Customer Reviews

MAGLITE M2A016 AA Mini Flashlight, Black

5 star:		(60)
4 star:		(23)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(17)

 

 

The construction and quality is what you'd expect from a Maglite with a solid and durable aluminum body and rubber gaskets inside to keep out dirt and water. The grip is also nicely textured to keep the flashlight from slipping out of your hand.

Light output is excellent with a bright, white beam and good throw distance. The reflector has been redesigned from the 2AA incandescent model and eliminates the infamous Maglite "hole" (a dark spot in the middle of the beam) when the flashlight is on full flood. Adjusting to spot isn't a dramatic difference, but it definitely puts more light in the center of the beam which can be useful in certain situations.

Batteries last a long, long time, and unlike the older incandescent model, the light output doesn't decrease to unusable levels long before the batteries are dead but rather stays clear and bright until the batteries are exhausted. The LED is also considerably more durable than an incandescent bulb, and my LED Maglite has survived knocks and drops that would have required a bulb replacement in my old incan model. And while the LED version is about an inch longer than the old model, the flashlight is still small and light enough to carry everywhere (I always keep mine on my belt so it's always handy when I need it, which is more often than you'd expect!).

I have only one caveat: the flashlight does not have reverse polarity protection meaning that if you accidentally install the batteries backwards, you'll smoke the LED and you'll have to buy a new flashlight. Just be careful when installing the batteries and you'll be fine.

It might seem a little pricey, but it's worth every penny.

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Edit: A year later and this little flashlight is still going strong. It never leaves my side.

All the mag lites share solid aluminum construction and rubber o-ring seals.

What sets the mini mag off from the other mag lites is its size (easy to hold with teeth while working under car, sink, etc) and one little known feature - "candle" mode. You adjust the beam focus by rotating the mini mag's head, but if you continue turning the head pops off; you are left with the handle and the exposed bulb, which is now throwing light in all directions - it is a "candle". Flip the head over, place it on the ground/table - it is now a "candle holder". Stick the candle into the candle holder. Instant candle for camping. (These directions are actually on the mini mag's packaging, but it wasn't until I had bought my third mini mag (one for car, kitchen, daypack) that I noticed. This is actually a great trick to show other mini mag owners... they also threw their packaging away without looking it)

Two mini mags in the candle mode do a good job on a picnic table at night... so get two of them... they're cheap.

I've got one of these in my car glove box for emergencies and another in my living room so that I can check the wiring for my stereo, check the fusebox when the power goes out, etc. The Metal Enclosed light is very sturdy. My 5 year old has banged it, dropped it and it still works.

While I have run into a flashlight that is slightly more waterproof than this one it is almost three times more expensive. In my humble opinion value is a major component of any design. For this reason, this flashlight rates a 5. Grasp this in your hand and you are immediately struck by its designed in strength and careful manufacturing. The adjustable beam, which spreads or focuses the light expands the usefulness. Narrow for reading a map late at night or wide angle for walking down the lane. A spare bulb (an old concept that seemed to have gotten lost until now) increases the likelihood that you will have light when you want it. Mag took a simple product, added important features and then used quality materials and methods to produce it at a very attractive price.

Love Maglite flashlights, only had one minor issue with this one. I don't normally write reviews, but wanted to share this for anyone else who has this problem. The flickering/won't turn on problem very well could be the tailcap assembly (screw off back part). There are 2 metal clips that need to make contact with the barrel. If your AA LED Maglite is not turning on, try bending these 2 clips out and make sure they can make contact with the barrel. Mine had this problem, and once I bent these clips out it has worked just great. I hope this helps someone out there.

All right I'm going to cut to the chase. This light is definitely outdated although Mag has introduced its excellent Minimag LED. Some of the complaints about the reliability of this light are absolutely hilarious. Mag flashlights have been the standard light for maintenence, security,law enforcement, and many other types of personnel and have proven to be a very reliable and durable light. Its an incandescent light, which can fail if dropped just like any other light of its type. P

eople who I consider to experts on the topic of flashlights, who even have websites dedicated specifically to flashlight reviews, also consider this to be a very decent entry level light with high reliability. These experts have recognized the Minimag as being a dependable flashlight not known to have any major design flaws that affect reliability. Sure there are better flashlights out there, they also cost more money.

I consider all the Mag flashlights to be good entry level lights. You aren't getting a Surefire or Streamlight but you will end up with a light that is going to work every time you use it and offer a very long service life. These lights have been torture tested to grave extremes on public forums pertaining to flashlights and their durability will amaze you.

