please excuse the length of my review . this be a product I feel very strongly about . `` bear in New York City during the Great Depression , Tony Maglica be raise in he mother 's native Croatia . '' Mr. Maglica be the founder of Mag Instrument , Inc. . he be a very talented leader who be dedicate to keep mag product make in America , and have to be personally satisfy with a product before he release it to the public . he be a shine example of a american success story . I buy american product whenever I can . my truck , my cigarette lighter , my flashlight , my dining room table , etc. , all make within we boarder . mag Instruments have a very large factory in Ontario , California -lrb- not Canada -rrb- that employ over 850 employee . this be a important factor , at least to I . the durability of a maglite be unparalleled . if you have some time to kill , go to Maglite.com and read some story submit by customer . grant , some may be exaggerate , but my mag have roll around in the bed of my truck for week and work perfectly when I need it . I have drop it in a creek while hunting and it never flicker . I have run over it accidentally while move a car and it be perfectly cylindrical . the amount of light produce be proportional to the size of the light . a solitaire AAA be not go to even compare to my 4d `` tire beater '' . it be simple science , but some do not understand . -lrb- important -- -rrb- -rrb- almost every critical reviewer complain about how the mag design be `` outdate '' . see for yourself . they cite that you can buy a brand such as `` SureFire '' and get a much brighter light in a much smaller package . I have a few grievence with that think process : - look at the price of those light . the cheapest `` SureFire '' I find be $ 95 . I , personally , do not want to spend $ 100 of my hard-earned money on something that do not even have a solid reputation behind it . -lrb- -lrb- . . -rrb- -rrb- - I doubt any competitor have as good of a warantee as mag . lifetime mean for the rest of you life . but , I doubt you 'll need it , with the quality of product they offer . - they complain about the size and lack of illumination . as state above , light output be proportional to the voltage of the power system . unless you need a tactical light to strap to you m4 assault rifle to do late-night drug bust , there be nothing wrong with something that actually have some size to it . in my mind , something that turn on every time you hit the switch be more valuable to the hard-working individual who need it on the job , or the individual who keep it in the car in case of a power outage or auto incident . - they say mag have not come out with a new product since the '80 , which be completely false . mag have come out with several lamp upgrade for someone who want led -lrb- I do not -rrb- , or hi-output incandescent bulb . they also have a entirely new product line of compact led torch to satisfy customer such as these . the reason they have not change they original design be because ... it work . it be such a simple system , so there be rarely any issue with it because there be nothing to go wrong . it be durable , reliable , and time-tested . I will never buy another brand of flashlight . mag be make in every size imaginable , so pick up you favorite from you local retailer or order one from Amazon . you will not be sorry . Feel free to comment with any question you may have . all information be cite from -lrb- ... -rrb- or personal experience\/opinion unless otherwise state .