A keychain flashlight is one of those portable gadgets that you cannot live without. Whether you are struggling to open your front door in the dark, changing a flat tire, or hiking along the trail, a keychain flashlight gives you a quick and powerful source of illumination on demand.
Unlike standard flashlights that are big and bulky, keychain flashlights are compact and some mini keychain flashlights weigh as little as 1-ounces and are only 1-inch in length. However, do not be fooled by their diminutive size. With massive advances in LED technology and rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, most flashlights are very powerful and some can even project their beam up to 1-mile away.
The 7 Best Keychain Flashlights
- Finware Mini LED Keychain Flashlight
- Prometheus Lights Keychain LED Flashlight
- BYB LED Mini Flashlight
- Streamlight Nano Light Miniature Keychain LED Flashlight
- MecArmy Keychain Flashlight (Our Top Pick)
- Nitecore TIP SE Keychain Flashlight
- Pelican Progear LED Keychain Flashlight
Our Top Pick for the Best Keychain Flashlight
Our top pick for the best keychain flashlight is the MecArmy Keychain Flashlight.
There is a lot to love about this beautiful flashlight. It is made out of solid brass with an anti-scratch, long-lasting copper coating. The high-intensity LED bulb gives you an extremely bright light that can reach up to 59 meters and MecArmy’s intelligent power-saving technology gives you maximum LED and battery life.
As well as buying one for yourself, you may even want to buy one as a gift for family or friends as it is extremely good value for money.
Check the price on AmazonChoosing the Best Keychain Flashlight
Not all keychain flashlights are created equal so here are 5 specifications to consider when you are looking to purchase a keychain flashlight:
1. Super Powerful LED Bulbs
These days most flashlights, regardless of size, use LED (Light Emitting Diodes) bulbs that are superior to the incandescent light bulb. LED bulbs may be smaller than their widely used predecessor, the incandescent light bulb, but they do not use as much energy and they do not have a filament that can burn out.
Even in a small keychain flashlight, a LED bulb is long-lasting and can give you the strongest and most efficient source of brightness. Flashlights that contain LED lights are measured in lumens.
An LED bulb can range from 9 lumens, and if they contain a Cree XP-G2 S3 high performance LED bulb, the LED can give you 18O or even 360 lumens, which is one the strongest levels of illumination a keychain flashlight can produce.
The quality of the LED bulb can determine the brightness of the beam and the distance it can reach. Some flashlights can reach up to 80 yards while others claim the spotlight beam can be seen from a mile away, which is about 240-feet, which is quite impressive when you consider the small size of the keychain flashlight.
2. Beam Type
A keychain flashlight beam can be projected either as a spot beam or a floodlight beam.
The spot beam can be used to light up a small area and works very well over long distances. You can use the spot beam for walking along a forest track.
A floodlight covers a wider area and is projected in a cone shape. The floodlight is useful for working on an outdoors DIY home project, working on your car, or walking your dog at night.
3. Brightness Settings
Some keychain flashlights allow you to adjust the level of brightness, from low, medium to high, which is very handy for 2 reasons:
- You can save battery power by using a low or medium setting
- It gives you more control over your choice of brightness. You may want to use low light when you are reading in bed, or the medium setting for working in low light conditions, or you can use the high setting for walking at night
One thing to remember about brightness settings:
- If you use the high setting for too long (more than 30 minutes) it can drain the battery or it could cause the LED bulb to overheat. Even though LED bulbs are not as susceptible to overheating as much as an incandescent bulb can be, you can still damage the LED light from overusing the high setting.
If you only need the light for occasional use, or backup or emergency lighting, then you really only need a simple flashlight that just has an on and off switch.
However, if you want the whole works or use the flashlight a lot for outdoor use, choose a flashlight that gives you two or more brightness settings.
4. Battery Life
As well as the level of brightness and quality of the flashlight’s beam, battery life is important as well. The ideal battery is long-lasting and gives you the longest runtime, which equals the number of hours that the battery can last before it dies. Some keychain flashlights come with disposable AAA batteries or button cell batteries that are used in wristwatches.
