key chain light advice ARC AAA / AA vs CMG Task Light

F

fausto nasafiaschi

Joined
Aug 6, 2000
Messages
506
Hi Everybody,
I'm a flash light challenged person who has never gone beyond maglites in his life. I would like to buy a good key-chain light and I would like to have some advise as to what is the best value for the money among the above lights. My key ring is already quite crowded with two alarm remote controls (big old fashion ones) and a sebertool and (for the moment a led lenser light.

Fausto
 
ARC AAA, no doubt! Personally I would consider those with HA III coating only.
 
Arc AAA, it's considerably smaller than the other two, and runs on a AAA cell instead of a AA. If you want a great keychain light, the AAA is the way to go. Check out the Arc LS too for an EDC light. I've got several "seconds" (with slight cosmetic flaws) and regular models, and they are very nice. Arc is selling the CR123A batteries for the LS at $1 a piece, so the light is affordable to run now. Then go to Surefire and check out the E2E-HA...and then... ;)
 
On a crowded Keychain, I would recommend a Photon Microlight (I prefer the Photon II).

The lights you mentioned are obviously 'better', but the Photon is MUCH smaller than any of them, which sounds like a big consideration for you with all you already have on your keychain.

I hope you don't mind the unsolicited recommendation.

-John
 
I too would go with a photon II for my keychain ... especially if my keychain light is more of a backup than something I use often.

For my most often-used small light, it's an Arc AAA. If I found myself using my keychain light all the time, I'd switch the photon out and go with the Arc AAA. As it is, I rarely use my keychain light, so it makes sense to put the super lightweight photon II on my keychain and forget about it. My Arc AAA I use all the time, so it gets clipped on whatever is most convenient at the time.
 
Well... I guess I'm forced to buy the ARC AAA. I'm sure it will be added bulk but I'm driven by a supernatural force toward machined aluminium rather than plastic.
Thanks guys
Fausto
 
Get the Arc AA and wear it around your neck;) . It has a ten hour runtime, whereas the AAA has 5. The AAA is still a good choice and you won't be disappointed.
 
If you're putting it on a keychain, the Arc AAA wins out completely. However, if you're going to carry it in a pocket seperate from keys, I would take the CMG Infinity Ultra, both for the longer runtime and for the wider flood of light.
 
For the keychain, the AAA premium cannot be topped period. I would choose the AA over the Infinity every single day of the week, a virtual work of art IMO. Sorry spheric, can you tell I am an Arc fan? Doug:)
 
Yeah, the Arc AA's a new one for me, I haven't had a chance to get one yet. But you also have to consider that you can get two Ultra-Gs including shipping for the price of one Arc AA.
 
Oh, didn't the Arc AA get some new circuitry? I'm guessing it's brighter than a CMG Ultra, then? Or is it just more efficient?
 
I have two ARC AAAs,one CMG ultra g,and one that is very surprising. that is the dorcy 1AAA LED, the dorcy has a brighter and larger beam than any of my other little ones and it is dirt cheap at less than $6@. Its cheap enough your not out very much if you don't like it but I think you will. I bought 6 of them in various colors for gifts. The quality isn't as high as some others but for 6 bucks. BTW There are already mods being done on them. :D :D
 
It's unbeatable as a keychain light. I have the AA, too, which is also a great light, but a tad bulky for keychain carry.
 
I prefer a Photon II Microlight or Inova Microlight for keychain carry. I carry my Arc AA or Arc AAA in my front, pants pocket. I find the Arc AA/AAA too big for my keychain.
 
I've ordered a ARC AAA from Tadgear and made myself a new key ring, which is very much a copy of some EKusa key rings (biner with two webbing straps + key rings)that I've seen on a previous thread. It is handy cause it keeps the bulky stuff (alarm remotes)hanging directly under the belt loop and let the keys and cool stuff sit in the back pocket on two different split rings. I've used a s/s mini clip, some black webbing, a s/s oval ring (ex rhino band) and a couple of split rings.
One day I will grow out of this..........
Fausto
 
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