Maglite are coming out with new LED!!!

[Buzz]

Certain Mag models have specialized purposes as you all know.

I own about fifty lights but regardless of price; no other light can beat a 5 cell C maglite as a handheld blunt defensive weapon (civilian baton ownership illegal in California but can carry a Cuda Maxx 5.5 folder; Huh! ). I own a Tigerlight/Fox Pepper Spray model and a Surefire E2D Defender Lumens Factory 150 lumen (nice light). Both are way brighter but neither can match the brute pain that the 5C Mag can inflict upon the fool who's intent is to harm me. Even my 6 Cell D Mag is too big to use effectively in a defensive senario.

I too am waiting for improved performance of replacement drop ins.

Current Mag setup: 5c Maglite with a Terralux LED module and 5000mah NIMHs. Cost $55 minus the NIMHs.

My pocketlite is Fenix P1D Q5 and I am currently waiting for my Dereelight 2 stage Q5 to arrive. But, my love as always been for the cheap, simple, yet effective Maglite!

Great to be back on CPF; old user name SuRgE!:wave:

 

[NA8]

Good stuff. I love my 4C with malkoff. Hope Gene makes some more so I can send some to my cousins.

 

[Gladius01]

Good stuff. I love my 4C with malkoff. Hope Gene makes some more so I can send some to my cousins.

Yes, I still waiting for the same things, Genee e-mail me and said there is some more to come, but it is always sold out. It is nice easy mod and give out about 240 lumens which is enough.

 

[Thorin_2]

I may fit the persona you just described, who purchases a Maglite based on brand name recognition only; however after reading up on this forum and getting a much better understanding of LED types, lumens, lux, flood, spill, etc. I still would argue that Mags are really solid flashlights.

Last night, based on recommendations on this forum I picked up the new taskforce 150 lumens rated 3 watt LED at Lowes. I took it home and compared it to the Mag 2D 3 watt LED I bought two nights prior. To be honest, the Taskforce left me disappointed. Yes, it was a bit brighter (but not nearly as much as I expected for 150 Lumens!), however the light had a greenish hue, vs. Mag's almost pure white. Also Mag's flood seem larger than that of the Taskforce flashlight, especially at a distance (50 feet or more)

Finally, I LOVE the solidness of the Mag. It doubles as a baton and could knock someone silly whereas the Taskforce (and most other small lights), while light weight, cannot serve as a weapon (other than blinding your attacker momentarily). The difference in quality of the Mag vs. the Taskforce when disassembled is also enormous. There is no comparison to the US made Mag vs. the made-in-China Taskforce!

I realize that there are many more brands touted here that are superior to the Taskforce; however most start at $50 or more, while the Mag is only $35. I'm trying to compare lights in the ~$50 range. Most people wouldn't think of paying more, unless the needed it for their job (which I don't).

So, please don't knock Mags just because they don't use the latest LEDs. They are solid flashlights, well-built, can focus, are comfortable to hold/grip, and IMO, are a great value for $35 for ~90 lumens. That being said, I can't wait to they come out with the next gen version with the new LED. I'll be the first in line to buy it.

Thor

 

[Robocop]

Thor I really do believe most of us will agree that Mag makes ann overall decent light and yes they are very tough for the price. I believe that many of us here are simply frustrated with Mag as they have the financial ability to offer a very much improved light yet they still seem to be always behind others as far as new and improved goes.

Most of us also know much more than the average customer and almost all of us quickly picked up on the lack of heat sinking with the Mag Luxeons. Once again most of us seem to be comparing Mag to other makers and honestly they are dissapointing when compared to many others. This of course in in the eyes of many who have been spoiled by whiter and brighter offerings from many other sources the average customer knows nothing about.

So for the average customer the new Mag may be perfect however for those of us that know more about lighting they are simply average at best. I like my Mag lights and yes agree that they work every time I need them however I rarely use them. I really am cheering for Mag as I know they have the money to compete and to offer almost anything they wish to do so however I do not believe they will cater to those of us who are spoiled. I believe they will focus on the average consumer as it is that part of their customer base that generates most of their sales.

Sure if Mag offered a Cree Solitaire most of us would rush out and buy it if it had proper heatsinking, reflector and so on however the price increase would turn away all others. Yes I would be happy as well as many others here however honestly Mag would lose out. I truly believe they have done so well with cheaper lights that they are doomed to always sale in a certain price range.....everyone knows Mags and that they perform well for the cost. The competition of the higher priced Luxeons did not do well at all when placed beside the cheaper incandescents at stores.

So again I believe many of us do not knock Mag because they are junk but more because they do not cater to what most of us consider to be a good Luxeon light.

 

[Blue72]

I really do not think MAGLITE is going to make the same bad business decision TWICE. Especially considering the short product life cycle of the current Mag LED. I think Mag realizes their mistake, thus for the reason for new lights to be released in the near future.