An alkaline battery can give you 8 hours, which is ideal for EDC. However, some keychain flashlights have strong NiMH or lithium-ion batteries that can be recharged via a USB port and can give you a run time of 90 minutes on high mode and over 46 hours on lower mode.
5. Waterproof and Impact Resistance
As keychain flashlights are small and some have a slimline design, they can fall out of your hands and get damaged. If you are using them outdoors, in wet conditions, or while you are hiking, they may be exposed to harsh conditions.
The best type of flashlight is one that is made from strong and durable material such as solid brass alloy with high heat conductivity and low electrical resistivity, anti-scratch titanium gold coating, or HAIII military grade hard-anodized aluminum.
If they are made from durable material, they can withstand any hard knocks, survive being dropped from a great height, or are temporarily submerged in water, they will keep on supplying you with bright light.
7 Best Keychain Flashlights – Reviews
1. Finware Mini LED Keychain Flashlight
The 5 Pack of Finware Mini LED Keychain Flashlight is such a great idea. Wherever you go you can have a portable source of light with just the press of a button and the mini flashlight is so light at just 0.2-ounces and measuring at 1.5-inches in length.
You can attach one to your keychain, leave one in the car, keep one in your bedroom, leave one in your handbag or backpack and use one in your garage.
At just under $10 they are so affordable, you may even want to stock up on a few packs in case of an emergency or give some to your kids.
The Finware keychain flashlight projects a very bright white light from the 10 lumens LED bulb that can be seen up to 1-mile away, and it requires 2 CR2016 lithium-ion batteries that can give you up to 12 hours of battery life. There are two operating modes, one button to turn it on and the other button provides a constant source of light without having to hold the button down.
Pros
- High quality
- Handy 5-pack of keychain flashlights
- Excellent price
- Small and lightweight
- Powerful light
- Two lithium-ion batteries included
Cons
- Only produces a small spotlight
2. Prometheus Lights Keychain LED Flashlight
Have you heard the myth about the god Prometheus who stole fire from Mount Olympus and gave it to mankind? Unlike the mythical Greek god, there is no need for you to steal fire or light as the Prometheus Lights Keychain LED Flashlight has the power to light up the night and it is very good value for money.
The slimline flashlight provides you with a super-strong natural-looking beam from the high-quality High CRI (92+) (Color Rendering Index) dual-mode LED bulbs and a smart microprocessor that controls the intensity of the beam.
PROMETHEUS LIGHTS makes its flashlights from solid brass and they come in 7 colors: black, amber, blue, purple, nickel, green, and red, and the split ring attachment is made from strong 302 stainless steel.
This is one tough flashlight that can withstand rough conditions and it fits comfortably in your hand. The flashlight has 3 settings: low, medium, and high, and the bulb’s power ranges from 1 lumen for the low setting, 15 lumens on the medium setting, and 80 lumens on the high setting, and it only weighs 1-ounce.
The Prometheus keychain flashlight is tagged as “The World’s First Quick-Release AAA Keychain Flashlight”, which means the push-pull quick release system gives you easy access to the flashlight when you need it. There are 3 levels of brightness that can be activated by just twisting the end of the light.
To get a long-lasting lighting performance out of the flashlight, the manufacturer recommends that you use AAA NiMH rechargeable batteries. You can use lithium batteries, but not lithium-ion rechargeable batteries.
Pros
- Very good value for money
- Intelligent light control
- Slimline design
- Natural-looking beam
- Quick-release system
- Superior beam quality
- Four stylish designs
- Solid construction
- Feels comfortable in the hand
- Very good battery power
Cons
- Low setting does not give much light
3. BYB LED Mini Flashlight
Good things come in little packages. The BYB LED Mini Flashlight is very powerful and each flashlight produces a strong beam from the 9 lumens LED bulb, and its shiny aluminum casing is very durable and you have a choice of 4 different colors: black, silver, red and blue.
The best thing about these mini lighting dynamos is that they are extremely affordable. Super powerful, super strong, and super attractive, what a great package deal! As well as purchasing a pack for yourself, they also make great gifts for friends and family.
The mini flashlights are very easy to use, with a simple on/off push button and they require 3x standard AAA batteries. They are so compact and light measuring 3.5-inches by 1-inch and weighing only 1-ounce.
