Mini MagLite Pro

[kwselke]

In June 2008 when taking stock of hurricane preparedness supplies I decided to do a flashlight upgrade and bought a 2 D-cell MagLite LED and a 2 AA-cell Mini MagLite LED. As events unfolded the new flashlights got put through their paces during and after Hurricane Ike's strike on the Houston area that September. The 2 AA Mini MagLite and I bonded. It was lightweight, sufficiently powerful, and used inexpensive AA alkaline batteries sparingly.

Later that year I added a second Mini MagLite LED. It had a more powerful LED which could be cycled high, low, strobe, to SOS mode. This morning when I went out for my exercise walk that light was on my belt.

I have been thinking about buying a new flashlight. I was thinking about a high-end Phoenix, Cree, or Streamlight. I kept telling myself that I knew I'd still use the Mini Mags because I liked their costs/benefit ratio and was so comfortable with them.

This afternoon I was at Academy and spied a Mini MagLite Pro LED that also uses 2 AA cells. The package said NEW-Ultra Bright. The packaging also indicates 272 Lumens. Of course there was no shelf tag indicating how much it cost, but a quick walk to the Academy price checker and I found they wanted $27.99 for it. I decided to buy one.

A Spyderco Delica 4 had the blister pack packaging open with no muss or fuss. I read the paperwork, loaded the two Duracell AAs that came with it, and turned it on. Wow, it is bright. It flat out puts my old Mini MagLites to shame. In fact it will compete with the full size 2 & 3 D-cell MagLite LED lights I have. I do not think I'll get the battery life out of it that I get out of the older Mini MagLite LEDs, but AA alkaline batteries can often be found quite reasonably priced.

I'm very pleased with this latest addition to my MagLite assortment. I'll report back on how it works out in the long run. This one is definitely my new walking companion.

 

[rkwood]

Thank you for the report. I wasn't even aware that Mag had come out with the Pro line.... Sounds like a great product. The newer Chinese flashlights put out a lot of Lumens but the build quality usually pales in comparison to a flashlight made by the Mag Instrument company.

I look forward to your follow-up.

 

[rkwood]

I forgot to ask if the Mini MagLite Pro will accept NiMH rechargeable batteries? The older Mini Mags don't because the ID of the body is just big enough to allow standard alkaline batteries to be installed, and the NiMH batteries are usually just a little bigger in diameter...

 

[kwselke]

I forgot to ask if the Mini MagLite Pro will accept NiMH rechargeable batteries? The older Mini Mags don't because the ID of the body is just big enough to allow standard alkaline batteries to be installed, and the NiMH batteries are usually just a little bigger in diameter...

Per the instructions... "Use only alkaline batteries from a reputable manufacturer.... Do not use rechargeable or reusable alkaline batteries. " I thought the reason for not using NiMH was that the slightly lower voltage would not perform well with the LED circuitry. Sorry I have no NiMH AAs on hand to see if they will fit. I have never even tried a lithium AA in my older Mini Mags. I buy store brand and or name brand AA alkalines in bulk, on sale, and or with coupons and my cost usually works out to about 25 to 35 cents per cell. I change batteries at the slightest drop in performance and at times just because.

 

[Bullet Bob]

I have a mini-maglite that I've used for 30 years, unfortunately not a LED. Despite many miles in a pack and benign neglect, it still works great.

You do form an attachment with objects that serve you long and well. It's standing in a pencil case beside me along with pens, knife, and a ruler.

 

[Texas Star]

I find Mini MagLite bulbs to break easily.

 

[kwselke]

I find Mini MagLite bulbs to break easily.

These are the LED models. Are you using the generic term 'bulb' in reference to the Light Emitting Diode? I really never formed an attachment to the incandescent Maglite models. Prior to 2008 when I tried the LED Maglites my 'good' flashlights were scuba lights by Underwater Kinetics and Princeton Tectonics. They were very rugged, waterproof, bright, and durable. They also only had an hour or two of burn time on a set of big batteries. They would dim as the batteries drained too.

LED flashlights of many brands and designs are evolving at a rapid pace. I've had nine years of experience with prior iterations of this basic Mag Industries model and have been very pleased. I had a 3-AA cell Mini Maglite LED that had electronic issues at times and would eat batteries for no reason. When a set of alkaline batteries became stuck inside of it I had no problem pitching it in the trash.

I just ordered three more of this new Pro model from Amazon for $7 each less than I paid yesterday at Academy. I intend to give at least two of them as gifts. A year from now I'll know if this new version is as good as the older LED versions.

I could easily have used the money spent on these new lights to buy a top dollar tactical LED that uses CR123 batteries. I use and abuse equipment like this. Having a more expensive flashlight will make it no less likely that I will lose it. When I lose a $100 flashlight I feel a lot worse than when I lose a $30 flashlight.

This is a neat and inexpensive flashlight that has impressed me.

 

[soFlaNative]

This is a neat and inexpensive flashlight that has impressed me.

If it has a tail cap switch and cuts through dust, fog and smoke like my
incandescent Surefire I spent $35 on a few years back I'd be sold.

 

[anglertoo]

Maglite upgrade

A quick internet search will find many Maglite LED upgrades 'bulbs' are available (ie., Niteize, Terralux, etc.).
I've converted my 3 and 4 cell Maglites to LED and see roughly twice the brightness. I just LOVE the heft of the Maglite!