MAG-TAC 2-Cell CR123 LED Tactical Flashlight – High Lumen, Water-Resistant, QuickClick Modes Crowned Bezel – Black

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), yet small 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.

I carry two flashlights: a Maglite XL50 in a holster on my belt and this in my pocket. I carry the XL50 because it's small, similar form factor, uses AAA batteries and is just plain handy for almost everything. If the XL50 could use the same pocket clip, I'd LOVE to have one on my XL50. I've suggested this to Maglite on their website, though I doubt anything will come of it. I got the Mag-Tac to have a light with a momentary touch switch. It's also very bright and more useful at night at longer distances. The Mag-Tac is a LOT brighter than the XL50, but so much so that using it for "normal" stuff every day seems like overkill (that and the batteries are quite pricey). I don't much care for the use of CR123 batteries, but the trade-off is a LOT more light in about the same size package. XL50 is rated at 139 lumens while the Mag-Tac is rated at 310 lumens. I got the plain bezel because I didn't want the scalloped head ripping through my pants pocket over time since I usually carry the light with the pocket clip. I liked that there were several colors to choose from. Over time, I may get a couple more, but I suspect other things will pop up that seem more important. Overall, I've been pretty disappointed with Maglites since they've started using LEDs. I've carried a Xenon AA maglite for many years and loved it, and the new LED twist-to-select modes are maddeningly infuriating. I think I've given away all of my LED AA Maglites they annoyed me so much. Except for the battery life, I really don't like the LED 3D Mags either. Being able to take the cap off and illuminate a whole area was a great feature and one that I have sorely missed. The XL50 and now this Mag-Tac have restored much of my happiness with Maglite, though I've still got a bad taste in my mouth from their transition to LED. I also got one of these Storacell Powerpack for CR123 for throwing in the glovebox so I've got spare batteries that aren't just rolling around. www.amazon.com/Duracell-Batteries-Storacell-Powerpax-SlimLine/dp/B00CGLZLNM

Sort of the Anti Mini Maglite. I’ve owned several of the AAA versions of this tailcap switch unit. They are very good as well. The more powerful battery makes the light stronger and last longer. Pretty simple. Switch is easier to operate than the twist lightnwith one hand. It has a momentary switch on first press. That means it turns off when you release it. Hand it to someone who doesn’t understand it and they’re lost. I guess you can signal Morse Code or something equally dumb. Two clicks for high which is really bright. Three clicks low. That’s it. Click again and it’s off. No strobe, which the AAA version has. It’s a bit thicker than the AAA version. The plastic cap and lenses don’t fit. That’s a shame and the light will blind in low lighting. It needs a filter so your dogs can see after you use it. Reading something is pretty impossible even on low. It has a tactical vibe. The hand gernade texture is cool as are the olive drab colors. It’s a light that’s made for looking for something in the distance. It’s really good at that. For changing a tire a MiniMag is a better, broader light. It’s more common sense. The momentary may be useful to law enforcement. I have not grasped its function. The AAA logic is better w the strobe. All tailcap switches are easier to turn on in your pocket than the twist. It’s a great powerful small light to own.

Great flashlight. Small enough to fit in your pocket but bright enough to take care of business

This is a great CR123 flashlight from maglite. It gives my surefire a run for there money at this price point. There are a few issues with it though. It keeps magnlites signature focusing/diffusing adjustable lens, which is great. Its bright and simple to use. Good value. All that being said here are my issues: the finish is weak. Already its been scratched off in a few places from my bag and my pockets. Come on now! Its bigger than it looks. The clip is huge making the flashlight appear a little smaller in the picture than it is. Read the dimensions carefully. Also the clip sucks. It is by far the worst clip Ive ever used. After trying to put it on a second time, the tool broke inside the dumb little screw hole, stranding the plastic hex screw in there. Forcing me to break the thing off to get it out. What a stupid terrible crappy quality design. Use metal and make it smaller and less of an issue, like most other flashlight and even knife makers out there. Also I wish there was a dim mode. Thats a pretty huge oversight at this point. I understand simplicity, but it sucks to have a penlight too for close up work when this is in my load out. I wish the crowned bezel was more aggressive. If you're going to offer it in two flavors why not go a little more aggressive? They're very subdued and I'm not sure they are especially suited to self defense. Lastly the switch is easy to use, but i prefer pressure then clicky switches. For all intents in purposes this is a poor mans Surefire E2d. Worse finish, less refined, no low mode a little bulkier, crappy click a little less throw... Still a maglite solitaire was probably my first flashlight as a little kid, and its nice to see Maglite finally getting into the Cr123/tactical flashlight game with a respectable model that can fit in your pocket.

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.

I love Maglite flashlights, this one really kicks butt. I gave one to my wife to carry with her, it doubles as a defense device and could do a number on a perpetrators face if necessary. Very bright also!

I bought this light as a weapon light for a rifle. I am also somewhat of a flashlight geek, and I keep a few outstanding flashlights from over the years, meaning I have nice USA made flashlights and Chinese made flashlights (mostly Fenix). Now, I am fully aware that this MagTac seems to have lower specs than comparable Chinese lights. That's true. But, this light is still competitive for the following reasons: -It is definitely bright enough. Some lights are too bright, especially for weapon use. -It is well built and handles recoil well. Lesser lights fail in these situations. -the price ain't bad, even if you don't consider "Made in USA" -the switch logic of the black MagTac is good, no strobe! I still have never used strobe for any reason on any of my lights -CR123 batteries store well and have a long shelf life. Perfect for a rarely used, but critical light. I like throwing money at USA manufacturers whenever I can, and Maglite makes a good product worth the $$$$.