Keychain LED light similar to Mag Solitaire?

[dusty99]

I posted this below at the end of a thread that mentioned the Thrunite Firefly, but got no responses. Looking at its dimensions made me wonder whether there was an LED light out there that was close to the dimensions of the little Maglite Solitaire. Does anyone know of one? Maybe that form factor is too hard to keep an LED cool? Is the Thrunite Ti as close to that size as I can get with decent output? And for those of you who have had both, is the Ti 3/60L a more practical choice than the .04/60L?

Thanks.

 

[NCF8710]

The iTP A3 EOS Upgraded Version is very similar in size to the MagLight Solitaire. It is 2.66" long and 0.55" diameter and costs $20. It is equipped with a Cree XP-G R5 emitter. This light has three distinct output levels and starts on low. Low level is more than enough to find your way in the dark. It will run several hours (mfr. claims 50) at that level. The mid level is much brighter and the high level is impressively bright. I can light the side of my house at 100' at the high setting. I recommend and use an Energizer Ultimate Lithium AAA cell in this light. If you intend to use this light frequently, use a NiMH rechargeable cell (Duraloop or Eneloop). Do not use an alkaline cell in this or any other good light. I ruined my Solitaire with a leaking alkaline cell.

 

[hiuintahs]

Olight has decided to integrate the iTP A3 EOS into the Olight i3. Not sure you can get the A3 very easily. I'm not that familiar with the Thrunite Ti but it is less expensive than the i3. For the price sure wouldn't hurt to check it out. Can get those in different colors too.

For me I'd get the 3/60L version rather than the firefly (.04/60L)...........it's a matter of preference.

The Olight i3 is 2.5/20/70 lumens. A light this size can handle the heat dissipation of 70 lumens. 60 lumens on the Thrunite Ti wouldn't be a problem either.

 

[Andy13186]

I have a maratac AAA and its the light i use the most of any lights. They also recently upgraded the light. I have a polished electro plated one for myself on my keychain, which is the old version, and I just bought a solid copper one for my uncle and it seems amazing.

2 settings, low and high, high is now over 100 lumens

 

[Monocrom]

+1 for the Maratac AAA model and the similar version from Olight with the clip included.

iTP had a version too. But haven't seen those for sale in awhile.

 

[dusty99]

Thanks for all that info. The Olight looks nice, and the Maratac, too. Seems like the Maratac may be the most light for the price right now, and I also noticed that ThruNite has a Christmas sale where you can get 10 Tis for $9 each, or 5 for $10 each, so also a very good deal if you are looking for some inexpensive gifts.

 

[KirthGersen]

The iTP A3 EOS is still very widely available. There were reports I've read that it was discontinued, and others stating that it was being sold alongside the Olight i3. In any event you can get them in candy colors quite easily, and they're even available with free Prime shipping at Amazon for under $20 at this very moment.

I believe the Maratac AAA has three levels, but I've never owned one.

I would rather have a low of three lumens than 0.04 lumens, personally, since one can light one's way with 1+ lumens. From that perspective I like the light levels of the iTP A3 better than the similar Olight i3, since both are sufficient for most low-light close range purposes but the Olight's low would be a little more wasteful of battery power, plus its available high level is lower. In real functional use it would be mostly splitting hairs, except perhaps for a zombie apocalypse, where a few hours of penlight runtime are probably not going to make the biggest difference.

 

[Andy13186]

The iTP A3 EOS is still very widely available. There were reports I've read that it was discontinued, and others stating that it was being sold alongside the Olight i3. In any event you can get them in candy colors quite easily, and they're even available with free Prime shipping at Amazon for under $20 at this very moment.

I believe the Maratac AAA has three levels, but I've never owned one.

I would rather have a low of three lumens than 0.04 lumens, personally, since one can light one's way with 1+ lumens. From that perspective I like the light levels of the iTP A3 better than the similar Olight i3, since both are sufficient for most low-light close range purposes but the Olight's low would be a little more wasteful of battery power, plus its available high level is lower. In real functional use it would be mostly splitting hairs, except perhaps for a zombie apocalypse, where a few hours of penlight runtime are probably not going to make the biggest difference.

