My QP2A has arrived and it looks real nice. I plan on doing a video for it soon. I also have an EA4w on its way.
Now I am on the hunt for a keyring light. I started looking at a single AAA keyring light but I think I fancy something a touch smaller and a little more powerful hence ending up here looking at CR123A lights.
Key requirements are:
- as compact as possible (being a keyring light)
- at least high, low and strobe modes
- at least 100 lumens
- Nice quality
- Resistant to impact, in case I drop the keys it is attached to
- Ability to take rechargeable 123a cells would be nice but not essential
The Fenix E15 looks nice and compact but I would love to hear people's recommendations based on their favourite :)
Remember that a CR123 based light will actually be quite a lot bigger than a AAA one. The width especially will make a keychain overall much bulkier. My recommendation overall would be an Olight I3s; very compact and nice quality at around $20 with a hidden strobe and high efficiency too. Although it is only around 70 max OTF.
If you are set on something brighter and CR123 based, whilst still quite compact (although noticably wider) then the Quark Mini-X 123 or Olight I1 should suit you. They will run on li-ion and give around 5/60/300 lumens OTF.
I second i3s, not too pricey and has good usable modes, comes in various colours. I prefer the tall/skinny over the short/fat lights for keyring purposes.
I keep mine attached to the keys. I also carry in the pocket another light for brighter modes. I don’t keep keys on me when at home, so I end up using this other light more and the i3s ends up more as a backup light when I’m out.
Hi. Generally cr123a lights are a little dumpy and not much shorter than 1AAA.
4Sevens do sell a CR2 torch which is interesting. But there is no rechargeable option.
I can recommend as a budget offering the Tank007 EO9. It packs a big punch on AAA and is as cheap as chips. I also like the look of the balder BD-0 that Ledfiretorches sell. It’s a bit more pricey but will run on li-ion as well as a AAA.
A while back there was a BLF Mini based on the Trustfire Mini. It’s a cr123a light but can also run on RCR123/16340’s which are the rechargeable li-ion in this size. It’s not a bad light but chunky and gets hot too quickly.
I was looking at AAA lights but thought that the extra 6mm in width of a CR123 wouldn't be a big deal but it sounds like it might be. The TF Mini seems to be a little heavy at 47g (relatively !)
When I was looking at AAA, the Olight i3S and the Tank were on my shortlist.
What are pros and cons of each ?
I believe the Tank takes 10440s whereas the Olight doesn't ?
The Tank is about half the price of the i3s
The Tank claims 120 Lumen Vs the i3s at 80
If you have as many keys on your ring as I do, you’re light is most likely going to get all scratched up, so no point in spending a lot of money on it.
The E09 takes AAA (Alkaline, NiMh, Lithium Primary) or the 10440. It’s twice as bright with the 10440 but it really doesn’t matter. It runs Hi-Med-Low. The low is perfect for reading in a car at night. The high is more than enough for anything you need to do with a key-chain light.
For $14 shipped, if you don’t like it, give it away as a gift
E09 = brighter
i3s = longer runtime
i3s = cleaner beam profile
i3s = floodier
E09 = throwier
i3s = no PWM on low modes
i3s = more efficient (much more on med mode)
E09 = no slight green/yellow tint shift on lower modes
i3s = slightly smaller (I think)
E09 = cheaper
i3s = free pocket clip
E09 = knurling on the head for better grip
Those are the main considerations I can think of, some are more important than others depending on the individual. I prefer efficiency, runtime, the clean beam and being PWM free over the advantages of the E09, and am not really bothered about the tint shift on lower modes. So I prefer the i3s, YMMV.
