apurva
Newly Enlightened
- Joined
- Apr 19, 2011
- Messages
- 51
Hello CPFers!*
I need help choosing a keychain LED light and have been doing some reading here. I must say that to the most entusiastic reader, the stuff in CPF takes ages to go through! Love this place! Right now back to my question, I need a keychain light, has to be as tiny as possible for EDC as it has to join my multi tool and a whole bunch of keys. I am also looking for variable light control as I would prefer to own the brightest possible light and then not have to use it in the brightest setting all the time to conserve power, as I assume power would be expensive in a tiny light with small batteries. I need it to be waterproof as I stay in a place where it rains for 6 months a year. I have explored quite a few of the AAA lights and I dont think they are small enough for me to dangle into my keychain, so I am guessing I need some kind of light with rechargable batteries. So here is what I have found and shortlisted so far -*
Photon Rex - http://www.photonlight.com/products/Photon-ReX-Li%2dIon-Rechargeable-LED-Micro%2dLight.html - This seems to fit my requirement specifications the most! Probably the lightest in the category i think. However not quite as cool and sexy looking as the cool metal lights that some of you have showcased on the CPF, also I am not sure if they are waterproof.*
Lummi Wee - http://www.lummi.co.uk/Wee_NS.html or the Lummi Rex -* http://www.lummi.co.uk/Raw_Ti.html - I have been drooling over the pictures on the website over and over now! These lights are absolutely stunning and would definately be my first choice, only thing holding me back on them are that they are not immediately available for purchase as the site says there is a wait time of atleast 30 days and I have been reading about people having issues with getting their deliveries. So I think even if i dont buy this light light now, eventually i surely will get one of these. (And which version and metal to choose would be a question for a different thread *
Aeon - http://www.muyshondt.net/aeon.shtml - Seems to be a cool alternative to Lummi's lights, havent read much about this one
Surefire T1A Titan - http://www.surefire.com/The-T1A-Titan - Surefire seems to be a reliable brand and these are available to buy from Ebay / Amazon (Makes it easy for me to order and get easy delivery)
Leatherman Monarch 200 - http://www.photonlight.com/products/Leatherman-Monarch-200-Mini-LED-Keychain-Flashlight.html - Looks cute, i dont think its very bright, shortlisted this as I like Leatherman tools. Though i read somewhere on CPF Leatherman has stopped selling these, but they are still available on Ebay
Sunwayman V10R Ti - http://www.sunwayman.com/html/products/201012/46.html - found this from a banner ad on CPF, looks cool but have no info about it and dunno how to buy it! the site doesnt sell em (but they spend on banner ads?) Would love to know more about these.
Fenix Digital LD01 R4 - https://www.fenix-store.com/product_info.php?cPath=22&products_id=2477 - I know its AAA but from all the EDC and keychain threads i read, a lot of people said they used this every day, so I added it to the mix.
I read about a lot of model numbers on the forums without relevant names to assist me in googling the lights out, so am pretty sure I missed quite a few suitable lights. Reading so many model numbers and TLAs can make you dizzy! (hence I've put full names to the lights above with links to them Please feel free to point out to something that might fit my requirements and have missed.*
FInally, the answers to the CPF Flashlight Recommendation Checklist,*
1) How would you prefer to purchase the light?
____I would like to purchase the light from a brick and mortar store. I am located in ______________.
X____I will be mail-ordering or buying online, so this doesn't matter.
2) Budget: An easy question, but you may change your mind after answering the rest!
____Less than $25.
____Less than $50.*
____Less than $100.*
X____Less than $150.*
____Less than $300.
____I have no limit.
____I'm flexible, tell me what you gotJ.
____Other, please specify ________
3) Format:*
X____I want a flashlight.
____I want a headlamp.
____I want a lantern.
____I want a dive light.
____I want a portable spotlight.
4) Flashlight-specific format/size:
X____Keychain size.
X____Every day carry small (2-4 inches).
____Every day carry medium (4-7 inches).
____Holster carry.
____Big enough to need its own travel caseJ.
____I don't care.
____I don't know.
____N/A
5) Emitter/Light source:
X____LED (known for efficiency, longevity, and compactness)
____Incandescent (known for superior color rendition)
____HID (known for max output, but often at the expense of size)
____I don't know.
6) Manufacturer:
X____I want to buy a light from a traditional mass producing manufacturer that is ready to go out of the box.
X____I would consider getting a light that is pieced together (for example a "host" or flashlight body from one manufacturer, and a "drop-in" emitter from another source). Under the right circumstances, this path can provide more options to the consumer to meet specific needs, and can often be easily upgradeable as technology improves.
