My new EDC...the McGizmo Mule!

[RIDE]

My flashlight inventory has gone way down over the years (out of necessity not choice)....but what I do have now, has been chosen carefully and for good reason I think. And if I want something new...I have to decide if whatever it is, will be a better fit than what I currently have. If so, then I sell off one, and replace it with another.

Part of my current collection was a killer Delghi Iris titanium light that I loved very much. But it lacked a clip, and for that reason, I found myself not carrying it. Rule #1 for me...is that anything I buy (light, knife, etc.) MUST be something that I will carry. The Delghi was also of a higher output, and did not do anything that my prized possesion (SPY Tri-V) could not do just as well.

I began to notice that I also lacked a McGizmo (used to own a couple a few years back), and had been craving one for a while. In fact, I almost pulled the trigger on a McGizmo Makai before the Iris caught my eye. But the Makai did not appear to be the ideal pocket carry choice, and while I still lust for one, I kept going back to the thread about the Mule.

IMHO...the Mule is everything a McGizmo light was meant to be. It may be THE light that represents what Don does better than any other (at least to me). It's useful....the size is ideal for pocket carry, and the clip is solid and well designed (great looking too).

The beam in this latest High CRI LE version with Nichia 119 LED is simply amazing. 3 speed engine (85/20/4)...and I swear the max output is higher than the 85 listed. That speaks to the quality of the beam. This is a light meant for flood, not spot....and it does what it was designed to do as well as anything I've seen.

And let's not forget about it's looks...I mean I'd be lying if that did not factor in to things. The Mule is classic McGizmo, with the high quality of machining and design that we have all come to know and expect from Don. Simply put...it's gorgeous. 🙂

Enough talk...here are a few pics. 🙂

RIDE

 

[S1LVA]

Beautiful pics! I have a 6V Mule and 2x123 McClicky Pak.

These ligts are sooooo useful and way under rated.

 

[run4jc]

Nicely said, sir - and I agree. My collection has reduced in size (still embarrassingly large) and value, but the McGizmos remain the core of the collection. My Ti High CRI mule is a 'must keep' - for all the reasons you state, plus the fact that it is a PERFECT photography light for me! Congrats on your acquisition - you are going to love this one for a very long time!

(Now, when Don drops an XML into one of these.....:devil🙂

 

[run4jc]

Double post - sorry.

 

[Bass]

I agree with you - the Mule is one great looking light. A classic, for sure.

I agree with everything in your post but I think what Don does best is match LED's to reflectors. Mute point with a mule though :laughing:

 

[chef4850]

+100% - I have been carring one for a few months now and can not put it down. Such a usefull light and as stated looks great to!

right now I have been EDC'ing a 6V XM-L Mule and it is supurb to say the least!

Chef

 

[blackbalsam]

Add another satisfied customer here as this light would be in my top few as must keep and carry. I am also a big fan of mule lights in general especially Don's Mules.

 

[fyrstormer]

I too am happy with my Ti Mule. I originally bought a SunDrop, but I didn't like the beam artifacts caused by running multiple emitter dies through a convex lense, so I swapped out the SunDrop LE for an ultraviolet LE. When I found out there was (finally!) a Ti Mule available, I bought an empty one post-haste and put my Sundrop LE into it. Works like a charm. Gotta love the Aleph system's flexibility.

 

[chef4850]

I have a question hopefully Don can chime in.

I have a 6V XM-L mule 2x123. I am wondering how long it can run on high without damaging the led? I do not run any of my lights on high for very long but was wondering if I needed to how long could I?

Thanks for any help guys!

Chef

 

[McGizmo]

chef4850,

You have a particular mule that is not owned by others at this point considering it has a XM-L LED and that the drive level on high is ~1400 mA. I don't have specific data or answers for you but do feel a rule of thumb can effectively apply. That rule being that if your thumb can comfortably be in contact with the mule head then the LED is not in danger of being damaged. The LED can handle heat well above our comfort level and even given the thermal resistance between it and the surface of the flashlight, if you can handle the mule the LED can handle the heat.

I would like to point out that 1400 mA is a higher drive level than I have been subjecting the other LEDs to in my lights but the XM-L is not near its max drive current at this level. Further the efficacy of the XM-L is greater than the other LED's and this means that it is generating more light and less heat than the other LED's. Relatively speaking, the XM-L is brighter and cooler.

 

[chef4850]

Thanks Don,

I never let the mule (or any light for that matter) heat up. I was kind of figuring that it would be based on the heat generated and the light heating up. Just wanted to make sure. Thanks brother!

Chef

 

[JWRitchie76]

Just received my new high CRI Ti Mule in a trade I did with Dan (run4jc). It is a completely functional tool that is also a beautiful contemporary work of art! Can't wait for dark fall so I can go outside and have some fun. It's already been said a million times but Don really creates an amazing flashlight!

 

[nbp]

Assembled my Mule XM-L today. Two words: freakin' awesome! There is something unusually cool about this light that I can't explain yet. The total lack of any kind of beam, and the absolutely perfect, artifact free flood of light gushing out the front is rad. It just bleeds light. So neat, I've never had a light quite like this. And it's the only Cree based light I've ever had with no rings in the beam. :rock: Well done Don! I could definitely see getting more of these in different flavors. I'm eager to pair it up with the Haiku tomorrow and see how it does in real use. That's right, I'm rockin two McGs tomorrow. Too bad no one I know will care. :hahaha: