flashlight recomendation

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fatherhudson

Joined
Apr 3, 2012
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Can anyone recommend a light to me? i'm looking for something small and bright. It might be nice to put it on my keychain but i'd take something a little bigger as long as it fit in my pocket alright.

a couple i'm thinking about(for no reason other than they're what i've found):

Fenix E01 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001GAOO6Y/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Streamlight MicroStream LED Pen Light http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00143JZ08/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Thanks!
 
Both of those look like pretty good options. If you want to ask the experts you should go to www.candlepowerforums.com
 
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I have a fenix pd32. It's been working out pretty well. I run a high volume bar, so it gets used quite a bit. A little over 4.5", which was bigger than I originally was looking for, but I don't even notice it in my pocket anymore.

When I was looking for new a new pocket light I checked out Fenix, Jetbeam, and 4sevens mostly.
 
Oh, if you get the ones with the rechargeable lithium batteries, you do have to buy a charger, but I think they all sell models that take regular AAA and AA.
 
I have the stream light, and it is perfect for an edc. Im not really a fan of the pocket clip on the micro stream though.
 
I have good lights by Fenix, Pelican, Streamlight, Inova and Nuwaii, and I like Fenix the best. I just got a Fenix PD32 and it is a terrific light. It is easily pocketable but it might be larger than what the OP wants if he is mentioning keychains. I also have a Fenix LD01 and it is a great light too. This is the one that uses a single AAA battery and the light is barely larger than the battery, but it has a lot of output even when compared with the PD32. An E01 was mentioned above but I wonder if it would be satisfactory if the OP wants brightness. Maybe the E05 would be a good compromise since the LD01 is somewhat expensive.
 
You can help narrow down your options by picking what battery you want to power it and whether or not you want to do rechargeable batteries as well. You can get really nice lights that run from a AAA cell but won't be super bright. AA lights will also be limited in output unless you opt for one that will also run a lithium ion 14500 cell but now you have to deal with the headaches of rechargeable lithium cells.

My suggestion is to lean toward a CR123 powered light. Which one? My favorite is the Surefire T1A Titan but it's not cheap. (Like anything else, you could spend a small fortune on a single light. Crazy.) Surefire probably has the best warranty in the business so unless you lost it it's probably the last light you'd need to buy.

Lots of cheaper options than the Titan but if you can justify the cost, it really is the best one.
 
I've had several microstreams and recommend them, can't find a pocket clipp, clicky switch and brightness in any price range let along for under $19.

I also have tried the fenix LD01, it's a cool light, has 3 light settings, really nice Fit and finish but a twist switch which isn't my thing. (You can also take the head of the fenix and put it on the microstream to keep the clickky, which is I actually did- suggestion via candlelighforums whch I would also recommend visiting.)
 
I rotate through 3 single battery lights for EDC. I have a AA powered Nitecore D10 rated up to 140 lumens cool tint, CR123 powered Fenix PD10 @180 lumens cool tint, and a 4Sevens Quark Mini123Ti warm tint that is around 140 lumens. There really are a lot of options so to help you need to start being more specific in what you are looking for, and perhaps let us know what the main use would be. That way we can recommend something with more throw or flood depending.

I haven't tried any AAA lights yet, but I think my keychain is calling out for one, perhaps the Titanium Innovations IlluminaTi, Fenix LD01 or Olight i1.
 
Malkoff Valiant little twisty single cr123 with your choice of malkoff 31 series drop ins depending on light you need or longer runtime. Dead simple and if you ever did have a problem they are outstanding CS.
 
if this turns out to be a flashlight you will use and use a lot do not go AAA. AA batteries are like 4x the power and still pretty small.
 
E01 is great for a keychain light, i have one and i'm satisfied. For pocket carry, and a better light, i have a led lenser p3, not much bigger than the E01, but too big for my taste in a keychain light, it has an adjustable spotlight, better for close use than the fenix e01.
 
Might be too big for your key chain but I LOVE my JetBeam PA10. 650 Lumens with rechargeable AA's.
 
DylanMW said:
Might be too big for your key chain but I LOVE my JetBeam PA10. 650 Lumens with rechargeable AA's.
Click to expand...

youll be stuck in 650lumens with the 14500 and the pa10... it loses it low mode, gets extremely hot and battery life suffers greatly ;) still a great pocket torch and i believe the only production AA/14500 light capable of reaching 650lumens on the market at the moment. with that being said, the pc10 is a much better choice as youll pull 550lumens and wont lose any modes using a 16340.

here are my recommendations for pocket/keychain carry:
for something small/AAA i would recommend a 4sevens preon1 w/ reverse clicky switch if you dont like the twisty
for something small/AA i would go with a nitecore d11.2 or nitecore ezAA
for something small/cr123 and small i would go with a lumapower incendio v3u its by far the smallest/lightest forward clicky light ive come accross
or sunwayman v10r excellent light and super small and you can purchase an adapter that lets you run AA/14500 batteries.

i wouldnt really recommend a cr123 light for your keychain. i find them rather fat/bulky vs. slimmer AAA/AA lights but you may get away with it with a 4sevens quark mini 123 or nitecore ez123.

heres a picture to get you an idea of the sizes. ive included the popular fenix ld10, the not so popular but imo better klarus st10 and the fenix pd31 (same size pretty much as the pd32 others have mentioned).
524711_10150658578170458_590860457_9662870_367206711_n.jpg


EDIT: sorry for the rushed response, my daughter is crying her ass off right now... im such a horrible father lol.
 
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The Fenix E01 is a great keychain flashlight, I carry one on my keychain all the time. My EDC pocket flashlight for the past 3 years is a Fenix LD10. I would recommend the both and think Fenix makes great flashlights that are very affordable.
 
The 4sevens & Fenix both make small, affordable, quality lites. Most will use cr123's or rechargables.
 
Harayasu said:
The Fenix E01 is a great keychain flashlight, I carry one on my keychain all the time. My EDC pocket flashlight for the past 3 years is a Fenix LD10. I would recommend the both and think Fenix makes great flashlights that are very affordable.
Click to expand...
I have also carried a Fenix E01 on my key-ring for quite awhile, and it is suprising just how bright that little flashlight is...It's a very well-made little light.
 
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