The old version of the maratac AAA does have 3 levels, they are medium, low, and high.

The new ones only have 2 levels, and they have a longer runtime AND more lumens on the high setting.

Only bad thing about the maratac's is how much the shipping cost when you order them.. its like 9$ shipping

Heres what they say on their website :

"The Maratac™ AAA Stainless flashlight was so popular, we had it made in polished 300 grade stainless steel. The same great light, but now available in stainless steel.
Now much brighter ( 115 Lumen )
Check Out This AAA Powerhouse.
Specifications:

• Length: 2.75" Diameter: .5"‚ Weight: 25 Grams.
• LED Type: Cree XPE-R3 with a life span up to 50,000 hours. ( New Tighter Beam )
• New stronger clip
• The reflector is aluminum alloy.
• The lens has been treated with a AR (Anti-Reflective) coating.
• Its proprietary circuit design features reverse polarity protection and runs off of one AAA battery that provides 2 levels of brightness (High/Low).
• Twist on for High
  Twist on again for Low
• 3 Second Memory and then resets

Using a single Duracell AAA battery we got the following results:

• Low mode, 1.5 lumens output for upto 50 hours
• High mode, 115 lumens output for upto 65minutes ( Rev 1 model was 80 Lumensand 48 minutes)"

 

[KirthGersen]

Gotcha. I think the two mode arrangement is sensible for daily use, and 1.5 lumens is sensible for a low level, but high first is not a good choice. These won't be used by police, etc. and in my opinion, both for power conservation and avoidance of ruining night vision as well as creating an unwanted disturbance, low-first is better.

 

[twl]

When I was making the AAA keychain light choice, I chose the Fenix E05 for its simple one mode On/Off twisty, and 27 Lumens of nice floody creamy white light.
It's shorter, and has just the right amount of light and beam style for typical short range personal tasks that a light such as that is most commonly used for.
Under $20 at most places.

Simple, yet effective.

 

[american]

another for the e05. i have had a solitaire led,itp a3,preon 1,e01, and fenix ld01, i always go back to the 05 its perfect brightness and so tough feeling

 

[KirthGersen]

When I was making the AAA keychain light choice, I chose the Fenix E05 for its simple one mode On/Off twisty, and 27 Lumens of nice floody creamy white light.
It's shorter, and has just the right amount of light and beam style for typical short range personal tasks that a light such as that is most commonly used for.
Under $20 at most places.

I don't know why someone would choose the E05 over the Olight i3 / EOS A3. One mode is just incredibly limiting and 27 lumens, especially in a floody, is unnecessarily limiting too. The build on the E05 is nice, though; it's just that better alternatives exist.

 

[twl]

I don't know why someone would choose the E05 over the Olight i3 / EOS A3. One mode is just incredibly limiting and 27 lumens, especially in a floody, is unnecessarily limiting too. The build on the E05 is nice, though; it's just that better alternatives exist.

I don't think better alternatives exist.
I don't feel limited, and I have the output and beam type that I want on a keychain light.
A keychain light is a keychain light.

If I want more, I'll just reach into my pocket and have up to 1100 lumens available with my EDC light.

 

[KirthGersen]

I don't think better alternatives exist.

When a light is functionally outclassed in every meaningful way by another light in a similar size and price class, a better alternative exists.

We've got an E01 and an E05. They sit in a drawer, since we have the A3 lights for our keychains now. There'd be no point in using the less-capable lights when we have more-capable ones to use in their place. I don't crave three-hour max runtimes, low max power and the limitations of a single mode when so much more is available for the same money.

I could, in a pinch, get through an extended blackout with just an A3 and no battery bacup, or other extended emergency; not so the E05, where I'd be out of luck in 2+ hours. i can light my way without destroying night vision, see things at somewhat of a distance, read without unnecessarily bothering others in the tent, avoid wasting battery power when something less than max power will do, etc. etc. etc. These are the reasons why the E05 stays in the drawer-- major functional advantages which simply render it completely outmatched.

