Streamlight 72101 KeyMate with White LED, Titanium
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Tools and Hardware Reviews of Streamlight 72101 KeyMate with White LED, Titanium
Customer Review: Great little light
Summary: 5 Stars
The Streamlight KeyMate is brighter than the small MagLites, which is what I was looking for. For those who don't find it bright enough, check to make sure you have it turned on firmly. Mine lights before being fully on. If you want a tiny, bright, tough light, this is it.Customer Review: More rugged than a Nano; not much brighter
Summary: 4 Stars
I also bought the Streamlight Nano, and previously have used the Maglite Solitaire. The Keymate is larger than the Nano, but smaller than the Solitaire. Both the Keymate and the Nano are much brighter than the Solitaire, which is now languishing in my junk drawer. I was surprised that the Keymate is not all that much brighter than the Nano, especially since the Keymate has a reflector bowl and the Nano doesn't. I don't know whether the Keymate lasts longer on one set of batteries than the Nano. Anyone have experience?
Compared to the Nano, the Keymate is more rugged, in particular the bulb in the Keymate is protected by a lens. The Nano has no lens. Both turn on/off by turning the head. The head on the Keymate is harder to turn and there are more turns before it pops off, so the Keymate won't accidentally turn on or come apart if it's banging around with a bunch of keys. Surprisingly, the keyring clasp on the Nano is sturdier than the one on the Keymate. If small size is the most important feature, I'd go with the Nano. If ruggedness is the most important factor, go with the Keymate. Dependable operation is important, but unless you can get high quality replacement batteries at a low price, longevity may not be an issue. For both Nano and Keymate, I've seen ads for replacement batteries which cost about the same (or more!) than a whole new unit.
Customer Review: Nice, but the Nano is a much better "keychain" option
Summary: 3 Stars
My wife and I have had the Streamlight Nano lights for a few months and we wanted to try the KeyMate to see if it addressed the shortcomings we had with the Nano. The KeyMate does, but it brings another issue that makes it a less-than-ideal replacement.
The Streamlight KeyMate is a rugged, bright unit for its size. It has a slightly bigger LED that shows a somewhat larger, brighter beam than the Nano does. The bezel portion is a bit more difficult to turn, making it less likely that the light will either turn itself on or fall apart in your pocket (or the car floor), as can happen with the Nano. The batteries are a larger LR44, so they will work quite a bit longer than the LR41s used in the Nano.
Unfortunately, the KeyMate's size is almost 3X the volume of the Nano. I was expecting something that would still be unobtrusive on a keychain, not something that would draw undue attention to my pants. Consequently, the KeyMate will find its life as a spare flashlight in the car, instead.
For our keychains, I think I will simply add some silicone grease to the Nano's threads, likely eliminating the Nano's looser bezel issue.
While I had been concerned about battery replacement for both, I no longer am. Amazon has replacement batteries (LR41 for the Nano and LR44 for the KeyMate - both use four) available for shockingly little cost in multi-packs.
Final analysis--both flashlights are good buys for different needs.
UPDATE: Be careful to hold the KeyMate when locking or unlocking your car. The metal rim around the bezel can definitely leave scratches on paint. FYI, the Nano does not do this simply because it has a rounded bezel, is much lighter and hangs a little higher when dangling on your keychain.
Also, I have had the KeyMate fall apart in my pocket now. To best prevent this, use either teflon tape or "purple" Loctite (Loctite 222) on the threads. This is a small red bottle, but the fluid inside is purple. This is considered a "temporary" hold version of Loctite rather than a "semi-permanent" or "permanent hold."
Customer Review: Outstanding Performance exceeds expectations!
Summary: 5 Stars
I'll admit I'm addicted to cool flashlights... And I'm glad I added this one to my collection! It's a great deal for the quality and performance.Customer Review: Outstanding flashlight but brightness drops as battery drains
Summary: 4 Stars
I have bought and reviewed 3 inexpensive compact LED flashlights.
Fenix E01 Compact LED Flashlight - $12.73
Streamlight 72101 KeyMate with White LED, Titanium - $9.78
Garrity LED Aluminum Keychain Flashlight Nichia® A100G - $9.99
I like the Streamlight 72101, but I think the Fenix E01 is slightly better due to constant brightness and use of AAA battery.
Battery: 4 button batteries (included).
Battery life: Up to 96 hrs.
Brightness: Excellent at first, but declines significantly in the first 2 hours. Wide beam.
Accessories: Key ring with ring clip, side clip, lanyard. Side clip prevents rolling but adds bulk.
Switch: Twist can be done with 1 hand.
Construction: Sturdy.
Size: About the length of a AA battery, but wider, especially on the lens side.
Warranty: Lifetime.
Comments: Outstanding flashlight. The only drawbacks are the button batteries and the decrease in brightness over time. This is a good choice for a flashlight that needs to be bright but will not be used very often.