Maglite for the car glove compartment

I've kept a Maglite in all of my vehicles for years. Usually 2D as they fit in the glovebox where many times a 3D will not. Been using the LED drop-ins since they first came out.

I like my big 3 D cell maglites. Enough light to do anything I need and enough heft in the event I need that.

Gentle reminder/PSA. REmember to change the batteries in those truck/car lights more regularly. Heat and cold, and I suspect vibration, seem to cause the batteries to break down and weaken faster.

Jake38 said:

It's currently 40 dollars on Amazon... I'm starting to get tempted.

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Ya know, I can't say I use it frequently but it's been great when I need it.

For some reason $37 comes to mind on some weird clearance sale wally has sometimes.... $40 is still well worth it, imo.

1975 - 1981 I carried a 7C-cell Kel-lite just about everywhere. The MGB didn't have a glovebox, but the Kel-lite tucked nicely between the passenger seat and drive train hump.

I have a number of Ds of various size, but now that you mention it, a 4/5/6 C Mag-lite would be nice to have in the truck.

IME, during "interesting times" the Cs handle better/quicker than the Ds.

I have a Mini stuck in the hole where a lighter would be in my dash; I have a large rechargable (not Maglight) flashlight in my glovebox.

I bought the 1st MIni-Maglite I saw years ago. I've had a couple of the bigger ones in the past, but they all fell by the wayside as better options came along. But the newer ones with LED bulbs are pretty good. I'm more interested in something small that can be carried in a pocket than the big ones and tried one of the single cell AAA battery versions to use as a backpacking light. It is rated at 47 lumens, but seems to put out more light than some others I've used rated at 100+ lumens. Last summer I picked up a 2 cell AAA light rated at about 150 lumens and went back to the original "Mini-Mag" that is a 2 cell AA light now rated at about 275 lumens. That is my big light, and all of them seem to over perform. At least to my eye.

I used to be a big fan of the incandescent Maglites back in the day. I carried a 2xAA cell on my belt for work, a 2xC cell in my night stand and car, and a big 4xD cell in my kitchen. I loved the sturdy reliability of the Maglites. When the LED flashlight market exploded, I stated carrying and stashing other brands of lights, but now that Maglite is offering factory LED bulbs, I may have to pick up a couple for home use.

I now own both a 4C and 3C MagLites.

After the years of carrying that 7C Kel-Lite ~40 years ago, the feeling of these things, to my mind, is juuuuust right.

Sure, the head is bigger and shaped a bit differently and switches don't ride/slide on the outside like on the old Kel-Lite ... and neither will naturally rest on my shoulder like the good'ol 7 ... but they feel right in my hands.

Thanks for starting the Thread, Jake38!

EDIT: I just finished removing the new(est) light (3C LED) from its package and retrieved the 4C Incandescent [Xenon] version from my truck for comparison. The head on the 3C LED is noticeably smaller than that of the 4C. Much closer to the feel of my old 7C and more comfortable (for me, even with my large hands).

EDIT#2: I really like the new programmable switch on my 3C LED. Function Set #3 (Momentary/FullPower/Eco) is perfect for me.

While I like the sturdiness of MLs tubes, I never liked the need for two hands to turn them on. (I'm sure they now have side and tail switches on some.). I settled on Streamlight for my needs. Have carried their pocket model for several years and keep the 900 lumen rechargeable model in each vehicle.

The one thing that seems to universal here though is the need to move beyond cell phone lights. For power, features (strobe), self defense and reliability. I just watch a repairman struggle trying to use his cell inside a furnace. I ended up loan in him my Pro-Tac 1LL. Not only should he have had his own pocket light but he should have had a head light for the work he does.

alfsauve said:

While I like the sturdiness of MLs tubes, I never liked the need for two hands to turn them on. ...

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... OH!

alfsauve said:

While I like the sturdiness of Mini-MLs tubes, I never liked the need for two hands to turn them on. ...

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There ... fixed that for you.

I have a large 3' long breaker bar mounted next to my trucks seat, and an axe between the doors.

My light is just a 'lil Surefire e2d led with a strike bezel. Don't know if you've tried it, but such a light at night does make a difference in your ability to attack. Sparring against a friend of mine while avoiding being blinded, was far tougher than we thought.

I still carry 3 and 4 cells in my truck and Motor home cab. I have kept one in the cab for going on 20+ years. Got a 3 cell my oldest son's pickup also. Old habits die hard I guess.

No.

Maglights were mediocre when they came out, I immediately saw so many failures I stopped using them (back in the day, mostly used Tekna dive lights FWIW).

Today, you can get so much power out of 123 or AA batteries, I cannot think of a reason to use a C or D light. And, lithium AAs are cheap and reliable. They will last over 10 years and work in the cold. Not going to rely on alkaline batteries for my backup light.

Oldest thing I have is a Stinger on a wall charger (new battery!) for a household always-ready light. Otherwise it's 123 cell Surefires, and various other things like Fenix ECDs sided things with AA, and a few solar rechargeable lanterns, and so on. We never lack for light, anywhere we go are often the only people who have working lights.

