Streamlight MicroStream Ultra-compact Aluminum body with AAA alkaline battery, 3.5 Inch - 1.04 oz - 45 Lumens - 66318, Black

What a great flashlight. I like that the clip is more robust in the right area to prevent snapping like the olite clip. The brightness is just right and I even use NiMh cells. The lumen is the perfect compromise of brightness and battery life. Now about the button being so hard to press. The spring in the button is actually not that stiff at all. The problem is the added stiffness of the rubber button cover and having to press so far to get it to click on. The fix is to get a hole punch and cut a few circles from an index card or something of similar thickness. Maybe from some kind of thin plastic or PVC sheet would be better for long term durability but not necessary. Unscrew the button ring. Not the whole tail cap as in replacing the battery but rather the ring just under the button itself. Flip the rubber button boot over and stack a few of the cut circles into the boot and screw back on. You will then find you dont have to press as hard or deep to turn on the light. Too many spacers will cause the monetary switch to light too easy or early. Add or remove spacers to your preference. This adjustment makes a big difference.

Pros: Very lightweight, very small, and very practical. Cons: None from what I can see. Thoughts: This is my first time investing and looking into carrying a small every day care light. Because of that, I do not have much to compare it to besides an iphone light. With that said, however, I still enjoy using this light 100x over my iphone light. The first day I got it, I was using it on a baseball cap as a headlight to install a light fixture on the ceiling, which freed up my hands to do the work I needed. I carry it on my personnel daily, and dont even notice in my pocket. Even in gym shorts, there is no weight pulling my shorts down. Because of that, I will always have it on me, and use it as needed. The stream of light is strong, do not make the mistake of pointing it in someones eye and flashing them, because they will be stunned for a moment. This can be an obviously good thing if you were started un expectantly and shine this in someones face, in self defense. I use this while grilling at night, walking my dog at night, and looking into small crevasses to retrieve dropped/lost items. What I enjoy most is that it is so damn light, there is no reason NOT to carry this item on me. Because of that, I give it five stars, and highly recommend it. Update 2019: love this thing. Use it at work all the time. So small and compact I often forget it’s in my pocket. But I have to be extra careful with it in my pant pockets. Bc I forget about it I may sometimes brush against the door panels and scratch my paint. Still love it, 10/10 perfect for EDC at work, home, and mischief.

good light

Great little light! I got this to replace my StylusPro, which has had some issues after many years of daily (ab)use. This is by far my most used flashlight, because it LIVES in my pocket all day. I have many other flashlights (Streamlight, NiteCore, Surefire, & others), but this one is the handiest to keep on my person. Girl specific EDC problem: girl jean pockets suck & you cant fit sh*t in them. I cut a tiny slit for it to drop down past the seam & it stays in place great. I love the clip. I use the hat-clip feature (not sure if thats the official name, but thats what I call it) every night when I go to the barn to lock up critters. It is much handier than a headlamp, because it is always on me ready to be deployed. I have paired it with Eneloop rechargeable batteries, & the battery life is great. I use it daily & usually swap batteries every couple of weeks, even though it isnt completely dead. I havent done a legit time test for battery life, but Im sure someone on the interwebs has for those who need that info. So far, Ive dropped it in mud/crap/puddles, & washed it off with no ill effects, & rolled on it on the ground while working under my truck & it hasnt bent or suffered any damage. Ive been using it for 4 months, & so far, it surpasses my expectations. I would recommend this light to anyone looking for a great little EDC light. I will post again if anything changes, but I give it 5 stars at this stage.

The Streamlight MicroStream is a great little flashlight for the price. I bought one to replace my old incandescent Maglite Solitaire keychain light. The MicroStream is miles beyond that thing. There are many things that I like about the MicroStream, and several that I dont like. First of all, while it is not as compact as a Solitaire, it fits easily in (mens) jeans pockets. According to Streamlight, it puts out about 28 lumens, which is plenty bright for use indoors, such as looking for things under or behind furniture, or navigating your house at night or when the power is out. Its usefulness outside is limited. The MicroStream does not have adjustable focus like Maglites do, so the spot of light it puts out dissipates with distance, especially outside at night. Update: Like other reviewers I have started to encounter the flickering problem. Sometimes when I turn on the light it doesnt even light up at all. Turning it off and then back on, or smacking it against my hand, usually causes it to light up, at which point it flickers until it finally reaches full brightness. There is also a small piece that is loose inside the head of the light; I can hear it rattling around when I shake the light. It sounds like it is a very small piece, so I have no idea what it is or how important it was. I still recommend this light despite these flaws. Update II: I bought a second MicroStream to replace my first one. I purchased this second light in October 2015, and it is still working fine in September 2017 (almost 2 years) with no flickering yet. I also stopped carrying it in the same pocket as my keys to protect the lens from getting scratched.

Hope he likes it

Has become my EDC light in both suits and jeans. Have been amazed at how bright this little light is, and pleasantly surprised at the battery life. Not as bright as the two-battery CR123 Surefire I purchased a decade ago for EDC. But quickly realized the Surefire was a bit too big for anything but belt carry. I’ve had this little Streamlight in my pocket nearly every day for the last two months. I’ve been surprised to find it’s bright enough to create a visual hinderance if a person needed it in a defensive situation, especially with a fresh battery, but even after some use. As some raters have mentioned, the button is stiff. This is due to the stout rubber cap rather than the switch itself. You can ease this problem by loosening the cap’s retaining bezel slightly. The s-bend pocket clip works great for regular pocket use. However, on my sample the reverse bend isn’t roomy enough to fully accommodate a cap brim as advertised. This is my only complaint. Overall, very pleased with the light and the price point. 2-year update: Even more elated with this light over time. Daily carry and nearly daily use for 2 years now. During power outages, car restoration/repair, late night dog walks, helping aging eyes read tire pressures on sidewalls, behind TV cable connections, sheepdogging weird noises in house at night… you name it. Survived multiple inadvertent washing machine torture tests. Battery life continues to be great; have learned that battery expires suddenly, rather than dimming over time. Not a critique, just something to be aware of. Battery life is quite good, and light is bright. AAA alkaline is economical so I don’t hesitate to use; I found myself limiting use of my CR123 Surefire, which the Microstream replaced as EDC. Over time I’ve purchased 6 more as gifts for family and their significant others. Again, very pleased.

Good light, one setting, nothing fancy.

Its a pretty nice little edc flashlight. Fits in my front pocket. A bit lightweight, but not cheap feeling.

My review of small EDC (every day carry, and more) flashlights. Be advised, EDC lights are for for infrequent use, not daily/hourly use. For daily use, I like the Thorfire C8 with a Japanese (Sanyo or Sony) or Korean (LG) 18650 LiOH cell, and an appropriate charger. No cells from China. I need a light for the glovebox, an EDC for my briefcase, an EDC for bedside, and a spare. For the glovebox I have chosen a Thorfire KL03, powered with an expensive CR123 Li battery. The reason for this choice is because the battery has a 10 year shelf life (if from a reputable Japanese manufacturer), and will provide light in an emergency for at least 60 minutes. For EDC I originally chose the Thorfire PF01; it used a single AAA cell, and had a nice moonlight mode, so I could stealth around the house without disturbing anyone. After the Thorfire PF01, I got a second generation PF01 that had a useless (unless you had 30 minutes to regenerate Visual Purple) moonlight mode. It was disappointing. I migrated to a Thorfire PF03. It is smaller than the PF01, which is much more compact, but the switch actuation pressure is much higher. It was a good lower-cost option. My [as of now] final choice is the Streamlight 66418 light. One AAA cell. No gimmicky modes; typical streamlight instant on (with a pressure), and constant on (with a firmer click). No multi modes. No flashing. Best of all: it has both a straight clip (for pockets) and a reverse clip for hat brims. No more head-lights (Petzl) that remind my wife of a trip to the OBGYN. If you want an EDC with a moonlight mode: Thorfire PF03. If you want an EDC for EVERYTHING: Surfire 66418.