Maglite is the Worst Flashlight on the Market

kennith

kennith

Well-known member
Apr 22, 2004
10,891
172
North Carolina
That being the case, does anyone know off the top of their head a light that doesn't suck, that'll just snap into a normal Maglite bracket?

If not, what about how to find a bracket to snap one of those Nebo Slyde lights into? In practice, they seem to be the best on the market, but I can't find a single-bolt solution that fits.

I'm after those spring clips that you just shove the light into laterally, specifically for vertical mounting; or a light that fits those that are standard Mag "D" size lights.

Basically, I've got a set of brackets for a normal Mag in the rear of the DII, but every one I've ever put there has failed entirely; before I've even had a chance to use them. I'm done. For at least twenty years they've been a waste of time, and they've had their last chance now.

Cheers,

Kennith
 
ERover82

ERover82

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Nov 26, 2011
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Darien Gap
Maglites are antiques now, however how does one fail? It's batteries, contacts, and a bulb.

There's a million options now from Fenix, Surefire, Nitecore, etc with various mounts, battery types, and automotive charging methods.
 
fishEH

fishEH

Well-known member
Jan 26, 2009
6,929
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Lake Villa, IL
ERover82 said:
Maglites are antiques now, however how does one fail? It's batteries, contacts, and a bulb.

There's a million options now from Fenix, Surefire, Nitecore, etc with various mounts, battery types, and automotive charging methods.
Click to expand...

The LED ones can get flakey. Always flickering or dim and needing a good whack then they get bright.
 
R

robertf

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Jan 22, 2006
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harbor-freight-free-flashlight-coupon-harbor-wiring-4.jpeg
 
kennith

kennith

Well-known member
Apr 22, 2004
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North Carolina
ERover82 said:
Maglites are antiques now, however how does one fail? It's batteries, contacts, and a bulb.

There's a million options now from Fenix, Surefire, Nitecore, etc with various mounts, battery types, and automotive charging methods.
Click to expand...

You would think that's all there is to them, wouldn't you? Unfortunately, they still fail, and the failure mode is often indecipherable. Even those with conventional lamps crap out bafflingly. The only cause I can imagine is an extremely poor choice of materials.

They've never been good, but they're triple-shit now. :ack:

Yeah, there are a million brands out there, but none are sold here. I want to know who the heck is making something that's either the same size, or who's making a single-screw bracket that fits something else. I'm lousy with lights over here, and I only like two of them.

Cheers,

Kennith
 
E

ezzzzzzz

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Apr 22, 2010
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I've had the best luck so far with Lux-Pro. I refuse to spend outrageous money on a flashlight. My life doesn't depend on it. That said, all of these flashlights are probably pumped out at the same chinese factory with minor changes and labeling.
 
kennith

kennith

Well-known member
Apr 22, 2004
10,891
172
North Carolina
ezzzzzzz said:
I've had the best luck so far with Lux-Pro. I refuse to spend outrageous money on a flashlight. My life doesn't depend on it. That said, all of these flashlights are probably pumped out at the same chinese factory with minor changes and labeling.
Click to expand...

You're correct about quite a few of them. Even though some of the more expensive units get their own styling, but it's coming from the same places, and it's just cheap aluminum with thick anodizing. Quite a few factories over there are much smaller and less advanced than you'd think, and are capable of rapid adjustments as a result.

Nearly all 12 Volt air pumps/compressors, as an example, come from the same series of factories. That includes many of your favorite brands. It's sad, but true. I helped one of those factories develop a new unit that consisted partially of Viair and ARB parts, which are components in the manufacture of Masterflow and Superflow pumps sold in Harbor Freight.

That said, there are some that are worth a premium. Nebo products, as mentioned, could easily sell for three times their MSRP with different marketing. C. Crane Trek Lights are some of the most reliable and durable devices ever produced. Those cheap oval-shaped dual-LED things Harbor Freight gives away for free are solid products; and the old plastic Eveready flashlights and 6V spot lamps are always there when you need them. Pelican makes very nice lights, as well.

Surefire is hit or miss, so far as value. Sometimes it's no better than cheap junk, and sometimes it's the best in it's class. I don't consider their products overly optimized for general and utility use, though. There are better options for those scenarios. The lowly 6P in polymer is one of their best offerings.

