Consider you’re in a tough situation, let that be a power outage, a broken down car, or another emergency; what’s most important? One of the things at the top of your list should be sight, and in a dark environment, a flashlight is your best friend. Everyone needs a quality everyday carry flashlight, but it can be hard to find one small enough to keep on hand. That is unless you’re familiar with the Streamlight Nano Keychain Flashlight. It’s tiny and convenient, and it’s perfect for just about anyone.
Details and Specifications
This flashlight sits at a meager 1.47 inches long with a 0.43 diameter, and barely weighs even half an ounce at 0.36 ounces. That’s an insanely small size for a flashlight of this quality. The light weight can be attributed to the durable aircraft aluminum casing as well as the minimalistic style of this light.
This thing really is tiny, but it’s only a benefit to the product. [Photo credit: Grace Stevens]It takes four LR41 Alkaline buttons which give this flashlight an 8-hour battery life. Whenever it’s time to replace these batteries, you can do so for less than ten dollars on Amazon or directly from the manufacturer. You can also replace these batteries with AG3, LR736, or 392 batteries, which are all pretty standard cell batteries to find at grocery stores. So, plenty of power and no hassle to replace the batteries? Perfect.
Features
Touching on the simplistic style of this flashlight, there is no button or switch to add bulkiness. Turning the flashlight on and off is as simple as twisting the top left and right. This also offers easy one-handed operation which comes in handy in emergencies where you may need one hand free.
Disassembling the flashlight and replacing the batteries is a piece of cake. [Photo credit: Grace Stevens]For such a small size, the strength of the flashlight isn’t bad at all. First off, the construction is a parabolic-shaped lense (think a “u” shape) which directs light in a strong beam which can be helpful for the size. The 5mm shock-resistant LED offers up to 100,000 hours of consecutive service. It’s just bright enough for emergencies as it projects 10 lumens of bright, white light. This strength may seem like a low level, but it’s perfect for pitch-black conditions. 10 lumens is typically compared to a candle, but it seems so much brighter in use. Because the light is also focused and easily controlled, it’s perfect for emergencies.
This is inside a house in pitch-black darkness, and you can see just how intense this little light is. [Photo credit: Grace Stevens]On top of everything else, this flashlight is great to be carried however and wherever you’d like. This flashlight operates on a snap hook that also operates as a pocket clip and key ring. It doesn’t twist, saving any awkward fumbling trying to operate the light in the dark. It’s also weatherproof, so don’t worry about needing to use this in some harsh weather conditions. This is great since quite a few flashlights are weather-resistant but can still have the chance to fail to water and dirt. This can be attributed to its simple case and design so there shouldn’t be issues with grime gumming up switches or even the existing twisting motion to operate it due to a protective 0-ring inside.
Its weatherproofing and durability can also be blamed on the finish it has. The casing itself has a corrosion-resistant anodized finish. This kind of finish is common in high-end cookware due to the permanent seal the process creates, giving it an incredibly durable finish. A common lifetime of finishes like this is up to 20 years, and for the cost of this flashlight, that’s a small price to pay for such a long lifetime between the LED, the casing, and the battery life.
Warranty
This flashlight even has a bit of protection with the purchase. It comes with a limited lifetime warranty covering defects however this excludes batteries, bulbs, and any damage from normal wear and tear. So, if you get a defective product, rest assured that Streamlight will replace, repair, or refund the purchase.
Field Testing and Possible Uses
I’ve been carrying this absolutely everywhere I go lately and I have to say I love it. It weighs less than even most decorative keychains, so I don’t even notice I have it half the time (except for when I need it obviously). At 10 lumens, this light is surprisingly bright. Even in a well-lit room, this light makes a decent impact if you need a bit of help in even just a slightly dark corner. In pitch black, the strength shows with a highly focused beam of light.
This light is perfect for camping trips, I loved having it on me out in the woods. [Photo credit: Grace Stevens]I loved adding this to my EDC pouch that goes with me everywhere in some form whether that be in my car, my purse, or my backpack. It’s a great addition to the keychain loop I already have my carabiner and paracord on. I took it on my camping trip that way and it came in handy endlessly. With it being attached to a bigger object, all I had to do was dig for my bag and once I had it I knew I had the light I needed.
This flashlight has also been great on my keychain. As I mentioned, I barely notice it’s there. I don’t like having an incredibly bulky keychain though I’m also a fan of keychain tools, so this is perfect for me.
The one-handed operation really is just that simple. The textured end of the flashlight makes it easy to grip and control. [Photo credit: Grace Stevens]Depending on your job this little light is great for a work lanyard with your badge. It can easily hang on the lanyard without getting in the way. For me, I’ve figured this out by carrying it on my Student ID badge around campus. Even better, if you find yourself using this heavily daily on the job then consider a retractable lanyard with this on its end. Talk about convenience.
Parting Shots
The Streamlight Nano keychain flashlight is a perfect stocking stuffer for the entire family this Holiday Season. It’s very affordable at only $13. Not only is it durable enough that it’ll last years, but it’s strong enough that it’ll make a difference in just about any emergency where light is needed. This is an amazing choice for a quality keychain flashlight.
Grace Ainsworth Stevens is an outdoor writer and political cartoonist who writes for a number of industry publications including The Truth About Guns and Breach Bang Clear. She's been hunting everything from deer to feral hogs since grade school and started honing her handgun skills at the age of 13. Grace's art is Second Amendment focused and speaks to current events and gun world cliches. She's also a college sophomore and will fight you over robotics and early education issues.
