*Small* key chain flashlights

[easy_requirements]

I thought I had an easy set of requirements, but almost every single flashlight I've seen so far fails at point #1 in my list. The rest failed on at least one other point (typically point #7, though I'm willing to sacrifice that one if necessary).

Here we go, in priority order, most important first:

1. Small! Certainly < 30 mm x 10 mm, but the smaller the better. LEDs and button cells can be tiny and still give usable output and battery life, so why are there no really small flashlights?
2. Batteries should be obtainable and not insanely expensive
3. Should not fall apart. In particular, the ring to attach it to the key chain should be tough enough to survive at least five years of rattling around in my pocket
4. Does not need to withstand a direct nuclear strike. Sufficient case thickness to prevent damage in typical usage conditions, and unnoticeable weight, is better than over-chunky and any noticeable extra weight in my pocket
5. Sufficient brightness to enable me to find a keyhole or a pothole a few feet ahead
6. Battery life as long as possible given other constraints. So any brighter than needed for the above is a bad thing for me. Usage pattern will be a few seconds usage every few days.
7. Shouldn't look cheap and nasty. I like Aluminium. Plastic is OK if the design is good.
8. Cheaper is better, other things being equal, but this is not a priority

Has anybody seen anything that satisfies even most of those requirements?

Thanks people

 

[sol-leks]

http://www.brightguy.com/products/Streamlight_Nano.php

http://www.brightguy.com/products/Photon_2.php

http://www.brightguy.com/products/Photon_Freedom_Micro.php

I think the nano is what you want, although it is slightly above your specs.

Oh one more option, I buy these all the time and they are great:

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.1253

 

[Tixx]

Of those the freedom would be my choice.

 

[Tixx]

Another option for you and I absolutely love this light: Photon Rex
http://www.batteryjunction.com/proton-rex.html

he new Photon ReX features four extremely bright LEDs in a single line array. The entire array has Freedom features which include variable brightness, multiple signal modes and an automatic SOS mode. The SOS feature alone, if used by stranded hikers or motorists, could enable search and rescue teams to locate people who might otherwise not be found. The most important break-through feature of the Rex is, of course, its recharging ability. By simply connecting to any common battery, the Rex can be recharged up to 500 times!

• Inexpensive to operate
  No more disposable coin-cell batteries! The ReX will charge from any standard battery of 6 volts or less. Your average cost is 6 cents per charge when using an alkaline "D" cell battery. When charged from a AA rechargeable NiMH your cost is only 1/3 of a cent per charge without any trail of discarded batteries!*
  
• ReX with proprietary Freedom digital circuitry
  Photon's proprietary Freedom digital circuitry provides simple on/off control, full-range adjustable brightness, plus additional safety strobe functions and a momentary/signaling mode.
  
• Rechargeable from Most Household Batteries
  The ReX will blink slowly to indicate charging is in progress. When the charge is complete, it will stop blinking and turn itself off. When charging from disposable alkaline batteries, LRI estimates approximately 2 full charges from a typical AA, or 20 charges from a D battery. A single rechargeable NiMH AA battery will typically provide approximately 3 full charges of the ReX per charge.

 

[Skyeye]

For $6.99, Streamlight Nano is the way to go! :hitit: You can't beat the tiny but powerful little guy. I have two and wear one around a neck chain 24/7 and the other on the overloaded keychain.:grin2:

 

[souptree]

Get a Drake/Draco. Your wallet won't like it, but your keychain will! :thumbsup:

 

[mcnair55]

In the UK you would have no trouble,I have many different and use them for pullers on my jackets,all bright little lights and some are squeeze only but most are squeeze and switch.All vary in price from just about a UK £ to about 6 UK £

 

[duboost]

you can check out these threads about tiny lights

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=228159&page=3
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=231920

 

[hazna]

I agree... check those forum threads. Especially the second one

 

[drb]

I'm not an expert, but i'm loving my Fenix E01.

 

[mcnair55]

I'm not an expert, but i'm loving my Fenix E01.

I know what you mean about the EO1,I also have the A1 and A3 ITP EOS but for night use around the house just enjoy the little Fenix probably because it is either on or off no messing around with different power levels.

 

[Tae Ma Toe]

At shot show I replaced the batteries in a 10 year old white Photon 2 and it still worked fine.
6.99 is a bit off from 12.99 but if you have it that long whats a few bucks?:D

 

[tylernt]

I'm not an expert, but i'm loving my Fenix E01.

The E01 is great (just got mine), but is a bit larger than 30 mm x 10 mm. You know what would be cool though, is a shorter replacement E01 body that you could screw the head into to use a common SR44 coin cell. That would make the length a lot shorter (though runtime would suffer greatly, I think you'd still get about an hour).

I quite like my Photon Freedom, which meets all of the OP's requirements, though it too is a bit larger than 30 mm x 10 mm.

 

[Apollo Cree]

It's 66x14, but I like my iTP A3 EOS. It's not really much if any bulkier than a fathead RFID antitheft car key. 80 Lumens 3 levels.

 

[easy_requirements]

http://www.brightguy.com/products/Streamlight_Nano.php

http://www.brightguy.com/products/Photon_2.php

http://www.brightguy.com/products/Photon_Freedom_Micro.php

I think the nano is what you want, although it is slightly above your specs.

Oh one more option, I buy these all the time and they are great:

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.1253

Thanks everybody! While I can't say I love the appearance of the Nano, it fits the bill otherwise, so I think I'll go for that.

 

[Luna01]

I thought I had an easy set of requirements, but almost every single flashlight I've seen so far fails at point #1 in my list. The rest failed on at least one other point (typically point #7, though I'm willing to sacrifice that one if necessary).

Here we go, in priority order, most important first:

1. Small! Certainly < 30 mm x 10 mm, but the smaller the better. LEDs and button cells can be tiny and still give usable output and battery life, so why are there no really small flashlights?
2. Batteries should be obtainable and not insanely expensive
3. Should not fall apart. In particular, the ring to attach it to the key chain should be tough enough to survive at least five years of rattling around in my pocket
4. Does not need to withstand a direct nuclear strike. Sufficient case thickness to prevent damage in typical usage conditions, and unnoticeable weight, is better than over-chunky and any noticeable extra weight in my pocket
5. Sufficient brightness to enable me to find a keyhole or a pothole a few feet ahead
6. Battery life as long as possible given other constraints. So any brighter than needed for the above is a bad thing for me. Usage pattern will be a few seconds usage every few days.
7. Shouldn't look cheap and nasty. I like Aluminium. Plastic is OK if the design is good.
8. Cheaper is better, other things being equal, but this is not a priority

Has anybody seen anything that satisfies even most of those requirements?

Thanks people

Hi, friend! I suggest this Pocket 3 LED Keychain Flashlight for you. I found it from a keychain flashlight site. You can also to check out to have a look others. Hope this helps! :welcome:

 

[joe1512]

I think your best bet is the Photon ReX. It has 4 LEDs and a small rechargable custom battery. You recharge it using your own misc batteries laying around the house. It is very small and light. It is 20 bucks.


The smallest standard sized light is the itp A3 eos which is 66mmx14mm using 1 AAA battery.


Unfortunately, small flashlights start costing quite a bit and are specialty items and use oddball batteries. Go to Reviews section, sticky, and there is a small light roundup. It is not very satisfying though unless you are willing to cough up 100 bucks or so.

If you ARE though, you can find some really nice lights. The Drake is probably the best combo of brightness and size. http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=166864

 

[zs&tas]

Thrunite Tikey :thumbsup: