Rugged. Dependable. Heavy!

You can't deny it; Maglite makes an excellent product. When you purchase one, it will be at your side forever...that is, as long as you don't lose it, and remember to lug it out when you travel.

Four "D" cells power this beast; the on/off switch is near the head of this straight light. Covered in rubber material, the light turns on and off with each press, accompanied by a click...you won't have to wonder if you pressed the button or not. The switch is semi recessed into the body; there is no guard, but it is unlikely to turn it on by accident.

The beam can be focused from a 'flood' pattern to a 'spotlight' by twisting the head; don't twist too much, or the head will eventually come off, allowing the user to have the equivalent of a huge candle to light up an area.

The flashlight is water and weatherproof, and will keep shining on though abuse. However, no insulation and a metal body means that you may have to warm up your batteries in winter.

Maintenance is simple; twist the bottom cap off to change batteries, and twist the head off, then the bulb retainer, to change the bulb. "Krypton super bright" bulbs are available for the Maglite family.

While it performs admirably as a light, it is often carried by police or security personnel as a backup (or primary) baton. It can be considered an offensive weapon; some police departments forbid their officers from carrying more than a 3 "D" Cell Maglight.

The main problem with this product is the weight and size. It's not something you can put in your back pocket or behind the car seat and forget about. (It has an *extremely* annoying habit of rolling around in your trunk; wrap a blanket around it or strap it down with velcro.) If you buy a belt holder, you may find that your pants start to head towards your knees from the weight. If you're going to wear it on your belt, try to balance it out to save your spine.

Think of what you actually need in a light. Is it something that you'll have whenever you need it? This light isn't for you. Is it something you can hold in your teeth to help you change a flat tire on a cold night? Unless you have a huge mouth with super strong jaw and neck muscles, this isn't for you. Is it something you can keep around the house to change a dark room into bright light? Yes.

While it can be used as a general utility flashlight, it's a bit more specialized and may not suit your particular needs.