Any love for the Mini Maglight?

[LatinoHeat]

Hey guys. I was just wondering. With all the high performance, LED, strobe, different setting lights out there (Surefire, Fenix, etc), does anyone still EDC a simple, old fashioned Mini Mag? I have handled those other lights, even used a few in my time, but I keep coming back to the Mini Mag. Simple, old school, and just works. I know their incandescent light bulbs are no longer ideal, the focused beam annoys some (big black spot in the middle), and the occassional leakage of the battery is a point of contention. However, call me old fashioned, but I still carry one day in and day out. Perhaps I am a creature of habit, or perhaps I am old school, but the humble little mini mag works for me. Easily recognizeable, tough as nails, water resistant (I found one while snorkeling one day, under water. Don't know how long it had been there, but when I turned it on, it worked!!)and affordable. I guess I'm just not a light nut. I've used mine camping, in the city, during black outs, and it does what it's supposed to. Light my way. Anyway, I recognize that there are much "better" lights out there (although better is a relative term) and that technology has come a long way, but does anyone other then me still love the humble mini maglight?

[american lockpicker]

I carry a black Minimaglite sometimes. Mines one of the Made in USA ones. I carry it in one of those Maglite sheaths with the flap(which almost cost as much as the light.)

[Leatherman123]

The velcro ones? I have one of those too!

[american lockpicker]

The velcro ones? I have one of those too!

Its so much better than the regular one ain't it?

[prime77]

Mines one of the Made in USA ones.

Aren't all maglites made in the USA?
The only time I use a minimag is with a LED drop in added to it.

[Leatherman123]

Yeah ALP, those sheaths are superb!

[american lockpicker]

Mines one of the Made in USA ones.

Aren't all maglites made in the USA?
The only time I use a minimag is with a LED drop in added to it.

The new ones say "a USA manufacturer" and the old ones said "made in USA" one the package. Mines on of the old ones. There all still manufactured in the USA but they might be moving production to Crotia.

[prime77]

The new ones say "a USA manufacturer" and the old ones said "made in USA" one the package. Mines on of the old ones. There all still manufactured in the USA but they might be moving production to Crotia.

Wow, Didn't know that. Thanks AmLp

[american lockpicker]

Heres more info on it.

http://www.croatiantimes.com/index.php?id=3074

I don't like it but its better than moving to China.

[Anthony]

The mini mag is a mainstay light for me...I'll always have one or more handy.  One in my glovebox, one in my EDC bag, one on my desk, one on my nightstand, one in the kitchen drawer..and in the winter months a minimag on my belt.

I love Mags of all sizes because I'm comfortable putting them on cement/gravel, banging them around under car hoods, in mud, dirt, sand.  Sure sand gets in the works, but every moving part of a mag can be dissasembled and ran under water

[prime77]

I have been spoiled by the output of new LEDs and the output of the original minimag just doesn't cut it for me. I have been pleasantly pleased with the output of the Terra-Lux K2 TFFC. It has a really nice warm tint as well. Just can't go back to the incan minimag.

[ringzero]

Hey guys. I was just wondering. With all the high performance, LED, strobe, different setting lights out there (Surefire, Fenix, etc), does anyone still EDC a simple, old fashioned Mini Mag?

For years I EDCed a 2AA MiniMag in my briefcase and a Mag Solitaire on my keychain.

Since decent LED lights became available, I no longer EDC incandescent lights.

For a while I EDCed a couple of old 2AA MiniMags fitted with new NiteIze 3LED dropins (which are actually quite decent.)

Nowdays those old MiniMags with LED dropins see occasional use around the house, but mostly just sit and wait for a power outage.

I kept one old 2AA MiniMag stock (incan bulb) because it has sentimental value from a long history of backpacking, camping, and canoe trips.

.

[jzmtl]

The problem with LED drop ins are they are so expensive comparing with the price of a minimag, by the time I buy both I might as well buy a better light to begin with, or get magled for cheaper.

[prime77]

The problem with LED drop ins are they are so expensive comparing with the price of a minimag, by the time I buy both I might as well buy a better light to begin with, or get magled for cheaper.