Where it truly does not compare to the Surefire and Streamlight lights is in beam quality. Once you have used a Surefire or Streamlight you might never go back. This little Minimag has a lot going for it though. It is reliable, has fairly good output, and has a decent run time on relatively inexpensive AA batteries. Other lights may be brighter but they are either more expensive initially or more expensive to feed battery wise. I just can't stand back while people are trashing probably the most proven flashlight of the 20th century. Many police officers, security personnel, and search and rescue operatives have used Mag flashlights in one form or another for decades in harsh environments. They are not the best flashlights out there for sure, but they certainly are not junk.

In conclusion, I think its fair to say that its not the best flashlight in terms of technology but its definitely a versatile and durable light that will offer many years of reliable service. Maglite has kept the design simple so that they can offer a very high quality product at a very reasonable price. Quality has nothing to do with features. What the Minimag lacks in features it makes up in quality and reliability. While I have many higher priced flashlights that are better in terms of brightness and technology, the Minimag has provided me years of service and has been abused heavily. It works as well as the first day I bought it.

After receiving one of these and a larger Mag as a gift I wasn't sure where I'd use this flashlight. As it turns out, I am using it more than the larger light. It's small size makes it incredibly useful for small maintenance tasks such as working on a computer, poking around a car or even finding things you drop behind furniture. It's brightness is surprising. I have found it to be almost as bright as the Mag 2D light.

I had some contact problems when I put the first set of batteries in, but after playing with the spring in the back and making sure the end cap was tight it worked fine and has failed since.

If the NCAA sanctioned an intercollegiate sport called Cranky Light Sleeper, my wife would be the Division I national champion. Meanwhile, I'm the guy who needs to chill and read for a while before drifting off to sleep, maybe even have a chat ...

And they say us guys aren't relational.

Much to my surprise, the athletic prodigy who sleeps beside me offered just a few days ago that I might want to 'read with a flashlight' and that this would not meaningfully interrupt her nocturnal ambitions.

Wouldn't you know, I'm prepared. The Mini Mag Lite is ideal for clandestine bedtime reading *and* auto glove compartments. Those are the two applications where I have a Mini Mag standing by.

The thing puts out great light and allows you to focus the beam by turning the uppermost portion of the flashlight. It has the survivability of a cockroach in a nuclear winter. It's compact and has a nifty little soft carrying case, though I've never seen the virtue of that.

A great buy.

To start, I'm a tradesmen who has to carry his lifelines on his belt. Not only on the job, but I'm also the unnofficial handyman of this apartment complex. Every time I even move to take my workbelt off, it seems to be a signal for a neighbor to bang on the wall saying something is on fire or won't open all the way. And the Mini Mag is the universal flashlight. It's sold everywhere, including this fine site and even family stores, and despite its legendary quality and design, is at the most ten dollars with included holster. I prefer the classic AA design, where CAN'T you find AAs? I've used one of these on my belt for about four years. It's an excellent tool, and I've never had one wear out on me. The bulbs, however, are the Achilles heel. The rest of the flashlight is military, police and trade quality, for civilian price. But these dang bulbs go orange after a couple weeks and last a couple months of casual use. I was considering shelling out forty bucks for a small LED, just to save the money on bulbs.
Then, walking through a sports outlet, I passed the flashlight section. And next to the usual Mini Mag with holster, which I own close to six of, was a Nite Ize accessory designed for this same flashlight. An LED bulb. Now, I've seen these online for about twenty to thirty bucks, and this is a ten dollar flashlight! But this one just sitting around on a shelf was eight bucks, about a buck less than the flashlight's shelf price. What the heck, I got one. To quote another review, my trusty old Mag is now a state-of-the-art torch, with nearly triple battery life of the old bulb. And LEDs, as all Mag-haters know, don't burn out or even go out when bumped.
So, for a total of twenty bucks, you get an American-quality LED beam that competes and plain out whips fifty-dollar imports with plastic casings. I wouldn't recomend this flashlight if there wasn't there was a way to fix its biggest flaw. Just get your hands on this LED adapter, and put it in like you would the standard bulb. Replace the mirror reflector, and stomp the old bulbs into powder. You won't be needing them, ever again. There's also a combo pack availiable, for the same price, that includes a push-button adapter if you've ever wished you could tap a red button on the end instead of twisting it on and off. I haven't tried it, but it comes with the LED, and for eight bucks?
And hey, the flashlight itself comes in six different colors. These things are easily replaced if one gets banged up or your room-mate/girlfriend draws all over it with Sharpie while she's on the phone. I've had these work perfectly even whenhe asing hs been through Hades and back, but some prefer a more formal-looking flashlight. Just take the LED out and put it in the new one, those bulbs last forever. And now, so will this flashlight.

Mag Lite makes wonderful flashlights of all sizes. This one fits perfect in my leathercraft tool holder that I ware working outside.