Maglite ML25LT - rarity short review

Dear All,

You can find a full, more detailed review on my flashlight blog. Use google translate. Original language: Hungarian.
In this short article I will show you the Maglite ML25LT 2C flashlight.

Brand: Maglite
Model: ML25LT
Emitter: Cree XP-E2
Luminous Flux: 192 LM
Max Beam Intensity: 28473 cd
Switch: twisty
Battery: 2x C alkaline
Modes: 2 (high, eco)
Lens: Policarbonate
Waterproof: IPX4

Unfortunately, we do not receive an accessory for the flashlight. This model is sold in blister packs, there are no battery in the package.

It can be disassembled into 3 parts, but not the usual structure.

The head does not include the LED and driver, only the reflector, lens and bezel ring. The reflector is usually made of plastic. The lens is made of polycarbonate. Rubber seals are used everywhere.

The body is tubular, including the Cree XP-E2 LED and the driver in a plastic insert, not disassembled. The body is made with glossy anodizing, the pattern is slightly textured, not slippery.

There is nothing special about the tailcap, it has a simple current-carrying function. It uses a large steel coil spring.

Size comparison: C alkaline battery, Convoy S2 , Convoy C8, Maglite Mini Pro Plus, Maglite ML25LT

No heat or heat is experienced during use, the LED is not overdriven. The horizontal axis indicates time, the vertical axis the temperature in ° C. Convert to Fahrenheit formula is: ° F = ° C · 1.8 + 32.

100 meters away is the tree on the right with an A4 white sheet on it. This was the target easily lit up so far by the Magite ML25LT.

Much more spectacular is the test at a distance of 200 meters. Because that’s what the Maglite ML25LT illuminates.

Conclusion: To my surprise, a whole usable flashlight is the ML25LT. Candle mode is unique in this size because you know it too. This lamp is quite a good thrower with a battery. There aren’t many complicated modes of programming. Just easy to use. It can be a great choice for older people.
You can buy: maglite.com

Thanks for the review!

The ML25LT is my favorite budget light. The beam pattern on these is outstanding (big spill that’s just bright enough for a wide view up close without too much glare with a hot spot that throws real well for distance). The low mode on the 2C is great for indoors/up close and for candle mode. I find high too bright for candle mode – I just ceiling bounce it in high mode.

BTW the 2C ML25’s run well on single 18650’s or 21700’s. A good 3400 mAh 18650 will match a pair of Soshine 5500 mAh C cells for run time and a 5000 mAh 21700 will run a good bit longer. I use my own 3D printed adapters for these – in fact I have adapters to run about 7 different kinds cells in addition to the original C cells.

what does it cost?

prelim search says $15 to $20

I think $20 is about right, give or take a few $.

It is quite expensive on the Hungarian market.
Roughly ~37USD the ML25LT and also one of the cheapest Maglite flashlights. Solitaire 25USD, Mini Pro Plus 57USD, ML50LX ~ 99USD, ML300LX ~ 105USD.

But a Maglite is worth all the money to me :sunglasses:

[quote=WestBam]

Same with me – if I had to pay more for Mags, I would still buy them, maybe not as many but, I consider a ML300 and /or a ML50, a 2C ML25, Solitaire LED and a 2 AAA Mini Mag LED to be must haves.

I started out with Mags back in the day, moved on at times to Streamlight, Surefire and others, but I always come back to Mag – I like that Mags are simple, well made, affordable lights that just work and I get more enjoyment out of using them.

I also love maglites… but….

2xAAA minimag a must have?? Why??? The newest model is single mode and 111 lumens…

Do you have it? Explain why please.

Lumens are not an all that important measure of flashlight performance. Beam pattern and cd/throw are where it’s at for me. The 2 AAA MM LED I use most is an older 98 lumen version – I prefer it over the 111 lumen version because it throws a little further.

The main reason I consider the 2 AAA Mini Mag to be a must have is the beam pattern: wide spill for up close and a tight spot for distance. And the 2 AAA form factor is a great for carry in a shirt pocket. I am not much of a fan of the Mini Mag Pro 2 AA’s – too much glare for up close, spill beam is too bright and too small. The PRO Plus is better than the regular PRO because it has a low mode, but on high mode I consider these to be outdoor lights. When I am heading outside I am more likely to grab a ML25 which blows away the MM PRO for throw and beam pattern in a light that is about the same length but chunkier. If I need something smaller, it is back to the Mini Mag 2 AAA, with it’s better beam pattern and decent for a small light amount of throw.

The 98 lumen has more throw than the 111?

Specifications say that the 111 lunen version has more meters of throw than the 98…

The 98 lumen was listed 4148 cd/129 Meters on the package and the 111 lumen 2712 cd/ 104 Meters.

My bad!

Sorry for hijacking the thread.

However I consider the ml25lt one of the best maglites of today… If money were not the problem… I would have most of the maglites and other brands…

Where is the switch in this light? Or is it rotary like mini-mag?

Yes, twisty (rotary) switch and candle mode like mini mag.

Another thing I like about the ML25 is that it’s fat enough to get a good grip on - makes it easy to twist on/off with one hand.

The ML25 makes a good light to keep for emergencies, loaded with a couple of L91 ultimate lithium AA’s or even a single CR123A in adapters it can be stored ready to go for decades with no worries with parasitic drain or leaking cells.

With adapters, it can run on anything from AAA’s to 21700’s.

26650?

It doesn’t fit in the tube. Too wide.

Yup 26650’s are generally too fat for C cell Mags.

26650’s work great in 2D LED Mags.

Just got one of the ML25LT and I’m not understanding the mode switching. It has a high (1.4 amp), low (250mA), and lower (150mA) mode. It usually switches between low and lower if you just keep turning it on and off. Sometimes, if you wait a few sec or are turning it on for the first time, it’ll come on in high. So you sometimes get hi-low-lower-low-lower… and sometimes low-lower-low-lower… It may come on in lower sometimes, it’s hard to tell. A solid 500mA medium would have been useful. The two lows are pretty close.

Am I missing some trick or is there a random element? It doesn’t seem like the last mode it was on determines what it’ll start with.

Manual that came with it is for the one-mode. Manual on the website only mentions two modes “Turn flashlight on (by twisting the head) and you have Full (100) Power Mode. Quickly turn flashlight off and on again to access Power-Conserving (15 Power) Mode”
I guess it is always supposed to come on in high if you leave it off long enough?

I was expecting it would just go high-low-high-low…

There should be only two modes - high and 15% low. It comes on in high first but you can switch to low by twisting it off and back on all within about 1 second - just enough time to do this if you are quick. If it takes you more than about a sec, it will comeback on high instead of low. In other words, a quick twist on/off/on within 1 sec, will go to low mode.

Note that you have to be fairly quick to twist on/off/on or you will miss the low mode. And that indoors it is often hard to tell high from low, especially if the batteries are starting to get weak.