Grizzly22
Newly Enlightened
Long ago, about 10-14 years ago, I thought I was king of the block when I bought a 6D Maglite. I showed it off to everyone and they were impressed by it's size. Is it a baseball bat? No it's a flashlight! Incredibly bright, batteries lasted long enough, very reliable, and impossible to lose due to it's size. Bright enough to blind someone is what we all thought. At campsites, parties, or night outings no other flashlight compared to it, everyone loved it.
5 or so years later, it is still my baby. But I can't help to think there must be something better and brighter. This is the time when LED's were quickly taking over. I've read that they are brighter and make batteries last longer, never need replacing, a double plus I thought. Checking to see if there is any new Maglites they have made since than I noticed new LED Maglites. They were brighter and lasted longer, why shouldn't I get one? Than I read the reviews and they were AWFUL! LED doesn't work, the light quickly goes dim after a few seconds of turning it on. 1 out of the 3 LED's doesn't light up, etc. etc. Not to mention they were much more expensive than what I had paid for. Other cheap flashlight brands my friends had usually had the problem where at least 1 out of the 9 LED's doesn't work, if not more than half didn't work. I thought this new LED technology seemed like a joke. Why pay so much extra for something this is so faulty... So I stayed away from all of that, and kept my 6D Maglite as my baby some more.
Another few years or so passes by, and I decided to check up on the flashlight technology. LED's are everywhere! Decided to the check on Maglites again and noticed still the same body style and look it has. Read some reviews and have come across first-generation vs second generation LED Maglites, the first generation LED's is what I constantly heard troubles with years back, but nearly all the reviews are saying the second generation is flawless. Excellent reviews, but most say it's not near the brightest in the industry. I kept on hearing about comparisons to SureFire in the reviews and how they are much, much, much brighter while being at the size of Maglites 2x AA flashlight. I thought, how could something this small be so incredibly bright. Go over to SureFire's website to investigate and couldn't help but notice how insanely expensive everything was! $200 - $400 dollars for a flashlight?!? Who in the right mind would pay that? Specially designed batteries just for the flashlight were expensive too! Scratch SureFire off of my list, did not have the spending money for that. Mr. 6D Maglite is still my baby.
2012. It's that time where these LED flashlights have to be in my price range. A buddy tells me about Nebo Redline, it's $30 and very bright. He shows it off to me, I'm impressed, he says it is 250 lumens. I do many searching to see what else is brighter than 250 lumens and can't believe how highly rated a lot of these lights are. I read the reviews, compare prices, and what style I like. 500 lumen SureFire Fury, 1200 lumen Klarus XT20, 800 lumen Fenix TK-41 and 300 lumen Nebo Redline SE are the finalists I like. After a couple months of figuring out which flashlight I am going to buy, I finally decided to go with the Fenix TK-41 and couldn't be happier. It is very bright, 4 different light modes, and uses AA batteries. I love it! I have owned my TK41 for 3 days now and it is awesome! I find myself going outside at night for no reason and looking around for an excuse to shine it around. I told the wife I was going out to the garage but little does she know I was really out back playing with it like a kid, shining it around.
Can't believe the time has come, my 6D Maglite I have owned and used for so long, is finally being replaced as the brightest, best flashlight I have. All those memories we had, and now I'm starting a new chapter without it. Goodbye 6D Mag, you are no longer my primary light anymore...
OK vent over, hope I didn't bore you or run on with my little story.
5 or so years later, it is still my baby. But I can't help to think there must be something better and brighter. This is the time when LED's were quickly taking over. I've read that they are brighter and make batteries last longer, never need replacing, a double plus I thought. Checking to see if there is any new Maglites they have made since than I noticed new LED Maglites. They were brighter and lasted longer, why shouldn't I get one? Than I read the reviews and they were AWFUL! LED doesn't work, the light quickly goes dim after a few seconds of turning it on. 1 out of the 3 LED's doesn't light up, etc. etc. Not to mention they were much more expensive than what I had paid for. Other cheap flashlight brands my friends had usually had the problem where at least 1 out of the 9 LED's doesn't work, if not more than half didn't work. I thought this new LED technology seemed like a joke. Why pay so much extra for something this is so faulty... So I stayed away from all of that, and kept my 6D Maglite as my baby some more.
Another few years or so passes by, and I decided to check up on the flashlight technology. LED's are everywhere! Decided to the check on Maglites again and noticed still the same body style and look it has. Read some reviews and have come across first-generation vs second generation LED Maglites, the first generation LED's is what I constantly heard troubles with years back, but nearly all the reviews are saying the second generation is flawless. Excellent reviews, but most say it's not near the brightest in the industry. I kept on hearing about comparisons to SureFire in the reviews and how they are much, much, much brighter while being at the size of Maglites 2x AA flashlight. I thought, how could something this small be so incredibly bright. Go over to SureFire's website to investigate and couldn't help but notice how insanely expensive everything was! $200 - $400 dollars for a flashlight?!? Who in the right mind would pay that? Specially designed batteries just for the flashlight were expensive too! Scratch SureFire off of my list, did not have the spending money for that. Mr. 6D Maglite is still my baby.
2012. It's that time where these LED flashlights have to be in my price range. A buddy tells me about Nebo Redline, it's $30 and very bright. He shows it off to me, I'm impressed, he says it is 250 lumens. I do many searching to see what else is brighter than 250 lumens and can't believe how highly rated a lot of these lights are. I read the reviews, compare prices, and what style I like. 500 lumen SureFire Fury, 1200 lumen Klarus XT20, 800 lumen Fenix TK-41 and 300 lumen Nebo Redline SE are the finalists I like. After a couple months of figuring out which flashlight I am going to buy, I finally decided to go with the Fenix TK-41 and couldn't be happier. It is very bright, 4 different light modes, and uses AA batteries. I love it! I have owned my TK41 for 3 days now and it is awesome! I find myself going outside at night for no reason and looking around for an excuse to shine it around. I told the wife I was going out to the garage but little does she know I was really out back playing with it like a kid, shining it around.
Can't believe the time has come, my 6D Maglite I have owned and used for so long, is finally being replaced as the brightest, best flashlight I have. All those memories we had, and now I'm starting a new chapter without it. Goodbye 6D Mag, you are no longer my primary light anymore...
OK vent over, hope I didn't bore you or run on with my little story.
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