It has been rightfully said that “big things come in small packages.” The new Streamlight KeyMate USB is clearly one of those things. It is one of the best multi-use lighting products to come down the pike and gives new meaning to the old Karl Malden American Express slogan: “Don’t leave home without (it).”
Numerous “keyring” lights are available on the market — lights designed to be carried on your keyring for use as task or utility lights. They serve to aid in mundane tasks, such as matching the correct key to the lock in high-intensity dark conditions or at times when you either forgot to take your tactical flashlight along with you or when it may be inconvenient to obtain that light. Those inconvenient times include nights when you are trying to open your door with bags full of groceries and your house keys in hand.
Often, lights carried on keyrings are afterthought products picked up in the checkout line of big box stores. They are usually cheap and of dubious quality, and provide what can be characterized charitably as a “mediocre” light output.
One other problem with traditional keyring lights is that the cylindrical models take up a fair amount of space on the ring, much more than standard or even “smart” car keys.
Streamlight makes a traditional keyring light called the KeyMate. Made from aircraft-grade aluminum, the cylindrical KeyMate uses a single LED in the head that provides a 10-lumen output, which is enough for its intended mission. Power comes from four non-rechargeable LR44 alkaline coin cells. Twisting the head turns the KeyMate on and off. Streamlight also makes a squeeze-type keyring light, the LOGO, which also puts out 10 lumens of light energy and uses a CR2016 watch calculator battery for power. The LOGO gets its name from the fact that the Streamlight symbol on the body can be changed out for any symbol, identity or logo.
Both of these lights fulfill the keyring light mission, and the KeyMate has found a place as a backup light off the keyring as well. But Streamlight felt that they could do better and, not being a company to rest on their laurels, they did.
The KeyMate USB is an entirely different concept for a keyring light and addresses deficiencies found in the standard keyring types: size, light output level and battery replacement. In addressing these deficiencies, Streamlight came out with a superior product that should reside on EVERYONE’s keyring — and they did it at an incredibly reasonable price.
The KeyMate USB is the size and configuration of most modern automobile “smart keys” that have either an enlarged or thickened bow that contains a computer chip.
It is in the bow that Streamlight has put their circuitry. The on/off switch is in the center on the top side. Push the switch in once to turn the KeyMate USB on low (16 lumens), push again for high (35 lumens!) and a third time for emergency flash (which is not a strobe, but for signaling purposes).
The KeyMate USB provides more than three times the light output other Streamlight keyring lights provide! It does this in part because instead of utilizing a single LED in the head of the light, there are ten LEDs positioned in the blade of the KeyMate USB. I would venture to say that the KeyMate USB’s power output is greater than any current brand or model of keyring light.
The KeyMate USB solves the battery supply issue by using a 110mAh lithium polymer battery that is charged via a micro USB port on the side of the bow. Charging time can take a total of three hours off a computer (depending on the power level in the battery). The port is covered by a captive rubber plug that fits snugly and helps give the KeyMate USB an IPX4 weather-resistance rating. An IPX4 rating means the device is protected from splashing water from any direction and not total immersion. This is still a decent water-resistance rating for a device of this type. The KeyMate USB is also 1 meter impact-resistant. A 5-inch USB charging cable is included. The power switch also serves as a charging indicator when the USB cable is plugged in. Red shows the power level is low; green shows that it is fully charged. The light flashes red when power is low.
The KeyMate USB features a spring-loaded clip to attach it to a key ring — or to a jacket zipper or lanyard. Attachment is easy and secure. This brings me back to the emergency-flash mode.
If I were still capable of jogging on pavement, I would have the KeyMate USB clipped on the back or side of my fanny pack in dusky or predawn conditions and set to the emergency-flash mode to improve my visibility. I see a lot of practical applications for this mode, and its ½ ounce weight would certainly not be burdensome. The flash setting is slow enough so as not to be disorienting as an actual strobe flash is. Another use of the KeyMate USB in the emergency-flash mode would be in case of car breakdown in low-level light conditions where one needs to walk for assistance along a dimly lit roadside. Holding your keys in line with the traffic lane and the KeyMate USB flashing would certainly help protect you from oncoming or approaching traffic. The KeyMate USB could also be carried by hikers and campers in remote areas who might need the emergency-flash mode in extreme circumstances. When fully charged, the KeyMate USB should flash for a full 2 hours.
The KeyMate USB comes partially charged and is packaged in a “try me” container. Before you use it, you need to put it on the charger first, which takes it out of the “try me” low-power mode and enables full functioning. It took less than an hour for mine to fully charge using a wall plug-in adaptor.
Amazingly, the KeyMate USB is priced at only $21 on Amazon Prime. If you decide to purchase one online, make sure you search for the “KeyMate USB” and not just “KeyMate” (unless you want the original model). The first night I had my sample, I used it to find the correct house key on my keyring in the dark. Like Karl Malden said, “Don’t leave home without (it).”
Learn more at www.streamlight.com.
