 In a word, excellent |
| Review Date: September 21, 2007 |
| Reviewer: DB.Zimmerman, |
The construction and quality is what you'd expect from a Maglite with a solid and durable aluminum body and rubber gaskets inside to keep out dirt and water. The grip is also nicely textured to keep the flashlight from slipping out of your hand.
Light output is excellent with a bright, white beam and good throw distance. The reflector has been redesigned from the 2AA incandescent model and eliminates the infamous Maglite "hole" (a dark spot in the middle of the beam) when the flashlight is on full flood. Adjusting to spot isn't a dramatic difference, but it definitely puts more light in the center of the beam which can be useful in certain situations.
Batteries last a long, long time, and unlike the older incandescent model, the light output doesn't decrease to unusable levels long before the batteries are dead but rather stays clear and bright until the batteries are exhausted. The LED is also considerably more durable than an incandescent bulb, and my LED Maglite has survived knocks and drops that would have required a bulb replacement in my old incan model. And while the LED version is about an inch longer than the old model, the flashlight is still small and light enough to carry everywhere (I always keep mine on my belt so it's always handy when I need it, which is more often than you'd expect!).
I have only one caveat: the flashlight does not have reverse polarity protection meaning that if you accidentally install the batteries backwards, you'll smoke the LED and you'll have to buy a new flashlight. Just be careful when installing the batteries and you'll be fine.
It might seem a little pricey, but it's worth every penny.
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Edit: A year later and this little flashlight is still going strong. It never leaves my side. |
A whole lot of flashlight
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| Review Date: October 17, 2006 |
| Reviewer: Leon W. Blocker, Muscatine, Iowa United States |
I have the 2 cell AA LED Mini Maglite, and I love it. But let's clear up some misconceptions about what this little gem is and isn't. In the dark, this is a bright, capable flashlight that illuminates a wide area. Unlike Maglites you may be used to, the beam can't really be focused. Yes, if you point it towards the ground at your feet, you can see the beam converge. At five yards out, it doesn't really matter, it's an area light no matter what.
If you are looking for a solid area light that doesn't take up a lot of room and has long-lasting battery life - wait no more, this is your flashlight! Go buy it right now.
If you are looking for something to replace a SureFire or StreamLight, keep looking. This flashlight just isn't in the same league of brightness. Yes, it's rough and tough and for a small flashlight it is very bright for close tasks. If you are looking to light up chunks of real estate at night, then you are better off with a SureFire.
A couple of words of warning about this light compared to the "regular" halogen - it is a larger flashlight. In diameter it is the same, but in length it is about one inch longer. And since the LED is supposed to be indestructible, there is no spare in the cap.
I carry this on my belt with the included holster, though I pray to God Maglite wakes up and gives us a holster that LOCKS closed. Would it kill ya to give us six inches of nylon and velcro to hold the blessed thing in place, Maglite?
BOTTOM LINE : A solid, dependable light that is excellent for small areas or enclosed spaces. After all, it is a Maglite. Only six inches of fabric and velcro keeps this from being the best LED flashlight for any amount of money. |
Very, very pleased.
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| Review Date: December 28, 2006 |
| Reviewer: TheBassGuy, |
I've owned 4 conventional (Krypton) bulb Maglites over the years and I've ran many, many sets of batteries through them, especially my 2 AA maglites. I'll just cut to the chase and say that they hit the ball out of the park with this LED version, it is fantastic. The following observations are with fresh batteries in all of the units:
- Brightness: The 2 AA LED version is significantly brighter than the 2 AA Krypton bulb version. In fact the 2 AA LED is nearly as bright as my 3D cell Krypton bulb maglite!
- Clarity: It's no secret that traditional bulb flashlights typically project uneven light patterns with super bright and super dark areas in the beam. I find this incredibly annoying and will have to play with the focus of the beam to find something usable. The LED version has this problem solved. The clarity and spread of the light is fantastic. I can flick it on to ANY setting and it's 10x better than the traditional (Krypton bulb) maglite in terms of clarity and beam focus. I can tell they worked a lot on this and they did a great job.