The flashlight has a strong nylon lanyard, so you can hang one on your keychain, carry one in your pocket, handbag or backpack, store one in your glove compartment or storage pocket in your camping tent, use for one for illumination when you are cooking up a storm on your barbecue.
The flashlight is very easy to use, just press the button on the tail cap to turn it on or off.
All of the flashlights are backed by an 18-month warranty and a 90-day money-back guarantee. If you have problems with your flashlights, BYB’s excellent customer service team will offer you a full refund or replacement, no questions asked!
Pros
- Great price
- High quality
- Pack of four
- Powerful beam
- Compact
- Four attractive colors
- Easy to use
- 18-month warranty and 90 days money-back guarantee
- Full refund or replacement
- Excellent customer service
Cons
- Batteries wear out quickly
4. Streamlight Nano Light Miniature Keychain LED Flashlight
Strong and stylish, the shiny black Streamlight Nano Light Miniature Keychain LED Flashlight is destined to become your new traveling or camping buddy and is one of the most affordable lights.
The flashlight can handle rough handling, so if you drop it or bash it around while you are hiking, exploring a cave, or patrolling a car park, the tough aircraft aluminum casing with an anodized finish is impact and shock-resistant.
A very versatile flashlight, the Streamlight is compact and measures 1.5-inches and it weighs 0.36-ounce, so it will easily fit on your keychain, in your pocket, or you can even use the very handy snap-hook on the back of the light to attach it to your backpack for easy access, or even hang onto your belt while you are walking the dog.
This super Nano light gives you a powerful lighting performance as the 10 lumens 5mm parabolic-shaped LED bulb produces an extremely bright beam that provides 100,000 hours over the lifetime of the bulb. It is easy to use, just rotate the top of the flashlight to turn it on and off.
The flashlight is powered by 4 alkaline button cells (which are included in the box), and they can give you 8 hours of runtime, and the light is covered by a lifetime warranty.
Pros
- Impact, weatherproof, and shock-resistant aircraft aluminum casing
- Strong aircraft aluminum casing
- Ideal for outdoor applications
- Great price
- Very powerful beam
- Up to 8 hours of battery runtime per use
- 100,000-hour lifetime
- Compact
- Lightweight
- Versatile
- Easy one-handed snap hook
- Lifetime warranty
Cons
- Batteries do not last very long
5. MecArmy Keychain Flashlight
Solid and compact, and with an ability to deliver a powerful beam of light that banishes the darkness, the MecArmy Keychain Flashlight is extremely good value for money. The flashlight is made from an attractive 100% brass alloy that will retain its shiny copper appearance over the long term.
The EDC flashlight is very strong and durable and it has the highest waterproof rating of IPX8 and impact resistance up to 1 meter. With a smooth mini design, it will fit comfortably in your hand and it has a sturdy integrated clip that you can use to attach the flashlight to your belt or backpack, so it is a great choice for everyday lighting applications, camping adventures, hiking, hunting or fishing.
Featuring a rechargeable design, the MecArmy flashlight can be powered up at home before you leave for a camping trip, or in your car, truck, or RV, so you will always have access to a powerful light wherever you go.
The flashlight uses the highest performance Cree XP-G2 LED bulb that lasts up to 50,000 hours and the lens is protected by strong tempered glass with an anti-reflection coating. There are 2 brightness settings: high and low, and the flashlight can reach 130 lumens at the highest setting.
The beam acts as a floodlight and it can reach up to 59 meters, so you can illuminate your car while you change a tire or illuminate the campsite.
One of the highlights of this smart little flashlight is its quick-charging battery that will be ready for action in just one hour. The efficient flashlight also has reverse polarity protection and limits energy output by producing only 8 lumens on the low setting. This energy-saving feature not only maximizes battery life but also stops the LED bulb from overheating.
Pros
- Very good value for money
- Compact mini design
- Comfortable to hold
- Attractive brass/copper finish
- Sturdy integrated pocket/belt clip
- Durable
- Highest waterproof rating of IPX8
- Extremely bright light on high setting
- Rechargeable
- Overheating protection and energy-saving design
Cons
- Battery may need to be recharged before use
- Top can be a bit tight to open
6. Nitecore TIP SE Keychain Flashlight
The Nitecore TIP SE Keychain Flashlight is one of the brightest keychain flashlights on the market and it can produce a whopping amount of bright white light. It also gives you more control over the quality and intensity of the beam’s lighting power to fit your indoor or outdoor conditions.
