this be by no mean the brightest flashlight you 'll ever use . led and those 15 million candlepower gun be what you 'll want to hail down a plane . as a general-purpose flashlight , though , it work very well . it may have be the brightest in its day , but technology have move past , and Standard Maglites be nothing special in term of turn night into day . however , if you buy a led or xenon lamp upgrade , you brightness level will improve greatly . for a cheap increase in this instrument usefulness as a flashlight , spend 4 buck here on a xenon bulb . for the very brightest , though , drop 30 on a conversion for a led . you battery life will not be hurt ; actually , the led upgrade improve the life from what I be tell -lrb- I say it have better , for cost 1.5 time than the damn flashlight -rrb- . maglite be commonly use by police and civilian alike , for they waterproof and shockproof property , and world-class durability . this be the 70 's Chevy pickup of flashlight - not flashy , but mechanically unkillable . I would want nothing else by my side if I have to defend myself suddenly in the dark . of course , grab a extra set of battery and keep they near it -- those old 70 's pickup be hardly know for they miserly fuel consumption , and neither be these . every household should have a 3 d-cell plus -lrb- they go up to 6 -rrb- Maglite in they house . I have a standard 3 and a xenon-lamp 4 , and I be take one camp with I this summer .