recommend a keychain flashlight

[gnius]

So the cheapo LED keychain light I got as a stocking stuffer a couple years ago finally bit the dust and I'd like to get a replacement. Here's a list of wants and don't wants for my next purchase:

wants: really small and light, can stay on without holding a button, easy to find battery, under $30 or so, somewhat weather resistant

don't want: super tactical expensive blinding light, disposable after a year or so, short run time

I just want something that will help me look for things in my bag/pack at night and be unobtrusive the rest of the time. I want it to be something I'd carry all the time without knowing it is there but is reliable and not junk. Are Photons any good? Which one might work for me? Thanks.

Best stocking stuffer:
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.3261

At $22 for 50(<50c each), it's an unbelievable deal. The lights are generally quite good, and can be switched on, not just squeezed. They provide bright light for ~20 minutes, and very usable light in excess of several hours. I always keep 5-6 in various pockets and pack compartments. One of the most useful things you can do during a night hike is to hang one off your pack, and it will ensure that the group can't get separated. Same idea applies to hanging one off a branch at your campsite, before you go take care of waste disposal.

For a more useful camp light, I'd recommend the Fenix E01. $15, 5 lumens for 8 hours with a NiMH AAA, 10 hours with an alkaline, and 15 hours with a lithium AAA.

Finally, we have the Fenix LD01. About $50, but can get you 10 lumens for 8.5 hours or 80 lumens for 1 hour from a NiMH AAA. Beautiful white light. For an ultralight hiker, there's pretty much no substitute.

 

[jds1]

Fenix E01 or Peak Matterhorn (much brighter and a little larger). Both are great little lights. Fenix is on all of my family's keychains and the Peak is in my KSF pocket sheath. Stick with AAA battery format and use lithium for performance and life in cold weather.

Jeff

 

[JTR357]

I've had this one a couple years now & it's still going strong.

 

[carrot]

I recommend the Fenix E01. I have gone through a lot of different keychain lights and the E01 is very close to a perfect little keychain light. It's solid, it's durable, it's quite small, it's not horrendously bright but it's still quite useful. Here's the best part -- it uses a commonly available AAA battery and lasts over 11 hours on a single one. Oh, and price? $15 shipped from Fenix-Store.com, a very popular dealer over on the CPF.

 

[PB Wilson]

Wow! There are more choices than I thought.

Anyway, I decided on a Doug Ritter Special Edition MkII Photon Freedom Micro. Whew!what a name! No way they'd be able to put all that on such a compact light. Thanks for the suggestions.

 

[T. Erdelyi]

Dependability and ease of battery change outs brings the Arc AAA to mind, or one of the Fenix AAA models would also work great, I carry an Arc 'round my neck and a Fenix on the keys.

 

[dougo83]

Streamlight Nano is the most bombproof keychain LED I have ever used.

smallest, its bright as hell, and tuff!!!

+alot and they're only about $7

 

[storl]

Good call on the Photon, they are some great little lights and can be found all over the place. I can't stand having more than keys + remote on my keychain, so I EDC a Liteflux LF2X clipped to my pocket. I love that little light. I had an LF2 before that, and the LF2X is a nice upgrade.

 

[zombieHD55]

I've had my Photon for close to five years on my keychain. Great little micro lights.

 

[Runsalone]

Photons are great but for just a little more bulk an da few more dollars you can get a fenix lod ce find your stuff in your bag on low or shine it on something across the parking lot. Awsome little light!

I do a photon in the summer then switch too the little fenix in the winter when theres more dark hours to get caught in after work.


https://www.fenix-store.com/product_info.php?cPath=22_55&products_id=257

 

[VoxHog]

Fenix L0D, a super light that has lived on my keychain for the past year. Get the one without paint and it always looks new.

 

[hannibal lecter spyderco]

That Streamlight Nano is pretty cool and the price seems right. I might have to check one out.

My current one is the one on the base of the SwissTech Micro Pro tool. Similar in performance to a Photon but with the added bonus of a mini multitool. Plus you can get them for about the same price as the Photon Micro light.

Does anyone have any experience with Tool Logic? I'm interested in one of their magnetic Trac Lights. Looks like it could come in handy.

http://www.toollogic.com/traclite.htm

I know the tiny button batteries can be a PITA but a spare set would take up almost no room in a pack.

Thanks

Nice light but 15 dollars a bit expensive for a keychain knife. I'm a big fan of streamlight. I like fenix chinese made keychain flashlight. Inova nice but they turn on by themselves. Maglite key chain light you can replace bulb with bright led. Cheap plastic lens though. They get scratch up pretty bad in the pocket. However they are cheap and solidly built.

 

[yoz's friend]

tekna makes a good key chain knife.thats what i have.