quote:

Originally posted by davetruong:
Do you like this one:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07D..._encoding=UTF8&psc=1

I've got an Olight i3E, takes one AAA battery. Mine won't run correctly with Lithium batteries. Its like the flashlight is sensing over-voltage and after a short time, will stop running until left alone for a while.

This may be a problem specific to the tiny i3E, or it may even be just my particular example, but either way, it's kinda turned me off to Olight products.

The Streamlight is a good choice. I have a few of the 123/AA streamlights for my truck bags. I was looking to get a Malkoff AA or single 123 flashlight for daily use.

Some of the higher output flashlights mentioned in this thread most certainly have their place. A tiny, USB-chargeable light putting out 250 lumens- what a great light to have in your pocket.

Thirty or more years ago, I carried a Victorinox Tinker with a lanyard connecting it to a Maglight Solitaire, which, I am very surprised to learn, they still produce. We're talking about a whopping two lumens. This new generation of small lights would have seemed like Star Trek stuff to me back then.

For an individual first aid kit, these high output lights would not be the best choice. What might you be doing with a light in a first aid kit? Shining it in someone's eye to remove a foreign body, or shining it on skin from a few inches away. For this kind of use, the 45 lumen output of the Microstream is just about right.

^ Good point, for low ambient light, up close work, even my i5T on low would be too bright.

I spoke with a Quilter who is also an R.N.

She uses a Cato head band offered on Amazon.

For both sewing and in her first aid kit bag in her mini van.

But, it's rechargabe , not aaa.

They appear to be rigid, but she says they are bendable.
And fold nicely in her kit bag

This message has been edited. Last edited by: bendable,

Just keep in mind a “pedestrian” microstream still puts out like 40-50 lumens and in todays world of eleventybillion lumen flashlights that seems paltry but make no mistake that’s a lot of light and one needs to take care of shining into eyes. I’ve always felt the basic Microstream always punched above its weight so to speak. It’s a great light.

I would never suggest anything overly complicated for a first aid light but some of my favorite lights have LOW LOW modes that are used quite frequently. I’m talking .3-.5 to 2 lumens low. It’s amazing how useful half a lumen is in the middle of the night with dark adapted/out of sleep eyes for navigation around a dark room.

quote:

Originally posted by chongosuerte:
Streamlight Microstream is my AAA tiny light go-to.

One level, tailswitch. It’s my pocket light 99% of the time. For your purpose I’d use a lithium battery and never worry.

https://www.streamlight.com/pr...s/detail/microstream

This. Tailcap, tough, watertight, affordable. It will do everything you want/need. There is also a usb rechargable verson, but for the stated purpose I'd go with the AAA.

What am I missing here? Got a couple of the Microstream Streamlights, single AAA and we find the tailcap switch ridiculously hard to activate. With such a small light, it's hard to get leverage on it.

Removing the rubber weather seal exposes the switch and it operates much more as I would expect. Not an option. Bad units or is there a viable fix?

The boot- which you refer to as the rubber weather seal- is the source of the stiffness. They could have made the boot from thinner, more pliable rubber but then it would wear through in no time. The stiff boot is more durable, keeps the light from being accidentally activated in your pocket or wherever.

This doesn't really bother me.

Yep, I understand that but still not a fit light for my wife. Too bad, nice form factor.

I buy these cheap $1 flashlights, batteries included from Walmart.

ick

My Olight 13T EOS goes everywhere with me clipped in my pants pocket. I use it every single day. Never any trouble with it. Should I ever lose it, I am definitely buying another! ($20ish)

BTW Para and those interested in the Streamlight.

There's a little space between the rubber thumb boot and the white interior activation switch. I found a quite small washer (from my RC racing parts) that fits in that gap, taking up some slop and maintaining a firm surface. It noticeably eases the force required to activate the light. They should have made the white switch a hair longer.

Finding the optimum washer size took some time but I have a ton of parts.

One of my most used lights:
Streamlight Pocket Mate. USB rechargeable that fits on my key ring. Puts out an amazing amount of light for its size.

I know you've picked a small light, but take a look at this Nitecore LED. I've got three, and the low and medium beam settings are very good for up-close work. Plus, it has a clip that you can either attach to a cap bill or hold in your teeth. Rechargeable, compact, and handy.

quote:

Originally posted by Ripley:
BTW Para and those interested in the Streamlight.

There's a little space between the rubber thumb boot and the white interior activation switch. I found a quite small washer (from my RC racing parts) that fits in that gap, taking up some slop and maintaining a firm surface. It noticeably eases the force required to activate the light. They should have made the white switch a hair longer.

Finding the optimum washer size took some time but I have a ton of parts.

It has been so long that I completely forgot about this problem. The way I handled it, I took a hole punch to a piece of plastic, I think it was one of those stiff plastic advertisements you get in the mail sometimes, used the round punch-out underneath the tail switch, makes the push easier. I think I stole that from somewhere, but it makes all the difference.

^^^^^

Thickness seems to be key, play around, chongo, but taking up some of the slop in the rubber boot seems to be the ticket.

I know it's not what you've asked for but I have a problem with the whole premise of putting this type of flashlight inside of a first aid kit. Here is a couple of points:

Streamlight, as far as the quality and output goes, is O.K. The problem is that it's a wrong type of flashlight and it lacks capacity. AA flashlights are, typically, not much larger in size but the battery capacity is, a lot.

Next problem is, placing the flashlight inside the first aid kit pouch. You'll, most likely, need a flashlight long before you even open the damn ting. Try to imagine fumbling in the dark to open the pouch, finding and taking out the flashlight without loosing half of stuff in the dark.

But, somehow, you got it out, you didn't loose anything and you have light - congratulations, now what do you do?
This is a handheld flashlight, yes you can clip it on your cap but what do you do when you don't have a cap... or you've lost it in an emergency situation in the dark? Now you're standing there with a flashlight in one hand and an open first aid kit in the other - not an ideal situation (yes one could put it in the mouth but than you're drooling and can't communicate).

I've given this a lot of thought and I came to the conclusion that the best thing for this kind of situations is a robust headlamp, preferably:
Aluminium construction
Single AA cell (lithium for storage, would be good if it could take 14500 rechargeable for more power, when needed)
No nonsense UI, without ton of different modes.
Stored ON the first aid kit pouch not in it.

It's just an owee kit, man. Take three decks of cards and stack them one on top of the other. That's the size of this particular first aid kit. The kit is attached to the outside of a larger pack. A blind man could find the flashlight in this kit.

A larger, more powerful flashlight is in proximity to grab quickly. The Microstream flashlight is merely for illuminating a wound area.