Wurkkos FC11C - Best Value Budget Flashlight

The Wurkkos FC11C is a standout in the world of budget EDC (everyday carry) flashlights, delivering an impressive balance of performance, features, and build quality — all for a remarkably low price. At its heart is a Nichia 519A LED, known for its high color rendering, which gives a warm, natural-looking beam that feels very pleasant for general use. One of the biggest selling points of the FC11C is its buck driver, which provides regulated output. This means the light maintains steady brightness over much of the runtime instead of dimming quickly as the battery drains — a feature that really outperforms many other cheap flashlights. In real-world testing, the output doesn’t fully reach the claimed 1,200 lumens: 1lumen measured around 1,022 lm at turn-on and about 975 lm after 30 seconds. Still, that’s very usable, and the light sustains solid performance in medium and high modes for a long time. According to tests, turbo mode steps down after a short burst (to protect from overheating), which is expected for such a compact, powerful light. Charging is very convenient: there’s a USB‑C port on the head (protected by a press-in cover) so you can recharge the included 18650 battery in about 2–3 hours. The side switch also includes a battery-level indicator: green when the battery is above ~30%, red when below, and flashing red when it's time to recharge.

The body is solidly built from hard-anodized aluminum, and it features a magnetic tailcap, which is great for attaching to metal surfaces when you need a hands-free light. There are multiple mode groups to choose from: stepped modes (eco, low, med, high, turbo, strobe) or a ramping mode for continuous brightness control. On the downside, some users report issues: a few Redditors mention flickering when changing modes or problems holding a consistent mode after switching. Others warn about potential quality control or shipping mix-ups — make sure you’re actually getting the “C” version when ordering. There are also occasional reports of faulty units, though these seem relatively rare. Overall, the Wurkkos FC11C offers amazing value. You get a rechargeable, regulated, high-CRI flashlight with a strong build and flexible modes — for a fraction of the cost of more premium lights. If you're looking for a reliable, no-nonsense budget EDC torch, this is one of the best bets out there.