6 Budget-Friendly Hand-Held Lights

Nope, it's not the biggest, brightest, most tacti-cool type of light out there. But these little squeeze-button keychain lights are easy to find, cheap to buy (even free as promotional items sometimes), and utterly portable. Weighing just a fraction of an ounce, they can latch onto any key chain making them a light source you can always have with you. Models that feature a constant-on switch as well as a squeeze button activator are the best option. These are ideal as back-up lights or as primary lights when nothing else can be carried. If you are following the advice to have your keys in hand when walking out into a dark parking area, or into a building at night, this handy little flash allows you to hold your keys and light the path or key holes at the same time. MSRP: $8

Designed and engineered by Zwebruder Optoelectronics GmbH of Solingen, Germany, this model of the LED Lenser P3 pocket light provides up to 75 lumens of light with an effective range of 120 meters for 1.1 hours using a single AAA battery. This is an impressive amount of brightness for a light that's so small. Weighing in at 1.3 ozs. with an overall length of 3.50 inches, the textured aluminum P3 is fitted with a rubber end cap button, pocket clip, key ring and a one-hand slide focusing mechanism that's easier to operate than a twisting focus. This petite light is both easy to carry and affordable. MSRP: $40

This simple, rugged 2.1-oz. light utilizes ExtremeBeam’s SuperFusion reflecting technology to produce 130 Lumens of brightness. With an effective range of 137 meters, this light can run for one hour using a single 3.0 or 3.6-Volt CR123A battery. With a length of just 3.25-inches, the S.A.R. 7 features the same durable non-glare black coating used with many of the company's full-size Sport-Tac flashlights. This light has two proprietary Extreme Beam features that set it apart from the competition. The Anti-Recoil System allows the S.A.R. 7 to be employed as a firearm-mounted light with firearms chambered for .223 to .45-caliber ammunition (additional mounts and switches are available). This model also has the HikeBack feature, which automatically dims the light when the battery is running low so the user has enough light to return to their starting point without being stuck in the dark. MSRP: $69.95

BLACKHAWK! is a company known for producing tough and reliable products for military and law enforcement applications. The compact Night-Ops Ally L-3V light is 4 inches long, weighs 3.5 ozs., and sports a rugged aluminum body with a hard-coat anodized finish. The feature that makes this a particularly likeable multi-function tactical light is the rotating function selector located next to the lens. Rather than endlessly cycling the activation button to find the setting you want, rotating the clearly marked selector allows the light to be quickly set to a steady light of 150 lumens (High), 65 lumens (Medium), 15 lumens (Low), a high strobe, or what's called the Safety Off position, which prevents the light from turning on even when the activation button is pressed. The Night-Ops is powered by two 3-volt CR123A batteries for up to 135-minutes of run time. MSRP: $69.99

Although most of the lights included in this evaluation are 4 inches or less in length to make them easier to pocket, there are plenty of good reasons to consider a longer, solidly build flashlight like the Streamlight PolyTac. This is a well balanced, all-purpose polymer light with an overall length of 5.34 inches and a weight of 4.2 ozs. Although it is not advertised as a tactical item intended for use as a blunt-force defensive tool, the secure textured grip and slightly raised ridges around the lens and the switch would allow it to fill this role in a pinch. The PolyTac offers three settings that change the run time of the two 3-volt CR123A batteries. Use the High setting for 275 lumens of brightness with a beam distance of 195-meters for 3 hours, the Strobe setting for 5.5-hours, or the 14 lumen Low setting for 65-hours of run time. This light is waterproof to 1 meter for 30 minutes and is available in black, tan or yellow. MSRP: $65

Known for its innovative firearm designs, Kel-Tec of Cocoa, Fla., also offers an unusual and potent defensive-light option called the CL-43. Most lights in this class have a rear-facing push-button activation switch for tactical applications. The CL-43's intuitively shaped aluminum housing features a forward facing button that is activated with the index finger, just like pressing the trigger of a pistol. The CL-43 provides 420 lumens with an effective range of 160 meters for 3 hours, 35 minutes using two 3-volt CR123A batteries. Weighing 3.7-ounces with an overall length of 3.75 inches, this light is impact resistant up to 1 meter, water resistant up to 30-minutes at 1meter, and is available in a variety of colors. MSRP: $140