When it comes to flashlights, the market feels almost as wild as the knife industry. You have companies that stick to familiar designs because they know what works, and then there are those that push the envelope trying to stand out from the crowd. Those are the brands that experiment with unusual shapes or pack in features that might make you raise an eyebrow at first glance.

I recently had the pleasure of talking with a company called Godyga. I am always fascinated by the naming of companies and products coming out of the east. I never quite know if something is lost in translation or if someone just mashed a keyboard until a name appeared. Names aside, the products themselves are interesting, and today we are taking a look at their TorchEye X1.

Making sure you have the right gear for any outing or situation can be a daunting task. One item I consistently find a need for is good illumination. It doesn’t matter if it’s broad daylight or you’re broken down in the desert with a car full of groceries. Any light is better than none, but having the right light makes those situations a lot easier. I gravitate toward lights that are comfortable in the pocket while still packing a reasonable amount of power. Some days a light lives in my pocket, other days it gets tossed into a glove box, so weight is always a concern. I don’t want an anchor that’s annoying to carry or awkward to actuate.

The flashlight scene is an incredible one, filled with passionate folks and technology that keeps pushing boundaries. I thought the knife world was intense, but it turns out making things bright can be every bit as competitive as making things sharp. We’ve covered our fair share of EDC lights in the past, and they come in all shapes and sizes. Personally, I prefer something slim that disappears into a pocket, but I’ve grown to appreciate a good keychain light. They’ve often felt like an afterthought—just bright enough to find a keyhole or dig something out of a bag. But Nitecore has made it clear they’re not content with “just enough.”

Loop Gear is pretty new to the flashlight game and they’re taking a different road than most. While other brands are busy pushing lumen counts, Loop is being playful. That doesn’t mean they aren’t serious about lights—they’re making some excellent products—it just means they’re doing it in a way that makes you take notice. With the SK03 we got a tritium mode with swappable filters. With the SK05 we got a sci-fi-inspired compact that packed great features an RGB strip that doubles as a battery gauge (plus a few party tricks). Now they’ve pushed the envelope again on what an EDC flashlight can be. Introducing the LOOPDOT.

What makes the LOOPDOT different is how it blends the usefulness of a flashlight with the fun of a fidget toy. I didn’t see that combo coming, but it works—and it’s well executed. Let’s hit the numbers, then I’ll dig into how it actually feels to use.

Some lights are built like tactical tanks, others like elegant torches — and then there’s the Nitecore TINI 3. This tiny keychain flashlight looks like it belongs on a novelty USB stick, yet it kicks out up to 600 lumens, offers multiple color temperatures, and even has an OLED screen. It’s a pocket-sized nerd dream come true — and possibly the most overqualified thing you’ve ever hung on a keyring.