Need flashlight - high lumen, short OAL

[BDK]

I motion you add that review to Amazon

[JohnOC]

Thinking about a better quality keychain sized light(s) for my daughters. Need to start looking more actively. Would like something better than what's available in the checkout line at the typical autoparts store.

A single AAA like the Fenix E05 would be the classic keychain like but since they carry keywads in huge purses maybe step up to something like a Fenix E12.

I know its not necessarily what you had in mind, especially for people with huge masses of keys problems.. But on the super minimal keychain light front, I've been carrying the same photon microlight on my keyring for near 3 years now, and its still plenty bright. Sometimes dead simple can be really good.

[workinwifdakids]

Thinking about a better quality keychain sized light(s) for my daughters. Need to start looking more actively. Would like something better than what's available in the checkout line at the typical autoparts store.

A single AAA like the Fenix E05 would be the classic keychain like but since they carry keywads in huge purses maybe step up to something like a Fenix E12.

I know its not necessarily what you had in mind, especially for people with huge masses of keys problems.. But on the super minimal keychain light front, I've been carrying the same photon microlight on my keyring for near 3 years now, and its still plenty bright. Sometimes dead simple can be really good.

Haven't seen that one before, but I'll look into it. My fav is the Inova Microlight.

[Greg]

New product:

http://www.foursevens.com/products/QTABurstKit

It's a single AA format light with nearly 800 lumens max output (one minute burst mode, then it ramps down to avoid combustion ). The input voltage it requires is 3-9v, so it needs to run off of a lithium battery. Lithium rechargeable the same size as a AA is commonly referred to as a 14500 (which is actually a description of the size).

[blackeagle603]

I know its not necessarily what you had in mind, especially for people with huge masses of keys problems.. But on the super minimal keychain light front, I've been carrying the same photon microlight on my keyring for near 3 years now, and its still plenty bright. Sometimes dead simple can be really good.

Yeah, want a bit more than that for parking lot/personal security. All 3 girls are college students with night classes.

[Termite]

I know its not necessarily what you had in mind, especially for people with huge masses of keys problems.. But on the super minimal keychain light front, I've been carrying the same photon microlight on my keyring for near 3 years now, and its still plenty bright. Sometimes dead simple can be really good.

Yeah, want a bit more than that for parking lot/personal security. All 3 girls are college students with night classes.

B.E 603,

My EDC pocket light is a TerraLUX Keychain 1-AAA light. 35 lumens, dirt simple single setting(twist to turn on), comes in red, gunmetal grey, or black, $15. range is 75-150 ft. I find it quite sufficent. Link

If the girls need more light than that, then there's the 80 lumen Olight i3S LED Flashlight for $24.95, or the 132 lumen Titanium Innovations Illuminati CA1-AL LED Flashlight for $29.95.

For a purse light, the TerraLUX Lightstar 80 AAA lights are quite good, I use one at work; two for $25 w/free shipping

[Greg]

I know its not necessarily what you had in mind, especially for people with huge masses of keys problems.. But on the super minimal keychain light front, I've been carrying the same photon microlight on my keyring for near 3 years now, and its still plenty bright. Sometimes dead simple can be really good.

Yeah, want a bit more than that for parking lot/personal security. All 3 girls are college students with night classes.

Would they be willing to carry something as large as a Surefire 6P?

If they are, there are *lots* of options. There's a Chinese (yes I know, but they actually make a good product) company called Solarforce that's taken cloning the 6P and made it something of a minor industry, and their clones are good. My current night stand light is one.

The L2 is the basic model, type II anodized. There are also L2T and L2N variations to choose from. L2P (what I have) is similar to the L2 but type III HA for a few extra bucks.

http://www.solarforceflashlight-sales.c ... s=7&id=354

I personally have combined it with a pocket clip/lanyard attachment point:

http://www.solarforceflashlight-sales.c ... s=17&id=56

and a holder/pouch (for when I carry it with my in my backpack)

http://www.solarforceflashlight-sales.c ... =21&id=220

Fine choices for drop ins (or as Surefire liked to call them back in the day, 'light engines')

http://intl-outdoor.com/p60-dropin-modu ... p-740.html
http://intl-outdoor.com/p60-dropin-modu ... p-798.html

Available with different emitters, tints, number of modes, etc etc In general XM-L will have better output, XP-G will have better concentration/throw (in the same platform). There are better dropins, but to do better would cost a lot more- these are good and good value. (I have an older multimode XM-L one from them that I like.)

My current nightstand light has a generic single mode XP-G2 dropin at about 300 lumens that I picked up cheap elsewhere (not currently available). Works very nicely.

A few of these:

http://www.mtnelectronics.com/index.php ... uct_id=137
http://www.mtnelectronics.com/index.php ... duct_id=55 (if you like protected cells, I have 2)

And one of these to charge them:

http://www.mtnelectronics.com/index.php ... uct_id=231
(lots of other good choices, but I happen to have this one. It's gotten good reviews and I'm very happy with mine.)

Or even this:

http://www.fasttech.com/products/0/1000 ... er-version

Which is a well-regarded budget charger that can also be used as a USB battery bank. (Keep one batt in the light, the other in the charger in your purse/backpack... can use the second batt as a spare for the light or as power supply for other gadgets via the battery bank functionality of the charger.)

MTN Electronics is a US company. Side business of a guy working his way through school, IIRC who happens to be a flashlight enthusiast. He's a good vendor. The other links I supplied go direct to Chinese sources- you can get that same stuff from US vendors, but you'd pay more for the convenience.

[Termite]

My $.02 worth: Surefires are hideously overpriced.

[Greg]

My $.02 worth: Surefires are hideously overpriced.

Of course. But a well-machined Surefire clone, already sized to take an 18650 instead of 2 123a's only (real 6P's needed to be bored out slightly) with type III HA coating... for only $17- yes I'll buy that.

[Greg]

This thread may cost me money yet. I wrote about some very bright lights will multiple XM-L2 emitters, designed either for flood or throw. For whatever reason I've never really cared for multi-emitter lights. BUT... there's the MT-G2. Here's a review (with links to other reviews) of a relatively new MT-G2 light.

http://budgetlightforum.com/node/34587

Runs on 3 18650 rechargeables, 3000 lumen max output with decent throw plus good color rendition. And it looks like it's $120-130 or so.