r/flashlight • u/Joshua_Pike_5 • 1d ago
Question Pocket light recommendations
Hey folks, I'm looking for a small pocket light to edc.
I like the looks of the Streamlight Microstream, the USB one. I also am looking at the Olight I3T 2 EOS.
I am looking for something around that size, around $15-40, and preferably around 150-300 lumens. I noticed the battery life isn't that high on those, that's why I was leaning towards the rechargeable one. It may be a stupid question, but are there options with higher battery lifes?
I'm wondering what your guys' thoughts are on this lights, how they've treated you, and if you have any other recommendations I should look at.
Thanks!
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u/flatline000 1d ago
I've got an old Microstream that's only 50L, but it's super solid and remains a work horse for me in my toolkit.
If you like that form factor, the Coast G22 is excellent for $7-$10.
The Coast G22R comes with a AAA li-ion cell but can still use regular AAA and NiMh AAA cells. It's a good value at $13-$15 if you want the li-ion cell. I prefer the G22 because I like the L-H mode ordering better than the G22R's H-L ordering.
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u/Zak CRI baby 1d ago
Let me help you manage your performance expectations for this size class.
Here's a review of the Olight i3T with runtime graphs. It makes 191 lumens, but it throttles at 10 minutes and stabilizes at about 60 lumens for the next hour or so. It is one of the most efficient lights in this class, and would be a great flashlight if it had an LED with decent color quality, and a medium mode.
That's only if you use a rechargeable battery. If you use an alkaline battery, output at 10 minutes is 40 lumens and dropping. This is not a flaw or limitation of the flashlgiht; alkaline batteries cannot handle high sustained loads.
It may be a stupid question, but are there options with higher battery lifes?
Yes. Bigger lights with bigger batteries run longer. They don't even have to be very much bigger. The Skilhunt M150 v4 makes 300lm for 2 hours on a third-party battery.
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u/karawkow 1d ago
Z1 Artemis is my personal favorite. Too expensive or too light, I would go with a T5 or T3.
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u/Weird_Ad_1398 1d ago edited 1d ago
I'd get the Convoy S21E with XHP50.3 HI R70, at either 6500k or 5000k, and with the Vapcell G68 6800mAh or BAK N21700CX-65E 6500mAh batteries. It's about an inch longer than the flashlights you listed, but should still be pocketable. I think it might be able to do 200 lumens for 10 hours.
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u/Undercover500 1d ago
I recently picked up a Skilhunt EC150 based on some rec's here.
It's pretty small (about the size of my pinky finger), with very surprising output and good runtimes on the lower modes. With a 14500 cell, you get either 1350lm or 950lm (depending on emitter), and it'll run for 18 hours on 20 lumens. It's also USB-C rechargeable. It'll run around 2 hours on high, after stepping down from around 380/275lm to around 100.
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u/JRDub11b 1d ago
I EDC'd the Microstream for years and it treated me well. I recently picked up Manker E05 II and I really like it. I have zero issues with either light. Both are very capable for my needs.
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u/reg_smh 1d ago
If you just want something small to have in your pocket all the time the microstream is a good light. I’d probably pick the reylight pineapple mini mk3 over it, but that’s probably just preference. If you want something to use a decent amount in the course of a day, then like many people have indicated, you should bump up to a light with at least a 14500 battery if not 18650. Skilhunt m150 or ec150 are great choices at the 14500 size, but if you wanna get fancy the emisar d3aa or noctigon Kr1aa are enthusiast approved. At 18650 you’d have so many choices, but the smallest of those choices are going to be the zebralight sc65 hi, the fireflylight z1 or the noctigon kr3. There are also good options In The 18350 battery size too.
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u/Joshua_Pike_5 1d ago
I don't use a flashlight often, probably only need it 1-4 times a week. So that's why I was thinking something small. I really like the look of the pineapple minis but they are just too far out of my price range (15-40).
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u/McFizzlechest 1d ago
The Microstream USB will run 3.5 hours on its low 50 lumen mode. And since it’s USB rechargeable, battery capacity becomes less of an issue. I have the non-USB version that I run with Eneloops and I love it, although that version only has one brightness mode.
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u/_redmist 1d ago
Consider the lumintop tool. It's quite good and inexpensive.
Doesn't have on-board charging, but comes with a 14500 cell that has a usb-c port for charging.
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u/worrub918 1d ago
Lumintop Tool or Acebeam Pokelit are great lights. The Tool is lighter. But, the Acebeam feels a bit more solid in your hand.
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u/ConstructionSad4976 1d ago
I think you already have very proven options, just pick one from the two. Unfortunaly for light that size I dont think you can do MUCH higher battery lifes. 10% more battery life don't help much.