Keychain Flashlight Review

Here’s another product review post since I received some positive feedback about the Mountain House review…

A few weeks ago, I received a small keychain flashlight from Olight. They were interested in what I thought about it, and I knew some of you may be curious too. After thoroughly testing it out, I humbly offer my observations below.

Now I’ll be honest with you – I had never used a keychain flashlight before in my life. I almost always have my phone with me, which has a built-in flashlight. And if I needed something brighter, I would use a larger flashlight. So I was pretty skeptical about whether this flashlight review would even happen.

But there were a few surprises. Read on below to see what I thought…

Unboxing the Olight Keychain Flashlight

The I1R EOS keychain flashlight is a very small addition to your keychain, lanyard, purse, or whatever else you use. After opening the box and seeing how diminutive this thing was, I was even more unconvinced about its performance (read on below). It is thinner than your pinky finger and only two knuckles long. We’re talking tiny!

It came with a USB charging cord so you don’t have to replace the Li-ion battery – that’s always a plus for me. Simply unscrew the end of the light and it exposes the micro-USB port. I was able to charge it in just over one hour on my computer USB port, which is consistent with the manufacturer.

Its small LED light has two modes – Low (5 lumens) and High (130 lumens) – which you can operate by simply rotating the end of it clockwise or counter-clockwise. It has a durable split shot ring on the end to attach to whatever you want to as well.

Flashlight Review: How Did It Work?

Here’s the really surprising part of this flashlight review. As I mentioned, I was super skeptical about how useful something like this would be. And I was still doubtful when I used the 5 lumen mode. I’d say it is similar in brightness to my iPhone flashlight. Again, since I carry my phone with me, I don’t see much use for that mode.

But then I tried the 130 lumen mode…

Talk about night and day!

I always thought my phone flashlight was pretty bright for its size. But the I1R EOS keychain flashlight makes my phone light look like it’s not even on. It lights up a whole room with a clean, white light. The edges of the light are soft, not sharp, which is nice for generally lighting an area. I tested it out on a dark night too, and was pleasantly surprised by its range. The Olight website claims it has a range of 177 feet (54 meters), which actually seems short with what I noticed.

Product Testing Phase

First of all, I wanted to see how long the light would last when in the 130 lumen mode. I figured it would simply shut off within a couple hours. But after several hours of continual use, the light was still on. However, I did notice that the intensity of the light had faded extremely by that point. It seemed to be some kind of sliding scale of decreasing light intensity. In other words, don’t expect the full 130 lumens after hours of use. Per the manufacturer, there is a 20 minute run time at 130 lumens and 7 hours at 5 lumens.

Additionally, I wanted to know how long the battery held a charge if not in use. I fully charged the light and let it sit for a month. I was somewhat surprised when both modes were very bright still. They lasted a similar amount of time as before, again with the decreasing intensity over time.

Best Uses for This Keychain Light?

Now that you know some of the pros and cons, here are some recommendations on the best uses for this light.

On a Keychain…Duh!

If you don’t mind adding something else to your already-bulky keychain or lanyard, this flashlight is certainly a good option. Whether you’re trying to unlock your door at night or your phone dies, this is a bright light to help you see better. Honestly, it’s probably the best rechargeable led flashlight for its size and purpose.

Hunting Situations

Since this website obviously focuses on learning to hunt, I’ve got to tackle this subject too. Because it is so small, I honestly can’t see myself using it regularly in the woods. I usually use a hands-free headlamp for navigating in the dark. I do think it would be a good emergency light to include in a first aid kit or backpack pocket as a signal device. Why? It is so intensely bright and doesn’t add bulk or weight to your pack. Just make sure you charge it fully after using it so it will work when you need it.

All in all, I would recommend this keychain flashlight as an emergency backup light or simple keychain light if you don’t mind carrying it. For the small profile, powerful beam, and cheap price point, it’s a good option to have with you the next time you can’t see. Here’s a link to learn more or order one for yourself.