Favorite mini flashlight for keychain?

Hi everybody! I was wondering how many of the forumites here carry a mini flashlight in their keychain and what kind? I personally carry a mini maglite which I very much like. Any others? And what about their cost and effectiveness?

I had for the longest time carried a mag solitaire. As my keychain bulked up (as a result of reading too much here), I had to examine the items there for size and weight. I converted to an ASP saphire light. This light is really easy to detach ( it works like a gate-mouthed mini-carabiner) from the keychain, bright enough to read, walk, cook by, much lighter than the solitaire; the down side is that this light has a momentary pinch switch so it is difficult to use hands-free A mini binder-clip works really well to hold the light on and provides a stable stand to hold the light to your cap or in position on the table. In my EDC I also carry a AA mag light, and a photon II and a LED light that is built into my mini-multi-tool from Dakota.

I like Arc AA for my key chain. it uses AA battery, is very bright and it fits nicely in my hand. Another choice to follow would be ARC AAA and Photon light.

Matt

An Arc AAA is on my wish list for the coming holiday season. I'd say stay away from the Photons for carry in your pocket, unless you have a thing for the gal behind the battery counter. It took about 8 cells to get 4 uses out my Photon III.
Ed

My photon II has the same battery for the past 3 years and I use it a lot. I don't understand.

I caried maglight soliatre for a while but it kept unscrewing from the key chain so I picked up ARC AA. It's a great solid light, u can't go wrong with it. You know how sometimes it takes some time for equipment to grow on you? In this case it was instant. I grabed it and it was perfect for all around key chain carry.

Matt

>>My photon II has the same battery for the past 3 years and I use it a lot. I don't understand.<<

Ditto. I carried a Photon 2 in my keycase for years, still haven't replaced the battery. I carried a first-generation Photon 3 for perhaps a year, no problems, and am about a month into the second-generation Photon 3 (with SOS), no problems yet.

Obviosly, my preference is for the Photon 3, mostly because of weight. Current model is a Stealth version, mostly just to protect the LED from abrasion, but it never really seemed to be a problem with earlier versions. If I had my choice, I'd go with green, red, or orange, for the better battery life, but this one is white- it's what was available at the time.

Depending on your circumstances, the new SOS feature may be mostly irrelevant or highly desirable. If you can see a reasonable scenario for using it (not hard if, say, you spend time on the water), it beats the heck out of spending hours flashing S O S by hand, while not being free to do anything else about your situation. I've bought 4 so far.

I've had a CMG Infinity Ultra (single AA white LED) on my keyring for the lasy year. It is as bright as a Arc AAA Premium. Big? Well, yes, compared to the Arc AAA. But it's easy to use one handed, it's indestructable, and it stays bright HOURS longer than a Photon. I woldn't mind an Arc AAA Premium, but it is $$. Now, if one arrived under my Christmas tree, I might have to change. But until then, I'd recommend the Ultra if you want a AA LED.

.....CLIFF

"No matter where you go, there you are." - Buckaroo Banzai

I too like Photon3 lights.

I have a white one attached to my house keys ring (it stays in the glove box of the car), two (one white, one red) attached outside of my EDC fanny pack (bum bag ?).

They are so small, you have no excuse not to have a light when needed.

(I also put a few Photon3 at different places : in FAKs, outside rücksak, aso...)


Alain

From reading the info on ETS and this forum, I have a Photon II. I've had no battery problems yet (i've had it about 5-6months). Quite pricey (and in theUK difficult to get hold of)I've not tried any of the alternatives listed here.

What ever you choose, make sure it has an on/off switch, and doesn't rely on you pressing the button continuously to keep it on. Makes life easier.

>>I carried a Photon 2 in my keycase for years<<

Maybe that's the problem. My "keychain" is a loop of leather thong that currently holds 7 keys,dogtag, P38, and a Strike Master miltary match and scraper*. There's no protection of any sort when I cram it into my pocket. With everything else that's in there the light was probably just getting activated anytime I climbed into the truck or knelt down to work on a rack at work.

Ed

*Formerly Done Right, now also out of business

I've got a fair amount of stuff in my keycase, and the Photon is not protected from any of it..

I'd guess that something on the thong lines up just right with your Photon button, and a little examination might reveal the culprit. Might be worth trying a larger or smaller split ring. But it sounds like you've moved on.. whatever works.

I love these threads. Grin.

I have tried carrying keychain lights on my keychain. It simply doesn't work that well for me because (1) my keychain is too big these days, (2) the keychain lives in my coat pocket, and (3) the light will get banged around quite heavily.

