I've been carrying an AKOray K-102 SSC for over six years. I swapped out the SSC emitter for an XP-E, built a custom driver with switch selectable low-voltage cut-off for either AAA NiMh or 10440 LiIon. I use it any time I need it, once a week or ten times a day. The AAA size makes it comfortable to mouth hold.
It is well made - square threads, secure pocket clip and makes a good host. The finish is showing wear, but not unusual. The boot tore off once and had to be replaced. I actually made two, one cool white, one warm white. The CW was my favorite - till I lost it :( So now I like warm white... I may swap in a new XP-E2 just to kick it up a notch.
If you found the one I lost, just charge it and enjoy it.
Lately I've been EDC'ing a Hugsby XP-1 clipped to a pocket. I usually just have one of those cheap 5mm thin plastic squeezy keychain lights on my keychain, but been thinking about upgrading.
Olight eos i3 with 10440 and soon a lumintop tool with 10440 as well.
Fell back in love with these AAA size lights since I’ve realized bigger lights just stay on the shelf…
AA in sipik sk68 lights is about the biggest size I find practical.
Is it a AA or AAA or lion? AAA or 10440
Why’d you choose that one? Small, bright, lightweight
How long have you been carrying it? 1 year
How often do you use it? daily
How’s it working for you? ‘isn’t there’ until needed
How’s the wear-n-tear on the finish? non existing
Do you carry more than one? not yet
It could be a Ti3, L10, SF5 NW, SF3 NW, or V11R in my pocket at any given time, and in some rare cases a D40A or larger, throwy light depending on circumstances, like a while back when a neighbor came to the door looking for people to help look for her lost cat.
I recently changed my keychain light from a copper Maratac with Nichia 219A 92CRI (Efest 10440) to a neutral DQG AAA SS, just because after two years I wanted something different. The Maratac will probably come back at some point. My pocket light is a 16340 cheapy with 3mode 1400mA NANJG driver and a Nichia 219B 92CRI dedomed on a Noctigon: best tint, best EDC ever!!
Sunwayman V10R. Just over 3 years old and has been in my pocket every day.
The V10R is perfect for me. I got it for several reasons. The infinitely variable control ring, the shape and look, the great anodizing that Sunwayman does, and I wanted 16340 battery size for my edc. The paint is acrylic, and I have it so I can easily see minimum and maximum output. This picture is from a couple days ago.
Also, I have my DQG Spy that I wear on my Ti necklace. I am very attached to it (pun intended), and wear it every day. I use it almost every day as well, as it’s always around my neck and is a great “go to the bathroom in the middle of the night” type of light. Being as it’s on my necklace, it’s also easy to hold in my lips without even taking it off the chain .
Using a TubeVn for keychain, it replaced my Fenix E05SSvn (1100 led lumens using 10440) but I’m kinda missing it.
TubeVn is very light and small though…
The S2 was going to be my EDC but I found a small holster I had laying around that holds my JAX mini C8 perfectly. I tried carrying a standard C8 in a holster but that was little bulky. I already have too much stuff in my pockets when I go out.
Is it a AA or AAA or lion? No. 4xAG3 button cells.
Why’d you choose that one? Right size and weight, 48mmx10mm, 10g.
How long have you been carrying it? 3 years.
How often do you use it? A couple of times a week.
How’s it working for you? Great, I've since bought another for a friend and they love it.
How’s the wear-n-tear on the finish? Excellent, it's getting that stonewashed look, the aluminium showing through on the tips of the knurling and round the front rim just like a torch that's been on a bunch of keys for three years. :)
Do you carry more than one? Yes, a Nitecore MT2A run on AA Eneloops in my "manbag", Maxpedition Fatty organizer that fits in my cargo pants thigh pocket. It contains two spare sets of Eneloops, diffuser and all sorts of goodies. I don't use this as much as I should, the LEDLenser gets more use but it's good to know that there's hours of light if I need it. Around the house there are many Solarforce L2 series lights that I can grab on the way out if I think they're needed. I use them a lot for ceiling bounce when taking photos.
