Maglite Mag-Tac LED 2-Cell CR123 Flashlight - Crowned-Bezel, Matte Black

People think I am joking when I say if you don't know what to get your husband or father for a birthday/Christmas then get him this flashlight. (to be honest any MagLite is a great gift but this one is special!)The power of the light is phenomenal, 320 lumens has such a bright and effective range it is hard to believe so much light comes from such a small thing.It is approximately 5 inchs long, uses LED, and has a great rugged anodized build which comes in black, grey, red and possibly other colors. I have 2 of these (I just seriously think they are brilliant) a grey and a black and could not say which I prefer.I also like the on off switch being on the base, which for me is just a great natural place and so good design.We have also given these as gifts to both my wife's and my father who were equally as happy with them as I was (much to my wife's surprise). I think it is hard for someone to be displeased with a product that excels and surprises.Admittedly this is on the expensive side for a flashlight and for a Maglite, but don't be fooled by thinking it is like every other flashlight as it just is not.One thing to note - it is so very bright that for close up lighting (say if you wanted to look at a splinter in your finger) it is so bright it almost makes it hard to see, so you have to point it slightly to one side so to reduce the amount of direct light be shone on the thing you are looking at. Interesting situation to have, and not a normal one, but one I thought I would mention. For every other type of daily use or for when you just want a super bright flashlight, it is perfect.

This is exactly what you'd expect. Its a solid little flashlight, great for one handed use while holding a pistol in the other, as in a home defense scenario. Its not weirdly bright with 8000 lumens or whatever but its definitely blindingly bright if shined in the eyes, and will illuminate an entire room quite adequately. This is a mostly US made item from a quality US company at a relatively affordable price. Similarly specced flashlights made in the US are quite a bit more expensive, though I dont have enough experience with surefire and the like to know if theyre worth the high price they command.The light is intuitive to use and ergonomic to hold. Comes with a kind of cheap plastic pants clip but it does what its intended to do, and is sturdy. It just seems cheap because its plastic but that's just an antiquated notion of quality, half the time modern polymers are just as if not more durable than metal, while simultaneously saving weight (just look at what glock did with polymer framed handguns).Bottom line, this is a great purchase.

POSITIVES:Great tactical light. Bright, is easy to use, and has the 3 essential functions:1) Click once for momentary on, useful for signalling (e.g. SOS) or for quickly identifying an intruder without giving away your position,2) Click twice for full power (320 lumens!), which can see things 200 yards away or blind an attacker,3) Click three times for a strobe light (also 320 lumens!) that can blind and disorient an attacker.It's also a perfect size and weight for a tactical light, IMHO.Big enough to use as a striking weapon for self-defense (and the crowned bezel can help with this), yetsmall enough to clip to a pocket or belt and not feel weighed down, or even kept in your pocket. I suggest using the included clip to secure it in place inside a a pocket, with the rear of the flashlight peeking out of the pocket so it's easy to grasp.The crowned bezel can be used as a striking weapon for self-defense, or as a glass-breaking tool (in case you're trapped inside a sinking car). A fringe benefit of the crowned bezel is that if you accidentally leave it on and place it face-down, enough light will leak out that you'll realize you left it turned on.NEGATIVES:Only 2 minor shortcomings:1) Uses two CR123 batteries, which are more expensive and harder to find than AA or AAA batteries (so I suggest keeping a couple spare batteries). However, the advantage to CR123 batteries is that they're more powerful than AA batteries (higher voltage), which gives you a brighter light 320 lumens!)2) The head of the Mag-Tac is 1.05" rather than 1", so it doesn't fit the same 1"-head accessories as the Maglite Mini-Mag AA, Maglite XL50, Maglite XL100, Maglite XL200, or other 1" accessories (such as traffic wands, colored lens filters, and anti-roll devices).However, the tail end is still 1", so you can put a 1" anti-roll device on the tail-end and it'll fit fine.You can also order traffic wands for the Mag-Tac from Maglite, but at $8 each it would be better if it could share the same traffic wands as all the 1"-head Maglites.