Two questions for the forum.
I have recently upgraded my EDC . A new kinfe -Falkniven U2 - small very sharp, and probably won't get me busted should a police officer decide to search me, and a peakLed "snow" 3Led lithium battery torch. These items, combined with a nice leather wallet to carry them both, along with my Credit cards and cash. (Okay - the information isn't really to the point but I have to tell someone <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> the quality of all three is excellent <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />)
Anyway these items will actually be on me, so what benefit would a small LED keychain light serve? Apart from finding a keyhole in the dark, they seem way too small to be of much use.
I hear a lot about them, and how useful they are, but no-one seems to say what for. Surely such a small light would have very limited uses, and as such not be of much practical use in an a emergency?

Lastly I came across this water filter, that happens to be an indirect link from this site. It seems like a good idea for a BOB, or even a daysack. Any comments?

http://www.hydrationtech.com/merchant.mv...tegory_Code=XPR

Backup. Emergency spare. I always use my Arc4 when I need light for something. My Arc AAA sits on my keychain with a lithium AAA in case the Arc4 quits / breaks.

Besides, as Frenchy pointed out in another thread... what do you use to find your flashlight if you drop it in the dark? :-)

[Edit]
Don't underestimate the power of keychain sized flashlights. If you're dark adapted, the Arc AAA is more than enough to walk around a house or yard safely.

Interesting. It doesn't make pure water, it makes sport drink. It uses the salt and sugar of a sport drink to create the osmotic pressure to suck the water in. Rather expensive, though.

And yah, that's what a mini light is for, to help you find your big light. The mini light is small enough so that it's always with you. Don't want comments like "Is that a flashlight in your pocket or are you happy to see me?"

Just to clarify - the LED lights I am questioning the use of are these types:

that filter does look pricy, the refills cost $ 2,10 each, thats way more than a normal waterfilter which is cheaper, can create clean water and only water ( i ain't cooking my noodles in sports drink ! ), pump water up from and is proberbly smaller too.

I'm not familiar with them, but I would encourage you to try one for a while. I'll bet they're brighter than
you think. (If they're not, several of us on here can recommend a keychain light which would actually be useful.)

I EDC a few Photon3 ...
I say a few as I don't exactly know how many ... <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
what I like about them is their size : you can easily have some, hanging on your belt, your pack, your keychain, aso... ready to use without fumbling inside your pockets,backpack, handbag...

Even in an urban area (Paris - la Ville Lumi?re !!!), some places are quite dark (entire office blocks under construction or street lights stupidly placed between trees which completly mask them...) and I want to have a small light (in flashing mode) to signal my presence if I have to walk/jog around there, so I won't be a statistic in the morning papers (traffic accident column).
So I have a red Photon3 hanging from a shoulder strap of my backpack.

And in such dark places, a small white photon is quite enough to light my way a few meters away : on Paris' pavement, useful not to put my feet on canine excrement (even in chic districts) or to avoid holes and bumps, in building zones.
So a white Photon3 is dangling from my waist pouch, ready to be used.
It is also useful to look behind or inside computers (part of my job), under desks... aso..

Another white Photon3 is on my keychain, ready to serve when I have to use house keys : before entering the hall of my residence (yes - the light button is NOT near the door !), I like to be able to check if anyone is waiting there.. (it already happened...)

Of course, for more "serious" lighting, I also EDC aSF 6P, but I rarely use it for those "little" tasks.

As for "emergency", I have never experienced such occasion.
But even a small red light flashing an S.O.S. could be useful, don't you think ?

+ I have some stashed in PSK, FAK, aso... just too small and too useful not to put one inside any kind of kit ....


I hope this will enlighted your way to the micro-light ... <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

The INOVA light you showed are ok. I carried a red one attached to a button hole on my DCU top while i was in Iraq. I found my first one and it worked great. It did crap out though (I probably beat it up pretty good) and I was able to buy a second one also red but the on/off switch broke so it stayed on all the time. Since this is not very tactical I had to use the permanent off switch (size 9W Altama Desert Boot). So I bought two more after opening the pack and trying them out. To make a long story short I had one (red) that worked and one that the batteries and the little rubber cover for the batteries would not stay on so I chunked it. I still have my last red one and its a good little light for 6 bucks but I had to go through 3 to get one and the US Army PX system would not take returns or grant refunds. I personally have bought several of the Photon 2 lights (chose the 2 over the 3 because I wasn't sure if I needed the flashing option). I have one in my EDC, one that is inspectable equipment for my wife and others strown here and there. They are very bright and do not take up space. I wish I had saved the corpses of the three INOVA's that I had to destroy so i could have mailed their bodies back to the maker with this story. I just don't feel they are reliable enough to recommend for everyday use.
Raider

well, now ... I didn't think of that one !?!
Maybe I will leave the Photons at home and only keep the 6P, in front pocket ....
<img src="/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