- Color: This is minor compared to the above, but the LED version puts out a cool white beam that is easy on the eye and it seems easier to pick up details. The conventional bulb version puts out a harsher more redish/ pink beam and after comparing the two back to back the LED version is much better.
- Battery life: Don't know yet. I hear the batteries should last longer and the circuitry keeps the light output up even as the batteries go down in charge. Time will tell.
I now plan to upgrade all my D Cell versions with the LED upgrade kit. I'm very pleased with this purchase. I've made some nasty reviews in the past, so this this positive review is saying something. :)
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SP2209HJ - The Next Generation
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| Review Date: July 24, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Gail Rhea, |
I'm am very happy to report on the next generation of the 2 AA Mini Maglite LED flashlight. Mine is gray, model #SP2209HJ.
Where the older style of the Mini Maglite LED has a larger head than the incandescent version and no hole on the tail cap to attach a lanyard, with the next generation Mini Maglite LED, we see the return of the smaller head so the rubber rim for the face cap fits as well as the lenses of the accessories pack. The hole to attach a lanyard is back in the tail cap.
It measures 1/2" longer than the incandescent version.
The holster still doesn't have the Velcro flap and is a tighter fit than my Velcro-flapped holster, but then, that applies to the current incandescent Mini Maglite's holster, too. I guess Mag changed the design to save on production costs.
Although the corona isn't quite as bright or quite as white as the 80 lumens Duracell Daylite 2 AA LED flashlight that I bought at Walmart for $5 more at the same time, the hotspot is brighter and the overall diameter of the beam is broader than the Daylite's. I like the Mini Maglite LED much better, not only because the beam is broader, but also because it weighs less, is narrower and shorter, and doesn't have a push-button on the tail cap.
I'm VERY pleased with the Mini Maglite LED because it has settings for 100% power, 25% power, blink, and SOS that is definitely good for signaling for help whether by a lost hiker or a survivor of a natural disaster or other emergency situation. Just twist as usual to turn on, then twist off & on again to sequence to the other modes.
What that does to those who prefer one of the tail cap push button modifications, I don't know. I prefer to twist it and can do it easily with one hand.
At the 25% power level, designed for reading at night or saving the batteries during prolonged emergency use, instead of lasting for hours of continuous use as on the 100% setting, the package says that fresh batteries will last for days. I haven't tried to run down a pair of batteries through it to see how long they'll last, but it makes sense because any of the brighter LED flashlights go through batteries faster than those producing fewer lumens.
All in all, I think Mag did this version of the Mini Maglite LED right and hope they do as well when they upgrade the Solitaire to LED.
[Updated on 8/31/09 - I tested the battery life with a pair of fresh alkaline batteries at 100% power and a second pair of fresh alkaline batteries at 25% power.
Continuously on at 100% power, it dimmed and started flickering at 116 hours (4 days, 20 hours) until it went out at 117 hours.
Continuously on at 25% power, it started flickering at 192 hours (8 days) and went out sometime during the next 6.5 hours while I was asleep.] |
Fantastic Flashlight
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| Review Date: January 11, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Michi, Ohio, United States |
I need a small flashlight for work and have gone through many, many AA sized flashlights. I just noticed these 2AA LED Maglites in the stores and decided to try one out.
I wasn't sure how bright it would be because besides the 3 Watt label, Mag doesn't really state the brightness of the light. When I got home I was pleasantly surprised. This light is at least 5 times brighter than a regular 2AA Maglite and it is also brighter than any other (including LED) flashlights I have used.
And what matters more, compared to the regular bulb Maglites, the beam on the LED light focuses perfectly to an even circle. No more dark areas.
The one thing I miss is the little hole in the endcap which can be used for lanyards or keyrings. Also the LED version is a tad bit longer than the bulb version, but for the huge performance gain, I'll gladly have a slightly larger flashlight.
I can't comment on the battery usage yet, as I haven't had to change batteries yet, a good sign... And I am so glad that I don't have to worry about the little bulbs burning out every so often anymore.
I can highly recommend this light, it's well worth the money if you need a good flashlight. I do wish that the other colors were available as shown on Mag's website. Amazon or any other local stores just seem to have the black version. |
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