The 20 Best Keychain Flashlights

Pixel Keychain Flashlight

The Pixel Keychain Flashlight doesn’t look very powerful at first glance, but, as with most things in life that really matter, looks can be deceiving. This tiny chunk of stainless steel — measuring in at less than two inches — delivers an impressive 25 lumens of light — which seems like much more thanks to an LED bulb — and brings with it a handful of features not typically found on a keychain flashlight such as a simple-to-use twist on/off mechanism, a square design that prevents rolling on flat surfaces, and the aforementioned stainless steel construction that resists the elements. Attach it to your keychain or your EDC backpack and you’ll never be left in the dark again. – Buy It

Beta-QRv2 Quick-Release Keychain Flashlight

Designed specifically for keychain carry, the Beta-QR flashlight is machined from lightweight aluminum and features a convenient quick-release mechanism that separates it from your keychain when you need to use it at a moment’s notice. Despite it’s compact size, however, the Beta-QR does quite well at shedding some light on a dark situation. It delivers up to 60 lumens of light output from a single AAA battery, which is more than enough to find your contact lens on the bathroom floor at 2am. – Buy It

Fenix E12

No unnecessary bells and whistles on the Fenix E12, but that’s what makes this classic keychain flashlight such a great one to carry everyday. It’s machined aluminum alloy exterior will stand up to the daily abuse of keychain and pocket carry, while an easy-to-operate tail cap switch turns the device on and controls it’s selection of brightness settings. Additional features include 130 lumens of light output from a single AA battery, a reach of 88 meters, and a run time of up to 22 hours. – Buy It

Slughaus Bullet LED Flashlight

The old saying “you get what you pay for” typically rings true for most EDC gear, especially flashlights. But sometimes — like with the Slughaus Bullet LED Flashlight — you get more for less. At only $10, the Slughaus is truly a small budget flashlight but earns it’s keep once attached to your keychain. It’s built from weatherproof aluminum and provides up to 15 lumens of LED light to your everyday carry. Still not convinced to drop a ten-spot on the Slughaus? It only weighs 6 grams, which means you’ll likely forget it’s even on your keychain until the lights go out. And then it’s there, at the ready, shedding light on a dark situation. – Buy It

MecArmy EDC Flashlight

Delivering an impressive 130 lumens of light output, it’s safe to say that MecArmy’s Illuminex Flashlight is a prime example of just how far keychain flashlights have come in recent years. In addition to it’s fantastic ability to light up a dark room, the MecArmy Illuminex is extremely small, very lightweight, and submersible in water up to 2 meters. And unlike others on this list, this flashlight is rechargeable via micro USB. Juice it up next to your iPhone every night and you’ll have plenty of candlepower the next day at work. – Buy It

ThruNite Ti3 EDC Cree XP-L

In 2009, David Chen dropped out of college to pursue his dream of one day offering his own line of LED products to everyday carry enthusiasts worldwide. Like many stories that begin this way, David became successful and his company became ThruNite. ThruNite’s slogan is “Guiding You Through The Night”, which is exactly what the brand’s Ti3 EDC Cree XP-L will do if you happen to have it attached to your keychain arsenal when the sun sets.

It’s made from aircraft grade, hard-anodized aluminum and meets IPX-8 waterproof standards. The best part is the flashlight’s pure functionality, which offers up 4 different modes: strobe, firefly, medium, and high — the last of which will give you 130 lumens of light for about a half hour. – Buy It

Streamlight Nano Light

Whether you’re an EDC enthusiast, military, law enforcement, first responder, or just a guy looking to shed some light on an otherwise acceptable everyday carry setup, Streamlight’s Nano Light will feel right at home on your existing keychain, and for under $10. An impressive 8 hour run time and quick detaching pocket clip render this small-yet-capable flashlight both reliable and convenient no matter where you are using it, while a 10 lumen LED light will illuminate your current workspace — be it under the hood of your car or behind the refrigerator. It’s also made from machine aircraft-grade aluminum with an anodized finish and built to withstand the punishment of everyday use. – Buy It

Peak LED Flashlight

The Peak LED Flashlight is ideal for the rough and tumble of keychain carry thanks to it’s rugged anodized aluminum exterior. Much brighter than most of the other flashlights on this list, the Peak delivers an impressive 235 lumens of light with fully adjustable intensity through the twisting on/off mechanism. O-ring sealed openings provide ample water resistance, and a clear front designed to be scratch-resistant and unbreakable make this keychain flashlight a smart pick for your growing EDC collection. – Buy It

Olight I3S EOS

It’s small, relatively affordable, lights the dark when activated, and attaches to any key ring — the basic requirements for a flashlight to be considered a keychain flashlight. The Olight I3S EOS has more than your typical hardware store checkout line impulse buy keychain flashlight — namely 80 lumens of bright white light (not bad considering it’s price point) and an aircraft grade aluminum body built to withstand jingling around on your keychain most of the day against your keys and other EDC tools. – Buy It

Maglite Solitaire

Remember the giant Maglite flashlights carried my many a police officer and security guard in the 80’s and 90’s? Yeah, the ones that required four or five D batteries to emit a rather unimpressive beam of light, but we’re typically tougher than the men wielding them. Well, this is the brand’s keychain-sized version, and it comes with a water and shock-resistant aluminum housing that is just as rugged as its full-sized Maglite counterparts. The Maglite Solitaire also comes with 3 different light beams controlled by a twisting mechanism at the flashlight’s head and makes a cost-efficient addition to your keychain loadout. – Buy It

