When you pass through poorly lit parking lots, you begin your mini-prayers. You beg the sky to shed some light on your path so that you don't step on a puddle. That's in case you're not getting mugged.
While EDC flashlights are generally sought out for cars, people question what they should use to light up their way to the car. If you go out at night a lot and feel anxious when you’re in the dark, what you need is a best keychain flashlight.
Thanks to LED tech, you can now carry flashlights within a ring around your finger. Although keychain flashlights aren't the best substitutes to the original flashlight, they can at least provide enough light to keep you calm in the chilling darkness. They may not be handy during snowstorms and camping, but they allow you to be less intimidated during your night strolls.
After much research, we’ve brought you the best keychain flashlight of the year. Let’s check them out!
Overview: Best Keychain Flashlight
Product Image | Product Name | Features | Price Range | Buy Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ThruNite Ti3 | Twist switch Waterproof Three Light Modes | $$ | |
 | SureFire | Click Light Weatherproof Two key attachment positions | $$ | |
 | OLIGHT | Compact Superior LED light and lens Waterproof | $ | |
 | Nitecore | 4 brightness adjustments Battery life indicator Warranty available | $$ | |
 | RovyVon | Brightest light 4 brightness levels Waterproof | $$$ | |
 | Prometheus Lights | Superior CRI light Waterproof AAA batteries | $$$ | |
 | MecArmy | Battery indicator Rechargeable battery Quick charge | $$$ | |
 | Klarus | Self adjustable Rechargeable battery Quick Charge | $ | |
 | Solarrific | Solar Powered Emergency Light Hand crank available | $ | |
 | Swiss Safe | Solar and battery powered Emergency Light Hand crank available | $ |
Top 10 Best Keychain Flashlight (Review)
Best Overall
1. ThruNite Ti3
If you're looking for an everyday carryable keychain flashlight, ThruNite Ti3 is your guy.
Built with anodized Aluminium lll, the gadget is sturdy and convenient to use. It comes in three different modes, unlike most of the regular flashlights. The extra strobe feature of 120 Lumens is also pretty cool and acts like a miniature disco ball.
If you want a low brightness just to play with the flashlight, you can press the Firefly mode. It only has an intensity of 0.04 Lumens - barely any light. The Low light mode has a luminosity of 12 Lumens and works just right for a moonlit night. The High Mode is 120 Lumens.
The battery runs for almost five days on the Firefly mode and 6.3 hours on Low mode. The strobe mode works for an hour while the High mode works for half an hour.
Hiking, Backpacking or working under your car, just twist the LED flashlight with one hand and focus on the light.
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Runner-Up
2. SureFire
If you're looking for a flashlight to carry around with you 24/7 without considering its looks, the SureFire is what you need.
The SureFire is big and black, just the way you like it. The keychain flashlight comes with a mini carabiner clip and split ring. It’s reinforced with aluminum, and so, it’s sturdy enough to withstand a lot of pressure. You can snap, clip or hook it to your keys and forget they ever existed.
This device features three light modes of LED light. The Low Mode runs on 5 lumens of light and can work for almost 4 days. If you're walking your dog at night, the medium mode of 60 Lumens will help you avoid a “landmine” even if you're circling the park for 4 hours. And if you're searching for your keys, then turn on the High Mode of 300 Lumens.
The battery is a regular lithium ion one. You can recharge it with the given USB cable and can expect 90% juice within 3 hours of charging.
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Budget Pick
3. OLIGHT
Imagine a flashlight. Then shrink it to 10 times of its size and add a bunch of keys to it. That's the OLIGHT.
This piece of equipment comes from the i3E series of OLIGHT as a portable and handy flashlight. The LED light built in this flashlight is a high end LUXEON TX by Philips. The ring at the end of the flashlight allows you to add in your keys without the extra bulk.
The Olight works on two different modes and emits a maximum lumination of 90 Lumens. The light beams out to a distance of 44 meters, so you'll have no trouble finding your way to the door after a late night event.
Just like the best keychain flashlight on this list, the i3E is IPX8 waterproof. Even if you submerge it 2 meters deep into the water, you'll find this accessory flashing like an electric piranha.
The OLIGHT has a twist-open mechanism and works on a AAA battery. The battery works for a surprising 60,000 hours, probably because of the low but manageable light. You'll love the 5 year warranty that comes with OLIGHT too.
