I didnt expect a $30 keychain tool to be this useful – but Im seriously impressed

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I had an EDC (everyday carry) flashlight for years. I started out with a small Photon keychain light (a brand that’s still going), moved to Maglite and Surefire flashlights, then lights that incorporated lasers and UV lights and other cool things. These can be expensive, but they deliver.

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Then a reader sent me a link to a KYD Trash or Gold Instagram post where a flashlight called the K3 Ultramulti was being reviewed. This was considerably cheaper than my usual EDC flashlight, yet packed with features. The question my reader had was simple: did I think the K3 was as good as the video suggested?

Talk is cheap, so I grabbed a K3 and put it to the test.

There’s a lot to the K3. It’s an 800-lumen LED for illumination, which is quite an output for a small aluminum flashlight that fits into the palm of your hand. This light is perfect for dark nights and is far more powerful than the light on my iPhone.

But there’s more. The UV light is perfect for spotting counterfeit currency, making glow-in-the-dark paint glow, activating UV adhesive, and detecting leaks using UV dye.

The UV light is a super useful feature once you learn how to use it. There’s also a laser pointer, for pointing at things that your finger can’t reach, or for anyone who gives presentations.

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But things don’t end there. On the side is a multi-color RGB LED light that’s also great for all sorts of creative illumination, from party time to setting up a photo shoot.

There’s one more hidden feature on the bottom — a lighter! I think it’s designed for cigarettes, but I’ve used it to light a campfire and get a log burner going. It’s quite a practical bit of kit for people who still need to make fire.

The unit is powered by a 750mAh battery that’s charged via USB-C. Because there are so many features, it’s hard to get a clear battery runtime, but it feels like, for general use, you’d get at least a week of use, if not more, between recharges.

There’s a lanyard hole, a pocket/hat clip, and a magnet on the side, offering flexibility when carrying and using the flashlight.

The manufacturers claim the flashlight is rated IP68 for dust and water resistance, and my testing suggests it won’t have a problem in the great outdoors.

I have to admit that I expected this to be trash. Sure, it might look great, but what about after a few weeks? Well, I was blown away by how well it stood up. The interface is quite straightforward, every feature works well, the battery is ample for daily carry, and it’s small enough to not get left behind.

ZDNET’s buying advice

Most importantly, the price is good. Very good. You can pick up a K3 Ultramulti for only $30. I was expecting to have to pay a lot more than that, and after a few weeks of use, it hasn’t disappointed.

My advice is that if you want a cheap and cheerful keychain light that’ll last you a while, it’s a good buy, but if you want something built to take punishment and hard daily use, I’d suggest something like the Olight ArkPro Ultra, which has everything except the lighter function, is built like a tank, and will offer years of service (but comes with a vastly bigger price tag.)

KYD was right, this is definitely gold!