I got the 3 cell, blue flashlight, for my self. I have been using these flashlights for years, and I have never really had any real complaints with them, which is why I keep coming back.
As you know, this does use 3 D batteries. I do not use the D size batteries in mine. I like the flexibility of using rechargeable batteries in mine. So, what I did, was I got some of those AA to D size battery adapters, and use those in place of the D size batteries. D size rechargeable batteries are expensive, you have to have a special charger to charge them, if they die, and you are out, then you have to buy replacement D batteries to use in it. So, with the adapters... These AA to D size adapters that you can get, come where you can use anywhere from 1 to 3 AA batteries, per adapter. I got the one that takes up to 3, but the ones that take 1 AA battery are more common... In any case, doing that, that means that 3 AA batteries will replace 1 D battery. Since a D rechargeable battery will usually hold, up to 10,000 mah, and standard AA rechargeable's are about 2,000 mah each, that means that you are only going down, from 10,000 mah, to 6,000 mah, per battery. if you get the high capacity batteries, the difference will be even less. Plus, finding rechargeable AA batteries, and charger, is much easier to do, then finding D size ones. And using 3 AA, when you recharge them, that means that you are charging 3 times as many batteries at a time, so you can recharge the batteries 3 times faster too. For all these reasons, and more, I went with the adapters, vs using standard D batteries, in these.
As for run time. Honestly, I have no idea how long they will run on one set of batteries. I use mine a bit, and I just recharge the batteries every so often, so I never actually waited until they actually went fully dead, to charge them. For that reason, I really can not say how long that they last. It does say that the run time on one set of D batteries is 80 hours, which is almost 3 1/2 days straight. So that is a long run time, which is also why, Since I just recharge mine every so often, just to make sure that they are ready, I have never run into them going dead on me while using them.
The construction of the body is all aluminum. I have had no problems with the threads stripping out, or anything else on it. The head is adjustable, so you can adjust the beam, from pinpoint, to wide angle. Since this is LED, there is no need for a spare bulb, as it is rated for, if I remember right, up to 50,000 hours, so with that much use, by then, you will probably not want to try to replace it anyways, and just buy new. The rubber on the switch is pretty well made too. I have had no problems with it leaking, tearing, or coming off. It has held up to use very well. There is also rubber seals in pretty much all of the joints, to seal, and keep the water out very well. I have not tried it with these, but I have other maglite flashlights, that I have dropped in the water, and never had any problems with water getting in them. I would guess that these would be no different.
This does come with a "limited lifetime" warranty. What that means is, if the "actual" product fails for any reason, other then abuse, then they will fix it for free. What the "limited" part means, they are NOT responsible for things that wear out, or abuse, or for damage from things that are NOT their own product. For example., If you drop the light, and smash the front lens, they will not fix it. If you put some batteries in it that explode, leak, etc, and they damage the flashlight, the batteries are not their product, so they will NOT fix the flashlight, since it was damaged due to some other companies product failing, in this case, that would be the batteries. If the switch breaks, if the threads strip out under normal use, if things like that happen, then they will fix things like that.
I also like the fact that these are made in the USA.. well, most of it is anyways. They buy the LED's from another company, and at least some of those LED's are probably made in china, or somewhere like that.. But the main part, and most of the flashlight, is made right here, in the USA.
Overall, I think that these are very nice. I have never had one fail on me yet, so how can I give anything less then 5 stars, never having a single problem with any of mine, of this size and type? So it gets 5 stars for being a good product, at a reasonable price.
When in comes to LED Flashlights, I chose MAGLITE for a reason. What I like most is they're size, rugged durability, design & great price. In any automotive emergency or power failure situation, I want the best & the 3-Cell MAGLITE LED fits the bill. I enjoy these flashlights so much that I have more than 1. To be nonjudgmental, I understand some individuals here prefer the 2-Cell over the 3. Likewise, I agree w/other reviewers that an 80hr run time seems to be a stretch. However, if you really need a reliable & long lasting flashlight then the 3-Cell is really the way to go. In any case, it only costs a few $dollar$ more but my family & safety are well worth that. Finally, Maglite has an awesome warranty along w/being manufactured domestically here supporting US workers/jobs.
What can I say, I am a bit of a ligtphile, photonphiliac, lumen lover, incandescence idolater, effulgence aficionado, beam benefactor, illuminating monger? Okay so I don't know the Latin for my bit of a disorder. I can say that I like flashlights, or really any source of radiance, all praise Ra. I take my flashlights seriously; I have several classes of flashlights depending on the need. I am not the person who sits here and asks "what brand of flashlight do you have?" I don't care, I want to know the lumen output capability, beam manipulator, battery type, size, cree led version, and burn time for the output. This particular Maglite excels in personal physical protective luminescence (yes that is one of my categories, admit it you desire a big light or as I call it the bopper class); I keep it near me in my bedroom. I also have another class of protective light but it deals more with really high output approaching laser light. I spent more time than I would like to admit trying to find a new flashlight and in utter frustration I stumbled on the new Maglite lineup. All this time I thought I had to get some new exotic high end company light when the answer was there the whole time. I don't know what I was thinking in retrospect. I have had a Maglite for as long as I can remember and these things are quality products and apparently "every single production employee on the Mag Instrument payroll lives and works in the U.S.A." if that is important to you. This thing can last for 80 hours at 168 lumens; that's awesome. You may be asking yourself "who cares my lithium handheld has 1000 lumens, what you got now son?" First off how old are you, second 168 lumen is bright and I'd rather be stranded with 168 lumens for 80 hours than 1000 lumens for 1 hour. I'm not kicking down doors and blinding people here; I need a utility light that lasts and has a very sturdy casing. If your looking for bright get a wide beam laser which has its place too but in this instance I was looking for a quality high endurance light and boy did I find it. At this level of revelation I bought the Three Cell ML300L model too just for good measure.
Reading all the reviews and specs for a dozen or so lights, I was a little bit afraid to buy this. The flashlight’s advertised 168 lumens didn’t seem to compare with most lights on sale at Amazon - many advertised at 350-500 lumens or more. But it looked like an otherwise nice product and the price was decent. I just wanted a good bright flashlight for working under the house, running out to the (detached) garage late at night or looking for lost items in a closet or dimly lit room. Also, an extra light would be handy in case of power failure.
But the other brighter lights had some features I didn’t need or want. Most had flashing strobes. Some employed harder to use multi-function switches. Others had switches in awkward locations or ones that needed to be turned or twisted. Heck. I just needed a good flashlight - not a self defense weapon or a beacon for lost aircraft to home in on.
This flashlight is bright - surprisingly so. I can point it towards the top of a 75-100 foot high tree located more than 100 feet behind my house and illuminate the uppermost limbs quite brightly. So it passed its first test, Practically speaking, I don’t need that much illumination. There’s an easy to use rubber button on the side that you simply press once to turn the light on and again to turn it off. The light speaks quality top to bottom - from the attractive finish (mine is silver) to the extra wide clear lense. Turning a ring near the lense changes the beam - making it narrow or wide.
A couple small items dissuaded me from giving it a 5 - although it’s a close call. First, it is incredibly long for only a 3 cell light. Looking at it, one would assume it’s a 4 or 5 cell job. But no - just holds 3 standard D cells. Secondly, I don’t think the hard metal outer shell feels as comfortable in the hand as the old (damaged) heavy plastic light it is replacing. That’s a bit of a surprise as the metal finish is so much better looking. Suspect I’ll get to like that aspect of it better with use. When all is said: Do I recommend this as a very good light for 90% of most peoples’ needs? Yes I do. And I’m pleased to have purchased it.
having owned maglites for decades it was time to add two more for the house and dog finding duties.years ago i had replaced the incandescent bulbs in my two 4 cells and two 2 cells.with good results and many many years of hard use, i felt we needed a couple of these newer led mags in the 3 cell.after months of use it is apparent these 168 lumen led mags are pound for pound the best flashlights on the market...here is why...for $22 you get a lifetime flashlight with a bulb that never burns out,and most of all the insane battery life.this produces a fantastic white, bright light that shoots a laser way across my property.not only does it shoot a laser it floods so much better than my old mags with the led upgrades that leave a giant black hole in the middle.we use these every night and the batteries after 8 months shine as bright as new batteries.this produces more than adequate light with alkaline batteries for common person and possible a professional.sure there are brighter lights but remember it will drain the batteries very fast and honestly i have no desire to put my light on a charger or replace batteries all the time.so do research...try and find a flashlight that throws an effective beam 412m,has great illumination,focus-able,long battery life and all that is maglite...for under $25.this is why its pound for pound the best no matter what brand.
Feature Product
- Superior quality craftsmanship with weather-resistant seals and anodized inside and out for improved corrosion resistance
- A premium drop resistant and water resistant flashlight renowned for its quality, durability and reliability
- Advanced lighting instrument with a diamond knurled design and a powerful projecting beam making it suitable for camping, climbing, fishing, hunting, etc.