Fenix E01 Flashlight

Don’t let it’s relatively cheap price fool you. For less than fifteen bucks, the Fenix E01 is a very capable keychain flashlight. First, it’s aircraft-grade aluminum construction is both durable as hell and IPX-8 waterproof. Secondly, it can put out 13 lumens for up to 21 hours on a single AAA battery. While not much, it’s enough to find your house keys in the front yard any night of the week you stumble home from your local watering hole. And when that scenario finally plays out, the Fenix E01 will become the best $15 you ever spent. – Buy It

5.11 TPT EDC Flashlight

For a brand that specializes in a wide array of field-ready tactical gear, 5.11 did a standout job designing the TPT EDC Flashlight for your keychain. A high-powered Cree LED provides up to 91 lumens of light output for up to 4.75 — which is nothing to scoff at considering it can be yours for only $20 — while an impact-resistant polymer body and a head built from aluminum render the TPT EDC Light ready for work in any environment. Additional features include an overmolded TPR handle for a superior grip, a keychain attachment point, and a steel pocket clip. – Buy It

Coast G19

While its not quite bright enough of a flashlight to blind an attacker or light up an entire woodline, the pocket-sized Coast G19 Flashlight is nonetheless lightweight, weather and impact resistant, and won’t cost you much more than 10 dollars to integrate into your existing keychain. It also sports a low glare 54-lumen LED bulb which makes it ideal for intricate work in tight, dark spots. Buy several at a time and attach one to your key ring, your backpack, and anywhere else it may come in handy. – Buy It

Mini Perman Flashlight

For a flashlight that claims 1,000 lumens of output to be under five bucks, its only natural question its validity. And while we don’t own this particular flashlight personally, over 365 reviews on Amazon have questioned the flashlight’s 1,000 lumens claim — yet almost every review of this flashlight is a positive one. Why? Well buyers are digging the Mini Perman’s bright Cree light — whatever lumen count it may actually be — it’s keychain-friendly size, and it’s abrasion-resistant aircraft aluminum construction. One thing is for sure, a lot of you guys and gals out there are adding this little gem to your everyday carry, and at under $5, those who don’t yet own it can definitely afford to give it a try. – Buy It

EagleTac D25 Clicky

Eagletac’s D25C Clicky flashlight is the quintessential everyday carry flashlight, thanks to heavy duty knurling throughout for a superior grip in all environments, a weather-friendly, black-anodized construction, and 5 different levels of light output — with the highest level netting an impressive 453 lumens. The D25C Clicky’s best feature — as it’s name suggests — is the click button on/off switch that enables smooth operation throughout the day. Cary it in your pocket as a standalone EDC flashlight or attach it to your keychain via an integrated lanyard hole. – Buy It

Pelican Progear Keychain Flashlight

Flat tires, missing contact lens, dropped screws, monsters under your child’s bed, you name it. The Pelican Progear Keychain Flashlight will turn a dark situation into a bright one no matter what the day calls for. Attach it to your keychain and enjoy the twist on/off mechanism, an IPX water-resistant design, and 16 lumens of light at your fingertips. – Buy It

Streamlight KeyMate USB Flashlight

Like many keychain knives on the market, the Streamlight keyMate USB doesn’t look like what it actually is. As it’s name suggests, the KeyMate USB looks just like any other house key on your keychain, but that’s where the similarities end. It’s multi-directional light output is possible thanks to integrated LED lights along the light’s design, which, depending on which of the three modes you’re operating it on, will give you up to 35 lumens of working light in tight spaces. The best part? No batteries to mess around with. Charge it via micro USB with the rest of your electronics every night and it’s good to go another work day. – Buy It

Photon Micro-Light II

If there is already a pretty solid EDC light in your everyday carry but you’re looking to make your existing keychain a bit more functional, then the Photon Micro-Light II is a cost-efficient choice. At only 6.5 grams, it won’t add any substantial weight to an already-crowded key ring, and it’s polyurethane construction won’t fall apart any time soon. And while it’s meager 5 lumens of output won’t blind any would-be attackers, it will deliver those 5 lumens for a good 18 hours. – Buy It

Gerber Bear Grylls Micro Torch

It’s true. Gerber doesn’t make anywhere near the best everyday carry gear — be it knives, multi-tools, or anything else — and keychain flashlights are no exception. They’re not the worst, either, as the Bear Grylls Micro Torch is tough enough for everyday use, if nothing else. A humble 8 lumens of light won’t do much besides locate dropped screws or washers on the shop floor, but it’s rubber switch and exterior construction should do well against the abuse you give your keychain on a daily basis. – Buy It

Glaree E03 Keychain Flashlight

At this flashlight’s price point ($11), turning on a shining any amount of light for over a week or two is considered a success. The E03 Keychain Flashlight does a bit better than that, and is worth the money according to over 250 reviews on Amazon from verified buyers. It’s got a maximum run time of 120 hours on high, which is 150 lumens — impressive for a flashlight that costs the same as lunch at a steak house. it has four different modes of operation, including moonlight — the dimmest — that offers up 0.1 lumens for night time running or as a night light in a dark room. You’ll more than likely get your money’s worth with the E03, but that’s not saying much. Just don’t expect it to be your next long term EDC flashlight. – Buy It