 

[Mountain Man]

anyone remember the mag-num star xenon bulb that had the glass blob on the end so you could see the shape of the filament on anything you pointed the light at? the most annoying thing ever. you had this big wide squiggily hotspot. total junk.

I have one New in Package. Make you a great deal on it :laughing:

 

[Bror Jace]

Fallingwater: "We're talking about Mag here, the Harley-Davidson of the flashlight world."

That's a terrific analogy ... but I'm surprised people here didn't jump all over you for maligning Harly-Davidson like that.

clg0159: "I hope we are all wrong though. Wouldn't it be nice for Mag to do something revolutionary and completely revamp the entire light? They haven't always been so behind the times. Oh well, maybe it's wishful thinking, but I think everyone that says anything bad about the Mag is secretly wishing for the same thing."

Yes. A lot of us are having fun in this thread at Mag's expense. But, with all good humor, there's usually at least a bit of truth to it because Mag has been the non-innovator manufacturer for the past 15-20 years. They deserve a good chunk of the bashing they get.

I'll go out on a limb and say after their first attempt at a new line of LED flashlights (which were essentially 'phoned in') they have learned from the past and they'll come out with a real solid performer next time ... at least 'solid performer' by mass-market standards. I can't see them being upstaged by Ray-O-Vac for too long. Like dd61999, I think they've learned something and will want to be around for decades to come. On the course they have been tracking for the last 5-10 years, that doesn't seem to be the case. At least some people inside the company must know this.

Mag already has the high-economy-segment of the flashlight market covered with their current incans and maybe even 1st generation LEDs (although I'd suspect the latter will probably be cancelled fairly soon). Why not put out an impressive light that looks good when compared to all other lights in the mass market? They must notice all the new brands ... even Target, Walmart and sporting goods stores carry some fairly decent lights. This new Mag won't be a light that keeps the employees of Surefire up at night... but I'd expect it to have solid construction, proper heat-sinking, perhaps proper regulation circuitry and use an emitter that's only been out for a year or less.

Oh, and they should make it modular so new emitters can be swapped in easily as they become available ... either by them at the factory or by users that can buy upgrades to their lights for years to come.

 

[LG&M]

Thor I really do believe most of us will agree that Mag makes ann overall decent light and yes they are very tough for the price. I believe that many of us here are simply frustrated with Mag as they have the financial ability to offer a very much improved light yet they still seem to be always behind others as far as new and improved goes.

Most of us also know much more than the average customer and almost all of us quickly picked up on the lack of heat sinking with the Mag Luxeons. Once again most of us seem to be comparing Mag to other makers and honestly they are dissapointing when compared to many others. This of course in in the eyes of many who have been spoiled by whiter and brighter offerings from many other sources the average customer knows nothing about.

So for the average customer the new Mag may be perfect however for those of us that know more about lighting they are simply average at best. I like my Mag lights and yes agree that they work every time I need them however I rarely use them. I really am cheering for Mag as I know they have the money to compete and to offer almost anything they wish to do so however I do not believe they will cater to those of us who are spoiled. I believe they will focus on the average consumer as it is that part of their customer base that generates most of their sales.

Sure if Mag offered a Cree Solitaire most of us would rush out and buy it if it had proper heatsinking, reflector and so on however the price increase would turn away all others. Yes I would be happy as well as many others here however honestly Mag would lose out. I truly believe they have done so well with cheaper lights that they are doomed to always sale in a certain price range.....everyone knows Mags and that they perform well for the cost. The competition of the higher priced Luxeons did not do well at all when placed beside the cheaper incandescents at stores.

So again I believe many of us do not knock Mag because they are junk but more because they do not cater to what most of us consider to be a good Luxeon light.

What he said.

 

[BentHeadTX]

I like Mag for the following reasons

1. They make a great SWITCH! Surefire can't... how many problems with lights have to do with the switch?

2. They use normal batteries and don't require an internet connection or $11 at Wal-Mart to buy replacements

3. They don't require CR123A batteries for the WOW factor... it is the batteries, not the light giving you the punch.

4. You can beat the hell out of them and they work. Blow the bulb and there is a spare in the tail. When the fit hits the shan, who cares about anything but does it work?

5. People won't generally steal them so my $250 Quad Cree XRE Q5, Fraen FRC, MaxFlex, HA-III, black strike bezeled bored 8AA beast generally won't walk away. Hammer somebody with 800 lumens and the stealth nature of the Mag gains teeth. There is a reason so many parts are made for the Mag.

6. The stock head can handle 10 watts of heat! Modders love that the light can take some heat and still work.

7. If the 800 lumens don't work, beating the living hell out of you with a strike bezel equipped Mag will work. Better to by tried by 12 then carried by 6.