Good point

[ringzero]

The problem with LED drop ins are they are so expensive comparing with the price of a minimag, by the time I buy both I might as well buy a better light to begin with, or get magled for cheaper.

Yeah, that's basically true.  But, if you've got an old incan 2AA MiniMag just sitting around gathering dust...

Then the NiteIze 3LED dropin for 5 to 7 bucks is actually a good deal.  Transforms the old MiniMag into a very nice little tasklight with fairly long runtime.  Will even run on used batteries already depleted by other devices.

The more expensive dropins don't make much sense when you can get a brand new 2AA MiniMag RebelLED with High, Low, Strobe, and SOS for 21 bucks and change.

.

[american lockpicker]

The problem with LED drop ins are they are so expensive comparing with the price of a minimag, by the time I buy both I might as well buy a better light to begin with, or get magled for cheaper.

Its usually cheaper to get a MinimagLED than a new Minimaglite and an LED upgrade.

[Benner]

I have one but have never carried it.  Way too many superior options available for decent money IMO.

[Gareth]

I have one but have never carried it.  Way too many superior options available for decent money IMO.

I have a AA Mini-maglite with a TerraLux upgrade and it's a great bit of kit (140 lumens  ).  As has been said here I wouldn't bother buying both a mag and then a upgrade, but if you've got the mag to start with the upgrade makes a lot of sense. 

All that said the one I carried for years was the AAA Mini-maglite.  I found it in the back of a drawer not that long ago and can't believe I survived on this thin little torch.  But survive I did, and I remember being impressed with just how bright it was when I first got it.  That's one I'll be keeping just the way it is.

[Benner]

I have looked into upgrades, but they can be quite pricey. 

Can you bring yours to the meet so I can have a look? 

[Gareth]

I have looked into upgrades, but they can be quite pricey. 

Can you bring yours to the meet so I can have a look? 

No problem.

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

I have one but have never carried it.  Way too many superior options available for decent money IMO.

I have a AA Mini-maglite with a TerraLux upgrade and it's a great bit of kit (140 lumens  ).  As has been said here I wouldn't bother buying both a mag and then a upgrade, but if you've got the mag to start with the upgrade makes a lot of sense. 

All that said the one I carried for years was the AAA Mini-maglite.  I found it in the back of a drawer not that long ago and can't believe I survived on this thin little torch.  But survive I did, and I remember being impressed with just how bright it was when I first got it.  That's one I'll be keeping just the way it is.

What the battery consumption like mate

[Gareth]

I've never timed it but it seems reasonable (hours rather than minutes).  I remember reading up on them and thinking the run time sounded good but I can't remember what it might be.


PS I'm seeing it being quoted as 3-4 hours.  4 hours might be a stretch in my experience but not outside the realms of possibility.

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

I've never timed it but it seems reasonable (hours rather than minutes).  I remember reading up on them and thinking the run time sounded good but I can't remember what it might be.

Hours that's not too bad seeing as the Fenix torches with similar power is usually measured in minutes

[Benner]

Look here http://www.flashlightreviews.com/reviews_index/reviews_index_ledbulbs.htm

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Look here http://www.flashlightreviews.com/reviews_index/reviews_index_ledbulbs.htm

Do I look like a Jamie to you

[Black Rose]

I have 3 Minimags with drop-ins as well as 2xAA and 3xAA MagLEDs.

The one with the 3-LED is on my night stand with a Nite-Ize IQ Switch, so I can find it in the middle of the night 
The other two have the regular Nite-Ize drop-in. 

None of my Minimags really see much action though.

[Benner]

Yes.  

Has the terralux upgrades and their run times on there.

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Yes.  

Has the terralux upgrades and their run times on there.

The run time really isn't bad is it

[Benner]

I still want to do this http://www.flashlightreviews.com/reviews/auroralite_hotwire.htm 

[american lockpicker]

I still want to do this http://www.flashlightreviews.com/reviews/auroralite_hotwire.htm 

I do too.