
The REI Member Dividend
The REI dividend is a unique benefit of membership in the REI co-op. It's comprised of your member refund—typically 10% back on eligible purchases—and/or your REI Visa® card rebates.
Each March, active REI members and REI Visa cardholders who earned a rebate receive a refund in the form of an annual dividend notice.
Only active members receive annual dividend notices. To maintain your active status as an REI member, you need to make net merchandise or shipping purchases of at least $10 per year, unless you joined that year. Member numbers are issued in one name and only that person receives the member refund. Your number can be used by others in your family, but it cannot be transferred to someone else.
Questions? Call us at 1-800-426-4840 for more about your dividend or its redemption.
This item may be available in your local REI store.
FREE U.S. STANDARD SHIPPING Through February 20. No minimum purchase! Learn more
Made in USA.
Item 744499
| Specification |
| |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best use |
| |||||||||||||
| Rechargeable | ||||||||||||||
| Bulb type | ||||||||||||||
| Bulb detail | ||||||||||||||
| Batteries | ||||||||||||||
| Max beam distance (m) | ||||||||||||||
| Brightness levels | ||||||||||||||
| Beam type | ||||||||||||||
| Strobes | ||||||||||||||
| Weight with batteries | ||||||||||||||
| Material(s) | ||||||||||||||
| Dimensions | ||||||||||||||
| Average battery life |
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviewsPros
Cons
Best Uses
Reviewed by 17 customers
Sort by
Displaying reviews 1-10
Previous | Next »
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Photon X-Light Micro LED:
This light is great and surprisingly powerful for its size. Almost as good as the Photon Freedom, but less expensive. The only drawback is that the clear case allows light to shine back toward your eyes causing some glare. Holding your thumb over the light can block most of that.
In addition to all of its well-known features, there is an undocumented one that many users might like. It is a setting that forces the light to turn off after 2.5 minutes of use. The purpose is to save the battery in case it gets turned on accidentally. To engage this mode, you need to:
1) press the button rapidly 6 times, which puts the light into "signal mode."
2) Then press and hold the button for about 5 seconds until the light goes out (this takes the light back out of "signal mode").
3) Continue holding the button for another 5 seconds until there is a brief flash of light.
Now the light is in "auto off" mode.
To return the light to normal operation without auto-off, Repeat steps 1 and 2 above without doing step 3.
The "auto off" mode also works on other LRI products like the Photon Freedom. When the light turns off, it is not sudden, but gradual over up to 10 seconds. If the light is in a flashing mode, the timeout is longer (10 minutes?).
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Photon X-Light Micro LED:
I've been using this new and low cost model for two months now on my key chain and I'm very impressed. It utilizes a digital controller to offer the user an easy way to start the light at a low level if desired (by holding the button down as it gradually illuminates, then releasing when the light level you want is obtained). It also works in reverse by clicking the light on, then clicking and holding the switch again while the light level drops to your desired illumination level. I've found this handy twice already; once during a lights out presentation at work and another time in a movie theater; both times I was able to get just a slight illumination going without bothering people nearby.
The clear plastic case provides a bit of Apple-like styling relief to the traditional IBM-like black plastic offerings from Photon. Unlike most models, the bulb of the X-Light is recessed between upper and lower portions of the light body, which offers both a little more protection of the bulb then most Photons, and a more ergonomic package overall. This design assists greatly in the effectiveness of the "mouth mounting" of the light when you need both hands free and don't have a headlamp handy. I've found the new clip design to be strong and reliable, though a bit tough to manipulate (I'll take the strong & reliable any day over "easy-to-manipulate"!)
The jury is still out regarding it's long-term durability and water resistance, but if it is anything near the durability of the original Photon 1-3 offerings, it should last well and easily justify it's low price-point.
Bottom Line: everyone should have one of these on their key chain to handle the daily urban needs for better illumination. Those that find themselves out at sunset or later would be well served to clip one to their primary jacket as a primary zipper pull.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Photon X-Light Micro LED:
Okay, this is a small, inexpensive LED keychain light, so you're not going to find face melting brightness to light up the mountainside. But, the great thing about this light is how it works. Click on, click off, hold to dim, hold again to turn up brightness. I love it. It even has a flashing mode. The button glows in the dark, and it comes with a clip that's like a mini carabiner. Turn it on half bright, then clip it to a loop inside your tent for a mini tent light. Plenty bright enough.
Keep it on a lanyard or a retractable badge clip from an office supply store and you'll never be in the dark. Batteries are replaceable too.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Photon X-Light Micro LED:
You can't beat this little light for the price. Its permanent residence is on my key chain. It is so easy to remove and place elsewhere that I use it everywhere. I have used it backpacking (hanging on a zipper pull in the tent), jogging (as a deterrent to cars running me over while night jogging), and on a trip to Mt Kilimanjaro. It lived for 6 days as a zipper pull on my jacket. All those middle of the night trips to the privy were guided by this LED. In a pinch, when my headlamp died on summit night, this little guy was taped to the headlamp and it lasted the 7 hours to the top! IT is still going strong.
On top of its ease of use, it doesn't accidentally turn on, yet is easy to turn on. It is small and lightweight. All this for such a low price. Love it!
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Photon X-Light Micro LED:
Great little light. Brightness of the beam can be adjusted. Super dim to fairly bright for one led& coin cells.
I chucked the included keychain clasp and tied it into the top of the tent.
Best keychain light I have tried.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Photon X-Light Micro LED:
Used on elder dog collar. Nice and bright with good side visibility. However, did not stay on. I didn't consider it appropriate to have to put a rubber band on to stablize as other reviewer so I returned it. I got an Inova micro at Target for [$]. Not as bright, but cheaper, better operating controls, and much sturdier.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Photon X-Light Micro LED:
This light works great when walking the dog or on hiking trips with your dog. I clip one to my dogs collar at night and he lights up the park. When hiking, the strobing beacon mode makes it easy to spot him in the woods at night. I did have to use a zip tie to tighten the grip on the battery, when he runs the light would go out due to all the vibration. Overall excellent product!
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Photon X-Light Micro LED:
This is a truly wonderful micro-light. I've owned mine for over a year with no problems; the light is bright and well-protected, and variable output power means that it can be used in lots of situations where the normal (blinding) output of an unregulated LED isn't appropriate. Construction has been very durable so far, and battery changes are easy enough - no tiny screws to deal with, but the light stays together until you need to open it.
Highly recommended for a keychain light - this little photon launcher will be with you for a long time.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Photon X-Light Micro LED:
This light has ALL the functionality of its more expensive cousin (the Photon Freedom Micro) for less [...], AND it glows in the dark. I buy these as gifts for people, and most everyone is amazed by its brightness and different modes of operation. I have used this as a backup light when my headlamp failed while hiking and it worked great in pitch blackness.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Photon X-Light Micro LED:
had to but both the photon min lights!
I liked this one so much more, but as far as durability goes there is a diiference between the two. This one just lost it one day and started turning off and on by itself. The thumb press activation on this one is less than outdoorsy but then again more of a tactile pleasure. Still have the photon II.
Displaying reviews 1-10
Previous | Next »
How are we doing? Give us feedback on this page.
FREE U.S. STANDARD SHIPPING No minimum purchase!
THE REI WINTER CLEARANCE: SAVE UP TO 50% On selected ski, snowboard and end-of-season clothing & gear. Shop early for the best deals