Just replaced all my Photon lights with Nitecore Tubes. Lots of light when needed, simple user interface and USB rechargeable. And the best thing is, my wife really likes her pink one.
I currently keychain carry a ThruNite Titanium AAA light (Christmas Edition XML) running an Energizer Lithium. This recently replaced a 4Sevens Preon ReVO which I carried everyday for about 4 years and was still working perfectly, just looking severely worn and it had a damaged reflector (I believe from water intrusion when I accidentally took it to 100 feet scuba diving…)
I generally also EDC an Eagletac D25A Ti XML2, powered by a Trustfire 14500, clipped inside my front pants pocket or the small “ticket” pocket if I’m wearing jeans. In my job I frequently leave my keychain in my bag, and the Eagletac becomes my only light. It gets a lot of use, for me having a small, instantly accessible clicky that starts in low is extremely handy, and with the 14500 it’ll go very bright if need be. The keychain light is less handy, so it gets less use, which is why I run it on a primary, not a rechargeable.
Neither of these are really “budget” lights but for my EDC I really appreciate a bit of Titanium bling and resistance to getting banged up.
I carry a 18650 Convoy S8 with a black Titanium coated Fenix PD35 clip, black tailcap boot, triple XP-L and BLF17DD driver, solid copper spacer, and a Carlco 10511 optic.
I wanted the most light possible in a “tube” 18650 format, and triple XP-L is the way to go for that! I like the Convoy brand in general, and the clip placement on the S8 is just perfect for me: leaves just enough of the light poking out of my pocket to grab.
I’ve been carrying the host for about six months, but I just put the triple in it about a week ago. Before that it had an XP-L V5 3D at 3 amps.
I generally use it 3-4 times a day, depending on what I’m doing that day.
Works great, I love it! The only complaint that I have is that there is audible PWM on modes 3, 4, and 5 of the 6-mode STAR firmware that RMM flashed his Direct Drive drivers with before he got guppydrv. Oh, and there is just a hint of green in the tint, but that tends to happen when you dedome LED’s (to fit under the XP optic)…
The finish is holding up beautifully, but it doesn’t get tossed around much, since it is clipped to my pocket all day.
At some point, I plan on getting a good AAA/10440 light to carry as a backup, probably the Thrunite Ti3, but I haven’t gotten one yet.
DQG AAA clicky NW
Is it a AA or AAA or lion? AAA, should be 10440 too
Why’d you choose that one? Stainless steel, small, NW, clicky
How long have you been carrying it? 2-3 months?
How often do you use it? daily
How’s it working for you? great, with the exception that it doesn’t work with LiIon. waiting for a replacement
How’s the wear-n-tear on the finish? great, main reason for searching for SS
Do you carry more than one? just one
The one I mostly use is on my key chain. It is currently a Smiling Shark SS-5039, with an Efest 10440, a pill made from a copper pipe, a BLF Tiny 10 driver with 3 x 7135 current regulator chips and a Nanjg 105c two group controller with hidden flashy modes, and a neutral white XP-G. Smiling Shark SS-5039 1 x AAA size flashlight, modification notes, Now 3 x 7135 with modes, on a BLF Tiny 10 board. post #107 and following. I will probably go back to the driverless twisty some time.
Why’d you choose that one? Very bright, looks and feels good, regulated, two mode groups / Very small and light, good pocket clip, three modes, red, somewhat moisture resistant
How long have you been carrying it? 3 months / 10 years
How often do you use it? Twice a day / Every week
How’s it working for you? No problems / Replaced one that started to malfunction and one that got lost
How’s the wear-n-tear on the finish? The anodizing wears off at the edges. / Some of the rubber switch boot tore.
I use an Inova with the coin batteries with my keys and when its dead it will be replaced with a nitecore tube, the tube will be the best light for a keyring for a long time.