Maglite was the first high quality light to replace the old standard Ray O Vac Sportsman that we all used.
My mag lights have slowly been replaced by higher tech lights in smaller packages.
One reason for that is the fact that they are not so good for long term storage. I have ruined a few maglights when the batteries unknowingly leaked and ruined the light. I just threw one out since Christmas. I had to use a vice and big water pump pliers to get the end cap off and ,of course, it was ruined. It was a big 5cell that I kept beside the bed.

As Armored farmer says when Maglite first came out they were far ahead of the competition and when they first came out I jumped on them. However I had a three of these Maglite's fail on me more than once in the dark while I was a mile away from my truck. Even when installing a new bulb and batteries at the beginning of hunting season I had these fail when needed the most.

About 20 years ago I bought a Surefire 6p. Still has the original bulb and has never failed me. For doing whackamole with the bad guys a super sized Maglite may be the best choice. For a working flashlight when failure isn't an option I think brands like Surefire, Fenix, Streamlight, etc. may the better choice these days.

I the early 90's I acquired the D sizes from 3-6 cells. Ruined a couple from the cells leaking so I don't know if I have all of them still. They were replaced with smaller Surefires and Streamlights.

I had one big one that got trashed due to leaking batteries! We still have 2-3 smaller mag lights! I love my minimag with the Led bulbs upgrade!

I love them!

Maglite does not do well in storage with some batteries. Store the batteries with it in a container of some sort. Maglite has changed the way the lights are manufactured and you cannot easily get replacement parts for them. Duracell used to be my go to battery for ages as they would leak if left way too long but I never had them damage a light. Recently I found out the 3D cell LED Maglite that was a family gift to my parents had leaked and destroyed it. I cannot get replacement parts or the special tool for needed to disassemble it. So I bought a 10,000 lumen one that uses a 6v screw on lantern battery it is one converted from an old chrome lantern with the red 'taillight'. It will burn for a few days. No modes so none of the nonsense with some controller eating the battery while off. If it leaks it's no big deal since it's contained in a plastic box, the battery is Rayovac 918 and is 12400mAh and it all works perfect for what they need. I am not sure of the batteries ability to withstand freezing but I've not had a problem with the half size 6V version.
If you find one of those old flashlights you can bring them up to modern with some cleaning, work and a good LED bulb. It is hard to find a flashing led replacement for the rear bulb unfortunately but smaller ones that fit are easily available. There was some work on a lithium ion replacement pack with all the electronics needed to protect the cells, regulate the voltage and allow it to be easily recharged but I can no longer find that information.

Vintage 6V Ray-O-Vac SPORTSMANS Lantern / Flashlight & Red Flasher

I would never store a Maglite in a vehicle. For one thing where I live where it gets cold enough during winter than your Maglite will not work when frozen. At all. Secondly, I have had a number of Maglites trashed when the batteries (any brand) leaked in them. Just this week I had to toss my wife's Maglite because the batteries leaked all over the insides. I have for many years carried a Mini Maglite on my belt where it stays warm and always works. If you're wanting to leave a flashlight in a vehicle remove the batteries first.

Y'all know that you can get rechargeable NiMH C & D cells that won't leak, right? Or get parallel configured 2 or 3 AA to C / D adapters to use NiMH or lithium AA's in your Mags and other C/D cell devices.

I used to keep maglites. I have a 6-d or two somewhere in storage. The only one I still have is in my jeep and it's only the because I had no other use for it. It's a 3 or 4d with the led upgrade. Likely ruined from leakage or water damage and freezing (it is a jeep. After all Lol).
I have a mounted inova t4 charger on the dash and as far as a light source there is no comparison. The t4 is that much better. My 2a streamlight is as good imo. I've got free lights from harbor freight that were brighter for the 5 minutes they worked. As far as a striking tool the maglight would be fine but as a light They were always fragile imo. Not as a bat but as a light. The more cells the more the spring got compressed and the light failed, The batteries would leak and ruin them too. Ive had to scrape the spring off of many of them to complete a circuit. I did one this christmas for my wife's great aunt actually, Ive seen them ruined from water getting into the switch too.

I used to pick one or two out of smoky mountain knife works catalog at christmas growing up. They just didn't last and compared to a decent light there is no comparison on beam or output. Their only purpose was as a striking tool that one could pretend they only had as a light source. A tire tool or even one of those mini baseball bats sold as a "tire pressure" thumper were the same, but would get you more crap if pulled over.

I've had 2 -3cell Maglites since I can remember. Besides being a flashlight I always thought they made great weapons. Has anyone done the upgrade to LED and does it work? Are they brighter?

Jack B. said:

Has anyone done the upgrade to LED and does it work? Are they brighter?

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I've done it on a 2xAA Mini Mag. It works, and it's brighter. And it gets longer run time. For the big C & D cell lights you can go as simple as a $16 TerraLUX drop in replacement. Or you can go over to Budget Light Forum, Candle Power Forums, or r/flashlight on Reddit. The folks on any of those forums can walk you through going as hot rod of a build as you want if you're willing to buy components and do a little soldering.

I keep two flashlights in the truck. A led spot light that has a nice low setting and an led flashlight. The problem is batteries. When it gets cold in the winter, the batteries don't keep their charge so well.