Posted: 7/31/2007 10:43:46 AM EDT
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Best brightness and run time? Any suggestions? Links? |
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It really depends on what you consider to be 'micro'. For small, low power. expendable lights I like the aluminum-bodied LED twist lights that they sell for a few dollars with a gimpy little clip attached to the end of it. These run on 3 small 'watch batteries' and don't put off much light. They also aren't terribly durable, but I buy them every year to hand out on medical missions. These have the added advantage of being just bright enough to allow a look into an eye in low light without blinding the patient. For EDC (Every Day Carry), I use a Fenix P2D-CE. It runs a long time on a single CR123, has several brightness levels, and is tough enough for my purposes. I haven't broken one yet, and the three I took to Tanzania this summer got a good workout. The downside to these is that they are probably a little bigger than you meant when you said micro. They are the smallest light I have that I consider to be worth carting over to Africa for serious use. |
| ARC-P is a great little light. It's my EDC. AAA lithium seems to last forever. Make sure you get the -P version, it's got a regulated power supply that enhances battery life. |
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FENIX LIGHTS these are the cree edition lights. I intend on getting the one cell version as the poster above me mentioned. Just recently picked up the P3Dce. simply amazing. |
The inova ones are cheap, but the Photon 2 microlight has a little button so you can make it stay on sans teeth. But its ~2x the price of the inova ones. There are cheap knockoffs tho, AFSOC bought some, not sure where. |
I had an Inova Microlight on my keychain for a while. The clicky button has a nice feel to it. However, mine kept turning on by itself in my pocket - Looked like my pants were on fire! Other folks over on the Candlepower Forums have reported the same thing.My favorite keyring-sized light is the Fenix L0D CE. It'll produce a solid, regulated 50 lumens for over one hour continuously (or quite a bit longer when used intermittently), and also has several dimmer, battery-saving settings - and all this from a single 1.5 volt lithium AAA cell.  |
Fenix LOD-CE Hands down, Digital single AAA light, 130 lumens on Lithium rechargeables, 50 lumens on a primary AAA super small 5 modes, great runs times. Buy it from the fenix store (4sevens)..... Features • Uses a Cree 7090 XR-E LED • Five output types: 20 Lumens(3.5hrs) -> 7.5 Lumens(8.5hrs) -> 50 Lumens(1hrs) ->Strobe -> SOS • 4 days of survival use (2 continuous hours per day on the lowest setting) • Uses one 1.5V AAA battery (not included), inexpensive and widely available • 7.35cm (L) x 1.4cm (D) (or 2.9 in (L) x 0.6 in (D)) • Input voltage: 0.8V~3.3V • Made of aircraft grade aluminum • Durable Type III hard anodized finish • 14.5-gram (or 0.5 oz) weight (excluding batteries) • Water-resistant (dunkable) • Toughened ultra clear glass lens with AR coating • Reliable twist switch • Capable of standing up securely on a flat surface to serve as a candle • Patented • Battery not included • Includes a spare o-ring, a split ring, and a pocket clip LOD-CE |
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My EDC is also the Fenix LOD ce. I chose it because its very small, yet bright enough on high to check out the backyard, and runs for a very long time on low. Low is bright enough for walking/navigating, finding stuff in a cabinet or in your pack, Uses common AAA batteries. If you need brighter light and dont mind using cr123 batteries, there are alot of choices in keychain lights. They are noticibly larger in diameter than the LOD ce. Fenix P1D ce https://www.fenix-store.com/product_info.php?cPath=22_55&products_id=158&osCsid=0f6b5b224ce9d5ec2ec014c45202f7ae Fenix P2D https://www.fenix-store.com/product_info.php?cPath=22_55&products_id=226&osCsid=0f6b5b224ce9d5ec2ec014c45202f7ae Slightly larger are the AA powered lights. For me, these are just a little larger than I want in my pocket. Fenix L1D ce https://www.fenix-store.com/product_info.php?cPath=22_55&products_id=70&osCsid=0f6b5b224ce9d5ec2ec014c45202f7ae On a budget, I have tested this light and found it to be quite durable and bright. Battery life on low isnt as good as I would like, but its still a great light for the money. http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.4896 If your wanting bright lights on a budget, check out DealExtreme.com. Look in the Cree and SSCP4 sections. If you were just looking for the little keychain lights, dont bother spending the $7-14 for the fancy inova and photon microlights. I have owned both, and the inova will get turned on in your pocket if you have much in your pockets. The photon is ok, but way too expensive for what you get. Why pay that much, when you can get 10 very nice keychain lights for $5 shipped. http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.1253 I keep one on every zipper pull on my BoB, and in a variety of other places. You can squeeze them for short term light, or use the small switch to have them stay on. |
I would consider Micro to be VERY small, I've got one of the Photon II micro lights, the brightest micro light I've found yet. I have been using it daily for about 6 months and it's still going. It never gets left behind because its on my key chain, I know there are others that will fit on a key chain but this one is small enough that it adds no bulk to the keyring. Huge bundles of keys really piss me off. (ETA I agree that they are way to expensive, but they are well made, better than the clones) (ETA II For .47 ea, I'm ordering some of those too. they may not be quite as nice, but who cares at that price.)
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