Why not a headlamp? It won't fit in a package of that size, but being attached to your head, it simultaneously points wherever your head/eyes are pointed and frees up both hands for your work. For my own work under, for example, cramped/dimly lit car engine bays and under dashboards, I use one almost exclusively. Other work lights don't keep the light pointed where I need it and/or have to be held in one of my hands.

quote:

Originally posted by egregore:
Why not a headlamp?

Because, as you say, it will not fit inside of the kit.

Here's the pouch, a Helikon-Tex. This is an IFAK. The pouch is molle'd to the outside of my car kit. It can be removed from the car kit and placed on my belt if I feel the need. So, everything in the kit must be in the kit.

As I said, not what you've asked for, just my thoughts.

Para I haven’t read all the responses but wanted to suggest that you reconsider getting any sort of flashlight that will require you holding it to operate.

I had the good fortune to take an advanced wilderness first aid course taught by a PJ and he flat out said NOT to have a flashlight in your kit. Instead, get a headlamp. The 2 reasons I remembered him saying is that a lot of accidents etc. happen at night and you’ll probably need both hands to properly address the injury.

The only flashlights I have anymore are mounted on my guns…

EDIT - I just saw your post above and that is similar to what I have in my vehicles. I just strap mine to the outside because if I need it I can put it on while moving before I have to open up the kit on the way to the injury. It has never fallen off.

Somebody, I recall not who, unfortunately, once made a small flashlight that came with a simple headband upon which you could affix it for hands-free use.

You can hold a small flashlight in your mouth, leaving both hands free.

^ I can't see that holding up well under stress.

I started this thread for flashlight recommendations, not so members can critique my choices.

Good Evening
I hope everyone is having a good New Years day.

I have always carried these in my shirt pocket as back up to my bail out lights, along with my shaving kit, IFAK, etc..

Olights:

i5T
single AA battery,
max output of 300 lumens and a max throw of 60 meters.
convenient tail switch.
About 3.74inches

OLIGHT I3T EOS
180 Lumens
Dual-Output Slim
Tail Switch
AAA Battery


Pelican:
1910 Flashlight
Single AAA battery
106 Lumens
High / Low modes
Single AAA battery
On/Off/Momentary Switch
Length
3.80" (9.7 cm)


Pelican
2350 Tactical LED Flashlight (Black)
bout this item

Lumens: 178 = high mode; 15 = low mode ; Beam Distance: up to 130 meters
Run time: 2h15m = high mode; 21h = low mode
Features: 4. 23 inches length, aluminum body, 3 modes = high/strobe/low
Batteries Included: 1 AA battery
Includes pelican's legendary lifetime - you break it, we replace it. . . Forever

The 2350 is a little thicker than the other ones but I carry this one on my belt but also in the glove box, IFAK and my bailout bag.

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
You can hold a small flashlight in your mouth, leaving both hands free.

Back a few decades ago when I was heavily involved in multi day ocean sailboat racing we had a company give us some bite lights to try out like these.

https://pilotshq.com/products/...wRRFZCAaAvyIEALw_wcB

They worked ok for close up work but the issue became trying to communicate with anyone…not possible… so we ditched them. I imagine the same issue would arise if you’re trying to asses the health/injury of a patient.

Guys, this is a tiny first aid kit. I'm not going to be inserting airways or sealing sucking chest wounds. This is a "I cut my finger" kit. Band aids, gauze pads and compressed gauze, alcohol preps, cloth tape, Vaseline, a small Swiss Army knife (mainly for its tiny scissors), tweezers, loupe, flashlight, one of those small folding razor knives. Ceeloz gauze to stop bleeding.

It's an individual first aid kit designed to be entirely self-contained and wearable on the belt if desired. Treating small wounds or minor burns, removing splinters, that type of thing, and that is all. It's not a trauma kit.

If I have to hold a flashlight with my mouth for a couple of minutes, trust me, I will be OK.

