good keyring torch

[Raukodur]

Looking for a AAA torch I can have on my keyring. Would be nice if it had a couple of modes, a low light mode which lasts for ages, and a brighter mode for when you need the extra oomph.

I dunno, is there anything in the LED world like the maglite solitaire, where you can twist the head and get it changing from beam to flood, maybe even take off the cap and use it as a candle?

[Zack]

Maratac AAA or iTP EOS A3 (upgrade)...Basically the same light, very nice lights though.

[space cowboy]

I have a Maglight Solitaire & it is junk IMO. The flood is anemic & is worthless IMO. It sucks batteries & my son gave mine back to me on loan. This light is a POC he told me & I gave him my Photon That he really likes.

[Raukodur]

I have a Maglight Solitaire & it is junk IMO. The flood is anemic & is worthless IMO. It sucks batteries & my son gave mine back to me on loan. This light is a POC he told me & I gave him my Photon That he really likes.

Yes, I'm not saying I want a maglite solitaire, Im saying that a few of its features, plus its size, are qualities I would like on a good LED torch.

[Raukodur]

Maratac AAA or iTP EOS A3 (upgrade)...Basically the same light, very nice lights though.

from the reviews I have quickly read about this, seems to be an amazing torch for an incredibly reasonable price.

Wonder where I can get hold of one in the UK though.

[Essexman]

Wonder where I can get hold of one in the UK though.

Yes you can, see here http://www.flashaholics.co.uk/itp-light.html

I've used them before, a very good store, always at the end of the phone if you have any questions.

[Raukodur]

Do the differences in price reflect different materials used for the casing rather than differences in the light itself? In a few stores now I have noted different prices for the stainless steel and titanium editions, is the standard ones case made out of aluminium?

This seems perfect, but I always like to research an issue fully, anyone have any alternatives they believe to be just as good / maybe better for a comparable price?

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

It's purely a matter of materials

These would be other good candidates too imo...

http://www.flashaholics.co.uk/4sevens/preon-1.html

http://www.flashaholics.co.uk/fenix/fenix-ld01.html

And although it's an AA, it's so amazingly compact I'd have to recommend this one...

http://www.flashaholics.co.uk/4sevens/quark-mini-aa.html

[Raukodur]

the preon says it can run for 6 hours in high mode, whereas the other AAA torches (and the AA torch), say they run for around 1 hour on high mode, comparable lumens, so why is this?

edit: sorry, reread the preon description, 0.8 hours on high.

BUT my question shifts to the AA one Mike recommended, it uses an AA but still has similar run times to the AAA ones? Why choose it then? Surely it should have better run times with a fatter battery?

And the original recommendation (ITP A3 EOS) seems to have same lumen output and run times as the others, but is >£10 cheaper, how come? Worse quality? If not, much better value for money?

[space cowboy]

I read somewhere that the ITP  & the Maratac are made by the same company. The Maratac has better knurling it said making it easy to grip.

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

the preon says it can run for 6 hours in high mode, whereas the other AAA torches (and the AA torch), say they run for around 1 hour on high mode, comparable lumens, so why is this?

edit: sorry, reread the preon description, 0.8 hours on high.

BUT my question shifts to the AA one Mike recommended, it uses an AA but still has similar run times to the AAA ones? Why choose it then? Surely it should have better run times with a fatter battery?

And the original recommendation (ITP A3 EOS) seems to have same lumen output and run times as the others, but is >£10 cheaper, how come? Worse quality? If not, much better value for money?

The runtime on low/medium is significantly better on the AA Quark

The ITP is a fine light, but is no where near as robust compared to the Fenix or Preon imo

[Gareth]

the preon says it can run for 6 hours in high mode, whereas the other AAA torches (and the AA torch), say they run for around 1 hour on high mode, comparable lumens, so why is this?

edit: sorry, reread the preon description, 0.8 hours on high.

BUT my question shifts to the AA one Mike recommended, it uses an AA but still has similar run times to the AAA ones? Why choose it then? Surely it should have better run times with a fatter battery?

And the original recommendation (ITP A3 EOS) seems to have same lumen output and run times as the others, but is >£10 cheaper, how come? Worse quality? If not, much better value for money?

The runtime on low/medium is significantly better on the AA Quark

The ITP is a fine light, but is no where near as robust compared to the Fenix or Preon imo

plus 4sevens has a reputation for being conservative with the numbers, other companies can sometimes be.....optimistic?

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

the preon says it can run for 6 hours in high mode, whereas the other AAA torches (and the AA torch), say they run for around 1 hour on high mode, comparable lumens, so why is this?

edit: sorry, reread the preon description, 0.8 hours on high.

BUT my question shifts to the AA one Mike recommended, it uses an AA but still has similar run times to the AAA ones? Why choose it then? Surely it should have better run times with a fatter battery?

And the original recommendation (ITP A3 EOS) seems to have same lumen output and run times as the others, but is >£10 cheaper, how come? Worse quality? If not, much better value for money?

The runtime on low/medium is significantly better on the AA Quark

The ITP is a fine light, but is no where near as robust compared to the Fenix or Preon imo

plus 4sevens has a reputation for being conservative with the numbers, other companies can sometimes be.....optimistic?

That's also true

[NutSAK]

My vote is definitely for the Quark MiNi AA.  It's very close in size to a AAA light, with about 3x the runtime.

[Raukodur]

£34 is WAY too much to be spending on a keyring torch IMO 

[NutSAK]

£34 is WAY too much to be spending on a keyring torch IMO 

 

In that case, The ITP EOS or a Fenix E01 is probably your best bet.

Or, I have a used Fenix L0P SE I could sell on the cheap...

[lovenhim]

Well I would look at the ITP AAA light and also the Preon AAA light  http://www.4sevens.com/product_info.php?cPath=297_332&products_id=1922  I am not sure how much you want to spend on it though.   

[Mike 208]

I have had a Fenix EO1 on my keyring for several months now - never had a problem with it.  I even put a used AAA battery in it when I received it, and it's still running strong.  It's not the brightest light in the "keyring" catagory, but it is very affordable (I think I paid US $15.00 shipped) and handles all my "up-close" tasks with ease.

[Raukodur]

thats the problem with the UK, exorbitant prices compared to the US

[Essexman]

My wife picked up five Fenix EO1 at £11 each inc P&P from UK eBay last year. She emailed the seller asking if she could have a discount if she purchased 5 and he done a deal. They made great birthday gifts for family and friends.

Most places charge about £13 for an E01 in the UK, which when you compare to the price of a similar size maglite, is not bad considering how much better the fenix is.

[Gareth]

While I love my Fenix L0D it's actually my Leatherman Monarch 300 that spends the most time on my keys.  The Monarch is more than bright enough for most tasks and I much prefer having a clicky switch rather than the twist bezel.  If you're in the habit of carrying a bigger light in a bag then I'd go with something like the Microstream/ Fenix E01/ monarch 300.  If this is going to be the only light you carry then something like the Fenix LD1/ ITP A3/ Quark Mini/ Martac would be my choice.

My full thoughts on the Monarch here:

http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,15406.msg292575.html#msg292575

[lovenhim]

I have a Fenix E01 and I like it very much.  It is simple and has a twist on/off feature.  It is 10 lumens and has no modes and no spot to flood.  It is just a simple light that works very well. 

[Turnstone]

I too carry a Fenix E01. A very reliable small light. Not very bright, but long runtime, cheap and I never had a problem with it.