Are Any of the LED MAG Lites Worth Owning??

LED Flashlights – General Info
1

Hey all,

I have an older MAG Lite LED in SILVER that takes 3 AA cells. It’s a nice light, but not too bright. I’m pretty sure it came out prior to the CREE or other HIGH output LED’s came into the public domain. The people at MAG tell me that they only made this model for a short time and that due to it’s length of 3 stacked AA cells, it’s a sought after light because many like how the length allows them to carry it securely in their back pockets. It’s not that big of a deal to me. I’d certainly trade it off if there was an offer for something else I wanted.

Anyway, I have always liked MagLite flashlights. I’ve had them way back when the D cell lights were carried by every cop in the country. I had a couple 3 “D” cells lights prior to the LED emergence. I think I even got a 5 cell model to give to my best buddy to carry in his truck and in the boat while we would go night fishing.

Now I have been looking a bit at what they have now and I’d like to pick up another and give it a try. I don’t know whether I would prefer an “AA” cell light or one that takes “C” cells. I don’t know if they have a 3 “C” cell light, but I know they have a few 2 “C” cell lights.
I’d like to get one and see how much better they are today than what they once were.

Do any of you have any LED MagLites that you like and can recommend? What MagLite can you recommend? Have you found any that are very good lights for the money you spend?

Any advice or suggestions will be much appreciated.

Thank you kindly for your time and help.
Larry

2

The short version is no. Nothing Maglite makes is competitive in today’s flashlight market. The only reasons to get one are nostalgia, or to have a cudgel with plausible deniability.

3

BS. They still make excellent competitive clubs. :disguised_face:

4

I still have Solitaire led I use daily.

5

Maglite is a JOKE compared to today’s flashlight market. Prices on their own website and very high. The output is often lower than all competitor’s flashlights. If prices are more reasonable I might consider buying.

I really like look of the Magtacs CCR123A and rechargeable models. But WAY OVER PRICED. I will consider buying if price lower or can get a deal.

6

Nope. I have a 6 D Cell Police Security flashlight that WILL BLOW away Maglite. Both in terms of output and defensive tool purposes( extreme strike bezel ).

7

no Cop worth his salt would beat a perp with anything other than Genuine Maglite

8

This. :+1: :+1: :+1:

9

BS. Their switchez are superb. Their warranty unparalleled. I have more than a few Rebel Maggie’s and their throw and especially RUNTIME ain’t a joke.

Besides they feel good. :laughing:

10

I have been reading up and these seem to fail. Warranty is a JOKE too. I contacted them about buying replace parts. NO REPLY at all. Customer service is A WASTE OF TIME.

Everyone has owned a Maglite including me. But service is CRAPPY.

11

Well give us sum examples of prevalent failures. Was this before or after a perp got clubbed over the head?

12

I’ve never had issues with maglite quality. That being said when I compare them to even the budget LED lights you can get now they don’t measure up. The light maglite puts out is a ugly colour to me and I find it sometimes gives me a headache. For the cost of a large D cell maglite I could get something far better in my opinion. But for an emergency light that can take abuse I guess they are fine, I just would not use it as a daily.

13

Wellp, yes, no, and maybe.

Me, I love the shape/design, just a nice clean look, simplicity itself, doesn’t look as if it were thrown together from random plumbing parts.

They’re heavy, and good to go clubbin’. I don’t mean to go out dancing or anything, but to go >thokk!< on the head.

But, they have the dreaded Doughnut Hole Of Death when you go from spot to flood. Hideous. Absolutely hideous. My 2×D cell Mag, I keep pretty much permanently set on its tightest focus and just leave it. Useless otherwise.

I had the 3×AA cell light, and its beam, probably specially designed with an LED in mind, wasn’t as hideous as all other Mags. Almost never use mine anymore, but for a while, it was a prized possession.

Output… oh, how sorely lacking even in comparison to garbage-lights with 20,000clm (chinese lumens). Wish they’d step out of the ’80s and get into the, well, at least the ’90s. A throwaway C8 with plastic reflector and underpowered and underdriven XP-E clone would throw farther than even an LED-equipped Mag twisted to its tightest beam.

Compare it to any decent light today, and it’d be toast. Take a smaller overall light like an L2 or L6, and there’s no comparison. Pinto to Lambo.

But, they’re works of art. Beautifully put together, awesome fit’n’finish, not the kind of light you want to actually use and have to rolling around on a garage floor. Well, the black ones, who cares?, but the colored-ano ones, nope. Too purty to get all scuffed up like that.

14

Hello,

I have 8 custom maglites by FiveMega.
I bought ’em @ eBay from someone, who probably bought ’em from some widow’s husband estate.
The guy selling ’em smartly listed ’em like Surefire-FiveMega used.
I collect Surefire, and was curious about these lights.
I even bought one with an LED, in black, that looks like a spider web.
The intensity goes high or low with one press.
The rest are HID. Or very high intensity bulbs.
Some battery holders are a blast. Holding up to nine batteries.
Total cost, under 500 bucks. Including D lithium batteries in some. I’m happy with those.

Now, I was a big fan of Maglites, until I lost three due to bad Duracell batteries.
I still have the 3 AA Mini in penetrating oil. Hoping and praying the batteries will losen up.
It’s been like five years.

Then, after the FiveMegas, I started buying rechargeables. Or parts for rechargeables, and putting ’em together. It’s fun.
You can play with Surefires up to a point. Or you will lose money.
I only play with the plastic ones. Besides, they ugly.

I had to have the newer rechargeables. The big one with the better battery pack. And lastly the newer one that throws over 1k lumens in C size. Lithium battery back.

Then I started collecting old, heavy ones. I have a seven D. And a six C. Among others more common.

I maybe have like fifty now. Are they worth it?. Maybe. To me, they are.
Not as powerful flashlights. I have all the Imalents for that. Including two MS12s.
But as a piece of Americana long gone.

They are starting to show some value, and kept the quality.
They can take punishment. More than the Surefires.
Besides, they are throwers. My passion.

My 0.02 cents.

Cheers.

15

Or if you know absolutely nothing about flashlights and you just happen to run by one in the hardware store or Wal-Mart. The same reason people still buy Master Lock products.

16

Drill ’em out. Drill ’til there’s nothing left but the shell, soak ’em in AcOH to dissolve as much leftover ick as possible, then once that’s done, use as much sandpaper and/or steel wool as needed to clean out the insides.

Only chance it has…

17

Thank you so much for your advise!!.

You have made my day. If there’s one I’d like to save is that one.
It’s in pristine condition otherwise. And is black.
I was tempted to buy one of the last two on eBay.
A blue one I negociated down to 80 dollars, and a red one for 109.00.

But the black one, as impractical as black is for camping, is the “official” camper’s 3 AA mini mag.

Thanks again buddy. I hope I can be of service to you some day.

Cheers.

18

Maglite makes a 6 cell LED light that will run for a week on a set of batteries.

19

No worries. I had a Brinkmann 2×AA that I liked, which also got ruined by Duraleaks or Enerleakers or whatever was in there (nothing left to even identify the body).

Had to replace the springs from something to get it semi-working again.

Lotta work if you want to get it back to usable condition. That’s why I try to never use those hateful little batteries except practically at gunpoint.