Keychain Flashlight

S

Shann

Joined
Sep 2, 2004
Messages
5,249
Time for a new keychain light to replace the cheap little thing that was on my spare keys.

I'm thinking a Fenix EO1 that is a single AAA battery. However, I have a photon light on my other keys and its plenty light for finding my way to the car or unlocking a door in the pitch dark. Its also tiny and weight is negligible. Those little coin ones can range from .99 to 15 bucks or so, while the EO1 is $15.

I'm sure the Fenix is a lot brighter but I do like to keep it "light".

What do you carry that you actually have on your keychain, as opposed to an EDC in your pocket?
 
The E01,Arc AAA and the photon will all be about the same brightness to start but after a short time the photon will dim but the others will stay strong.I prefer the Arc AAA-P to the E01 because of better build,warranty and I would rather support a small USA company.
 
I have an Arc AAA on my keychain. It is a little dimmer and offers less runtime than the E01 (my Arc is an older model) but I like it because it is as small as keychain AAA lights get. If I didn't already have three custom titanium AAA lights on the way and I lost the Arc I'd replace it with an E01 in a heartbeat, despite being slightly larger. The E01 is a great price and a good light.

I do like the Photons but I like the availability of AAA's everywhere. I keep a Photon on my other set of keys and on some of my bags... useful little buggers.
 
Shann said:
I'm sure the Fenix [E01] is a lot brighter but I do like to keep it "light".
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The Fenix E01 is NOT brighter than the Photon Microlight on fresh batteries. I have both and the Photon is significantly brighter (unless I have a dud E01), but as rycen pointed out, the Fenix (can't speak for the Arc, I never owned one:o) will put out a constant level over a longer period of time. So it depends on what you require of the light, longer runtime or higher illumination. For example, I use my Photon on my keys for the higher illumination since I don't really care about runtime as I don't use the light often and replace it once it starts noticeably dimming. I use my Fenix E01's in my personal survival kits because of the longer runtime at constant illumination, the availability of AAA (as carrot pointed out), and they're more or less waterproof.
 
Shann said:
What do you carry that you actually have on your keychain, as opposed to an EDC in your pocket?
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I carry the Fenix EO1. Its plenty bright in a very dark environment, and what I especially like is that it is regulated to give the same output for about 8 hours before starting to drop off. Cheapy coin cell lights, or even the spendy ones, are not regulated and start to diminish immediately. Who wants that? Further, you can feed an EO1 with an AAA that you can find at any Stop-n-Rob, whereas coin cells either cost you big bucks at the store or you have to order a strip of them from ebay. The Fenix is aesthetically appealing too, at least to me. I don't use it much as I carry a larger Fenix on my belt, but I know its there in case I'm stuck in an elevator all night or whatnot and need hours and hours of light. Its basically a backup to my primary light, as it is always on my keys, and I always have my keys with me. You know the story.
 
Shann said:
Thanks for the replies. I'll probably go with . . . both.:D
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There ya go, then you can pick which one you like better for your purposes. I'll probably start replacing my Photons with the E01 (keys and PSKs), because as Powernoodle pointed out, it's bright enough when you need it most, and it's regulated. Once I pick a light to edc, it'll serve primarily as a back up so I won't need the photon's higher output (on fresh batteries, just remember they do dim).

As BoxANT suggested, the Fenix LOD or LD01 are also options if you're willing to spend more. I asked carrot about these a while ago too and he knows his stuff :thumbup:. Powernoodle, you don't happen to have one of those too do you? :)
 
Shann said:
What do you carry that you actually have on your keychain, as opposed to an EDC in your pocket?
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Streamlight KeyMate. It uses 4 little LR44 or equivalent batteries, but they last forever. Very well made little light.
 
Razzierb said:
Streamlight KeyMate. It uses 4 little LR44 or equivalent batteries, but they last forever. Very well made little light.
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I just got one of those yesterday- I was amazed at how bright (and concentrated) the beam is. Very nice indeed, except for the pocket clip- way to stiff to actually use. I'll probably buy another one to give as a gift in the next couple of months:) The price is very good too.
 
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The Keymates do fall off a bit like PowerNoodle mentioned, but I get about a year out of a set of batteries. I'm gonna take a peek at the Fenix described above. Just never have gone for an E01 as my entire family has been carrying KeyMates on our key rings for years. Only weak point on the KeyMate is the silly spring loaded clip that tends to break over time on some of the lights. At that point, I just ditch the clip and use the ring.

If you get one of these, I'd recommend the Ti / silver color vs black. The black paint tends to rub off after a number of years making the light look worn, while the silver color just keeps looking like new.
 
Razzierb said:
The Keymates do fall off a bit like PowerNoodle mentioned, but I get about a year out of a set of batteries. I'm gonna take a peek at the Fenix described above. Just never have gone for an E01 as my entire family has been carrying KeyMates on our key rings for years. Only weak point on the KeyMate is the silly spring loaded clip that tends to break over time on some of the lights. At that point, I just ditch the clip and use the ring.

If you get one of these, I'd recommend the Ti / silver color vs black. The black paint tends to rub off after a number of years making the light look worn, while the silver color just keeps looking like new.
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Yeah, I experienced the finish-wear issue with my Maglite Solitare when I was using that. When I bought one as a Father's Day gift a few years, he got silver one for that reason. After years of use you can really see the difference.

I would like to point out that Streamlight is very open about how the performance is affected by age. They even include a use time/ performance chart in the accompanying literature.
 
Photon Freedom Micro II for me and my occasional use

Can switch straight to full power or hold your finger on the switch to get a rising gradient from low to high. Small enough not to bulk out a key chain or sit in a coin pocket. Last weekend camping it was attached to my small pocket knife. and got used a dozen times and much more than the other half doszen lights I had hanging around.

Attaching it to the lanyard hole of my small pocket knife (gerber lst micro) worked well as it then didn't walk like all the other torches upgrade maglites or vaius sizes my surefire etc- did at various times with children wife .....

And can be easily held in the teeth without filing them down!
 
That keymate looks like a great light. I've been meaning to pick up a keychain light for a while. I was going to get one of those SO-LED lights from countycomm.com, but I just might pick up one of those instead, if it's brighter and longer lasting.
 
+1 on the Fenix EO1 for the key ring, great little light. I have a few of them ...seems the batteries last a real long time. I'm very happy with mine. I also place the Photon lights on my Jacket zippers. Which seems to work very well.
Recently I was given one of those baseball caps from Eddie Bauer with 2 little LED's on the brim ...I love it! wear it all the time:thumbup:

Can never have enough light!:thumbup:

Jules
 
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