8. A 800 lumen multi-Cree Mag will give the satisfaction and grin as putting a 383 V-8 in a Kia... sometimes it is great to have a sleeper that you built with your own hands.

A stock Mag is about as much fun as a go cart with the limiter installed.

 

[ampdude]

I get around quite a bit and have collected Mags for a while. I've noticed over th past 6 months that Mag is not supplying ANY of their retailers (from Target, Wal-Mart, Sporting goods, ACE and True Value, just a few) with anywhere near complete restocking of their products. Just check it out in the flashlight retailers in your neck of the woods and you'll find it shocking...nothing but a few D cell and 3 watt AA models. Go figure.

I've noticed the same thing at the above mentioned stores and others!

 

[BigusLightus]

ampdude,
Ditto! Wally no longer carries ANY replacement lamps for any Mag product.

 

[LEDAdd1ct]

I had a similar experience to another poster in this thread. I was at a Target a couple towns over from me, and was, as usual, spending the obligatory ten minutes in the flashlight aisle. I have to see what new offerings do/do not exist. Anyway, these two teens, a couple of guys, were looking through the lights for a camping trip or glovebox light, probably both. I saw one of them pick up a Mini-Mag. I tried *really* hard not to say anything, and then thought, "Hey, I'm doing them a favor!" So I went over, and pointed out some brighter lights by River Rock. They looked sort of skeptical, because of the reputation Mag has. I really wish I had my Malkoff 3-D with me, to show them what a *real* light looks like.

I agree with what was said before: a Mag makes a terrific host. But will we see something with a Cree or SSC? I don't know, and I am not holding my breath. Between Wolf-Eyes and Malkoff dropins for Surefire (and many others) I have no need to buy another Mag, unless something *really* neat comes out.

 

[Genxsis]

If they want to do things right (be the leader in the FL world like they claim to be), wouldn't it make sense for them to just go ahead and use the latest technology? Either a Cree or Rebel as the emitter would do that!

 

[Daekar]

If they want to do things right (be the leader in the FL world like they claim to be), wouldn't it make sense for them to just go ahead and use the latest technology? Either a Cree or Rebel as the emitter would do that!

Yes, it would, but no it wouldn't make sense for them because of the price increase that would be necessary for them to implement it. Any LED technology they implement will be hamstrung by the impossible heatsinking situation present in the current configuration - so to drive a Cree or SSC to the point where their advantages are realized would require extensive redesign and retooling. And then there's the reflectors... Rebel emitters are cheaper, have a Luxeon-like emission pattern, and have better tinting (or so I understand), plus they're smaller so they could make better use of the mag reflector (better focus from a given reflector the closer to a point-source your emitter is). If I were Mag I'd see about using a Rebel driven at the point where heatsinking isn't really an issue - either that or change the design of the bulb-holder so it offered some thermal relief and drive it a little harder. There will always the limitation of alkalines to reign their designs in as well... but I think the ever-present bottom-line will be a big factor.

 

[extas]

This thread is getting old.. but here is a rumor from the investorvillage.com stock board for CREE:

http://www.investorvillage.com/smbd.asp?mb=2375&mn=334&pt=msg&mid=3369134

"The Cree booth was set up at the back of the auditorium. It showcased several street lights and down lights plus a handful of flashlights. I think the Maglite was a recent design win since the Maglites I've seen in stores use Luxeons. Cree did not show any non-lighting products."

So Mag may be coming out with a Cree based light..

-ex

 

[PhantomPhoton]

If mag does a complete redesign of their head for good heat sinking, a Cree would be fabulous. If its another un-heat sinked drop in, it's still pretty useless. Especially to CPFers who want to drive a cree(s) at 1.5+ amps.

C'mon Mag... you can do it!

 

[daveman]

I guess I'm the only guy who does NOT want to see a 120+ lumen stock Mag in Target. I like to keep masses ignorant, and myself privileged with my Cree lights.

 

[2000xlt]

One can only hope that Mag completely re-designs their host to provide adequate heatsinking for a high power LED driven at actual high power.
As for which LED, I wouldn't be surprised to see a K2 in there. It is unfortunately the reputation that Mag has earned in my mind. I hope I'm wrong though and we see GenX from LumiLeds.
Another think to point out is "next year is quite vague. Thats 12 months worth of time. And I'd bet Mag will purposefully hold off till either Late spring for prime outdoors time, or even holiday season 2008.
(Personally I think they'll wait till 2008 holiday season just to **** off CPF as they seem to try and do everything possible to that effect.)

I agree adequate heatsinking would be a good idea, I am sure that the folks at M@G are aware of this too, but whether it will be done or not is anybodys guess,

 

[Phaetos]

I'm wondering about this information. Those Mag 3W LED's that Wal-Mart has had on clearance for months, are now back at full price in my area. Yep. They totally sold out of all "clearance" items, then suddenly got 9 more back in stock at an "active price" of $34 !!!!!