First off, Maglite is the ONLY brand of flashlight I will probably EVER buy. I've seen what these lights can go through and now that they are FINALLY crossing over into the world of LED's, if they play their cards right, there's no excuse why Maglite flashlights cannot reign supreme once more. I've seen these lights go through everything from being ran over by semi trucks, to being dropped in the middle of a like. When retreived, they still work like the day they were purchased. When you open a Maglite flashlight and hold in your hands, it really feels like you've just purchased a finely crafted product. On top of all this, they're made in the states! No excuse, EVERY household should have a Maglite flashlight, of some size, somewhere where it is always accessable. I would also recommend a large D cell sized light to have as a weapon alone.. You just never know.
I own an LED version of the 4D, 3D, 3AA, 2AA models. I saw this on amazon and actually overlooked it because it was a cylinder shaped flashlight and the package was green. The "MAG" in bold luckily caught my eye. I instantly ordered this flashlight and it was here in 3 days (got it yesterday). I really wasn't expecting much because it runs off of AAA batteries. I turned it on and it blows away ALL my other LED Maglites. I would go as far as to say that it's almost TWICE as bright as my 4D LED (both with fresh batteries) and the light it sprays couldn't get any whiter.
The features on this flashlight are amazing. They ARE a little quirky at first, but once you get it down, you realize every feature on the flashlight can be done by holding a button in, and moving your wrist. Easily done with one hand and there are no switches to hit or anything.
FYI-the tailcap looks like it has a "dial-style" switch on it, but the notch is just to let you where the "Dimmer" position is in case your in pitch black darkness and need to crank up the brightness. It is NOT a switch and is NOT to be turned to the selected mode.
Say you want to use the "Strobe" feature, you spin the actual flashlight to where the "Strobe" mode is at the 12oclock position (as you were looking at the tailcap, aiming at whatever you want to shine the light on) and hold the button for 1 second, then the flashlight enters "Strobe" mode. Keep it held in and turn your wrist to adjust how fast you want the strobe to be.
All modes are adjusted just by holding the button and turning your wrist. When your desired setting is reached, let off the button and it's locked in until you turn off the flashlight.
Some of the features, I can't honestly see ever using (like the 'Nite Lite' mode, but it's cool to have! btw to the other reviewer saying this is mispelled, it's a twist on how "light" is mispelled in "Maglite") however, if I'm ever sitting on top of my car in a flood or something and there are rescue choppers above me, a constant S.O.S. signal would probably come in handy.
The lockout mode is actually pretty cool, again not sure if I'd ever use it. But if you don't want someone messing with your flashlight, lock it, and they'll think the batteries are dead and put it back down. Another thing, it's noted that at the lowest brightness setting, the batteries will last over 200 hours. When you're in a well light room, the dimmest setting doesn't look like much. I tried it lastnight in my bedroom, shined it on my white ceiling and it was still bright enough to see pretty much everything in the room. It would be perfect for reading a book or map on this setting.
In conclusion, THIS IS my new 'go to' small flashlight. It's as wide as my palm and about as big around as the handle of a mop or broom (if this helps). It blows away ALL my other Maglites in brightness (regardless of the lumen rating on the package). If i'm going on a road trip over an hour from my house, I WILL have this flashlight in my pocket and a large D cell maglite in the pouch behind my passenger seat, without question. I can definately see this being mounted at the end of an M16 for military soldiers (for the durability and brightness alone). If you're looking for a flashlight, get a Maglite. If you willing to spend a little extra (5-10 bucks over a 3D sized) for a compact super-bright tactical sized flashlight, get this one!
| Color | Black |
|---|---|
| Power Source | Battery Powered |
| Material | Aluminum |
| Battery Cell Composition | Alkaline |
| Item Weight | 3.7 Ounces |
| Number of Batteries | 3 AAA batteries required. (included) |
| Brand | MagLite |
| Finish Type | Black |
| Global Trade Identification Number | 00038739660059 |
| Manufacturer | MAGLITE |
| UPC | 038739660059 132017710563 168141320705 |
| Part Number | XL100 |
| Item Weight | 3.7 ounces |
| Product Dimensions | 7.99 x 2.99 x 2.99 inches |
| Item model number | XL100 |
| Batteries | 3 AAA batteries required. (included) |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Finish | Black |
| Item Package Quantity | 1 |
| Batteries Included? | Yes |
| Batteries Required? | Yes |
