Keychain flashlight

[mnj]

Get a fenix lod-ce and some sanyo eneloop rechargeable batteries and you will be good to go!!

 

[SilverFoxKnows]

I've got a Streamlight Keymate on my home/car keys and a River Rock keymate-like light on my work keys. Both use button cells (not the same size) and stay pretty bright for a while. My wife has an Inova Micro Light on her keys. All three are pretty good lights for the money.

Frank

 

[smknman]

i had an arc-aaa for about a year. Absolutely lived it, not that bright but quite dependable and useful. It was stolen from my desk at work while I was in a meeting.

Two days ago I ordered a jetbeam μ, its new and the reviews are mixed but the cpf folks can be pretty demanding. From what I've read it lives up to manufacturer's claims (a rare thing) and has the form factor of an arc with more versatility in the way of brightness. It will not take me long to judge its durability as I am very rough with my toys.

 

[yermom]

i have a Keymate and a Photon II on the two sets of keys i usually carry

my only problem with the Photon II is that sometimes it will come on in my pocket and kill the battery

 

[Cougar Allen]

I've had that problem with other flashlights, but never with a Photon II.

 

[Vorpal Blade]

I LOVE Arc-P's.
http://www.arcflashlight.com/

The ARC-P AAA seems pretty indestructible.
From flashlightreviews.com:
Important things to note: I was a "Beta Tester" for Arc for this new version of their AAA-P. Here are the results of that testing:
10,000 full on-off cycles which includes 9,000 on-off cycles at room temperature and 1000 on-off cycles completed while the lower half of the light was frozen in a block of ice. (picture above)
100 drops from 1 meter onto a wood surface at various angles
50 hours underwater at 1.5 foot depth
Several thousand "rattles" while off... No attempt at counting was made.
No damage or malfunctions. The o-ring required lubrication several times. The rivet in the bottom of the light seems to be as solid as it was when it first came.

I carry an Arc AAA-P on a neckchain whenever I leave the house and was so impressed with it I bought a second one.
It is not the brightest small light, but it is perhaps the most reliable and it is made in USA.

The good thing about an AAA light is that you can find batteries for it at every Stop-n-Rob in America.
I prefer the Arc AAA, but the Fenix LOD CE is less spendy and has more features. [Edit: the Fenix is not less spendy. ].

Arc with Ladybug.
right on

What they said......I have carried three Arc AAA's for years. Expensive? Yes. But I consider them insurance and am willing to pay for it. I have found the Arcs dependable in all conditions I have encountered so far.

 

[theblacksheep]

Thank you so much for all the help. I can always count on the guys of the BF to help out. By the way I went with the ARC

 

[yermom]

I've had that problem with other flashlights, but never with a Photon II.

i've had the switch locked on, i guess from pulling it out of my pocket or something, or i guess just being smashed on against my keys when i sat down

and it looks like i might have to pick up an Arc... i really like the Fenix L1P i have, but it's a tad bulky

 

[apsilon]

Another vote for the Fenix L0D CE. Rcently replaced my 20+ year old Mag Solitaire with this and the difference is literally like night and day.

 

[DaveH]

+1 for the Fenix LOD

I just received one today, totally awesome light!

I dumped arc a few years back for peak 3 led high power, took the peak off and am carrying the LOD. LOD totally wipes the floor with my older peak.

 

[RNST]

P1D CE from Fenix in its sheath on a small carabiner works for me. Great light 135 Lumens and ultra small.

 

[mauiblue]

ARC......http://www.arcflashlight.com/

+1

I've had mine for over a year now and it is great. Small enough to be inconspicuous but has great light output.

 

[Raymond1000]

my only problem with the Photon II is that sometimes it will come on in my pocket and kill the battery

I had the same problem. Now I keep it set on intermittent, so it only comes on when I push the button. If I need to leave the light on I reset it. Then change it back to intermittent before it goes back into my pocket.

 

[UnknownVT]

Photon II - these lights are so small that they are almost not there on a keyring - so therefore are always on you. One can get "clones" for as cheaply as under $1. White is (obviously) a more general purpose color.

Just a comment on body color - many like white transulcent like on the Inova Microlight - because they look "cool".

But in use, especially in a dark environment and one's hand lights up - with a LOT of scattered extraenuous light - to me this distracts, and attracts attention - which might or might not be a good thing -
for me, I prefer more discrete usage of lights, so prefer the solid colored bodies (YMMV).

The Photon and clones use 2x CR2016 lithium coin cell batteries - on average they last about 10-12 hours (for white LED) - for occassional intermittent use these are good. CR2016's are awkward to change and can be VERY expensive from most stores (but can be found for good prices by mail-order).

For more frequent and prolonged usage probably a single AAA based light is called for - although for me that puts the size a bit too big for my key ring (YMMV) - there is the ArcAAA(-P) - which is a legend - however I hate to say this about a classic - it is still good - but has now been surpassed by newer lights.

Fenix E0 "Dart" in natural or black ($19.99) is not brighter than the Arc-AAA - but more economical and is very efficient in battery life. Please see this review -

Fenix E0 "Dart" - comparison review

for a real pocket rocket - L0Dce has been previously mentioned -
may I suggest the newer Fenix Digital L0D RB80 in black or natural ($46.50)
works great on plain alkalines or NiMH rechargeable -
but on 3.7V li-Ion rechargeable 10440 (with warnings) it is spectaular. Please see these reviews -

Fenix L0D-RB80 Comparison Review

Fenix L0D-CE Comparison Review


However as I mentioned an AAA light small as the aformentioned light are - are still too big for my keyring (YMMV) - personally I carry a Dorcy 1AAA (< $6 from a local WalMart) in my other pocket (and not on the keyring) - in its latest/current version - please see this -

A Classic Revisited - Dorcy 1AAA

the current edition is a spot light (with lens) - this may seem less versatile - but I EDC a light for personal and close-tasks - I want a light with limited extraenous scatter - however the spot itself is not that narrow - as a practical test - I held the light normally at hip height (about 33") - and shone the light about 4 feet in front of me - the horizontal diameter was about 2ft and the longitudinal diameter was about 3ft - so the circle of light is not that small - and plenty to see by - certainly indoors - especially since there is a fair bit of reflected light.

At less than $6 from a local WalMart this is worth trying.

Sizes -

(E1 is about the same size as the L0D)
--
Vincent
http://UnknownVincent.Shutterfly.com
http://clik.to/UnknownVT2006
http://clik.to/UnknownVT2005
http://clik.to/UnknownVT2004
http://clik.to/UnknownVincent