Can't decide on coin cell vs aaa light

[Bonky]

I have to agree. IMHO a guy should have a fauxton on the keychain that he carries 100% of the time and another non-keychain EDC he carries ~90% of the time. Whether it's in a jacket pocket, or clipped on the waistband, clipped on the pocket or whatever. For me, I don't like to look like I'm carrying a baseball around in my pocket so the only two non-keys on the keychain are the car alarm fob and the fauxton.

 

[defloyd77]

I dont think so...You will not be able to see a difference in output between a Q4 and a Q5...

But if the Q4 is yesterday, 5mm leds must be ancient technology :p

I was being sarcastic, the Nichia GS and DS are also rather new and a great choice, so if somebody wishes to say "it's 2008" and what not about these new 5mm leds then I guess it applies to the other leds made around the same time. I'm not putting down the Q4 at all, just pure ironic sarcasm.

 

[geepondy]

I've love to see a runtime comparison between a Streamlight nano and a Photon Freedom (in it's highest setting). I would say from the start, their brightness is about equal although at least in my case, my Freedom has a warmer less blue beam. You figure both lights are going to drop pretty dramatically, pretty quickly but I wonder which one will produce more usable light for a longer time.

I ditched my photon in favor of this little gem for my keychain:

http://www.streamlight.com/product/product.aspx?pid=141

Although it's very lightweight it's a little heavier than the photon type lights. I also keep an L0D in my pants pocket too.

NP

 

[Kevo]

I think the edc perspective is that for most people, myself included, the key ring light is a backup in case your primary edc fails, and to get you to another more powerful light.

This just illustrates to me the differing perspectives people have. I edc my keychain light. That's it. For all this talk of size and weight, I wouldn't expect people to be carrying two lights.

I don't have any more pocket space for a second light. I guess my backup light could be my cell phone. It probably puts out more light than my old coin cell did. It's also useful for emergency calls. :-P

 

[Sub_Umbra]

...Seriously though ... it is all about the mission of the light. Carrying a Photon is not about max. Lumens nor it is about throw. It is the smalles possible emergency EDC, and it wins in the size/weight category. Which is its mission...

Yes.

In the Original Post some of the physical requirements of the light were briefly mentioned but the light's output was pretty much left out of it. AAA compared to 2x cr2016 (or even 1x cr2032) is pretty much apples and oranges however you slice it.

The light I switch on the most is an NV Green Covert Photon Freedom powered by 1x cr2032. I mention this because in spite of the fact that it is by far my most used light, I only have to replace the cell 2-3 times a year. An NV Green PF on high will easily run continously for over 12 days and still have lots left. Contrary to what some have posted our PFs are not expensive to feed at all. Cr2016s and cr2032s may be had for ~35¢ each online. That's just a bit over a buck a year! :D

EDIT: The PF may also be carried backwards, "in the cradle," with the switch protected, which makes it very nearly impossible to accidentally switch on. /EDIT