7) What battery type do you want to use?
____I intend to use alkaline batteries (AAA, AA, C, D) (disclaimer, while it does not preclude all choices, these are not recommended for many of today's most powerful lights)
X____I intend to use rechargeable nickel chemistry (NiCad, NiMH, NiZn)
____I intend to use lithium primary batteries (CR123, CR2, Energizer Advanced/Ultimate Lithium AA/AAA)
X____I intend to use rechargeable lithium (li-ion) chemistry. Feel free to specify a size if you know which size you want (14500, RCR123/16340, 17500, 17670, 18650, etc.)
X____I want a light with an integrated rechargeable battery. (Note: these choices may be very limited unless you are looking at spotlights)
8) How much genuine out the front (OTF) light do you want/need? Sometimes you can have too much light (trying to read up close up with a 100 lumen light is impossible).*
____I want to navigate a dark room or read a map (0-10 lumens).
X____I want to walk around an unlit rural area (50-150 lumens).
X____I want to illuminate my entire backyard or a campsite (150-300 lumens).
____I want to illuminate an entire field, the neighbor's front yard several houses down, impress my friends and neighbors, etc. (300-700 lumens).
____I want ridiculous amounts of lumens (800+ lumens).
9) Throw vs. Flood: At what distance will you be most likely to use this light? Select all that apply.
____Less than 1 yard/meter (reading, other close work)
____Less than 5 yards/meters (looking for something inside a dark shed/garage/basement)
____5-20 yards/meters (check out a noise in the backyard)
X____30-50 yards/meters (I have a big backyard)
X____50-150 yards/meters (I live in a very rural area/farm with wide open spaces)
____150+ yards (I want maximum throw possible)
10) Runtime: Not over-inflated manufacturer runtime claims, but usable brightness measured from first activation to 50% with new batteries (Measured on maximum output).
____Up to 30 minutes (I want the brightest [and potentially smallest] light for brief periods)*
____30-60 minutes (I have plenty of batteries just ready to be changed)
X____90-120 minutes (Runtime is moderately important, but still not critical)
____3 hours + (I critically need this light to run on max for extended periods in between battery changes/charges).
11) Durability/Usage: Generally the old phrase "you get what you pay for" is very accurate for flashlights.*
____Not Important (A "night-stand" light).
____Slightly Important (Walks around the neighborhood).
X____Very Important (Camping, Backpacking, Car Glove-box).
____Critical (Police, Fire, Search & Rescue, Caving, Survival).
____I don't care.
____I don't know.
12) Switch Type and location (choose all that apply):*
____I want a forward clicky (Helpful for momentary activation and signaling).
____I want a reverse clicky (For use with multi-mode/level lights).
____I want a momentary switch (Predominantly for use with signaling and short bursts of momentary light only).
____I want a twisty switch (Tighten the head/tailcap to activate, and the light will stay on until the head/tailcap is loosened).
____I want a body mounted switch (near the head, like on a Maglite).
____I want a tail mounted switch (found on the majority of today's high end lights).
____I don't care.
X____I don't know.
____Other, please specify____________________.
13) User Interface (UI) and mode selection. Select all that apply.*
____A simple on-off with only one output level is fine for me.
____I want 2 light levels. (Brighter/short runtime and Dimmer/long runtime.)*
X____I want multiple light levels. (Some lights have 5-16 light levels.)*
X____I want a programmable light.
____I want a selector ring.
____I want a strobe mode. (Blinks to show location.)
____I want SOS mode.
____I want a beacon mode.
____I don't care.
____I don't know.
14)Material/Finish/Coating
____Plastic/composite body (this may limit your choices significantly).
____Anodized Aluminum – either type II or III (Hard Anodized) (Aluminum, specifically HA, is the most common material/finish for today's flashlights).
____Stainless steel (durable, but much heavier than aluminum)
____Titanium (durable and nearly as lightweight as aluminum, but can be moderately to significantly more expensive).
____I don't care.
X____I don't know.
____Other, please specify____________.
15) Special Needs/extras: Is there anything else you want or need that hasn't been mentioned? Select any below.
