Just got a Mag light LED solitaire. (standard disclaimer-no assoc. with Mag light-just a user of them) I have to say I'm impressed. Less than 10 dollars and quite bright with a single AAA! The package said 47 lumens.....wasn't sure 'exactly how bright that would be' for my uses but getting it..... Again....impressed! Can light up the 40 foot driveway easily. Looking forward to running it through the paces. At this point if anyone is looking for something similar..... I do, at this time, recommend it.

I had an ARC light (single AAA) that I loved but at 35 bucks a light was a little pricey. Especially since I had to send it back several times as the aluminum threads kept stripping. Each time it cost me 5 bucks shipping, so it was up to half the price of the light. I finally lost the bulb assembly head so I had been looking for a replacement since.

I carried a non-LED Solitaire for quite a while. it was extremely useful, if for no other reason that it was handy and available, probably the most useful characteristic of any EDC light.

I note that the only battery specified for the current Solitaire is a AAA alkaline. I certainly hope that it will actually accept Nimh rechargeables - that is the only way to go these days.

Is that Solitaire digitally regulated?

In the Spec tab at http://maglite.com/shop/flashlights/comp...flashlight.html, under "Power Management" it indicates "No". Does "Power Management" equate to it being digitally regulated?? I don't know for sure, but I think it does, meaning the Solitaire is not regulated. I think...

If you compare the Solitaire's 47 lumen for 1 hour 45 minutes to a regulated light (in this case a 1xAAA from CountyComm), we see the following:
I'll take 40 lumen for 7 hours over 47 lumen for less than 2 hours any day.

Note the phrase, "up to 70 hours," which is probably dependent upon the type of battery. In any event, a small key chain light like this is going to see only intermittent service -a few minutes at a time. Use it to find your major lights during a sudden power outage, to change the batteries in your main light, or to look in the back of a dark pantry, etc.

Still, you never know - it is good to have as much capacity as feasible....

I've seen pictures of the internals (I don't currently own a Solitaire) and there doesn't seem to be any regulation mechanism. At this price point and with the LED emitter it has, the light is almost certainly "regulated" by the LED taking its (fairly low) maximum current as long as the battery can supply it.

In other words, digital regulation for a single-mode light that runs a low current wouldn't make any sense.

At this price point the performance is impressive. Maglite has really good warranty service as well.

Update on the Solitaire:
I really like it. A lot. It really 'fits' the niche I wanted it for. It is bright enough to REALLY get things done. Easy to hold in my lips without fatigue or discomfort to light what I'm doing.

So far it has been used regularly (and often) and so far no discernible drop in output. Convenient-in its carry and use. Often forgotten that it is there as it is very lightweight. Cost-very nice at 10. Silent operation- Those light that have the 'click on/off' button actually do wake/bother family members when I am trying to remain quiet in early AM or late PM.

Personal 'adaptations'...I use a standard blood tube cover to hold a colored lighting gel over the lens. It gives good 'tactical light' without requiring hard to get (at least not for me) items. Along with the silent op, it allows it use around others without disturbing them.

Personal opinion... seems like a good first EDC light for a kid where you wouldn't be heartbroken (or bankrupt) if it were lost.

It's cool to see another option for small EDC lights. My favorite small lights have been the Fenix E01 and the Olight I3 EOS. Each uses a single AAA battery. The Fenix is just 13 lumens or so with very long run times; the Olight is 90 lumens (with higher power versions available) with throw to rival larger CR123a-powered lights.

Looks like the Mag falls nicely between the two.

I would nominate the Fenix LD01 and LD02. 01 is a twisty, with three light level (top is 72 lumens. The LD02 is a rear clicker with three levels as well (top is 100 lumens). LD01 is no longer in production, but is still on at Amazon.

The LD02 sometimes turns on in my pocket, but it is no big deal - AAA spares are easy to carry. Both weigh 1 oz with batts and they are there when you need them.

No evident tactical abilities....

Friends, if we are talking about a small,basic, nearly indestructible, AAA, hard use key chain light, the winner , IMO, is the Fenix E-01., at $11. 13 lumens is more than enough for any keychain light and "find the keyhole or light my way out of the darkened stairway" use for which it is intended.

Run time, a primary consideration for a light used often, but generally forgotten when not in use, is, I believe, a paramount concern. With an alkaline battery the E-01 is reported at ~20+ hours. Mine is loaded with a disposable lithium battery, I've had it and used it for over 2 years.

If you could live with a bigger, somewahat dimer ( but still plenty adequate) light, I'd go with a Gerber Infinity AA. With a bit of tin foil, it gives you the ability to use AAA, as well.

Acropolis5 makes good points.

My EDC AAA light was nearly twice that price - a $20 (Amazon) twisty Olight i3S (20/80/0.5) lumens for ( 8 hr / 35 min / 60 hrs), (review here), similar to Hikermor's Fenix LD01 twisty (72/3) lumens for (1.5/20) hours.

I think acropolis5 is correct that the cheaper, fixed output Fenix E-01 is a more practical choice than my Olight - 90% of my use is in the (default) 20 lumen mode, and I expect 13 lumens would work just as well, in which case the 20 hr Fenix E-01 battery life (and half the cost) is a winner.

I do like the flexibility of having the high-power mode on tap, though, and the "moonlight" mode is superb for coming to bed late without waking my wife.

My other EDC light is a 4.5 lumen, 12 hr coincell "squeeze on" Doug Ritter Photon Freedom keylight with the "covert" beam shield. I got the Olight because sometimes the Photon would turn on in my pocket and drain the battery (though it is working fine now – hmmm.). Hikermor's suggestion of carrying a spare battery might have been a help there, though changing the Photon battery in the dark would be daunting.

I don't think the "where did I put that?" yellow Doug Ritter Photon version is still available, but you can get the same light in black/white/pink from the manufacturer or retailers.

The Photon comes with a magnetic cap clip for hands-free use as a cap light or lantern.

Looking back at this - I think I'm a sucker for gadgets, and the manufacturers have my number ...

It is just barely possible that you might not be the only one on this forum who can make that statement - me included!

Ditto.

I kind of reach the moment with lots of things, that I simply do not care about something new... My EDC light is still my Fenix LD10, from 2008 I think?

Thanks rafowell for the reinforcement. Strange you should mention the Photon light. I don't always ascribe to the "One is none. Two is one." philosophy. But in my urban existence, emergency lighting is so critical a requirement that my keychain always has a second, backup flashlight. My choice Is a Photon Freedom, with a yellow LED, mounted backwards in its clip-in holder, to prevent an accidental "on". The whole unit is X wrapped in the supplied neck lanyard. This duo has served me well for many a year.

I have the white covert model loaded with a single 2032 instead of duel 2016 coin cell. The initial output drops to about 4-5 lumens from 10+, but the usable runtime (minimum output needed to navigate stairs) goes from 2-3 hour to 5-10 hours. I've found it a good light for not disturbing others, but it's more of a specialty/tertiary light. I've got an old Mini Maglite with an aftermarket 1/2 watt LED for when I know I'm going to walking around after dark.

My primary EDC is a Fenix 05, and I've found the extra modes are worth the complexity. My only real complaint is lithium primaries give you almost no warning before dying. Alkaline will give you a couple of days notice before it dies.