Which keychain flashlight for a newbie?

Other Types of Lights Keychain / Pocket Flashlights
1

I’m a newbie to the fascinating world of flashlights and am looking for one for my keychain. Some parameters:

- What’re the pros & cons of AA/AAA vs other rechargeable batteries? I have lots of eneloops AA & AAAs, which I would use anyway (unless there’s a reason not to), so my sense is it probably doesn’t matter for my use case, as long as the battery can be replaced and/or charged easily.

- Durable, including water-protection. I expect to have/use this for years.

- Because I’m looking to have one for years, I’m ok with spending a bit more money up-front in exchange for a better Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). eg batteries in hard-to-find sizes that cost more than ~10-15 CAD are out.

- Flat tail to attach one of these: Amazon.ca

Cause I’ve got this (maybe bonkers) idea of putting a magnetic breakaway on my necklace, then if I’m using the flashlight a lot but intermittently, I can detach from my keychain and attach to my necklace to not lose the damn thing. Similarly, I could attach a marker or a Gerber Dime to my necklace if using those a lot, but intermittently.

I’m in Toronto, Canada, for shipping purposes.

Thanks in advance!

Edit: removed requirement for USB charging built into the flashlight.
Edit 2: removed requirement for magnetic tail. It seems like it’ll just get stuck on things, or I’ll accidently wipe a hard drive (I work in IT) lol

2

Only rechargeable 14500 light I’m aware of, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KF1L31S/ .

Wuben makes a bunch of ’em, including a 10180 “bullet light”, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01K9QQM92/ .

I got a few Wuben keychain/necklace lights, and they’re quite nice.

3

Oh yeah, skip the magnetic idea. As tough as it might seem to detach, even Nd magnets on both ends, guaranteed at some point you’ll be putting on a jacket or something, it pops off, and you’ll never see it again.

Use a big lobster-claw hook or something, instead. Big and easy to work one-handed…

4

Oh yeah, skip the magnetic idea. As tough as it might seem to detach, even Nd magnets on both ends, guaranteed at some point you’ll be putting on a jacket or something, it pops off, and you’ll never see it again.

Use a big lobster-claw hook or something, instead. Big and easy to work one-handed…

5

Thanks for the recommendations! It seems like insisting on USB recharging built into a AA/AAA flashlight might not give me the best flashlight, so do you recommend AA/AAA flashlights, or some sort of smaller Li-ion battery powered flashlights?

I’d like it to be a pretty small package while being enough to peer into dark corners of computer cases or walk around my house in the dark.

I think you’re right—attaching the light to my keyring using a magnet isn’t gonna work very well, so i’ll use a lobster claw. I keep my keyring attached to a carabiner on my beltloop, but tucked into a pocket, but if it snags, it’ll drop off. That said, I’d still like to be able to attach it to a magnet on a necklace when I’ll be using it frequently (eg inventorying the cables behind a bunch of computers in an area and needing my hands free to write things down) so a magnetic (or just flat) tail would be preferred. Any recommendations for that? Thanks!

6

EDC05C and Jetbeam E10R come to mind - iirc the latter claimed to recharge NiMh as well, but I have actually heard bad things about the charge circuit dying in that light (unclear why, or if it actually charges nimh)

7

Charger = space. Space is at a premium in smaller lights. Plus, not very waterproof. So unless it’s a weirdo cell like a 10180, I’d personally do without the charger.

My MH20 is a really compact 18650 light which also has a charger, and in a pinch, I can top off at work, on the bus, anywhere there’s a usb socket. Not quite keychain material, though.

The AA/AAA lights I have don’t have chargers. And while some AA lights can take 14500s, all the AAA lights I have are alkaleak-only.

My Xeno E03 is a moose in the 14500 world, but it’s built like a tank and nigh indestructible.

Frankly, unless you’re planning to leave it unused for months, you might as well just get a light that takes alkaleaks. The Glaree E01 (and lookalikes) is about the smallest/lightest you’ll find. Cheap, too. And decent-enough output for its size.

For hands-free, without exception, a headlight is best. Keep it in your desk or whatever, ’til you need it. Otherwise, a small light with diffuser cap can hang around your neck and throw light everywhere like a lantern. The Tool AA is one that can be had with a diffuser, as well as a magnetic tail.

Fair warning, though. Having a checklist of 18 must-haves pretty much means you’ll never get the light you want/need.

8

What do you want to use it for?

my smallest AAA light is the astrolux A01 and I don’t think they can get any smaller. I would not want that an my Keys as I find its to big and bulky as I carry my keys in my pockets.

However I have the nitecore tube on my Keys as it is much lighter. Its good enough within 2m radius. It comes short on durability, as my wife already killed two and mine is a little off after the latest fall down the stairs (to be fair, that was a 4m drop and I myself would certainly be in way worse condition after that), but it’s also not that expensive.

9

I have an Olight i3E since years. Very small and bright.

10

I consider AA too large for my keychain, I prefer AAA lights with 3 modes, and a place for a small split ring on the tail.

here is one with a magnet on the tail, and with the option for a Nichia.
I always prefer Nichia LED.

the 10180 lights are a nice size for a keychain imo, but I do not consider them a serious task light, more like a keyhole finder. They have two modes, 5 lumens, and 100 lumens that kills the battery in less than 10 minutes. The 3 mode AA lights do aproximately the same outputs, plus a middle mode of about 20 lumens, that I find most practical.

