MagLite bashers are in their own little world. My first MagLite was a black 3 D cell that I used for more than 20 years. I won my first Mini at a business luncheon more than 30 years ago. It still does duty as one of my wife’s purse/nightstand lights. Of course, it has been modded with an LED module, and Kroll Clickie. My basic requirements for a light have always been: Brighter, and longer run time. With a relatively inexpen$ive LED module, you got it! “Oh”, you may say; ” it costs as much or more, with a new module than a newer whiz-bang Tactical light. Maybe…so what? And who steals a MiniMaglite? Not so. I gave one to my friend, and he left it in his car while it was being serviced. Trusting soul, isn’t he? Gone! He is working a a security guard, and showed me what he was using for a light…woe! He immediately was sent my 3 D cell light with the pre-Malkovich (?) module. So far, he hasn’t had it stolen, and it has been YEARS! Of course, he loses this one, and he is on his own!
Of the several other Minis I own/have owned, most of which have been given to various family members, I still own 2, which are rotated as nightstand lights. My nephew, the Airline Pilot , afaik, still uses the MiniMag with Led module I gave him 10 or so years ago, although he is now a Captain, and doesn’t do preflights.
I own 6-7 other brands of lights, acquired over the last 15 years or so. They are all good lights, but the worst thing you can ever say about Mag Incan models, is that they are “pretty good lights”. Fairly dim in unmodded condition, fairly short run time, and they do get awfully dim. They are much brighter with a Terralux module, and run time is increased many fold.
I dislike carrying my Luxeon III modded 3 D cell light, because it is heavy…but none of my “wonderlights” have the heft to be used as an impact weapon, and one of the famous name lights failed to run after a small impact. And…I change the batteries once a year, whether they need it or not!
I find the multi-mode frenzy to be just that…more ain’t necessarily better! Bright, Dim, and maybe strobe for calling in an air strike on those noisy neighbor’s parties! :smiling_imp: I do plan to buy one of the Pro + models, because I find the bright-low modes all that I reasonably need.
I had one of the many mode MiniMaglites, and found it awkward to use, so I sent it to my Granddaughter, (with instructions how to access the most useful modes. She is smarter than me!) as a replacement for the Inova X1 I sent with her.
The newer LED Maglite models…at least the 3 C-cell models are made out of lighter materials…not to say they are flimsy, but I returned one for just that reason. I have recently bought one of the incan 3 c cell lights. Put batteries in it,…didn’t work! Hmmmm, I said…passing strange…swapped bulbs, no luck. Checked the batteries’ expiry date; 2012! That might make a difference, ya think? DUH! Sooo…off to Costco tomorrow, and new batteries, which I am 95% certain will solve the problem.
Say what you will about Maglite’s behind the times design, or their marketing model, or whatever…fact is, the price is generally right, they are attractive and they make pretty good lights, useful enough for just about any need! After all, us Dinosaurs can’t be wrong all the time!
P.S. New batteries worked a treat! Who’d a thunk it?