That was my thinking. I have a dedicated 18650 S2+ and a shorty with a long tube if needs be. I think the shorty makes for a fine, fine light (easy enough to put another 18350 in pocket with caps on for reserve power). There is something about the weight, length and feel - can’t describe it. I’ll be turning one of the S2+ I have into a triple soon for something different.
If you’re in FL, why not order your Convoys from Mountain Electronics? My last order from them was a revelation. The two lights I received both had tail switches that worked as advertised (instead of the multiple clicks needed for the Chinese ones), the threads were lubed and I’m pretty sure someone had actually looked at the lights before shipping. Given the chance I’ll pay the premium (even here in Europe) and order from them again when it comes to Convoys - they’ll get here quicker and I know they’ll work correctly.
So what is the flashlight you carry in your pocket and/or on your keychain?
Astrolux A01
Is it a AA or AAA or lion? AAA
Why’d you choose that one? Small size. I just love the diminutive size of the A01. I tried carrying an L3 Illumination L11C Nichia 219B (4 mode), but found that AA was larger than I liked. I did not want to get anything smaller than AAA because batteries become more exotic at that point. I also carried an AAA-fueled BLF-348 for a while before switching to the smaller A01.
How long have you been carrying it? Ever since it was released about a year ago. It rides below my wallet in my front pants pocket. It practically disappears.
How often do you use it? 4 or 5 days out of 7.
How’s it working for you? Great. Never had any problems. The Nichia 219B tint is wonderful.
How’s the wear-n-tear on the finish? It's in mint condition, but only because I carry my keys and coins in a different pocket than my flashlight.
Do you carry more than one? Not on my person. In my daypack, however, I carry a ZebraLight SC62w and a Nitecore Tube. I also have a few lights in my vehicle.
Is it a AA or AAA or lion? AAA
Why’d you choose that one? Like the look and the tint.
How long have you been carrying it? A little over 5 month
How often do you use it? Daily
How’s it working for you? Love it.
How’s the wear-n-tear on the finish? Awesome… like the patina
Do you carry more than one? No.
Never really have a keychain light before. Now this little Nichia modifed Fenix E05 is perfect for almost all my daily needs. I have 10 with different Nichias. 5700K for all purpose, 4000K for outdoor, 3000K for a date (very useful in an overly dim candle lit seafood dinner)
I currently have a Tank 007 E09, and have had it for around 2 years if I remember correctly.
I use Panasonic/Sanyo Eneloops for it, AAA rechargeable.
I chose it as at the time it seemed a very good option for the price, and is also small enough to keep on my keyring without being too big. It also is very bright for a torch of its size, at least to me.
I have been carrying it on my keyring since I bought it, so around 2 years.
I guess I use it every couple of days, whenever it comes in handy. It is what I use when I take out the rubbish the night before it is collected in the dark.
It is working great for me, so good in fact that when my Mum saw it, she also got me to order her one, and she has it on her keyring too.
The finish is a bit scratched up, but I expect that from being on my keyring. There is no dents or cracks, just scratches and scuffs.
I only carry this flashlight on my keyring, and I gather that makes it my EDC flashlight.
Keychain: Manker Lad. It’s flat, it’s rechargeable, good enough lumens, fits my way of carrying my keychain, high quality.
EDC: the Manker. In car: Convoy S2+. Small, a lot of light, cheap but good quality.
SHTF: Nitecore EC4SW does it all and is awesome quality. LOL and all my other lights not mentioned in this post
Show-off and general purpose (the one I grab): Astrolux S14ss
Packed with my Leatherman: Olight S15 Baton. Small enough to fit in the Leatherman’s pouch, reliable and handy for all the stuff you need the Leatherman for.
Bedroom low-light: Astrolux S01 or Lumintop Reylight Ti. Small, handy, easy interface, good low-light performance and colour.
Wanted to comment on the Superlight. Still have mine and it’s still going strong. IIRC, it was $2 or $3 when I got it back in 2015. I got an Acebeam L10 at the same time and the L10 crapped out shortly after I got it. It works with a 14500 but not an AA. The Superlight on the other hand has no issues with either a 14500 or AA. I put a little metal tape on the threads to tighten it up and it has been fantastic.
Hard to beat an inexpensive light that just keeps working!
!Is it a AA or AAA or lion? Why’d you choose that one? How long have you been carrying it? How often do you use it? How’s it working for you? How’s the wear-n-tear on the finish? Do you carry more than one?!
Is it a AA or AAA or lion? AAA
Why’d you choose that one? love the Copper
How long have you been carrying it? since summer last year
How often do you use it? stick everday in my keychain
How’s it working for you? it work as it should
How’s the wear-n-tear on the finish? a little damage on the head
Do you carry more than one? nah, why you need more than 1 light in keychain
Is it a AA or AAA or lion? AAA
Why’d you choose that one? Like the Cu, the feel and the switch!.
