Help Needed - Looking for a new EDC flashlight

[King_Gorilla]

For years I have been looking for a flashlight that I think SHOULD exist, but so far I cannot find. 

Every day I carry a 1 cell AAA flashlight.  A Streamlight Mircostream.  I like it because I can carry it in the pen loop on my Leatherman sheath. 

So ideally, I am looking for another AAA 1 cell sized light.  Something less than 4 inches long, and narrow enough to fit into one of those elastic loops.  Another important part is that I HATE that all the flashlights have 3 to 9 different modes that you have to cycle through.  I don't need it to strobe, I don't need it to have different levels of brightness, I don't need SOS.  I need a simple flashlight with an ON/OFF button or switch. 
*No twist activation
*I also need it to have a laser pointer

The only thing I have found that sort of works for this is a small S&W branded light that was the top half of a tactical pen.  It is a great little light with a laser.  no bs.  just those 2 functions.  The only problem is that you have to cycle through the laser and the light, AND since it was the top of a pen, it only works with a twist on/off function.  which I hate. 

I am at the point where I am thinking of contacting a metal shop to see if someone can manufacture me a button style switch that will tread onto the existing threads so that I can use the one I have and just deal with the cycling through the laser and the light. 

I know that klein tools makes one that has 2 buttons, one for the light and one for the laser, but it is a little too big.  About 5 inches. 

Any help would be appreciated

[Grant Lamontagne]

I had a few suggestions right up until you said it had to have a built in laser.  Unfortunately I don't know of any that also have a laser built in.  Otherwise I was about to suggest the OLight i3T.

For about ten times the cost of the i3T you can get one of the Odin lights that is designed as a weapon light and includes a light and laser combo, and looks like it might be in your size range.... but it isn't cheap and has a rechargeable internal battery, not a AAA.

Is the Microstream not still available?  I am seeing them listed a lot online- again, not cheap, but replacing the one you have always had might be the best way to get exactly what you want again.

Def

[nate j]

Well, life is imperfect.  We can’t always get exactly the functions we want, no functions we don’t, and in the ideal size/form factor.

Personally, I’d love to have the performance of today’s top 21700-powered lights in something the size of a 1xAA light.  But AFAIK, such an animal does not presently exist.

I would say take a look at Olight’s O’Pens and the Fenix E06R, but there will be some compromises/trade-offs.

As another alternative, perhaps consider sticking with a simple 1xAAA flashlight and adding one of those key chain laser pointers?

[King_Gorilla]

Is the Microstream not still available?  I am seeing them listed a lot online- again, not cheap, but replacing the one you have always had might be the best way to get exactly what you want again.

Def

The microstream is still around, I have one that I carry each day and I have 2 back-ups that are still unopened.  But it doesn't have a laser.  I would carry the little S&W light that I put in the picture, because it has a laser but it is horribly frustrating to try to use twist lights. (especially when you have to turn them on and off to cycle through the functions. 

I don't mind if it has an internal rechargeable battery.  I just want it to be the size of a 1 cell AAA light so that it fits in the elastic loop on my leatherman sheath. 

it's definitely some first world problems.

[King_Gorilla]

Update:

Thanks for the suggestions.

I found a flashlight. 
 

I'm not going to say that I would call this a complete success, (YET) but it might work out that way.  Time will tell. 

I decided to go to the mall here in Las Vegas, where we have an actual physical brick & mortar Olight store.  A store with nothing but Olight products.  My first time going in there.  It was pretty nice.  Picture an apple store but all Olight.  Anyway, one of the guys working there was very helpful.  I told him what I was looking for and he showed me the Ark Pro, Ark Pro lite, Ark Pro Ultra, as well as the newest Opens. 

I really liked the Open but the Ark Pro is what I ended up buying.  It has the light, a UV light, and a green laser.  It has the magnetic butt where you can also charge it with the included magnetic charger. (also a separate usbC charging port option on the side)  It also has a really good 2 way deep carry pocket clip.  The big selling points for me was that the controls were a wheel that would allow you to select between the 2 light functions and the UV light without having to click the on/off button to cycle through them.  And most importantly, that the laser had it's own button on the side so the laser functions are isolated entirely from the lights. 

The only problem is that it is WAY bigger than I wanted.  It's slightly longer than the leatherman sheath that I carry, and way too wide to insert into the elastic loop on the side. 

I will attempt to EDC this light for some time.  I will see if the size bothers me.  Perhaps I will use this as the push that I need to finally get into leather works and force myself to make some custom sheaths that would carry this side by side with my Leatherman. 

In any case, I am happy, and I am looking at this as a victory, BUT the search will forever continue.  One day I might find a small and simple flashlight that will just be a light and a laser but also fit into the little loop on my sheath. 

[Farmer X]

Here's hoping it works out well for you!

[nate j]

So, you found something with the features you want, but the major trade-off was the size/form factor.

Glad you have something to at least try out, and hopefully it ends up meeting your needs!

[Mabrowns]

Luimtop tool

[MadPlumbarian]

I used to carry a single AA flashlight but that’s after downsizing from a 2AA, but a while ago after reading about it on here I switched again and went with a rechargeable flashlight, I mean heck, the lumen brightness was higher then 2AA, yet is the size of a AA, yet is also rechargeable, so what could be better in my book, but here, it’s what I carry,,
JR