Product Review:

MAGLITE S4D016 Heavy-Duty 4-D Cell Flashlight, Black 

In the world of flashlights, few names are as well known as Mag-Lite. Mag-Lite is a brand of flashlight created and manufactured by Mag Instrument, a company founded in 1955 in a Los Angeles garage belonging to Anthony Maglica. With an initial investment of $125, some machining skills, and some perseverance, he fashioned what came to be called the Mag-Lite, the world's first flashlight with dependable reliability, durability, and a lifetime warranty. 

That tradition continues today. In fact, all Mag-Lite instruments are still manufactured in Ontario, California, USA, and held to the highest standards of design and functionality. The heavy duty 4-D cell flashlight I'm reviewing here is no different. Upon initial inspection, you will find one really solid piece of kit in your hands. This flashlight is probably best left in a vehicle or at home due to its size and weight - definitely not one you'd want to lug around in a backpack all the time. On the other hand, the intense beam of light supplied by the standard krypton bulb puts out enough light power to brighten up a whole room in your whole house, and will easily blind an unsuspecting intruder. 

The flashlight features the standard appearance that Mag-Lite is known for as well as the standard click switch located on the barrel. It is weather resistant rubber, to keep the internal switch dry. It feels solid and like it can last for thousands of clicks with no problems. The barrel is all aluminum alloy and is incredibly tough. It goes without saying that in some situations, this would make a pretty good weapon if nothing else was handy. Other standard features include the rotating head to produce a wide flood beam, or a tight focused spot beam, an extra bulb in the tail cap, and easy to disassemble parts in case of a repair or upgrade.

For the price, you will be hard pressed to find another flashlight with the build quality, warranty, and performance to match this Mag-Lite. If this size is too large or small for you, there is a full line available that range all the way from key chain lights to a 6-D cell (!) version that is nearly the size of a baseball bat. I find the 4-D cell version to be a happy compromise between weight, size, and performance, and for just over $20 at most big box stores (or use the link above to order online) it is one heck of a value. This flashlight should be a part of everyone's home preparedness kit or vehicle emergency box. 

Highly Recommended

-CT