Keychain Flashlight for EDC

I am a big fan of the Skillhunt E2A and Thrunite Ti2 for AAA light options. They are simply higher quality at a similar price point to Fenix and Lumintop options.

The Thrunite Ti2 is especially good with its excellent knurling for gloved hands or someone with hand/dexterity issues.
 
The manufacturers are all upping their game. At the end of the day though, there are only a few LED chip makers, and if you think that knives can have an obscure OEM market and overhyped branding.... Because the market moves so fast, I tend to only really do any looking about a week before I know I'm buying a light, and get an idea on the current reputations and marketplace, candlepowerforum is a good source for that. The last two times I did looking to buy lights, one major name was going away (but they seem to be back) and a name that was an ali-express special has gotten some actual reputation. It changes very fast in the world of lights, but that also means that if you have a specific need, it can almost certainly be found.
 
I picked up a Rovyvon recently as well. I haven't had it long enough to make a real judgment on it, and there's no way it could ever supplant my tried and true Surefire Aviator for regular carry, but it is a cool little light. My main complaint is that the red LED on the body is too bright to be used as a natural night vision preserving light (IMO), which defeats the purpose. I do dig the UV LED light though for charging the lume on my watches and such.

I use mine as a sort of pocket clip for my Alox Minichamp. Alot of utility in a small lightweight package right there.

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I can also recommend ThruNite. I put the Ti3 on my keys over a year ago as a test and have never taken it off. Solid build, 3 totally useful modes (4 counting strobe), use it all the time. Very nice to have this much power and versatility in your pocket at all times. Took advantage of the "just shipping" deal to grab a couple extras since I'll definitely want to replace this light if I ever need to.
 
What I'm looking for is:

small AA or AAA light around $20 or less
at least 100 lumens max and at least one mode at around +/-15 lumens
reliable and durable
neutral or CRI LED - I don't need great color rendition, just no "tinty" bluish/greenish/'flat' cool white

I've been reading this thread for awhile, and I've looked at almost all the suggestions, but after awhile they all seem to run together and the hardest one to figure out is "no funky bluish/greenish/flat cool white tint" because several of the ones I look up don't mention anything about tint/color rendition.

Thanks in advance for any assistance. I can figure out the other stuff, mainly my issue is tint/color rendition in small, inexpensive lights.

I have some 18650/2xCR2 lights with multiomodes and good color rendition that are my "goto" lights, but I am looking for an inexpensive AA or AAA beater for knockaround use.
 
rje58 said:
small AA or AAA light around $20 or less
at least 100 lumens max and at least one mode at around +/-15 lumens
reliable and durable
neutral or CRI LED - I don't need great color rendition, just no "tinty" bluish/greenish/'flat' cool white

Thanks in advance for any assistance. I can figure out the other stuff, mainly my issue is tint/color rendition in small, inexpensive lights.

I have some 18650/2xCR2 lights with multiomodes and good color rendition that are my "goto" lights, but I am looking for an inexpensive AA or AAA beater for knockaround use.
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Thrunite TI3 for AAA with twist-head or Skillhunt E3A for a tail-switch.
Sofirn SP10S for side-switch and Skillhunt E2A for tail-switch AA lights.

The SP10S and E2A with a 14500 cell are really strong performers. AA alkaline/Ni-Cd would probably give you better low output levels though on a mid-range setting.

I own all of these and they would fit your request. On low or mid-power, are they 15 Lumens (maybe)? But, they are fine for low light level needs being bright enough but not too bright. All cost me less than $20 and some were less than $15
 
Charlie Fox said:
I really like the Rovyvon A1x - rechargeable, lightweight, very bright at is highest setting and affordable!
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I saw this - it seems like it has a fixed battery. If I am in a situation where the battery runs down, I can't just pop a new battery in, I would have to recharge it - right?

How is the tint/color rendition?
 
I've had the i1r on my keychain since 2018 and the light still functions perfectly, even though it doesn't get a whole lot of use. That honor goes to the i3t that gets used frequently. It's amazing how often you use a flashlight when you start to carry one all the time. Both are around the 20-25 buck each range (CAD dollars).

I've had stellar CS from Olight as well.

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rje58 said:
I saw this - it seems like it has a fixed battery. If I am in a situation where the battery runs down, I can't just pop a new battery in, I would have to recharge it - right?

How is the tint/color rendition?
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It’s rechargeable with a sealed battery. It has a very bright white light on high that steps down to “moon glow“ on its lowest setting.
 
I'll go in the ultra-cheapo options direction. For the record, I stopped using/carrying mine since I don't like mail-ordering disposable batteries for lower cost of maintenance so I didn't use it that often (wanted for emergencies), they only give off about 10 floody lumens, the batteries aren't Li so they need to be replaced after a couple years of not using, and the triple LED versions from generic Chinese companies (like the OP's pic) seemed infitinetly more usable for general tasks... even though my triple LED generic Chinese light was so cheaply made, it didn't even have a spring at the head - just bare wires, used larger button cell batteries, and it was about twice the size and weight of the LG I'm listing below. I know all of the lights I'm about to mention are made in China, I just think when I say generic Chinese light, people know what I mean.

Target used to sell the Life Gear LED Mini Aluminumum Keychain Flashlight for $3. They are similar to the Streamlight version, except the batteries on the Life Gear are held in with a seperate screwed in cap, so they don't fall out if you twist the head too far (like what some users of the Streamlight reported).

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Also, for the record, my go-to mini light for now is the Microstream USB (50/250 lumen). Too big for a keychain light, IMO, but it's very bright, for it's size and weight. The Coyote tan version comes on hi first, all others come on low first. I gave one to a friend that used to buy a new Steramlight Stylus Pro every year. He now only uses the Microstream USB (he's a diesel Tech).

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There are some super small AAAA sized lights as well as rechargeable Li versions (battery: 10180) coming out of China that you might also look into. I haven't tried them though. One example would be ther Lunitop EDC Pico, or the MecArmy X4S.

Personally, I've been curious about the RovyVon and Nitcore Tiki rechargeable lights (pic from zeroair.org review):
zeroair_reviews_nitecore_tiki_21.jpg
 
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Lately I’ve been really liking the Fenix E05r. It has low, med, and high, with a 400 lm burst, and all in a package about the size of a tube of Chapstick. It has a side switch, so no twisting, which I’m starting to like.

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I've had this massdrop ( lumintop) brass AAA light for exactly one month, and just now had to finally replace the first Energizer max battery I put in it.
It uses the Nitchia led which has less lumens, but I don't know if that means it consumes less juice though.


I use my flashlight countless times every single day ( I wish I used my knives as much as I use my flashlight) and did not expect to get this much out of an AAA battery, but I suppose I underestimated the low mode and how often those 5 lumens are as much as I need.
Because it starts on low I have found I tend to give that a chance to get me by before clicking it up to medium or high.
 
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