Cheap Pocket Lights: Questionable Value for many, but here is one that works, the Rayovac keychain light.

You end up with cheap little pocket lights all time if you take advantage of promotional handouts at events.  Often these have names on them as well for advertising purposes.

As for being usable and reliable lights most are nearly worthless after a short period of time.  First off, due to their limited light and often single function capability these lights are best handed to kids for play rather than relying on them for any real purpose.  This is what I finally concluded after a lifetime of ending up with useless pocket lights that didn't work just when you needed them to work.  Admittedly, some fall in the middle where they serve a purpose such as a bore light for guns.  Leave that light where it will be useful for that specific purpose and you'll be fine.  Even in that event you have much better choices nowadays than before with the advent of LED and flexible neck snake lights.

Here are some that are headed for the trash can, tool box,  or the drawer depending on whether they work any longer and the utility of using them.


I spent 10 minutes trying to get this one to reliably work.  Even the parts probably aren't worth saving.  However, this light also has a hidden section in the back that contains two mini screw driver tips for watch repair or maybe opening some small electronic devices.  The tips fit in the lens of the light.  So even though the light doesn't work well or reliably it is a tool, cheap as it is.  I'll toss it in my car tool box for that one time I may need it, but no batteries will stay in it for the light.

 

This light works though it is low powered.  I'll save it for a gift to a friend's kid.  It goes in the drawer.

This barrel light is toast.  You can see it met up with some water damage and in addition it had a battery leak.  Gone.  In the trash.  You have to do this and move on for more suitable and up to date equipment.

This Rayovac LED keychain light is a keeper .  I have used many of these over the years.  They make useful keychains with the color coding that helps you distinguish between sets of keys.  The LED light is bright enough to light the ground in front of you, help you open a door, or step into a dark room.  Held up near some low light work it is as good and maybe better for close in duty as a standard incandescent flashlight of the past.  The price is right.  I've bought many of these for $1.99 or slightly more at Wal Mart.  I can recommend these as a good solution.  This one I just came across in a box from a move so it's probably five years old or more yet I still expect it to work.  I believe the batteries are replaceable but with the lithium flat cells inside they seem to last forever.  This is a great light and it makes for a nice gift too.