The previously mentioned Streamlight MicroStream series has a dual purpose clip which allows it to be clipped to the visor on a cap. I have one but have not used this function but it seems pretty useful.

quote:

Originally posted by chongosuerte:
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.

I just tried this using the same material- one of these 4x5 inch advertising cards which are so common these days. I used a leather punch which came with a belt I bought. This is a hollow punch, perfect for the task at hand I placed the card on an old two by four in the garage. You don't want to have something hard you'll run into with the punch because it would surely get damaged.

I ended up with a disc a little less than an eighth of an inch in diameter and placed the disc on top of the switch and then screwed the boot back down.

The light activates much more easily, so much so that I would be wary of using this setup for pocket carry, but for a static kit such as mine, or when using the Microstream as, say, a bedside task light, I recommend it.

This will also work with the Stylus Pro, which is the same light but two AAAs instead of one.

^^^^^

A hole punch and a variety of thicknesses can be tried, the stiffer material the better. And yes, too thick and the light turns on too easily.

Before I tried this, fed up with the switch, I ordered an Olight i13 EOS, about the same size, much better switch, two power settings. About the same price, $20 give or take, a better light IMO.

I've had a AAA twist activated Olight on my key chain for some time. It's tiny and is very well made. I highly recommend Olights.

I used to have one of the original S&W Bodyguard 380’s the ones that came with the built in light or laser or maybe both. I don’t remember. Anyway the light switch sucked. Everybody hated it and S&W would send out the plastic buttons saying that would fix it. Nope. Finally somebody posted that you took a bic pen and sliced off a tiny little slice of fit and placed it under the button. Holy cow, it was like magic. Never had a problem again.

I use small Fenix flashlights in the size range you describe and have ended up with multiples good lights. My observation is that those “two way” clips are money. They clip on a ball cap very easily and instant headlamp. I have used it that way dozens of times. Not 100% as user friendly as a headlamp but it’s a better as a flashlight so there’s that. I also always have a baseball cap so it’s a win win for me.

quote:

Originally posted by Ripley:
I've had a AAA twist activated Olight on my key chain for some time. It's tiny and is very well made. I highly recommend Olights.

The i3e gets hot very quickly. The light is so small, the heat from that 90 lumen output has nowhere to go, and the entire light is a heat sink. Once the light gets hot enough, it will begin strobing and then stop running altogether until it cools down. Also, the example I have won't work reliably with lithium batteries.

But, as a keychain light, to find the keyhole or something you dropped on the floorboard of your car, sure, they're great.

^^^^

Yes, Olight says not to use rechargeable lithium batteries. I assumed they meant at high power, too bad.

So I got a Streamlight and an Olight now, not much money for some fun tech. Two well made pieces. I hope the Olight holds up, I'm covered if it doesn't.

I think it looks like you’ve already found what you need.

FWIW

I can’t find what I used to carry… Apparently no longer made anymore, but this is close. (Always had a small light for the inside of an airplane cabin.)

quote:

The Fenix E12 V2.0 AA

Flashlight emits an impressive maximum 160 lumens from an included single AA battery. Using an ultra-thin optical lens, this flashlight delivers a soft and balanced beam a max distance of 223ft (68m). Access three brightness levels with a tap of the tail switch. At only 3” long, this flashlight is a great everyday carry size, and with its two-position body clip, you can carry it as you want—even clip it to your hat and use it as a headlamp. This little flashlight is built tough with an IP68 dustproof and waterproof rating. It’s hard to beat the ease of powering your flashlight with one single AA battery. Super small and bright, the Fenix E12 V2.0 is a great upgrade for those looking for a AA powered EDC flashlight.

SKU: E12V2BK

If you haven’t decided yet, para, take a look at the four/sevens Preon P1 or P2 (1AAA, 2AAA respectively). I have the P1 in my IFAK.

I have been using a 300 lumen Surefire Titan Plus for about 5 years now with great success. God Bless

https://www.amazon.com/SureFir...-Light/dp/B01JGZV31E