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).
Had mine on my keys for a year now, no problems. also has a moodlight mode
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.
‘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.
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.
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
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:
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.
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
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.
we agree
in AAA
price notwithstanding
imo this is the light to buy
https://www.ebay.com/itm/303552758029
the taste of quality lingers long after the price has been forgotten
(really?.. lol!)
for these key features
I am not biased, just educated… lol
I have graduated from Twisties actually, that was my first oHolicPhase
I now prefer to use the Tool with eSwitch… simpler, less fine motor skills required under stress… lol
There is also the astrolux m01 with a 219c. The Manker E02 with a 219c would be larger than what I would want on a keychain. But a right angle light with a clip might be more versatile.
Astrolux M01, M02, M03, and all the other 10180 lights, use a finnicky metal plate to choose from 2 modes
the Nichia they use is not your normal nichia… I dont care for it much
I agree the 10180 lights are cute looking, but for me, impractically small battery, other than for occasionally illuminating a keyhole on a car door, maybe… I consider them UnReliable
others differ
I have the manker E02 right angle light with 219c and tail magnet…
I have not learned to appreciate it, because I am not an IT guy working on Server Racks,
but I can see how it could be useful in that setting, and the Nichia is decent
it has a unique programmable first mode, that I like very much it goes from firefly to about 2 lumens, in 21 steps that are user selectable… quite versatile indeed
its a little chunky, and I cannot hold it in my mouth comfortably… I prefer a straight copper tube light for mouth holds…
and as you may know, copper is self sterilizing
My selections, with minimal explanations.
Nicer AAA:
Drop AAA
Lumintop ti tool (all time favorite AAA)
Lumintop worm stainless
Budget AAA:
Thrunite ti3 (I’m actually REALLY digging those one right now)
Sofirn c01s
Anything bigger/heavier than AAA would be too much for me to want to carry on a keychain. The whole point of that IMO is to have a light that will basically ALWAYS be on my person if I leave the house.
Sofirn C01S does everything I want and is one of the cheapest lights I’ve bought.
I just read that the OP wanted watertight. That definitely takes the TIP off the list (and it can pocket activate which you will feel in a short time 
). With the exposed micro usb slot it’s not even dust tight. Maybe the tube also if you are concerned about prolonged submerging. The body seam is not watertight. But it’s also $10 so not the end of the world either. One of mine did not survive the washing machine. I feel like it should have, since both my Sansa Clip and Fuze had gone through the washer and dryer at least twice each and still worked afterwards. The 3rd time the Clip gave up. At least a AAA light won’t be dangerous going through the wash, which is likely once you go that size if you have it loose in a pocket.
Great that we have PWM warrior here. I read your post at the other place some person really hate that you’re listing them.
And guys,
Among C01S, jet-u, edc01 or other light which you think is more usable? Those three have no pwm I suppose?
And,
Is AAA or keychain flashlight really useful? If we don’t take ergonomics and phone battery life info consideration? As The usage time is very limited because of battery limits?
The light you have with you is way more usefull than the really great light you have lying around at home.
I really use my TUBE maybe five times a year, but when I do it’s because I have no other light at Hand and than I’m glad I have my TUBE.
Of course AAA and other small lights are not the ones I would take hiking or to work at night/dark enviroments. These lights are more “just in case I ever need it”.
Edit: Just now was one of the five times I used my TUBE to change the lightbulb in the basement/storage. spared me the trip upstairs to get a light.
Edit 2: I just realized my mistake of not having a dedicated flashlight in my basement storage! shame on me, really.
AAA lights still have really solid runtimes on the lower modes, and you can bump it up when needed.
Personally I’ll take high-CRI whenever I can get it so C01S for me. I have a Jet-u another user here modded with a better LED and the light is very solid and well built too.
The DQG Hobi Plus and its proper 3-mode driver would like a word with you! I just wish I could find a pair of the Ti extension tubes in-stock anywhere…
Your points are actually excellent and I agree but I couldn’t resist.
I also think it’s great that we have a tint/PWN snob with copper hosts coexisting with copper-for-turbo hot-rod enthusiasts. It’s what I love about this forum
