Keychain lights that take "Rat" abuse and keep ticking?

Naturalmystic

Is this where it is headed for me.....Oh my!!:eek: I am going to need to start looking for another job to fund my habit.:) Seriously thanks for the pictures. Wow....this has been a great thread! It is funny in the past I would need a flashlight, but would fumble my way around rather then going to get one.....and I have plenty, but with these new little handy suckers, I bet I will find uses for them I never even thought of. I can see this is going to be a fun little journey. It sounds like the E01 could function as a Kubotan as well as a light! Give me 10 of those!

Thanks again fellas.
AI
 
A little late to the show, but another vote for the Fenix E01. Its a tough little light. The diameter is exactly like an AA battery (uses one AAA inside), and about an inch longer.
 
Agent Iron said:
Naturalmystic

Is this where it is headed for me.....Oh my!!:eek: I am going to need to start looking for another job to fund my habit.:) Seriously thanks for the pictures. Wow....this has been a great thread! It is funny in the past I would need a flashlight, but would fumble my way around rather then going to get one.....and I have plenty, but with these new little handy suckers, I bet I will find uses for them I never even thought of. I can see this is going to be a fun little journey. It sounds like the E01 could function as a Kubotan as well as a light! Give me 10 of those!

Thanks again fellas.
AI
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Yes my friend, it is a slippery slope that we gadget nuts traverse! I've been carrying some sort of personal light forever! That Minimag on the far left was purchased at least 10 years ago and I have at least two older ones that aren't in that picture. I also have 2AA and 4C versions not in the picture because I don't use them anymore. At the time the AAA was the smallest tough light I knew of. The output sucked though!
After that it was the silver Surefire E1e, Streamlight TwinTask, Scorpion and KeyMates then the Wolf Eyes Raider (on the right - 200lm IIRC but am looking to replace it with an LED light - probably the Olight M30 Triton with 700lms on high!) until I started collecting the Fenix lights.

When I got more serious about higher end lights in the mid 2000s There was a guy on CPF making custom lights called the Firefly. A bunch of us were waiting about a year for him to release his newest version but things went down hill, people lost their deposits, etc and I don't know what happened to him. Since then though I've been looking for the ultimate 1 CR123 light so I've been buying the Fenix lights ever since and couldn't be happier with them.

The PD20 is ALWAYS on my belt with the P2D Q5 in my EDC bag as back-up along with a Photon and CountyComm micro light and batteries for all.
The P2Ds and PD20 out-perform any stock Maglite I've ever used. People are seriously impressed when they see me pull one out. Even at clubs if I turn it on the security/bouncers are blown away when they compare them to the dinky 2 cell lights they usually use. The real topper is when I pull out the NiteCore EZ CR2 (low 10 lumens for 15hrs and hi 130 lumens for 50 mins in a 63mm x 17mm body). With these lights you can't even see the body when in your hand, all you see is the super-bright beam of light emanating from it.

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Sorry for this crappy pic; it's the only one I have with the KeyMates.
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I ditched the E01 did not like the twist tha cap thing to turn it on & off poor design IMO.
The Stream light is awesome... I picked up 6 and I made my Local Snap on Guy buy them,so if I need more I dont hafta drive to town or order online. LOL :D
 
TTD, I'm glad you like those so much. I saw one the thought "that looks like a nice little light" and I've been impressed with all my Streamlight products, so I put one on my Christmas list. I'm planning to do an essentials kit with one of the Maxpedition EDC organizers and I think the Microstream will fit the bill nicely. If it's as good as you guys are making me think, I'll have to pick up a couple more. A quality light for under $20 is just too good of a deal to pass on.

Since I got my first Surefire around 2002, I've been on the super bright kick, but really a good general purpose light, especially one that small that only takes one cheap battery is something more useful for most applications.
 
AAA flashlights are perfect for key-chain duty. I have been carrying a Fenix L0D for years on mine and it has never let me down.

The CC AAA is another excellent choice. Affordable, powerful and has multiple settings.

I also recommend the Streamlight MicroStream. It is a AAA light that has a tailcap switch, is cheap, and reliable. I purchased one for my father, he doesn't like twist operated lights, and prefers having a one setting light.

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I already lost one of my new lights....one day.....almost made it through the day. The pocket clip....not good enough. I have a new one clipped to my key chain, hopefully the keychain stays secure. I guess I need to go buy some more lights! Where do you guys buy your streamlights?
 
Ebay had the best deal I had found. Around $18 shipped. Actually there was a bargain on a 6 or 12 pack of them. $14 and $12.50 respectively, shipped. Not a bad price for what seems to be a good light.
 
Ok, the disease is spreading.... :D

I now have a couple E01's in Olive green. Seem like a really well built light. I love the construction, very solid. Like the on off, the knurling is great...really a super little package. If you compare it to the ATI....well, they are both flashlights, both well made, both small....that's about the end of it. Price was $3.50 less for the EO1, but the light given off is not in the same Galaxy. That ATI is unbelievable! That being said, I knew what to expect with the EO1, and still really like it. I think if I never had the ATI, I would never have felt like I had an inferrior tool. I was looking for a keychain light, and it will be great for that. The ATI just happens to be a 4D maglight in a tiny package.

I also got some little Lighthound $1 lights that are about as bright as the E01, just a concentrated beam. A good value for a $1.

Next is the Princeton EOS headlamp. Another great little tool that I will find lots of uses for around the ranch!

Thanks for all your help folks, you have been a wealth of information.

AI
 
That County Com Martac is sweet! $28 plus shipping was more then I wanted to spend considering I paid like $16.50 shipped for the Ati...but that version is a real looker!
 
Fenix EO1, it's simple and it works. No, it's not the brightest out there, but it's not intended to be. It serves it purpose very well.
 
Nickanto said:
Fenix EO1, it's simple and it works. No, it's not the brightest out there, but it's not intended to be. It serves it purpose very well.
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It is sweet....I just love the feel of it, I keep handling it. Makes for great use as a candle as well.
 
texastonydobbs said:
I ditched the E01 did not like the twist tha cap thing to turn it on & off poor design IMO.
The Stream light is awesome... I picked up 6 and I made my Local Snap on Guy buy them,so if I need more I dont hafta drive to town or order online. LOL :D
Click to expand...

It takes some getting used to for one handed operation but I feel the chances of it ever coming on in my pocket are nil. Do you have any idea if the streamlight seem susceptible to that happening?

Another thing going for the twist cap is durability. I can't tell you how many tail buttons I've had get finicky or go bad on me and it's very frustrating to deal with. I also love the candle feature of the E01.
 
hoopster said:
... Another thing going for the twist cap is durability. I can't tell you how many tail buttons I've had get finicky or go bad on me and it's very frustrating to deal with...
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+1 on that!

A twisty is significantly more reliable than a clicky...
 
I bought the Fenix P1d shown here in my pocket dump for $40 or so on the auction site, which was a little less than I had found elsewhere. It is aluminum and brighter than my two Surefires and seems fairly rugged - certainly more so than something plastic.

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I just bought four of the Streamlight Nanolight's. One for my key-chain and the other three for my two daughters and wife. I'll let you know how they hold up in about a year or so:D
Mine is a bright little light, I think a AAA version would be easier to keep in batteries, but the little watch batteries are pretty common at most stores.
If you want small, the Nanolight is that!

http://www.streamlight.com/product/product.aspx?pid=141

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