So I compromised. My CMG Infinity Ultra lives in my front pocket under my wallter. My PrincetonTec Blast also lives in my front pocket, but it rests upright alongside my wallet. My Arc AAA stays inside my right back pocket, clipped to the pocket's lip.

Holy Cow, Done Right is out of business? I wonder what happened.

I carry a white Photo II on my keyring. It's on a short lanyard (don't remember if it's a Photon lanyard, or from a Mag Solitaire), and connected to the ring via a deadlock quick-detach connector, so I can remove it when needed.

The short lanyard lets me actually illuminate a keyhole without detaching it, and keeps it below the rest of the stuff on the ring.

I, too, experienced problems with an early Photon III, but LRI replaced it without question. On numerous occasions, I removed it from my pocket to find it already on. I figured that things in the pocket (largely keys) were pressing the rear half of the switch & turning it on. With the PI & PII, even if they do get "bumped" in your pocket, when the pressure is relieved, the light goes off--not so with the PIII. It's now relegated to nightstand duty.

I went through several sets of batteries with the PIII, before figuring out the problem. However, I've not had the same problem with the PII, which is why I carry it.

Prior to the Photon, I wouldn't put any light on my keyring. Over the years, I carried most of what was available in quality small lights, starting with a 2-AA Tekna dive light, & progressing through the various Mini-Maglites (AAA & AA, & Solitaire). I was most satisfied with Pelican's 2-AAA MityLite. I have about 4 of them, & they're fabulous. I also had good luck with some Underwater Kinetics 2-AAA. Everything I mentioned, though, was too big to put on a keyring.

Now, the Photon is always on my keys, and a SureFire 6P is usually on my hip.

David

I switched from a Maglite Solitaire to a Princeton Tec Pulsar II about a year ago. I use it every other day or so, and haven't had to replace the battery. It takes a pretty good beating from my keys, as the logo has worn off, but it hasn't failed me yet.

Three flashlights for EDC is a "compromise"? <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

>>With the PI & PII, even if they do get "bumped" in your pocket, when the pressure is relieved, the light goes off--not so with the PIII. <<

Maybe that's a clue. With the Photon 3, I've always kept the "rear button" on auto-off mode by default, so even if it does get pressed, it will shut itself off shortly.

AFAIK, all the Photon 3's had that mode- though the second (really third, there was a switch change and then a chip change) generation Photon 3 makes it more obvious which one it is when you're toggling through them.

ARC AAA (thanks dad!!!)

I upgraded from a photon type light. Easy battery replacement, brighter, more durable, and heavier (in my case not a bad thinf - My key chain is so heavy i've turned it into a self-defence weapon!)

I used to have a princeton tech pulsar light, which weighs nothing but only has momentary on. Next replaced it with a photon 2 which I love but at moment I have a mini carabiner/LED light combo which I got for £1. I like this because I was looking for an carabiner for my keychain and this prevents the need to carry a light as well.

I have carried a Photon I on my keychain for years (4), and a Photon II for about 3 years. The I is on the original battery, but twice the II got turned on in my pocket, killing the batteries. The little sliding switch stuck both times. Fedex will be delivering my Arc LS on Wednesday <img src="images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />, but it is a little large for the keychain.

i got a gelert "pocket LED light" it's cheap and it works. if i get enough cash i will try to get a ACR led light.

Yessiree. <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Normally, I carry about six. Three (PrincetonTec Blast, Arc AAA, CMG Infinity Ultra) in my pockets, one (SureFire E1e-HA) on my belt, and two (PrincetonTec 20, PrincetonTec Attitude) in my coat pockets.

I have to go with the Photon II! <img src="images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

PL--That's the conclusion I reached. I thought about carrying it in that mode, but I just didn't want the PIII in auto-off mode, so I put it to different use. I prefer to keep the on/off switch in low-constant mode, with full bright instantly available from the momentary switch.

David

Wow. I carry only three and my wife thinks I overdoing it. But my three kids love it. Each will want a torch when its dark, so I usually left with nothing <img src="images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> except for the princeton tec pulsar ii in my psk.

I have a princeton tec pulsar on my SAK
Princton tec blast in my L front pocket with my PSK and an infinty ultra in my R front pocket next to my wallet.

I can't fit any more stuff into my pants pockets!

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

Mine is the Photon II. I have one on just about every keychain in the house.

I'll have to see which I like better; the ARC or the Photon II.

They both have uses...the Photon fits in the Altoids with more room left over for other things. Remember to take care that it does not get turned on by accident. The AAA ARC will probably come to live on (or by) your person for the forseeable future.