job right. This light is a smaller, four-inch wide, flare light that is very easy to use. It has two modes. One is a steady light that will do a good job of lighting up and making it easy to be seen from a far distance. The other mode is a flashing light, which will really draw people's attention.

Other Features
The MIUHIU does not have much in the way of other features. Its simplicity is its greatest strength. The base of this flare light is magnetic, which makes it easy to stick to the back of your car, so that you know it won't get lost. This light can also be bought in multiple colors, which lets you choose the one that suits you best.

Cost and Value
This light is a great choice for anyone who wants to be safe, but really doesn't think that they will ever really need a flare light. It does a great job at being visible for thousands of feet all around you. The best thing is that it is the cheapest light on this list by a wide margin. It does not come with the four AAA batteries that you will need to get it going.

Amazon Link
$12.99

9. BolerGifts Rechargeable

Where to buy
Amazon Link
BolerGifts Rechargeable
Amazon Link

The BolerGifts entry on this list is great for those who want a flare light that they can take anywhere with them.

Multiple Uses
The BolerGifts emergency flashlight can be used in many situations, and is a perfect fit in each one. It does a good job as a roadside light that will be sure to keep you safe when you have to pull over on the side of the road. It is also a great choice for any kind of outdoor activity, because it works as both a lamp and a flashlight.

Other Features
This light is a great choice because of all the extra features that come along with it. This light comes with two modes of light. A flashing red light, which s good for emergencies and safety, and a steady white light that is perfect for use as a flashlight. It also comes with a rechargeable battery. This light is good for ten hours of straight usage.

Cost and Value
This light is great for people who want to get as much use out of their choice as possible. This is perfect for leaving in the car, and then taking it out for whatever adventure you happen to fall into that day. It is great as both a camping lamp, and as a warning light. It is also very cheap, and the rechargeable battery will save you money in the long run.

Amazon Link

10. UST See-Me Waterproof

Where to buy
Amazon Link
$15.10
UST See-Me Waterproof
Amazon Link

This is a multi-purpose light that you can leave in the back of your car and bring out in case of any emergency, or any interesting activity.

Multi-Purpose LED Light
This is a very powerful light that you can use for many situations. It has a powerful light bulb that will make it easy for you to be seen from anywhere that you need to be seen. The light also shines in all directions, which is great for a full field off visibility. It is shaped like a flashlight, which means that it is easy to carry around with you for things like travel, as well.

Other Features
This light is also designed so that you don't have to worry about it ever breaking. The bulb head is extra strong and will survive being dropped or hit. It is also sealed tight so that you don't have to worry about it falling in the water, either. It comes with a lanyard attachment that makes it easy to hang on anything, including a car hood, or your wrist.

Cost and Value
This light is great for those who want a flare light that can be used in more than just an emergency situation. It can be bought at a very cheap price, and then left in your car until you need it. The light is very bright and visible, and it is also very durable. This is a great choice for anyone who goes out on the road at night quite often.

Amazon Link
$15.10

Sources

  1. Phillip Reed, How To Create Your Own Roadside Emergency Kit, Article
  2. Find A Driving School, How To Set Up Road Flares, Article
  3. Chris Woodford, Diodes and LEDs, Article