If the E05 were not so hobbled, I might prefer it for its build (at least in aluminum). The iTP seems pretty robust in its own right build-wise, of course.

 

[jpil]

Have you see thrunite ti?

With only 8$ it can be yours, look at ebay and make an offer if you want it.

 

[tam17]

Why complicate things, if you want something in a Solitaire form factor, get a new LED Solitaire. If you happen to live in the US, the price is very favourable compared to other parts of the world. Fenix E05 is a great little light (and a lot smaller than Soli).

Cheers

 

[Monocrom]

The iTP seems pretty robust in its own right build-wise, of course.

Compared to what? Tissue paper? I own one. Including its Maratac AAA twin. While both work reliably, they are no where near as robust as my Fenix E01. It's clear that on the iTP / Maratac lights, the battery inside is used to add stability and rigidity to the incredibly thin walls of the body of these models.

 

[KirthGersen]

Compared to what? Tissue paper? I own one. Including its Maratac AAA twin. While both work reliably, they are no where near as robust as my Fenix E01. It's clear that on the iTP / Maratac lights, the battery inside is used to add stability and rigidity to the incredibly thin walls of the body of these models.

Has it failed you in some way? Compared I guess to most of the lights out there. Stainless and titanium versions are also available. Hyperbole being fun and all, reality is still reality.

Being bombproof is really the only nice thing about the E01. It's a good feature, but a flashlight is first and foremost a light, not a hunk of metal.

 

[Monocrom]

Has it failed you in some way? Compared I guess to most of the lights out there. Stainless and titanium versions are also available. Hyperbole being fun and all, reality is still reality.

Being bombproof is really the only nice thing about the E01. It's a good feature, but a flashlight is first and foremost a light, not a hunk of metal.

Yes, very true that "reality is reality." And the reality is that these lights, while very good at what they do, are not even remotely robust. Not in the slightest definition of that word. And frankly, it's a disservice to others to pretend that the reality is otherwise.

 

[twl]

When a light is functionally outclassed in every meaningful way by another light in a similar size and price class, a better alternative exists.

We've got an E01 and an E05. They sit in a drawer, since we have the A3 lights for our keychains now. There'd be no point in using the less-capable lights when we have more-capable ones to use in their place. I don't crave three-hour max runtimes, low max power and the limitations of a single mode when so much more is available for the same money.

I could, in a pinch, get through an extended blackout with just an A3 and no battery bacup, or other extended emergency; not so the E05, where I'd be out of luck in 2+ hours. i can light my way without destroying night vision, see things at somewhat of a distance, read without unnecessarily bothering others in the tent, avoid wasting battery power when something less than max power will do, etc. etc. etc. These are the reasons why the E05 stays in the drawer-- major functional advantages which simply render it completely outmatched.

If the E05 were not so hobbled, I might prefer it for its build (at least in aluminum). The iTP seems pretty robust in its own right build-wise, of course.

Contradict yourself much?
First you "don't crave 3 hour run times", and then you specify an example where you diss the E05 for a 2+ hour run time".
Then you go on to list a litany of things which I'm not interested in, not even in the least, and declare them to be what makes the E05 "completely outmatched".
It's not outmatched in my opinion.
The E05 has 5+ hour run time with the batteries I use in it, which are the AAA Energizer Lithium.
You seem to think that having 70 lumens available from my keychain light has any meaning to me. It doesn't.
I need a floody light with a diffused beam type, in a nice tint. Such as the E05.
I don't need a blue tinted throwier beam with glare from bounce back, and too tight a beam pattern for my use.
I dont' need a mode-skipping twisty to annoy me, when I don't want any modes except On and Off.

Sorry, but your rant isn't having any effect on me.
The A3 doesn't even begin to come close to the E05 for any of my uses.
I hope you enjoy yours.
I'll never buy one.

Oh, and I have my own tent. I won't be "bothering others".
Believe it or not, many others feel exactly the same way, and have similar needs from a keychain light.