- Designed for professionals and consumers alike, the Maglite LED flashlights build on the experience in craftsmanship, engineering, and advanced technology evident in all Mag flashlights
- Includes a Limited Lifetime Warranty
Description
Product Features Superior quality craftsmanship with weather-resistant seals and anodized inside and out for improved corrosion resistance.A premium drop resistant and water resistant flashlight renowned for its quality, durability and reliability.Advanced lighting instrument made in America with a diamond knurled design and a powerful projecting beam making it suitable for camping, climbing, fishing, hunting, etc.Designed for professionals and consumers alike, the Maglite LED flashlights build on the experience in craftsmanship, engineering, and advanced technology evident in all Mag flashlights.
If you're interested in a MagLite, you are interested in buying a tool, not just a flashlight. Sure, there are smaller flashlights that put out more than twice the lumens within the same price range, and those can be great if you have use cases that call for that. But they also don't have an 80-hour nonstop battery life with none of the drawbacks of rechargeables. That's a full week of use for 12 hour per night, rain or dry, in a device that won't waver no matter how much you abuse it. And if there's a power outage, you can buy D batteries cheaply almost anywhere, but if you're a MagLite user you're also probably cognizant enough to keep some extras D's on standby anyway. So you end up using the MagLite differently, and probably more often than you would, say, a tactical flashlight for the instances where you really need a light in dark situations. This is ignoring the fact that the MagLite is far more of a personal protection device than it ever was a flashlight. Having worked security, I can say that the feeling of holding a MagLite instills a sense of ruggedness and confidence in the holder unlike almost any other tool. It's clearly a functional and normal-looking flashlight, but it's also 850 grams (1000 grams is 2.2 pounds) of solid, thick aluminum and dense batteries, machined flawlessly into a tank-like device. I have every confidence you'd be able to fend off a bear with this 3-D version. The device is already heavy to the point that it's uncomfortable and unwieldy at times, even for a large man. If I bought something bigger and heavier, again, I don't think I'd use it as much as the MagLite.
This is a serious tool, and if you want a serious flashlight, this is the one to get. I recommend it over the new higher lumen ML300L, because again, the MagLite is much more than a flashlight, and this version is 100g heavier and quite a bit more robust. I enjoy having the head that screws on 100 times before it's fully tight over the single head click action of the ML300L, as well as the more robust single function switch. Because really, when you need a flashlight, the only function it needs to continue to do without exception is to turn on, no matter what.
Don't waste your money on other flashlights - this one is the bomb!! Tough as nails, doubles as a weapon if needed, takes a beating and keeps on shining! I've literally knocked it off the railing I keep it on, down a flight of probably 8 to 10 concrete steps, and it still works. I raise goats, and this is my go to flashlight when I'm checking them at night. I can shine it on the back of our white tin-sided shed, and it pretty much illuminates the entire pen, and the pen is probably 90' long X 50 to 60 feet wide. I now own 3 of these flashlights, and have one stationed at every door!
Nice and bright. It's odd how Maglite advertises less lumens that other flashlights yet it produces just as much light, if not more. I'm assuming there must not be a standard for rating.
This light easily shines across my 1 acre yard, brightly illuminating anything it comes across. In fact, I can also check my neighbors yard while I'm at it. Walking through the house after dark, should it be necessary, I can easily clear any boogie-men that may be paying me a visit. My 500 lumen spotlight does outshine this Maglite but, then, my 500 lumen spotlight is not made to give a good thumpin' like the Maglite, either. Dual purpose. Win-win.
I moved away from Maglite over the years but with the price of the digital camo version that Amazon had, I ordered two. Glad I did.
I have used these Maglites, in various sizes, for years. You simply can't go wrong. I have lost many to misplacing them but only one one, in over thirty years, to wear.
Most of my Maglites are the older incandescent versions that I have converted to LED.
The first difference that I noticed, when comparing it to an older version of the same size, is that it feels much lighter. I am confident, nonetheless, that it is still solid enough to be used as a weapon if needed. That is one of the reasons that I like the three-cell and larger D-size battery Maglites.
The flashlight throws a HUGE bright beam that easily lights up reflective surfaces from over one-half of a city block away.
There are times when the gimmicks of some contemporary flashlights are pretty handy but, for a lifelong dependable old standby, Maglite is the brand to have.
strangely: the 3 cell version lasts a LOT longer (60 hours vs. a little bit over 6 hours )and is cheaper than the 2 cell version. this is a birthday present for our neighbor,though, who prefers the smaller, lady-er,version
el esposo upgraded from one of the old 3 celled incandescent maglites to a 3 celled led version and was TOTALLY amazed at the difference in brightness: the led one is like a SPOTLIGHT and puts the old incandescent to shame.
now we have a perfectly good but useless old maglite flashlight rolling around the house'.
it's too bad that maglite doesn't offer a incandescent-to-led upgrade. we have sentimental attachment to the old one. the thing is totally industrial strength , real bomb proof. something you'd like to rely on in an emergency, but DAMN, it's SO dim!
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