I dislike a magnet built into a light, I prefer to place a magnet where I want to attach the light. (Eneloops stick to magnets, through the light body)

I agree on lobster over magnet for necklace
I like magnets but I put them on other objects (fridge, car, server rack…), not in my pockets

pics are links to more pics

note the pocket clip oriented to clip to a hat brim, optional but also serves as an antiroll device when the light is off my keys. Also note the lobster is on the keys, so there is nothing but a small split ring on the light. I often hold a light in my mouth.

for a USB charger, Im a fan of the Olight Universal Charger, not built into the light, so I can keep using the light while charging.
pic is a link to more info about the charger

very small, very lightweight
the black light, pic is a link

only one mode, about 100 lumen, nicely spread beam, no hotspot, which is useful for close range. Prolonged use eats up the battery in about 30 minutes, which is why I like the 3 mode lights, on medium (about 4 hours)… more time between changes

here is an AAA JetU
as an example of what I would not buy again, I do not like that it has Last Mode Memory:

11

You can add the Skilhunt M150 to that and probably others!

Suggestions:
Looking to your will to invest some more, and having the possibility use a detachable “keychain”, check the Prometheus Beta QRV2

Or the cheap version:

You can also check the Lumintop Tool V2.0 with magnetic tailcap (AA).

12

Had mine on my keys for a year now, no problems. also has a moodlight mode

13

Thanks! This is my current top pick. It’s pretty reasonably priced even in Canada—$20 on amazon and without the wait from China.

Do you know how well it attaches to a magnet? Titanium is supposedly weakly ferromagnetic…

Thanks for the helpful post! I’m gonna add this or another 90 deg light to my “wait for a sale” list.

Great idea!

As soon as they release one with USB-C, I’ll buy it! Especially if I could use it to charge the 18650 batt in a vaporizer as well.

14

‘Ti3’ only a model, its aluminum. It is somewhat attracted to my weak fridge magnets because the battery is in it. maybe it would stick to neo?
small enough to use the clip on a hat for a headlamp.

15

The Nitecore Tube is a great keychain light. There are a number of other lights that smoke it for output, throw, etc. that can also go on your keychain, but the Tube carries so insanely well. You won’t notice it’s there until you need it. I have not found a flashlight that carries better. You give up some things, like throw and brightness (Tube 2 maxes out at 55 lumens which IMO is still fine for 95% or more of what you would need a flashlight for in normal office/student life), but you get the easiest carry you’ll ever get in a flashlight worth a darn. The only flashlights that have a smaller footprint use coin or button cells and those are universally terrible and obsolete compared to the modern crop of USB rechargeable keychain lights.

16

the reason these AAA lights are sticking to magnets is because they have eneloop batteries in them. Has nothing to do with the host material.

magnet sandwich above and below the map strap

cell phone holder

I like neodymium magnets when I want small and powerful (stacking makes stronger). There are Neo under the black flashlight in the next two photos.

I recommend the big square magnet, it is very versatile for changing the aim

I do not recommend the Ti3 because it starts on such a low level (0.04 lumens) that I always have to twist twice to get useful light for the majority of my applications. The second mode is 12 lumens, which is slightly lower than my preference.

the main reason I do not recommend the Titanium Ti3 on Amazon now, is because it has Next Mode Memory. iow, it never turns on at the same level… very frustrating… they ruined a perfectly good light.

So, I recommend the maratac aaa, because it start on medium, of about 20 lumens (do not believe the webpage, their output specs are completely non accurate)

I also recommend the Lumintop Tool, from Lumintop, not from drop.com, because the Lumintop version starts on medium… the drop version starts on low, which I disprefer.

warning, on the latest AAA Tool w Tir Lens, they have gone to a driver with last mode memory (at least it is not Next Mode Memory like the latest Thrunite Ti3 Titanium. The light have changed, they are not simple 3 mode lights that always start on the same level, which I prefer.

good luck with your search, let us know what you buy, and how you like it

warning, I bet you cant buy just one… lol
$lippery $lope, if you hang in a forum, you buy more

17

I second the tube. The output is low but for a keychain light it’s small, plastic, built in charging, ramping output, and cheap. The next step up would be a TIP. Built in charging, has an OP reflector, crazy bright. Smaller overall than a AAA still. Con is that it’s a cool white like all Nitecore. It’s more than some other lights but if You consider output and built in battery I think it’s a reasonable cost at $20ish. Metal body. Just buy a micro USB rubber dust cover. That’s my only gripe. Also buy the silver one, since your keys will scratch the crap out of paint and make it two tone if you pick any color other than silver. TIP in action:

18

Anything smaller than an AO1 is pretty much useless I reckon. when you lookong at practicality with something you can grip in your teeth comfortably
Which I find my Triple A’s being held.
Tool AAA also nice ut a little bigger.
O’Light i3T EOS Copper. Just a nice collection piece. Big.Bulky and luverlee.

I find that I’ve taken my battery lights off keyring nowadays and carry a coin type, side press.
$2.50 for 10 del.
That covers 98% of anything I want to do in that sort of range.
There’s always some sort of torch in the cars.Caravan and all over the house.

19

in this genre of usb rechargeable, non user replaceable LiPo battery keychain lights

I nominate

Manker Lad with 219c

tube left, Manker Lad right

no blue tube for me… High CRI is a Priority for me. I am a Famous Tint Snob.

LAD left, tube right…

no PWM for me… I am the Renown and Quixotic PWM Warrior!

the LAD has One button… KISS!
The TIP cant touch that… lol

20

Great now I have that song stuck in my head lol…oh and now I am watching it on YouTube.

I think PWM is ok given the use in a small light as a quick and temporary light source. But that nichia sure is a pleasant tint. I got some 4 and 5000k sst20’s and xpl’s with the plan of upgrading my Nitecore lights to newer LEDs with better tint. If I was buying a AAA pocket light though, I would probably be looking at a 219c.