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Most Advanced
4. Nitecore
Looking for a lion amidst cats? You'll probably want Nitecore then.
The Nitecore feels, looks and works like a tactical keychain flashlight. Its metallic exterior is finished with PVD Titanium and is incredibly durable.
This single gadget provides 4 different levels of brightness - low, mid, high, and turbo. If you want to scare away ghosts, the low mode and clanking of keys come in handy, and if you want to penetrate through the ghosts, use the turbo mode. Its 380 Lumen light will burn up their souls.
The Nitecore has another additional feature, which is the battery indicator. It's blue and winks at you to signal you to charge it when you tap on the switch. Three flashes indicate that your keychain is powered by more than 50% of battery. Two flashes indicate below 50%, and a single flash gives a warning of low battery.
Charging is easy, as all you need is a USB or one of those funky solar panels. Just stick the Li ion battery up to a charging station and receive 60 hours of battery life and unlimited dangling of keys.
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Brightest Light
5. RovyVon
The RovyVon is what you call packed-in-a-punch. This little keychain gives off the brightest light from its tiny body. It’s an excellent alternative to a regular flashlight.
The A4x model by RovyVon has a titanium body and feels tough on the hand, which gives you a sense of protection. It’s extremely compact and has two different positions to attach the clip of your keys to.
When you first use it, the default light is the Ultra low. There are three other lights which, as usual, are Low, Medium and High. We've found the High mode to be really impressive, with an insane intensity of 650 Lumens.
Besides, there are two options for switching this little torch on. For quick access, you just press and hold, and then just release the button to turn it off. For daily use, double click for turning on and press and hold to turn off.
They have a lot of other options too; the choices are endless. There's a different switching method for its strobe mode too. And, oh yes, there's a strobe mode.
The RovyVon continues to surprise us with its memory function, charging indicators, rechargeable battery, water resistance, and, of course, the beaming light.
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Cool Design
6. Prometheus Lights
Most of the keychain flashlights you'll find focus mainly on the LED light and less on the design. If we wanted to show it off to our friends, though, we’d probably look for something that looks appealing.
The Prometheus Lights looks fantastic on the outside and works like a charm on the inside. Don't be fooled by its groovy appearance; it’s tougher than lead. Even if you pull it with all your might, it won't get loose.
Bu that doesn't mean that the buttons are hard to push. You just pull to turn on and push to turn off, like those pens at the bank.
The three modes of brightness can be adjusted using the twisting mechanism. The Low mode gives off 1 Lumen of light, the Medium mode gives off 15 Lumens, and the High Mode lights up your path with an 80 Lumen light.
The special feature about this keychain flashlight is that it’s not built with a regular LED light. Instead, the Prometheus comes with a High Color Rendering Index light that reflects a lot more colors of your surroundings than simple LEDs.
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Sturdy & Durable
7. MecArmy
If you're looking for a small keychain flashlight, the MecArmy is what defines small.
You often find adding a large keychain to heavy keys feels like you're exercising your forearms. The MecArmy shows that keychains with flashlights don't necessarily have to be big and heavy.
The MecArmy is shorter than your thumb and is manufactured with hygienic metal. It’s available in stainless steel, titanium and matte. So, you get to pick according to your preference.
This little bazooka has two brightness levels. The low mode has a moderately good 8 Lumen light that stays for 6 hours. On the other hand, the High mode has a bright light of 130 Lumens. You better finish your work quickly because the High Mode works for only 30 minutes.
The battery is rechargeable, but if it dies completely, you can replace it. All you need to do is add in the battery at the head and rotate the cap to turn it on.
The cap, on the other hand, is a little stubbed and will need a ring to insert hour keys.
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Value for Money
8. Klarus
If you're looking for a big and bright keychain with a flashlight, then Klarus is your guy.
Again, it's not bad news if you're not comfortable with the given brightness levels. With the Klarus, you can set your own brightness mode within their given limit.
The Klarus looks different from average dollar keychains and is easy to locate. It has a plastic body with a silicone button. One press on its button turns on the flashlight and allows adjustments as well.
A single press on this keychain flashlight starts a Low mode of 1.5 Lumens. The Low Mode provides 24 hours of continuous light. So, you can use it as a backup flashlight when camping.
