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".