The 10 Best EDC Keychain Flashlights in 2020
Mikey Bautista
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Your keychain is one of the most convenient places to keep your tools. You carry your keys every day anyway, so adding extra gear to them—like a flashlight—ensures you always stay prepared.
You might think to get a flashlight that's powerful enough to be worth carrying would take up way too much pocket space. But thanks to LED and battery tech, even smaller modern lights are more than powerful enough for everyday use. The best part is that many of them can live right on your keychain, always within reach.
A good part of our days is spent in the dark, so carrying a light is always a bright idea. Here are 10 of the best flashlights that can go on your keychain to round out your EDC.
Olight ION
The ION is a compact LED flashlight that has an attractive titanium alloy frame. And at around 2.25 inches long and weighing only 1.13 ounces, it won't add unnecessary bulk to your carry. Unlike other lights, theres no complicated twist activation or button presses to turn on the ION. A simple on-off switch on the side controls the dual CREE XP-G3 emitters on its front. Those two LEDs work with the TIR reflectors to give you a large hotspot that’s especially useful for illuminating wide areas. A touch-sensitive, Gorilla Glass-reinforced top panel also lets you control the ION's four stepped modes, giving the ION unique functionality while staying rugged for daily use and bumping around on your keychain or in your pocket.
Nitecore TINI
Remember when the Nitecore TUBE could get the job done with 45 lumens yet still disappear on a keychain? The TINI outdoes its predecessor on all fronts, with 380 lumens at its disposal and weighing under half an ounce with its actually tiny metallic shell. Its Cree XP-G2 S3 LED puts out 4 modes controlled by 2 side switches on the body of the light. When paired with its beaded reflector, you get soft, uniform light suitable for illuminating a workspace or immediate area. For added convenience it's powered by a built-in, micro-USB rechargeable lithium-ion battery that reaches up to 60 hours of runtime.
SureFire Titan Plus
Unique to SureFire's rugged flashlight catalog is their keychain champion the Titan Plus. The light stays portable at 3.375 inches long and weighing 2 ounces, but now comes in a striking silver colorway made from nickel-plated brass. Its comes with three levels including 15 lumens for 7 hours on low and an unprecedented 300 lumens on high for 1 hour with a NiMH battery. The SureFire Titan Plus also includes multiple options to fit into any carry, including a stainless steel split ring, removable pocket clip, and a quick-detach tailcap that lets you deploy the light with a simple pull.
Klarus Mini One
The Mini One comes with a 10180 battery, an onboard-rechargeable lithium-ion cell that, while uncommon, brings great capacity and voltage to power a light even this small. When paired with its XP-G3 LED and TIR optics it's able to output a floody, useful 130 lumens on High for 24 minutes or 8 lumens on Low for over 5 hours—not the output you would expect from a light smaller than its AAA peers of yesteryear. Output levels are controlled via a 3-stage twisty interface, opening on Low then ending on High. It's simple and effective, and one you can navigate one-handed while the Mini One is hanging off a keychain or belt loop, which it does especially well at only 1.73” long and weighing a scant 0.56oz thanks to its lightweight titanium construction.
ThruNite Ti3
While the Ti3 comes from the previous generation of AAA twisty keychain lights, make no mistake: this is an extremely capable light. Powered by a single AAA battery and paired with with a Cree XP-L V3 LED, you get up to 130 lumens on High for up to 30 minutes, or a 0.08-lumen Firefly for an impressive 120 hours, a setting many larger flashlights don't even offer. It also comes with a 1-hour runtime Strobe to round out its levels. Anodized aluminum construction keeps the Ti3 light—a mere 0.4 ounces without a battery—making it the perfect rugged addition to your keychain. And the best part: at under $15 it's a great value for any EDC.
Fenix UC02SS
The UC02SS can produce up to 130 lumens of light with a simple twist of its head. But just because it's small doesn't mean the light isn't tough enough for everyday use: stainless steel construction gives it a hardy shell, and IP68-rated water- and dustproofing means it's ready for every activity both indoors and out. The UC02SS rides neatly on your keychain but also comes with a lanyard should you want additional options for carry. And while it does use an uncommon 10180 Li-ion cell, the fact that it's shorter than even a AAA battery plays a big role in achieving such a compact form factor. The best part: you can easily recharge the 10180 battery it comes with thanks to its micro USB charging port so it's always ready to go.
Manker LAD
While Manker's LAD was built as a keychain light first, its spec sheet surprises with just how good its features are despite its size. Weighing under an ounce and and about the size of a car key fob, the LAD packs up to 300 lumens on High/Strobe with its Cree XP-G3 LED, powered by a USB-rechargable polymer lithium battery. But its most appealing feature is an option to choose Nichia 219C as its emitter, an LED that hasn't found its way onto many lights on the market. It's one of the best ways to emit a beam as close to natural light as possible, and thus the most pleasing to the eyes and most accurate way to view the colors of your surroundings. Topping off its features is a 1-lumen red LED that preserves your night vision, IPX6 resistance, and 3 colors to match your EDC.
Maratac PCL (Personal Carry Light)
Maratac are best known for their AA and AAA lights, so it's no surprise the Personal Carry Light may have slipped under many EDCers' radars. It's one of their smallest lights yet, using a 14250 battery paired with a Cree XP-G2 S4 LED for two modes controlled with a unique twisty interface. Twisting it on starts the PCL off with a 15-lumen Low good for 9 hours, and a half turn further activates a 305-lumen High for up to 40 minutes. Don't worry about charging its uncommon battery because it comes with a built-in USB charging port and cable; instead, worry about which exotic version of the light to get with its options for copper, brass, or stainless steel to best fit your carry aesthetic.
Lumintop Ant
Lumintop puts a modern spin on the classic AAA flashlight design with the Ant, a compact light designed for EDC whether clipped to your pocket or hanging from your keychain. It comes with 4 modes and up to 120 lumens off its Cree XP-G2 LED, giving it plenty of capability as an everyday light. Lumintop have given the Ant a side clicky switch to navigate its modes, a refreshing change from the usual twisty operation of this type of light. A removable clip also gives you EDC options should you prefer it handy in your pocket rather than attached via its keyring hole. And to match its brass or silver shell, there's even a tritium slot on the Ant's tail to help locate it in the dark or add a touch of colorful style.
Streamlight KeyMate USB
Forget what you know about keychain lights. Streamlight's KeyMate USB disguises itself as another key on your keychain, but it's no secret how useful it can be. Bringing 35 lumens to bear, the KeyMate's features give it unique uses that make it ideal as a backup or emergency light. Since the KeyMate keeps its strip-shaped LED on the underside of its “blade,” you can turn it on face down on a flat surface for unique area illumination thanks to the sweeping, floody beam it gives off. With three modes and plenty of runtime (up to 2 hours on low), it's enough light to let you work in a pinch or flash in case of an emergency. And with built-in USB charging and an included cable, topping up the KeyMate is as easy as charging your phone.
Do you carry a light on your keychain? If you have a one that you think is worthy of the title “best,” make sure to let us know in the comments below!
He has lived through many personal and professional lives, spending nearly a decade in the workforce management industry, a minor career in gaming, and has lent a hand with entrepreneurial efforts back home in the Philippines. He has also been an active participant and helped build a number of significant social communities online, both for EDC and his other hobbies.
Mikey has been at the cusp of gaming, technology, and the internet since the ‘90s and continues to lend his experience, expertise, and authority to all his pursuits. When not online, in a game, or watching movies, you'll find him in the gym, speedrunning his next hobby, or talking at length about EDC with anyone willing to listen.
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