You can press and hold for any level you want and can receive a maximum of 40 Lumens with the High Mode. If you want instant bright light, just double click and receive 40 Lumens of light.
The side of the body has a charging port for USB as well. It doesn't take more than half an hour to gain full charge, so it's less of a menace.
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Small & Lightweight
9. Solarrific
Are you environmentally conscious? Worried about all the electricity and batteries a mere flashlight will consume? Go solar!
The Solarrific is a solar powered keychain flashlight. It’s small and easy to carry around. Unlike regular solar gadgets, the crank of the Solarrific doesn't break, and even the screens are scratch-proof. So, shake ’em keys all you want.
This little walnut works in 3 LED bulbs and has two brightness levels. The High Mode delivers a mediocre 10 Lumens light and runs for half an hour.
If you're looking for a little more than that or need a light for an emergency, a minute of cranking will provide some five more minutes of light. Even if your battery is dead and you haven't taken your spare keychain out for months, the crank will work!
We wouldn't call it much of a problem, but the flashlight part of the keychain dims down a bit when batteries are low.
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Best for Outdoor Adventures
10. Swiss Safe
If you want a keychain flashlight but don’t want to depend on batteries, the Swiss Cafe is a great deal.
This handy piece of equipment may be huge, but it comes in handy when you’re out camping or hiking.
The Swiss Safe runs in three different ways - crank, battery, and solar power.
If you charge up the torch for 2 hours in sunlight, you’ll receive half a day of good bright light. The crank is specially designed for those who require emergency light but hate charging. But you can't really rely on it as a few minutes of hand cranking will provide 8 minutes of light.
Since the handle for the keyring is quite large, attaching keys may be slightly inconvenient. But you can attach it to your backpack for a rustic look.
Apart from that, the Swiss Safe is built with three LED lights. It’s secure and can always be used as a backup light.
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Best Keychain Flashlight Buying Guide
Since most keychain flashlights are similar in terms of their beam and locks, we're going to elaborate on the key differences they have and which variant will be better for you.
1. Type of Battery
Keychain flashlights using AA or AAA batteries are convenient as their batteries are available in any store. Mini torches using Lithium ion batteries require a recharge. These will cost more than AAA batteries, but the recharging covers the cost.
If you're going somewhere that has no charging station, Lithium batteries may not be a good idea. On the other hand, solar powered batteries work on sunlight, but the ones available are not usually efficient.
2. Battery Life
The battery life of keychain flashlights is typically written on instructions and manuals. You probably know that low intensity flashlights use less battery and work for days. Contemporary mini-torches now have different modes, so you can adjust what you prefer between battery life and light intensity.
3. Water Resistance
Water resistance may be a great feature that many keychain flashlights have. However, these aren’t ideal for camping or trekking due to its low beam. We don’t recommend using these as an alternative to actual flashlights. The water resistant design will mostly prove to be useful during rainy days or boat rides.
4. Light Intensity
You’ve seen from our recommended products that the keychain flashlights have different brightness intensities. Some have up to 4 different brightness levels too. Here's what you need to know: light intensity is measured by Lumen.
Devices with a 1 Lumen light are good enough for bedtime reading or as a simple night light. Lights with 15 Lumens help in searching for pennies or walking through dark paths. If you want good light for walking in creepy alleys, 80 Lumen or higher will illuminate your way.
5. Material
Keychain flashlights have two main purposes - securing your keys and flashing when needed. To keep your keys secure, you’ll need a key ring that many companies may not provide. If you're clumsy with your keys, then try a metal keychain flashlight instead of a plastic one.
But if you want plastic ones because they’re light, go through their details to learn if they’re better. There are lightweight metal flashlights available, though. These are usually made from titanium or polymers.
Final Thoughts
Keychain flashlights are great for emergencies. They should be considered for emergencies only, though. They cannot match the capability of a real flashlight when it comes to providing light for work. But these can be a savior during the night when we pass through dark alleys.
We’d go with the ThruNite as the different brightness modes it provides can be compatible with any of your requirements.
Solar powered flashlights are also a great option if you want to avoid an awkward situation where someone finds your keys at a charging station and misplaces them, or having to have the conversation : “Honey, where are the keys?”, “They're being charged.”
