Best Budget Keychain Light

I second the recommendation for the Photon lights and their clones.
I always have one on my keychain as a backup light and it comes in quite handy in those tricky situation where even a little bit of light is much better than no light at all.

Probably bought around 5000 of the things in the last decade. Most of which have been given away. Around 2000 went to customers to give away as promotional gifts. At a bit more than I paid for them.

They are also great to give to dog owners at this time of year - a light dangling from their collar is much more visible than a collar light. Gave away 10 of them today in the park to other dog walkers.

Usual price round here for them is around $8 each - but then the CR2016 cells they run on are around $6 each and these devices need two of them. If I give one away, I tell the folks to return them to me when the batteries are dead and I'll give them another one.

I like my xtar keychain light i got for free with my xtar 2600 battery order :). Should receive another free one from a promotion on a site in a few days. It's simple and not superbright but it does 'light' up a room.

Don; any idea why these keychain lights are not available with those "flat top" 5mm LED`s?

They should give about 120° beam instead of the regular, what, like 8° to 20° beam. I mean, honestly, is someone using these as throwers :D

I just cut down one 5mm keychain LED, more usable for me.

Your post also reminded me to order some 2016 from eBay, local prices are very high :|

Welcome to BLF Brunswick

I would highly recommend the coast light from coastportland.com for $3.50.

Click on the free light icon fill out the survey and pay the $3.50 shipping and handling and you hopefully will get the aaa light if not the button battery light is very cool also.

That's kind of an odd "free" offer though isn't it? I just checked it out myself. They want to thank me by giving me a free light for a fee of $3.50 and they don't specific the light.

If it is indeed the keychain light then it isn't free at all as that's at the high end for a button style keychain light. It may be worth it since it includes shipping and handling (I presume) but it's hardly free.

Just for fun I just sent this offer to Coast via their contact us form.

I'd like to give you a free gift for being such a great company. Please send $3.50 via PayPal to my account and I'll send you a return email with some free business advice (I have an MBA so it will be valuable advice).

I will then use that $3.50 to get that free flashlight you so generously offer.

They now have my email address so it will be interesting to read their response. :)


Us and canada only for the coast freebe :(

the 3.50 is for shipping, it seems lately it is the g10 aaa light they are giving away. its a 10+ dollar light, in my book thats free + s&h

Yeah there's no doubt it's a free light ..It's a AAA forward clicky nichia so it's a tint lottery ...the nifty thing is the smaller one is the exact same light same emitter and a reverse clicky too just a tiny tac instead of a mini tac ..it's a must have for any flash a holic ...

I'll second the BLF edition S-1 as a nice keychain light and add the new 12$ nitecore nichia T0

Nitecore T0 12 Lumen Keylight - 1xAAA - BlueNitecore T0 12 Lumen Keylight - 1xAAA - Gold, or black , the other colors are odd ...12$ at Battery Junction

I just purchased one, however, I have to agree it's kind of a shady presentation. They don't give you any inkling as to what you might get. I would normally pass it off as a scam except I know Coast is a quality, reputable company. They're obviously looking for feedback and also introducing you to their goods at the same time. As long as you get something that provides some sort of utility (i.e NOT some snazzy Coast decal) then you're technically getting your money's worth at minimum.

I think it's a little hard to know that you will be getting your money's worth if you don't know what you are getting at the time you get out your credit card.

Why make what you are getting a mystery at the same time that you are being asked to pay something for a free item.

If I go to the grocery store and they charge me $3.50 to give me something free but assure me I'll get my money's worth they could give me a carton of milk. However, I didn't go to the grocery store for milk and if they told me before hand that the free item would be milk I wouldn't hand them $3.50.

I wouldn't go to Coast to pay $3.50 for a button style keychain light or even a 1AAA if it's some ugly color or if it doesn't work right, etc.

If it's free I shouldn't be handing them money and if it's all above board why not tell me what the free item is?

But I come from BLFland and I'm treating it as a lottery. My experience isn't normal compared to the general target market because of my affiliation to a hobby website, which means I'm probably more likely to experiment with something like this. I think you have to treat it as a sort of lottery to make the most of the experience instead of expecting it to be a profitable and successful transaction. Although I do admit they could stand to provide a bit more explanation.

BUT, note that I said you get your "money's worth," which is true because it takes into consideration the market value of the product, not your own personal utility value ;)

They only ship 2 different lights and they both cost $9.99 at Sears so you are getting a $10 dollar light for $3.50, you just don't get to choose which model or color. I got one of each and I think it's a great deal.

Haha...but when you say you get "your" money's worth that means me and that would reflect my own personal utility value :) Generally a business has to let you know what it's selling you before you know whether it's a good deal or not.

Business is all about matching products with the right customers. Matching dresses with men doesn't give as much value as matching dresses with women.

I do agree regarding your lottery approach as a hobbyist. Most of my purchases lately have been a reflection of that principle :)

I have bought 5 or 6 of these and have gifted most of them ..e1320 is right it's usually one of 2 lights a forward clicky AAA like a fenix e01 or a tiny tac ...I have been hoping for the tiny tac again ...someone got a real big flashlight from them which is the real lottery winner ..My advice to all is ....shut up and buy one ..

they love them ..

must be good... I recommended it .:)

**there is also a new Thrunite light coming out in about 2 weeks... AAA 2 mode with a very low low and a 80~100 lumen high twisty like a nitecore AA light .. twist on .2 lumens and twist tighter and 100 lumens .. price is less than 20$ in 6 colors ..full knurl ..Nice looking light ...

http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/showthread.php?253973-Do-you-think-two-mode-is-enough-for-a-key-chainlights

entered my information to participate in winning a hp21 flashlight, then saw it's US/canada only... sigh :)

wish you buy the real thing which are satisified with your requirement and needs.And , enjoy your stay here....so do i !

OMG............this is going to get confusing with a user called Budgeteer and one called Budgeter.

Anyway, welcome to BLF, BUDGETER.

I would like to add that CR123 is also a decent form factor for a keychain light. Fatter than an AAA and overall bigger, but a bit shorter.

Best of all, they are capable of using RCR123 (rechargable) batteries, which will slightly overdrive the light and produce 200ish lumens.

"So um..why not use a AAA with 10440?"

a) Not entirely safe. A 10440 has 350ish mAh, or a safe max current of 700 mA. Because these lights were designed for 1.5 volts, a 4.2 volt lithium drives them at 1 amp or so...exceeding safety threshold.

b) CR123s are fatter and can use an XM-L emitter and have a decent reflector. AAAs are just too skinny. XM-L = lots of tasty flood and high efficiency.

c) An 10440 typically requires a SLOWER CHARGER. If you have typical 18650 chargers, they will charge the tiny batteries too quickly at too high of current. This means a special charger if you already have 18650.

I currently use a Quark MiniX 123, with RCR123 battery. Produces around 300 emitter lumens, driving the XM-L at 1.4 amps or so. That's a lotta light when you need it!

Another alternative is to step up to an AA light. Its bigger, but the AA-sized lithium is safe to use in your 18650 charger.