You obviously didn't go to the same Jr. High that I did, or you wouldn't have left yourself wide open there. They would have said something like "You French people are all the same- always going off half-cocked".

The filtration system addresses specific operational needs. It is lightwieght and operates literally 'on the run.' The time factor is a consideration as is the cost. Inovas are fair lights, but have the individual quality control mentioned. I had one that died almost immediately while it's mate lasted nearly 3 months of daily, though brief use. Play with it in different situations and then upgrade. My greatest feat with a micro light involved changing out a fried starter motor on a remote road AT NIGHT. Crawling under a car is bad enough, trying to juggle tools, torch and the part a nightmare. I simply duct taped one photon to the starter, and a second onto my finger. Your U2 is a splendid knife for it's size. I have on stashed in my PSK tin.

Thanks for the response.
My post wasn't about Inova microlights in particular, more about microlights in general. (The mis-understanding is more to do with my bad English, and the photo used as an example)
However, I now won't be buying Inova! I'm still to be convinced that I need a microlight anyway, although thier hardly expensive..maybe..

Signalling, reading maps, attracting fish, and finding your way around your personal survival kit on a dark night <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I own that exact light and it bright enough to do a lot more than that. It would (and has) lit hiking trails in the woods and stairwells in the office.

Microlights as a whole are a good idea; some are better than others. My old boss bought several Innova lights as pictured. When they came in, one was already on in the blister pack, & we could NOT turn it off (didn't want to use the boot heel options since we did return it). While they make other lights that are great, their microlights are not up to par, IMHO.

The Photon II (from LRI), on the other hand, is the gold standard (I have P1, P2, & P3), & much prefer the P2. They're amazingly bright, ridiculously lightweight, and there when you need them. I have one on each of my 3 keychains, plus others in use around the house.

As others have pointed out, they have a lot of utility: checking for brown recluse spiders before I crawl under a desk to look at a PC, for instance, is a BIG one! So is having one instantly available when the lights go out (either at home, or at work).

The P2 I use most has spent a rainy night submerged in a puddle (worked great even wet, & only needed drying off, inside & out).

Try one; I think you'll like it.

David

Thats interesting .. I have done a beam teast with the photon 2 and the inova micro side by side and my samples were identical .. if anything the inova was slightly brighter. the only difference between them was the photon is not waterproof and is slightly smaller.

as a matter of fact, we did have a lousy weather today over Paris.
It may rain tomorow...

<img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

5mm LED lights including the coin lights and the Arc AAA are all pretty much the same in terms of brightness. The difference is in size, construction quality, etc. The Arc AAA uses a common, easy to change battery and is tough as heck (hard anodized aluminum) but it's kind of a large light and was expensive even when it was still being made. Now that they're scarce and sought after, prices are through the roof.

The Photon II is about the smallest and most lightweight of the CR2016-powered lights, and it has a constant-on switch which is missing from some lights. Its main weakness is not-so-good water resistance, plus you need tools (tiny Philips screwdriver) to change the batteries. However, it's still the classic example of this type of light. The Inova Microlight (version with constant-on switch) is a bit bigger and uglier, but perhaps an improvement. It's more water resistant and you can change the batteries without tools.

The best deal in these things is the Countycomm $1.00 lights (they come in bags of 20):

http://countycomm.com/light10.htm

It's worth buying a bag of 20 of them since you'll find yourself constantly handing them out as gifts. They're always appreciated. They are like the P2 in needing tools to change the batteries and in not being so water resistant, but they're quite easy to operate. Their main extra weakness is they can turn on by accident if you drop them or slam them against something. If you put one in a PSK, I'd advise putting a piece of scotch tape over the switch to keep it from turning on by accident.

These small lights are amazingly handy. They do get dimmer as you use them, but they'll run for several hours before getting too feeble. They start out comparable to a typical old-fashioned penlight. Even after several hours, they're more than bright enough to find your way around a dark room or stairwell. If you've ever been caught in a lightless situation you'll know how important that can be.

