I am putting together my own version of the "survival keychains" that can be bought on the Web these days (http://www.survivalkeychain.com/). It's coming along, whenever I get a change to work on it, but I could use a few ideas. If anyone could share thoughts or post images, I would appreciate it.
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Survival Keychain
- Thread starter cardimon
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The best light for a keychain is the Arc AAA! A good choice for a keychain tool would be the Leatherman Micra or the SOG Crosscut.
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This is always a fun subject to think about, though I haven't completely decided about how useful this thing would be.
First thing is a light. For a number of reasons, I don't anything can touch an Arc AAA for a key chain light for emergency situations. We can discuss keychain incandescents and other LED lights, but the Arc has properties that blow the competition away, IMO.
Next, for either wilderness or urban emergencies, you might have gear to fix or take apart. You must have a micro tool, and that micro tool must have a phillips screwdriver, IMO. The rules out the SOG, and leans more towards the Squirt or Micra. Since you already have a knife (presumeably), small pliers might be more useful than scissors, so go with the Squirt w/ the pliers (P4 I think it's called).
For wilderness emergencies more so than urban, carry a small metal match and stuff some tinder into a spy capsule. The tinder that comes with the Spark Lite works great, and it's small and compressable.
Compass is useful to me for many uses, so small button compass is useful.
Joe
First thing is a light. For a number of reasons, I don't anything can touch an Arc AAA for a key chain light for emergency situations. We can discuss keychain incandescents and other LED lights, but the Arc has properties that blow the competition away, IMO.
Next, for either wilderness or urban emergencies, you might have gear to fix or take apart. You must have a micro tool, and that micro tool must have a phillips screwdriver, IMO. The rules out the SOG, and leans more towards the Squirt or Micra. Since you already have a knife (presumeably), small pliers might be more useful than scissors, so go with the Squirt w/ the pliers (P4 I think it's called).
For wilderness emergencies more so than urban, carry a small metal match and stuff some tinder into a spy capsule. The tinder that comes with the Spark Lite works great, and it's small and compressable.
Compass is useful to me for many uses, so small button compass is useful.
Joe
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- Oct 22, 2002
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- 179
A bottle opener is really important for the students of the world (like me)!
The other things I have on my own keychain are a Photon III white and a Comtech Stinger.
The other things I have on my own keychain are a Photon III white and a Comtech Stinger.
I've got an ARC AAA light and a Photon II, I am not sure that, when added all up, the ARC is a hands down winner in a survival situation.
For duration of light the Photon wins 15 hrs vs 5.
For weight and size the Photon wins.
For brightness the ARC likely wins (Mine is FUBAR currently and I can't check).
Other thoughts?
For duration of light the Photon wins 15 hrs vs 5.
For weight and size the Photon wins.
For brightness the ARC likely wins (Mine is FUBAR currently and I can't check).
Other thoughts?
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Here's why I think the Arc is a clear winner in this situation:
Runtime: The photon runs for a long time, but in my experience, it's a few minutes of relatively bright light, maybe an hour tops of medium bright light, and then many many hours of dim light that is often not bright enough for me to consider really useful (opinions will most definitely vary on this subject). The Arc, by contrast, gives you around 5 or so hours of consistently bright light. These little LED lights are around the minimum brightness to be useful, IMO, and the photon quickly drops below the minimum brightness I'd like to see, whereas the Arc keeps going at top brightness.
Arc runs on easy-to-find AAA. Photon runs on harder to find batteries. Arc battery change is easy, screw off the top, no tools. Photon requires a very tiny screwdriver, and tiny parts taken out are easy to drop (I know, I've lost a switch).
All in all, I feel that this combination -- consistent brightness through its runtime, easy-to-find batteries, easy battery changes -- combined with a strong aluminum case makes the ARc a winner. That said, it is bigger and heavier than the photon, the photon just disappears on your keychain and you don't even realize you're carrying it.
Joe
Runtime: The photon runs for a long time, but in my experience, it's a few minutes of relatively bright light, maybe an hour tops of medium bright light, and then many many hours of dim light that is often not bright enough for me to consider really useful (opinions will most definitely vary on this subject). The Arc, by contrast, gives you around 5 or so hours of consistently bright light. These little LED lights are around the minimum brightness to be useful, IMO, and the photon quickly drops below the minimum brightness I'd like to see, whereas the Arc keeps going at top brightness.