____Red filter (for preserving night vision).
____Other filter colors (Amber, Green, Blue, _________).
____Dedicated R/G/B secondary LEDs.
____"Hybrid" light (bright incandescent combined with long running LEDs)
____Pocket/belt clip
____Holster
____Wrist/Neck Lanyard
____Crenulated bezel
____Non-sparking Intrinsically Safe (IS) for use in explosive environments
Thanks for any help, this is probably one of the coolest forums I have signed up to!*
I need help choosing a keychain LED light and have been doing some reading here. I must say that to the most entusiastic reader, the stuff in CPF takes ages to go through! Love this place! Right now back to my question, I need a keychain light, has to be as tiny as possible for EDC as it has to join my multi tool and a whole bunch of keys. I am also looking for variable light control as I would prefer to own the brightest possible light and then not have to use it in the brightest setting all the time to conserve power, as I assume power would be expensive in a tiny light with small batteries. I need it to be waterproof as I stay in a place where it rains for 6 months a year. I have explored quite a few of the AAA lights and I dont think they are small enough for me to dangle into my keychain, so I am guessing I need some kind of light with rechargable batteries. So here is what I have found and shortlisted so far -*
Photon Rex - http://www.photonlight.com/products/Photon-ReX-Li%2dIon-Rechargeable-LED-Micro%2dLight.html - This seems to fit my requirement specifications the most! Probably the lightest in the category i think. However not quite as cool and sexy looking as the cool metal lights that some of you have showcased on the CPF, also I am not sure if they are waterproof.*
Lummi Wee - http://www.lummi.co.uk/Wee_NS.html or the Lummi Rex -* http://www.lummi.co.uk/Raw_Ti.html - I have been drooling over the pictures on the website over and over now! These lights are absolutely stunning and would definately be my first choice, only thing holding me back on them are that they are not immediately available for purchase as the site says there is a wait time of atleast 30 days and I have been reading about people having issues with getting their deliveries. So I think even if i dont buy this light light now, eventually i surely will get one of these. (And which version and metal to choose would be a question for a different thread *
Aeon - http://www.muyshondt.net/aeon.shtml - Seems to be a cool alternative to Lummi's lights, havent read much about this one
Surefire T1A Titan - http://www.surefire.com/The-T1A-Titan - Surefire seems to be a reliable brand and these are available to buy from Ebay / Amazon (Makes it easy for me to order and get easy delivery)
Leatherman Monarch 200 - http://www.photonlight.com/products/Leatherman-Monarch-200-Mini-LED-Keychain-Flashlight.html - Looks cute, i dont think its very bright, shortlisted this as I like Leatherman tools. Though i read somewhere on CPF Leatherman has stopped selling these, but they are still available on Ebay
Sunwayman V10R Ti - http://www.sunwayman.com/html/products/201012/46.html - found this from a banner ad on CPF, looks cool but have no info about it and dunno how to buy it! the site doesnt sell em (but they spend on banner ads?) Would love to know more about these.
Fenix Digital LD01 R4 - https://www.fenix-store.com/product_info.php?cPath=22&products_id=2477 - I know its AAA but from all the EDC and keychain threads i read, a lot of people said they used this every day, so I added it to the mix.
I read about a lot of model numbers on the forums without relevant names to assist me in googling the lights out, so am pretty sure I missed quite a few suitable lights. Reading so many model numbers and TLAs can make you dizzy! (hence I've put full names to the lights above with links to them Please feel free to point out to something that might fit my requirements and have missed.*
FInally, the answers to the CPF Flashlight Recommendation Checklist,*
1) How would you prefer to purchase the light?
____I would like to purchase the light from a brick and mortar store. I am located in ______________.
X____I will be mail-ordering or buying online, so this doesn't matter.
2) Budget: An easy question, but you may change your mind after answering the rest!
____Less than $25.
____Less than $50.*
____Less than $100.*
X____Less than $150.*
____Less than $300.
____I have no limit.
____I'm flexible, tell me what you gotJ.
____Other, please specify ________
3) Format:*
X____I want a flashlight.
____I want a headlamp.
____I want a lantern.
____I want a dive light.
____I want a portable spotlight.
4) Flashlight-specific format/size:
X____Keychain size.
X____Every day carry small (2-4 inches).
____Every day carry medium (4-7 inches).
____Holster carry.
____Big enough to need its own travel caseJ.
____I don't care.
____I don't know.
____N/A
5) Emitter/Light source:
X____LED (known for efficiency, longevity, and compactness)
____Incandescent (known for superior color rendition)
____HID (known for max output, but often at the expense of size)
____I don't know.
6) Manufacturer:
X____I want to buy a light from a traditional mass producing manufacturer that is ready to go out of the box.
X____I would consider getting a light that is pieced together (for example a "host" or flashlight body from one manufacturer, and a "drop-in" emitter from another source). Under the right circumstances, this path can provide more options to the consumer to meet specific needs, and can often be easily upgradeable as technology improves.
