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Product Description
I'm am very happy to report on the next generation of the 2 AA Mini Maglite LED flashlight. Mine is gray, model #SP2209HJ. Where the older style of the Mini Maglite LED has a larger head than the incandescent version and no hole on the tail cap to attach a lanyard, with the next generation Mini Maglite LED, we see the return of the smaller head so the rubber rim for the face cap fits as well as the lenses of the accessories pack. The hole to attach a lanyard is back in the tail cap. It measures 1/2" longer than the incandescent version. The holster still doesn't have the Velcro flap and is a tighter fit than my Velcro-flapped holster, but then, that applies to the current incandescent Mini Maglite's holster, too. I guess Mag changed the design to save on production costs. Although the corona isn't quite as bright or quite as white as the 80 lumens Duracell Daylite 2 AA LED flashlight that I bought at Walmart for $5 more at the same time, the hotspot is brighter and the overall diameter of the beam is broader than the Daylite's. I like the Mini Maglite LED much better, not only because the beam is broader, but also because it weighs less, is narrower and shorter, and doesn't have a push-button on the tail cap. I'm VERY pleased with the Mini Maglite LED because it has settings for 100% power, 25% power, blink, and SOS that is definitely good for signaling for help whether by a lost hiker or a survivor of a natural disaster or other emergency situation. Just twist as usual to turn on, then twist off & on again to sequence to the other modes. What that does to those who prefer one of the tail cap push button modifications, I don't know. I prefer to twist it and can do it easily with one hand. At the 25% power level, designed for reading at night or saving the batteries during prolonged emergency use, instead of lasting for hours of continuous use as on the 100% setting, the package says that fresh batteries will last for days. I haven't tried to run down a pair of batteries through it to see how long they'll last, but it makes sense because any of the brighter LED flashlights go through batteries faster than those producing fewer lumens. All in all, I think Mag did this version of the Mini Maglite LED right and hope they do as well when they upgrade the Solitaire to LED. [Updated on 8/31/09 - I tested the battery life with a pair of fresh alkaline batteries at 100% power and a second pair of fresh alkaline batteries at 25% power. Continuously on at 100% power, it dimmed and started flickering at 116 hours (4 days, 20 hours) until it went out at 117 hours. Continuously on at 25% power, it started flickering at 192 hours (8 days) and went out sometime during the next 6.5 hours while I was asleep.]
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