Arc runs on easy-to-find AAA. Photon runs on harder to find batteries. Arc battery change is easy, screw off the top, no tools. Photon requires a very tiny screwdriver, and tiny parts taken out are easy to drop (I know, I've lost a switch).
All in all, I feel that this combination -- consistent brightness through its runtime, easy-to-find batteries, easy battery changes -- combined with a strong aluminum case makes the ARc a winner. That said, it is bigger and heavier than the photon, the photon just disappears on your keychain and you don't even realize you're carrying it.
Joe
I'd say the ARC is a good combo of the Infinity Ultra and Photon. My Photon IIIs are chunk right now because 3 of the 4 don't work.
The Ultra is being used right now. AA availability (including lithiums) is good and the runtime is a bonus.
I would add that instead of the sparklite/light I would use one of the Swedish firesteels and make fuzz sticks with the blade and out of whatever fuel was available.
For a multitool, the wirecutters on the pliers are a bonus. The small scissors are nice to groom with for barbarians like me.
You know, if you have a keychain flashlight, a gizmo like fastex that allows a quick on-the-ring, off-the-ring like snap would be a nice product to offer. I mean if you are trying to unlock a door with your right hand, do you want to have your left hand super close to the keys holding the light, or would you rather have the ability to diconnect the light and use it from a distance?
just some thoughts...
cheers
The Ultra is being used right now. AA availability (including lithiums) is good and the runtime is a bonus.
I would add that instead of the sparklite/light I would use one of the Swedish firesteels and make fuzz sticks with the blade and out of whatever fuel was available.
For a multitool, the wirecutters on the pliers are a bonus. The small scissors are nice to groom with for barbarians like me.
You know, if you have a keychain flashlight, a gizmo like fastex that allows a quick on-the-ring, off-the-ring like snap would be a nice product to offer. I mean if you are trying to unlock a door with your right hand, do you want to have your left hand super close to the keys holding the light, or would you rather have the ability to diconnect the light and use it from a distance?
just some thoughts...
cheers
Joe, I agree with your points, that's why I bought the ARC for daily usage. On the survival kit, which I feel is more of a keep it around and don't use unless you have to, I think that for me the factors of light weight and longer runtime are more valuable than the ease and cost of battery replacement.
Good to have different viewpoints.
Good to have different viewpoints.
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I gotta agree with Phil on this one, glowrings are very helpful. If you can't find your keys, you can turn out the lights and find them. I have a utili-key and it's pretty useless. A small phillips is critcal today to open the battery compartments on all kinds of electronic gizmos. Unfortunately, the one on the utili-key is next to the blade, and almost impossible to use without cutting yourself. A tiny eyeglass screwdriver is also a "must have" for us myopics (or for sunglasses)! This is also incredibly awkward on the utili-key. Don't underestimate the usefulness of a small pair of scissors for anything from hangnail to loose threads (again, usually a more "urban survival" issue. Needless to say a bottle opener is "essential". The keyring tool I've found to be most useful is either the Victorinox Midnight Manager or Midnight Mini-Champ. The tiny red LED is useful,if for some reason you don't want to screw up your night vision, and the pen can be really handy for those "urban survival situations" where you need to jot down a phone number or address....
! So, if you keep the compass, whistle, and Photon and ditch the other tools you'll cover the most important bases with the Vic of your choice. Photon fixed the reliability issues with the III model, and the strobe is very handy when you need to attract attention. I used it this fall to flag down the Fire Department (after they drove right by us!).
! So, if you keep the compass, whistle, and Photon and ditch the other tools you'll cover the most important bases with the Vic of your choice. Photon fixed the reliability issues with the III model, and the strobe is very handy when you need to attract attention. I used it this fall to flag down the Fire Department (after they drove right by us!).- Joined
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In theory, I like the idea of a utility based key rings, however, the ones I build are too heavy and bulky once you put keys on them.
Also, I don't think it's a good idea to put water pur tablets in an Aluminum container unless you wrap them in something first.
Good luck with your products!
S
Also, I don't think it's a good idea to put water pur tablets in an Aluminum container unless you wrap them in something first.
Good luck with your products!
S
I don't know about anyone else but, if I ever need something along the lines of the tools in this thread, it is always RAINING.
With that thought in mind, the ARC AAA LE is that hands down winner. While my eyes dark adjust to use the Photon II's (I have many of them), the light output of the ARC AAA is much more useful due the spread, color and, quantity of light. Cost of operation is very low for an ARC LE as well as having good and cheap batteries avialble everywhere (including 7-11 and other roadside stops in wee hours of the morning. http://store.yahoo.com/flashlight/buynow.html
For fire, get a swedish fire steel - specifically the smaller boy scout model since this is a keychain after all. http://www.light-my-fire.com/firesteel/?CatId=2
A compass should not be under estimated. One with a signal mirror would be tops but, you must balance the size issue.
Get a good durable tough as nails WHISTLE that doesn't require the lungs of an Olympic athlete to produce ear splitting volume. If you are tired or hurt, a whilstle that is easy to blow could be the difference you need.
The small multi-tools and a swiss army knife should be considered together to avoid tool duplication and excessive weight and size. I like a Swiss army knife with a large straight blade and scissors. Scissors come in darn handy in motel rooms and office buildings when you need to trim a stray hair, thread from your slacks, finger nails, etc.
Now, how about some emergency money? This is a survival key chain after all. Food, telephone calls, etc. generally all require some cash when we make it back to civilization.
Some high tensile fishing line and a means to carry water (a balloon maybe) should be considered as well.
Hmmm.... survival keychain or, handy do-it all keychain....
With that thought in mind, the ARC AAA LE is that hands down winner. While my eyes dark adjust to use the Photon II's (I have many of them), the light output of the ARC AAA is much more useful due the spread, color and, quantity of light. Cost of operation is very low for an ARC LE as well as having good and cheap batteries avialble everywhere (including 7-11 and other roadside stops in wee hours of the morning. http://store.yahoo.com/flashlight/buynow.html
For fire, get a swedish fire steel - specifically the smaller boy scout model since this is a keychain after all. http://www.light-my-fire.com/firesteel/?CatId=2
A compass should not be under estimated. One with a signal mirror would be tops but, you must balance the size issue.
Get a good durable tough as nails WHISTLE that doesn't require the lungs of an Olympic athlete to produce ear splitting volume. If you are tired or hurt, a whilstle that is easy to blow could be the difference you need.
The small multi-tools and a swiss army knife should be considered together to avoid tool duplication and excessive weight and size. I like a Swiss army knife with a large straight blade and scissors. Scissors come in darn handy in motel rooms and office buildings when you need to trim a stray hair, thread from your slacks, finger nails, etc.
Now, how about some emergency money? This is a survival key chain after all. Food, telephone calls, etc. generally all require some cash when we make it back to civilization.
Some high tensile fishing line and a means to carry water (a balloon maybe) should be considered as well.
Hmmm.... survival keychain or, handy do-it all keychain....
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- May 31, 2000
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- 1,516
Mine's more urban survival
I've got an Arc AAA which I keep thinking about sticking on there [but then my Arc LS would be lonely.]
SWMBO has a Spyderco Cricket on hers
- Yellow Traser Glowring
- Swisstech Micro Technician Plus
- Comtech Stinger
- Photon II Microlight
- Uncle Bill's Sliver Grippers
- Spy Capsule with cash [£20]
- orange Fox 40 Whistle - dang that's loud!
- Mini carabiner for belt carry
I've got an Arc AAA which I keep thinking about sticking on there [but then my Arc LS would be lonely.]
SWMBO has a Spyderco Cricket on hers
Two places that have ARC AAAs in stock right now are 2thehilt.com and darkgear.com. I believe vicomptel.com has the best prices, but not by much and they did not have any white in stock as of a couple days ago.
Note, these are not the Limited Edition AAAs... those are pretty hard to find now for a reasonable price.
Note, these are not the Limited Edition AAAs... those are pretty hard to find now for a reasonable price.
