I don’t like mag-lights since I actually use my lights, that may sound odd but I’ll explain. Mag-lights are designed to be run off of primary cells (With the exception of “Magchargers” but they cost substantially more if I was to use them) and primary cells are not in this day and age cheap nor convenient for frequent long term use.
I use my lights often during warmer months (Sometimes during cooler months) for outdoor activities, lighting and general purpose. I can be outside and commuting 5x or more during a week with an average of 15 or so minuets where I am stuck in the dark. When I’m really out at dark I can be out for more than five hours where light output is important for around two of such hours so having a light that can’t run at least five hours is quite a disadvantage.
Mag’s don’t offer either in a convenient form or even if they do they simply weight too much and consume too many cells to make it worth doing this more than once or twice a month.
Lions and other lithium based dry cells offer a much higher energy weight ratio and a rechargeable option that allows for even more cell use; If I can use the same cell more than thirty times even at 3x the cost then I’ve broken even regardless of convenience. The fact that the lights are smaller and put out more light is just an added perk.
Either way the majority of people I know still depend on lights that don’t even match up to modern Mag-lights in the slightest with leaking heavy duty batteries that barley function. Mag-Light offers a competitive product for these people (And a good choice considering their robustness) but do not compare in the modern flashaholic world.
It’s 2013, if we can’t have reliable convent light in access than I don’t know where our evolution is going; moving back to primary cells and mag-lights would make no more sense that carrying some lighter fluid and a large wooden stake. I applaud Mag for progressing (As anyone), but do something other than fill a small niche and I’d appreciate you more, what really has come out of them that hasn’t happened somewhere else?
May your reduction of primary cell intake fuel more flashlight purchases