Everyday Carry. What essentials do you carry on a daily basis?

I'm looking it up and it seems like Zebralight is USA-only, so maybe the whole thing is moot. IMO, technology is always improving, 10 years from now we'll have better... something. Its unpredictable, but something will be better. Maybe more-efficient MOSFETs (on/off switches relating to the power-delivery, especially in the voltage-converter circuits and/or current regulator circuits), or more-efficient LEDs, or more-efficient batteries. Who knows? Something will be obsolete in 10 years however, and you might care for an upgrade by that point.

But I'm not so loyal to brands. What I believe in is that the "AA-size" is a good, practical, flashlight for everyday carry. Then again, I know that some people prefer the 18650 (aka: Lithium-cell) that's roughly one-size larger instead.

Here's what I do think:

1. Batteries wear out over time -- Replaceable Batteries are key to longevity. My own collection of AAs are thrown away regularly, as they do break down, and I do buy new ones over time. Lithium-Ion in my phones only last 2 to 3 years in my experience. I absolutely require a replaceable battery for any long-term use.

2. LEDs have long lifespans -- 10+ years for the LED is likely. The flashlight likely won't last for "life" as the LED is the critical component, but if we ignore the battery (which probably only has a few years of life at the best), the "next" component to likely fail is easily 10+ years of life. Other parts inside of the battery (Inductors / MLCC Capacitor for the boost circuit, and other chips) are 20+ year components.

3. Technology always improves -- Every part I listed here has improved in the past decade. Meaning I expect 10+ years from now, that the new tech will improve again somehow.

4. Its the device class you should be thinking of. -- Decide upon AAA-size, AA-size, or 18650-size flashlights. There's a few custom-battery sizes outside of that, but 18650 is the "standard lithium" cell that likely is replaceable. AA-size might use Lithium-ion 14500 cells, which is also fine and standardized (albeit less popular, but its still a "standard" size with replacements available). The particular brand isn't too important: as long as its using modern parts, you'll get roughly the same performance as all competitors. (Be it a Zebralight or a M150 or whatever you end up buying).

So yeah, that's your main decision: AAA-sized (180 Lumens), AA-sized for ~280 to 300 lumens (or 14500-sized, the equivalent Li-ion standard-size), or 18650-sized (Li-ion only, 1000+ lumen).

Bigger is more lumens and hours of use per charge.

Smaller is easier to carry.

Brand probably doesn't matter as long as you choose a premium LED / premium brand of some kind.