Like Goldstar225 I have a pile of Mag-lights. Some are 30 years old. But the real surprise was last fall, I was clean out the barn and came across an old emergency kit based on a Band-Aid tin box. It expired medications in it that expired in 1995, so the kit was assembled in the early 90 or so. In the kit was a Mag-lite Solitaire with a alkaline Energizer AAA battery that was still holding a charge and the flashlight was completely usable.
For the powerfully bright compact power it is hard to beat Surefire. I have a bottom of the line 2-cell (CR-123) plastic body, but I don't know the model #. It had a xenon or halogen bulb and people told me it would burn out in 1 or 2 months normal use, I was careful to not use the light more than a few minutes without letting it cool off and the bulb lasted almost 1 1/2 years of daily use. the new bulb was about $42 for the LED (the light was a gift and in the $38 or less range) that replacement bulb has lasted 4 1/2 years of much harder use! The first high intensity light I owned is a Surefire M-3, it slides on gun rails,uses 2 CR-123 Lithium batteries and has been on my 870 for 18 years or longer. It and the rail adapter were about $40 back in the 90's. It has lit up a sizable number of raccoon in the night and has gone on intruder hunts 4 or 5 times (no one there thank God!) I bought dad a 3 cell CR-123 dressy Streamlight for Christmas about 10 or 12 years ago, and it is still going strong. To get into the real small Surefire will run a small fortune. For most pre-positioned flash lights I use Mag-lites with lithium batteries (good to -40 degrees F) In the camper and glove box.
Batteries are available everywhere, but pricey! The best price locally I've found is at Lowe's. I buy Surefire brand because Duracell and Energizer are a dollar or 2 more each, this is because they are made for fast discharge in cameras.
Anyway....they're great lights.
