Can you have too many flashlights? That’s a question I ask myself every time I buy a new one. The answer to that question is, no, you can’t really have too many lights. We underestimate the importance of lights, whether they be weapon-mounted or handheld lights. This is mostly because we live in a well-established country that has light in just about every nook and cranny.
Homes, streetlights, businesses, and more give off light during the night hours. Our cell phones have become a reliable source of light and they work well. So, why carry another flashlight on you? Because you never know when you could find yourself in the dark and in need of a flashlight. While my phone works perfectly as a light source, I like to have a backup.
The Streamlight Nano is something that doesn’t take up much room and isn’t a hassle to carry. But is it too small to carry? It’s almost so small and cheap that it doesn’t appear worth paying any attention. But, for a $13 light, it’s a handy addition for anyone. It won’t replace your tactical commando lights, but it has its place in your pocket.
Streamlight Nano LED Pocket Light
When I said this light was small, I wasn’t joking. The Streamlight Nano is a “keychain” light that produces 10 lumens. The Nano is just under 1.5 inches in length and 0.5 inches in diameter. The total weight of the Nano comes in at a whopping 0.36 ounces.
The Streamlight Nano runs on four IEC-LR41 coin cell batteries. The batteries come with the light and have an estimated run time of 8 hours with declining light. Declining light means the light will stay running until the batteries are completely dead with decreasing output as the batteries die. After a quick search, it looks like you can buy 10 IEC-LR41 batteries for $2 and keep it running on full power. I’ve had small lights like this before, but they were disposable.
The LED in the light is rated for 100,000 hours of run time, so it should never need replacement. The Nano is reportedly weatherproof to protect it from the elements. There is no switch or button on the Nano. To activate it, turn the head of the light to the left until the light comes on. When the light is attached to a keychain, you can turn it on with one hand. Otherwise, it’s so small, it takes both hands to turn it on and off.
What is the Streamlight Nano good for?
Well, the Nano is a pocket light, so it works great in your pocket. However, I have found a few other helpful places for keeping a small backup light too. Backpacks, jackets, vehicles, the pistol grip of your AR-15, purse, briefcase, etc. You can keep this light just about anywhere because it’s so small.
In fact, I think it’s worth looking at because it’s so small . We have lots of compact lights that are much brighter — and those lights are needed. However, this light gives the advantage of being so small it can be carried or stored just about anywhere. Maybe you will never need it — but for the price, why not have a backup light?
My phone was on my desk and all my handy lights were back in my car, office, or at home. In one example, I was heading to someone else’s office when things went dark. There I was, in the middle of the day, stuck in a hallway trying to feel my way around. A micro-sized little keychain light would have been handy. The point is this: we never know when we could find ourselves in a situation where we need a flashlight.
Why not have one?
The larger the light, the better. However, we don’t always have the room or willpower to carry a larger light on us all the time. In public, I try to carry a gun, extra mag, light, tourniquet, and knife. You get used to it, but there are times when I just don’t have room for all that stuff. I carry a full-size gun, if possible, for self-defense.
When my dress attire is not sufficient to hide a full-size gun, I carry a smaller one. The same idea works with lights and even knives. Something is better than nothing, isn’t it? If I don’t have room to carry a larger light, the Nano is better than nothing. You can put it on your keychain and always have some type of light on you.