Its 700-lumen beam is extremely powerful and the special dual OSRAM P8 LEDs allow the beam to reach up to 100 yards.
You can choose from 4 levels of brightness: 700 lumens (turbo), 180 lumens (high), 30 lumens (medium), and 1 lumen on the low setting.
So whether you need to light up a path with a floodlight or use the flashlight for close-up work when you are doing some DIY tasks at home, the flashlight produces a reliable and constant source of lighting when you need it.
The Nitecore flashlight features an innovative easy-to-use single-handed operation with a dual switch design that separates the on/off operation with the brightness mode selection button.
Upgraded features include a Daily Mode button designed for outdoor use and long-time illumination and the Demo Mode button is designed for EDC and short-time illumination. To access the super-bight light, hold the mode button at any time for instant turbo lighting power.
The built-in battery provides an impressive 50 hours of total runtime and the built-in fast USB charging port charges the battery in just 1.5 hours. A smart battery indicator lets you know the power status of the battery.
Nitecore has made the flashlight’s housing from aluminum alloy which makes it incredibly durable and sturdy. It also has an impact resistance of up to 1 meter and a water-resistant rating of IP54.
As this keychain flashlight weighs just under 1-ounce and is the size of a thumb USB drive, it is one of the most compact, portable, and lightweight flashlights on the market.
As well as being able to recharge the battery via the micro-USB port, the flashlight is prevented from overheating thanks to the automatic shut-down system that will turn the light off for 30 seconds. This is a handy feature for when you leave the flashlight plugged into an electricity socket.
If you are working outside or enjoying a camping trip and not able to access a power source or you do not have a portable solar panel, it is recommended that you use the flashlight on low mode and only use the higher settings sparingly, to conserve battery power.
You can choose from 2 colors, black or gray, and the flashlight comes with 2 keyrings, a key clasp, a bonus LumenTac keychain light, and an adjustable pocket clip, which makes the Nitecore Tip SE the ideal EDC traveling companion.
Pros
- Very good value for money
- Super bright light
- Lightweight
- Compact
- Water-resistant
- Durable and sturdy design
- Four brightness settings
- Two modes for long-time and short-time illumination
- Beam reaches up to 100 yards
- Rechargeable battery with micro USB port
Cons
- Depletes battery life quickly at turbo mode
- USB charging cable has to be purchased separately
7. Pelican Progear LED Keychain Flashlight
If you are looking for an EDC keychain flashlight, the compact and super bright Pelican Progear LED Keychain Flashlight is a great choice. Whether you need to change a flat tire, shed some light on your driveway, or need some extra light for a new DIY project at home, the Pelican keychain flashlight is tiny, but it is powerful.
The 16 lumens light bulb gives you more than enough light to illuminate household duties, and the flashlight is very easy to use, with a simple on/off rotary switch that is located at the bottom of the light.
The solid casing is made from IPX4 water-resistant aluminum and its sturdy steel clip can be attached to a lanyard, your belt, and you can even detach the hook and stand the flashlight on a table.
This super little light is powered by 4 coin cell batteries included with the flashlight, and with 4 colors to choose from, this cute keychain flashlight is pretty stylish and affordable.
Pros
- Excellent price
- High quality
- Lightweight and compact
- Powerful flashlight
- Water-resistant
- Four colors
Cons
- Not ideal for long-distance illumination
Our Top Pick for the Best Keychain Flashlight
Our top pick for the best keychain flashlight is the MecArmy Keychain Flashlight.
There is a lot to love about this beautiful flashlight. It is made out of solid brass with an anti-scratch, long-lasting copper coating. The high-intensity LED bulb gives you an extremely bright light that can reach up to 59 meters and MecArmy’s intelligent power-saving technology gives you maximum LED and battery life.
As well as buying one for yourself, you may even want to buy one as a gift for family or friends as it is extremely good value for money.
Check the price on Amazon