The Hydration Technologies osmosis membrane is implemented in the new US MRE.
US army food... just add urine (BBC NEWS)

Yum ... LOL <img src="/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

I think those new rations use the water filtering technology that is referenced in the original post.

http://www.hydrationtech.com/merchant.mv...tegory_Code=HPR

It's an interesting piece of equipment to consider for survival conditions if it works the way it's advertised. They have several different sizes, but, the one I referenced above is a 2 liter flexible container. You place it in any source of water, and it filters bacteria, viruses, cysts, etc.

There are other versions,like the one originally mentioned, which is re-usable 3 times per day for 10 days, which sounds very interesting.
The company lists several branches of the US Military as customers.

Getting back to the original question about the water purifier, has anyone actually used or have experience with these units?

As I said on previous post on this product; "[censored] on it"!

I don't know the medical aspects of this method of urine use, but my concern is possible illiness that may cost you more liquid loss from your body than you would save by hydrating the MRE with urine or contaminated water.

No experience, it just seems logical.

Bountyhunter

While drinking filtered urine sounds icky, most urine is sterile, unless you have an infection of some kind. But still, it's way down the list on my water sources..... <img src="/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

Sue

All's I can say is that my C.O. (commanding officer, for those militarily disinclined) wanted me to buy these for our brigade (4000+ ffolkes)...I heartily reccomended against them. Cost was a factor (dollars per liter...and it's ****** gatorade, not water), but I felt our ROWPU's (motorized filters) did a darned sight better. And cheaper.

Do such "gadgets" have their place? Yes. Can you filter urine? Yep.

Don't count on your kidneys keeping up with the urea, tho. The filters won't handle that...in simple terms, in an extended situation, your kidneys would shut down and kill you <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Still, a cheap, positive-pressure membrane that filters giardia/viruses would be handy. Just add water, and blow.

Susan:

You do however realize if you are wrong about the sterility, URINE a lot of trouble. <img src="/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

Bountyhunter <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

I thought urine had a lot of salt in it. Even if it's sterile, drinking it (filtered or not) would be like drinking seawater, a well-known survival no-no. Only distillation or reverse osmosis can get the salt out.

She is correct. Urine is quite sterile. More so even than blood.

Bounty !
do you really think of all those puns all by yourself, or is "Bountyhunter" a collective name for several merry individuals ?
<img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

For some strange reason I had the urge to clarify....

ROWPU (Reverse Osmosis Water Purification Unit)

Frenchy:

I do talk to myself a lot when I want an intelligent listener that will answer. Depending on the subject of the conversation, I may use different tones, talking styles and speeds. Depending on your point of view, I am either multi-faceted, multiple personality possessed, diverse, multi-dimentional, or just plain out of my mind. Although I have gained enough weight recently to actually carve several full size adults from this body, there is only me, the one and only, which so many of my friends agree is sometimes one too many. <img src="/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

Bountyhunter <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Brian:

You had better be careful as Urine is a pretty big guy with children and you know how them Russians are about their virility. <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Bountyhunter <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Billy.guttery:

I am so glad that you did clarify as I was having trouble picturing a row of outhouses (Row poo, poo row?!). <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Bountyhunter <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

ROFLMAO <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /><img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /><img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /><img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /><img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /><img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

<img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

<img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

While I haven't used that particular water filter, the real question comes down to how you want to use the filter.

Take the one you mentioned (with that link), it's technological great. The idea of a passive filtration device is simply amazing. The down side? You're carrying the weight with you and it takes time for the filtration to work.

Meanwhile take something like the MSR MiniWorks EX, it's small rather light weight and the cleanable filter means that you're going to be using it for a long time before you need to replace the filter. Granted you've got to put some elbow grease to make it work and find water of some sort to pump through.

Lastly, I recall the Air Force's Surival Manual had some unique ways of collecting water in emergency situations. But that's for another topic for another day.

Has anyone used the Inova XO model lights; I was thinking of buying one.

Lots of people on CPF ( www.candlepowerforums.com ) use the various Inova lights. They have good and bad points like anything else. I don't remember much about that specific model but they're all very solidly made. The one that gets the most complaints is the X1, which has an extremely narrow (to the point of being not-so-useful) beam.