Just rec’d several of both kinds mentioned in the first post — 35mm Boyou and 26mm “Compact 316”
I like the much stronger spring on both, compared to those I have been using.
I’d learned caution with my previously purchased smaller clips
(26mm, mini, micro; stamped either with “MM” in a circle, and sometimes a 2 or 3; or stamped with the “Sun” icon from Suncor)
Used on a belt loop, if sitting or turning made the light or keys rotate, the spring could open from sideways pressure, and the clip fall off.
I’ve been happy with my older 34 mm clips — Suncors from Berkeleypoint like this:
(they now sell the clips made by Don McLeish, I’ve never had those to compare).
Suncor are identified as being Stainless 316 alloy — same as the more expensive smaller ones from CQG.
I don’t know what the Boyous are — they say “stainless steel” but nothing more.
They are so shiny I wondered as someone else did above if they’re chrome plated.
Noticeable difference between the Boyou and the older 34mm — the gap opening is smaller on the Boyou.
its base area (where the holes are) is a bit bigger, extending up a little further toward the ‘hook’ and the hook
part is slightly longer, so that the gap covered by the spring is smaller.
That means the Suncor “34mm” snaps easily over a rod the diameter of an ordinary wooden pencil because the
opening is larger, but then the slightly longer spring interferes a bit more getting the pencil up into the curve of the hook.
The same pencil is quite tight in the opening of the Boyou, gets gouged a bit when squeezed through the smaller gap,
but then the somewhat shorter spring doesn’t interfere after that getting the pencil into the curve of the hook.
That’s a somewhat significant difference for convenience — I often hang my clipped lights and keys on rods like a grill or over a wall-mounted ring.
The metal there is pencil-diameter and so the clips feel quite different in this particular use.
Only other notable difference: on all the other clips I’ve had,
and also on the CQG 26mm “Compact 316” clips,
the holes for the wire spring go all the way through the body.
I prefer that — I can see that the spring wire is cut long enough, and is deeply seated in the holes.
The 35mm Boyou has blind holes — can’t tell how deeply the spring wire is seated because the holes don’t go all the way through.
Can’t be sure the holes are deep enough and the wire cut long enough to be securely socketed.
If not, over time gunge could build up in the hole and cause the spring to bind, or to back out if it’s short.
But that’s not a big worry.