How long have you been carrying it? 6 months or so.
How often do you use it? Every day.
How’s it working for you? I’m very happy
How’s the wear-n-tear on the finish? Great enough
Do you carry more than one? No just this.
So what is the flashlight you carry: A clear Nitecore Tube. It’s small, super lightweight, not the best tint, but plenty bright when I need it. And it seems the battery does not deplete from non-use. I’ll charge it every 6 months or so just to be sure.
Is it a AA or AAA or lion? Lithium ion.
Why’d you choose that one? Inexpensive, pretty cool looking, and small.
How long have you been carrying it? 2 years.
How often do you use it? Once a month.
How’s it working for you? Perfect for what I need it for, which is a handy back-up light with my keys.
How’s the wear-n-tear on the finish? Still looks brand new.
On mine I’ve got my SAK (Tinker), Thrunite TiS, tic key and peanut lighter. Peanut lighters rock!
The best thing is the little pocket suspension clip that keeps it all straight in my pocket rather than bunched up at the bottom of my pocket. Best thing since sliced bread.
keyring.1aaa brass homebrew.3 cree pure white 5mm with a joulthief circuit i made of tiny smt parts.head potted in jbweld.
been on my ring about 8 years now.
edc.arc-ls 2aa,luxeon k2tffc running at 666ma.
spare.flat lipo powered unknown led with a arm based minicomputer and control program.
Funny thing, today I was thinking about a thread like this and now I found this one
So, I’ll answer the questions! This is my EDC set of flashlights on the pockets (the I have more 2 or 3 on the backpack and in a small bag… :person_facepalming: )
- I needed a small flashlight for my office keychain, and the K2 was laying around with no use! I need it only for some short-range things (if I drop something and can’t see it in the office).
- Having a small light on home keychain is always a plus! This is the smallest one I have and is perfect for entering the building and get to my door without using the stairs illumination!
- I needed a small flashlight (not so small as the others above) to carry with me with a type of battery that can be easily replaceable and that has a simple UI (3 modes + strobe, no memory). I use carry in the coin pocket and use it for small range illumination normally indoor.
- The FW switch and the simple UI (2 modes, no memory) allow to use it in different occasions, specially when a short burst of light like a signal is needed, but also for mid range illumination.
How long have you been carrying it?
- 4 or 5 months
- 4 or 5 years
- 4 months
- 3 months
How often do you use it?
- 2 or 3 times a day (for real; for the “twist” fun, 30 times a day :D)
- 4 or 5 times a month
- 2 or 3 times a day
- 10 times a day
How’s it working for you?
- Great, for the amount of luminosity provided! Not the best beam or tint, but works fine
- Good too, when I need to use it is 80% reliable (sometimes the “twist” doesn’t work well and the contacts may be dirty… :disappointed: )
- Always good! Never had a problem!
- Super!! It is the flashlight I carry all the time with me, day and night! Great quality and always reliable (except when batteries are empty… :p)
How’s the wear-n-tear on the finish?
- Being near to keys and knives, it wears quite fast, but the anodizing was not that hard. It has a nice “patina”
- Grey is vanishing and it’s becoming “rosy”, like it it was copper or something! The led is exposed but it is not damaged at all :sunglasses:
- 3 months were not enough to make it get much “naked” but it starts showing some marks of use that I like! Anodizing is nice!!
- It has felt some times so it’s more about the tears than the wear Anodizing is super good, so it won’t wear easily
Do you carry more than one?
Well…I guess the above answers….answer it
Besides these 4, on the backpack I normally carry a Convoy S2 Triple+ (18350), a Sofirn SP10B (XPL-HI) with AA inside, and a Nitecore TIP XP-G2 ! It’s this too much? :person_facepalming: Lol!
I carry a Nitecore Tip. Have had it for a year and it is a little dinged up but oh well. If I knew now then I would have got the silver one. Sure it would show less wear. Still works as good as day one. 350 lumens of power if I need it. Think I have used it once. I carry a Jaxman E2L in my pocket.
Just recently modified my keyring setup again to now include.
47's Atom Triple XP-L HI v2 1A 1700lm H17F with reverse clicky tail switch.
DQG Hobi Ti+ Seoul Viosys 365nm UV flashlight with 10250 cell & Petrol lighter.
DQG Ti 532nm green laser with tail switch.
CRX Ti mini ferrocerium rod.
True Utility Telescpoic pen.
Slim steel folding Nail clippers.
Tec Accessories Ti Tritium fob.
Lights are on magnetic holders.
32mm Titanium split ring.