Mag-Lite ST3D016 3-D Cell LED Flashlight, Black
by MAGLITE
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List Price: Our Price: $22.48 You Save: $32.47 (59%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: Tools See more product details |
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Tools and Hardware Reviews of Mag-Lite ST3D016 3-D Cell LED Flashlight, Black
Customer Review: Strange specs...
Summary: 3 Stars
I bought the Maglite 2-D LED flashlight and was reasonably happy with it. I was about to buy a second one, but noticed that the 3-D unit is actually ~$6 less. Since this one's for the house, not the car, thought I'd go for the bigger one and save $6. Bizarre part...as another reviewer noted, my 2-D is brighter than the 3-D. Usually, if the batteries are placed in series, the voltages add and you get a brighter light. A single alkaline D-Cell is ~1.5 V, so 2 in series is 3.0 V and 3 in series is 4.5 V. Both flashlights though are rated the same, 3 watt, so at the very least, they should be the same brightness. The LEDs look different, and the reflector in the 2-D is shinier than the one in the 3-D. The 2-D also focusses into a tighter spot. This explains part of the difference in light output. I've written to Maglite if this is normal, or whether I have a defective 3-D unit, or whether there's poor quality control. I'll report back when I hear from them.
Otherwise, same well-known pluses of Maglites. Also, the same minuses: (a) Totally cylindrical, so rolls right off a table, and goes ker...splat. (b) No shock absorber. I know some people don't like rubber bumpers because that don't last "forever", but you can make them replaceable. LEDs are less sensitive to shock than a filament lamp, but, unlike the hype, LEDs can be damaged by shock (and that's speaking from direct experience, because I was involved with the manufacture of LEDs).
Update 4/1/09: Check out my review for the 2-D cell model for discussion of first gen vs second gen models, and why 2-D model may be brighter than 3-D model (for now).
Hey, what's going on with the supposed list prices? Floats from day to day. Was listed at $39 or so yesterday, now it's $67, so you get a bigger bargain! Love Amazon, but this is a tactic more suited to a sleaze dealer (which Amazon for sure is NOT).
Customer Review: When size matters...this is the best option
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a top quality, rugged and bright flashlight with bulk. This bulk can be an asset or drawback, depending on your needs.
Pros:
a) Very ruggedly made, with aluminum construction. This light can be dropped in mud, rocks and water without destroying it. The LED adds to this ruggedness, as it will not break like a regular bulb. This is no delicate light.
b) This light is incredibly bright, noticeably brighter than the regular bulb version.
c) The on/off switch is on the side, near the front. It is rubber shielded to eliminate water and dirt getting into the light. It is not easy to accidentally turn it on, but is easy to find in the dark by feel.
d) The light takes 3 D cells, easy to find and last a long time.
e) Police have routinely used these Maglites as a combination baton and light. While, thank goodness, I've never had to use as a baton, it might add to a more secure feeling in certain situations.
f) The light is a good "thrower". That is, it projects a tight beam a long distance without dispersing much. There might be a better throwing light available, but it will undoubtedly cost much more.
g) The light can be focused. It can throw a tight beam or spread the light out more to the sides; very adaptable.
Cons:
a) The light can be heavy if carried for long periods on your belt or in your coat pocket, etc.
b) The light is large and bulky to carry. This could also be an advantage, so it depends on your needs.
Conclusion:
All in all this is a high quality light. It has few substitutes if you are looking for a bright and rugged light with some bulk. If you want a bright light in a smaller package, the Maglite XL50 might be a good option:
MAGLITE XL50-S3016 LED Flashlight, Black
Customer Review: Really happy with this purchase
Summary: 5 Stars
We just got it today, but can tell already it is what we need. We have a triple city lot and we have a dog that goes crazy when she sees things in the open lot area of our property. We leave her out at night and like to make sure she does "her business" before we call her back in. So, even though we just got it today we already know it is going to do the job for us. Angel spotted a rabbit tonight at dusk and got fixated on it. We wanted to take her out around 8:30 and had to be sure the rabbit did not make it into the yard where the house is. The flashlight shone a nice bright light that picked up the rabbits eyes in the far corner of the lot. We have been using a Makita flashlight I got my husband more than 20 years ago, that flashlight lost the extra battery by no longer being able to hold a charge so I looked online and found this one. We compared the Maglite to the Makita and this new one is a much stronger and brighter beam than the Makita. It has more of a white light than a yellow one of the Makita
UPDATE:
It is now May 19, 2010 and I can still say it is a great light. Maybe others have experienced better but for us this is the best we have ever had. We lost power last night, sitting staring at the computer when everything went black. We had to feel our way to to find flashlights, then to find this one we keep near the steps so it is ready to take Angel outside at night. We found that by just putting this with the beam pointed up to the ceiling on the dish rack it gave enough light in the room I could read the telephone number I needed to dial the utility company. We used other smaller flashlights to move around the house, and left this in the kitchen to give us a point where we had light that we could use.
Customer Review: My Mag-Lite Experience
Summary: 1 Stars
I have spent over $140 on Mag-Lite flashlights and batteries over the last 3 years (on the recommendation of my son-in-law who is an airline mechanic). One is a three D cell battery model and the other an identical size rechargeable model.
The only thing I have used the flashlights for is occasionally taking my dog out at night and for emergency use during power outages. This is the ONLY use these Mag-Lite's have had. Other that the occasional night excursions with the dog, these flashlights have never been used outside the house. Both models appear to have just come out the shipping carton (AMAZON) ......... not so much as even a smudge on the finish.
Much of the reason they look unused is that BOTH sit uselessly on a shelf as BOTH are dysfunctional. The on/off switches will not work ...... the battery model is locked in the off position and the rechargeable model jammed in the on position. After trying three replacement batters on the rechargeable model, I could not get it to hold a charge for longer than 3 minutes after spending overnight in its recharging cradle.
One expects to replace batteries and bulbs and I have no problem with that, but when equipped with these, the function of a flashlight is to shed light when desired and on that shelf sits $140 of new looking Mag-Lite's that DON'T.
I know that these combined could NOT POSSIBLY have had four hours of total use.
Sounds about like what you'd expect out of something that came free in a cereal box, huh?
Customer Review: Everyone should have one
Summary: 5 Stars
This is one of those things that just has no negatives. It should be standard issue in every house whether its for just everyday use of walking around the back yard at night, to investigating the strange noise you heard downstairs in the middle of the night.
I hadn't used a Maglite for several years, but always remembered that I wasn't that impressed with the light quality. I decided to give the LED a try and, I was really pleasantly surprised by its light quality. It is very bright (3W LED), and has a nice, tight beam that is pretty uniform in intensity. Also, its peripheral area is surprisingly bright and uniform. This allows you to project a bright beam at whatever you are focusing on, and also have plenty of light to see the periphery. The light is very white and really projects. Also, the 3 D cell is a very good size. Not too big to be cumbersome, but just right if you want to "speak softly and carry a big stick".
Great overall flashlight, but its weight and size will make it a burden for many uses, such as hiking, where you need to keep the weight low. It is also too bright for close in use, such as reading a map or looking for a tool in the garage. But unrivaled if you need a bright light where the size and weight of a club could come in handy. Also rare to find this kind of quality materials and workmanship now-a-days.