Cheers,

Kennith
 
pinkytoe69

pinkytoe69

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Jan 14, 2012
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Wasn't the lighting kind of an afterthought, with the main point of a Maglite being that you could beat the shit outta someone with it?

I feel like i remember them being marketed that way...
 
jim-00-4.6

jim-00-4.6

Well-known member
Sep 30, 2005
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Genesee, CO USA
pinkytoe69 said:
Wasn't the lighting kind of an afterthought, with the main point of a Maglite being that you could beat the shit outta someone with it?

I feel like i remember them being marketed that way...
Click to expand...
I've got a 3D maglight.
Fcuking thing never works when I need it, my freebie harbor freight 2AAA LED light actually works.
I keep the maglight around to bonk things on the head.
"When you're holding a hammer, everything looks like a nail."
 
kennith

kennith

Well-known member
Apr 22, 2004
10,891
172
North Carolina
pinkytoe69 said:
Wasn't the lighting kind of an afterthought, with the main point of a Maglite being that you could beat the shit outta someone with it?

I feel like i remember them being marketed that way...
Click to expand...

That's how Surefire was marketed, as well. The difference is, one went on to make flashlights that worked.

My current irritation is that everyone seems to make twenty products designed to retain a Mag product in various ways; as if anyone is actually using the damned things. The only reason I've kept one in the back of the DII is because the mounts were available.

I have never pulled a Mag from that bracket and found it functional. NEVER. Not once. Every time I reached back there, I pulled out a light that needed replacement. I don't mean dead batteries; I mean a dead light.

Why? I don't know, and I don't care. They have no value, and it doesn't really matter why that is if it still hasn't changed in all this time.

One would think, therefore, that some industrious manufacturer would be making clips that fit lights with a reduced diameter barrel, as we commonly use today. It's important to have a proper fit. If it's right, a clip is all that's needed. If it's wrong, you'd better strap that thing in for safety.

Cheers,

Kennith
 
ERover82

ERover82

Well-known member
Nov 26, 2011
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Darien Gap
There are universal single screw mounts with rubber straps that will fit nearly any flashlight.

Another option is bend some metal into a simple bracket, drill your ideal radius hole, and install rubber grommets to hold flashlight snug.

If you prefer high-CRI or warm color temperature lights, check out Zebralight and Armytek.
 
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kennith

kennith

Well-known member
Apr 22, 2004
10,891
172
North Carolina
ERover82 said:
There are universal single screw mounts with rubber straps that will fit nearly any flashlight.

Another option is bend some metal into a simple bracket, drill your ideal radius hole, and install rubber grommets to hold flashlight snug.

If you prefer high-CRI or warm color temperature lights, check out Zebralight and Armytek.
Click to expand...

Well, I don't know how to look those mounts up. Every term I can imagine just pulls up pipe hangers, rail mounts, and crap for handlebars. I'd be highly interested in finding those universal mounts.

I don't want to build one, though. I want to buy one. Well, I want to buy two, but whatever.

I'm quite happy with the Nebo lights, actually. The things just plain work, they're incredibly versatile, they seem largely impervious to moisture, and they take a beating as well as anything else. I also like the USB charging they offer.

Nowadays, that's the easiest way to charge something, so it just makes sense to go that route. It's perfectly reasonable in a vehicle, as well. USB may have always sucked from a computer perspective, but it's good enough to charge stuff and it's a world-wide standard.

Cheers,

Kennith
 
kennith

kennith

Well-known member
Apr 22, 2004
10,891
172
North Carolina
These are the best flashlights I've owned.

Yes, I've got Pelicans, Streamlights, and Surefires that were not included here. They didn't make the cut.

Also not included is a pen with a light on top that I just misplaced yesterday, and the old 6V Eveready spot lamp I just forgot to put in the picture. The Polymer 6P almost made it; and it might have if it were more efficient. The aluminum 6P never stood a chance.

You don't need a crenelated bezel to knock the shit out of someone, despite what the entire market would have you believe. It's just crap to get caught up on things. That C. Crane Trek Light saved my bacon plenty of times, and it's just a plain old light; well, it was the first commercial LED unit, but the point remains.

This single image shows you how much bullshit there is in the industry. Given a choice of any single light to take somewhere tough, I'd grab anything on this desk before I'd get within ten feet of anything not on this desk.

Cheers,

Kennith
 
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