7) What battery type do you want to use?
____I intend to use alkaline batteries (AAA, AA, C, D) (disclaimer, while it does not preclude all choices, these are not recommended for many of today's most powerful lights)
X____I intend to use rechargeable nickel chemistry (NiCad, NiMH, NiZn)
____I intend to use lithium primary batteries (CR123, CR2, Energizer Advanced/Ultimate Lithium AA/AAA)
X____I intend to use rechargeable lithium (li-ion) chemistry. Feel free to specify a size if you know which size you want (14500, RCR123/16340, 17500, 17670, 18650, etc.)
X____I want a light with an integrated rechargeable battery. (Note: these choices may be very limited unless you are looking at spotlights)
8) How much genuine out the front (OTF) light do you want/need? Sometimes you can have too much light (trying to read up close up with a 100 lumen light is impossible).*
____I want to navigate a dark room or read a map (0-10 lumens).
X____I want to walk around an unlit rural area (50-150 lumens).
X____I want to illuminate my entire backyard or a campsite (150-300 lumens).
____I want to illuminate an entire field, the neighbor's front yard several houses down, impress my friends and neighbors, etc. (300-700 lumens).
____I want ridiculous amounts of lumens (800+ lumens).
9) Throw vs. Flood: At what distance will you be most likely to use this light? Select all that apply.
____Less than 1 yard/meter (reading, other close work)
____Less than 5 yards/meters (looking for something inside a dark shed/garage/basement)
____5-20 yards/meters (check out a noise in the backyard)
X____30-50 yards/meters (I have a big backyard)
X____50-150 yards/meters (I live in a very rural area/farm with wide open spaces)
____150+ yards (I want maximum throw possible)
10) Runtime: Not over-inflated manufacturer runtime claims, but usable brightness measured from first activation to 50% with new batteries (Measured on maximum output).
____Up to 30 minutes (I want the brightest [and potentially smallest] light for brief periods)*
____30-60 minutes (I have plenty of batteries just ready to be changed)
X____90-120 minutes (Runtime is moderately important, but still not critical)
____3 hours + (I critically need this light to run on max for extended periods in between battery changes/charges).
11) Durability/Usage: Generally the old phrase "you get what you pay for" is very accurate for flashlights.*
____Not Important (A "night-stand" light).
____Slightly Important (Walks around the neighborhood).
X____Very Important (Camping, Backpacking, Car Glove-box).
____Critical (Police, Fire, Search & Rescue, Caving, Survival).
____I don't care.
____I don't know.
12) Switch Type and location (choose all that apply):*
____I want a forward clicky (Helpful for momentary activation and signaling).
____I want a reverse clicky (For use with multi-mode/level lights).
____I want a momentary switch (Predominantly for use with signaling and short bursts of momentary light only).
____I want a twisty switch (Tighten the head/tailcap to activate, and the light will stay on until the head/tailcap is loosened).
____I want a body mounted switch (near the head, like on a Maglite).
____I want a tail mounted switch (found on the majority of today's high end lights).
____I don't care.
X____I don't know.
____Other, please specify____________________.
13) User Interface (UI) and mode selection. Select all that apply.*
____A simple on-off with only one output level is fine for me.
____I want 2 light levels. (Brighter/short runtime and Dimmer/long runtime.)*
X____I want multiple light levels. (Some lights have 5-16 light levels.)*
X____I want a programmable light.
____I want a selector ring.
____I want a strobe mode. (Blinks to show location.)
____I want SOS mode.
____I want a beacon mode.
____I don't care.
____I don't know.
14)Material/Finish/Coating
____Plastic/composite body (this may limit your choices significantly).
____Anodized Aluminum – either type II or III (Hard Anodized) (Aluminum, specifically HA, is the most common material/finish for today's flashlights).
____Stainless steel (durable, but much heavier than aluminum)
____Titanium (durable and nearly as lightweight as aluminum, but can be moderately to significantly more expensive).
____I don't care.
X____I don't know.
____Other, please specify____________.
15) Special Needs/extras: Is there anything else you want or need that hasn't been mentioned? Select any below.
____Red filter (for preserving night vision).
____Other filter colors (Amber, Green, Blue, _________).
____Dedicated R/G/B secondary LEDs.
____"Hybrid" light (bright incandescent combined with long running LEDs)
____Pocket/belt clip
____Holster
____Wrist/Neck Lanyard
____Crenulated bezel
____Non-sparking Intrinsically Safe (IS) for use in explosive environments
Thanks for any help, this is probably one of the coolest forums I have signed up to!*