MAGLITE S4D016 Black D Battery Flashlight, 4-D

What's in the Box
Flashlight, spare bulb

Amazon.com Review
Bright lights, burly cases, fail-safe on/off switches, virtual indestructibility: there are very good reasons to rave about Mag Instrument flashlights. It goes without saying that a flashlight defeats its own purpose if it can't be trusted, which is why so many people spend a little extra for this four D-cell Mag-Lite. We've dropped ours off ladders, kicked it down stairs--just generally abused the thing--and it lights up now just as readily as it did when we first turned it on. Speaking of which, the on/off switch is one of the first things to fail on generic flashlights. Mag-Lite's switch is rubber coated and weather protected; frankly, it seems incapable of ever wearing out, even after thousands of clicks. Plus, twisting the flashlight's head gives you an option between a tight beam and a floodlight. More importantly, the combination of a supertough krypton gas lamp and high-quality reflectors provides unusually bright light. There's also an extra lamp in the tail cap so you've always got a backup--how many other flashlights deliver that?

But the Mag's indestructibility is its main selling point. Mag Instrument builds its flashlights with ultrastrong aluminum alloy cases that have been anodized both inside and out to resist rust. High-quality O-rings at both openings keep water away from the batteries. It's hard to imagine damaging one of these lights. Think of it this way: if, as one of our customers suggests, there were a kingdom of flashlights, Mag-Lite would be crowned king. --Jon Groebner

However to minimize this marvel of engineering to a source of portable light, is to commit an injustice. Like many items that have become the very definition of their product niche, their original task, becomes one use amongst many.

Joggers/Runners/Walkers: We have all seen the aforementioned progressing down the street carrying a stick to ward off any overly enthusiastic, allegedly domesticated, pets. Now other than throwing said stick in the hopes the quadruped in question will chase it, I don't think it will deter a Doberman, Ratweiler, or Pit bull. With the likelihood of having one swipe at self-defense, on the off chance you connect, unlike a stick, this will get their attention. If two are carried, you can save the cost of those bags of buckshot that serve as weights when velcroed around the wrist.

One reviewer, (a friend), mentioned how "cute" the tiniest of these are. No argument here. However, in the event of an assailant, anything larger than a Gerbil, and you are out of luck. But unlike those pouches people have been wearing around their waist, which if I may digress, are the ugliest blasted appendages, get your self a snazzy o-ring. You will be on the cutting edge of fashion well before the Chanel version appears in "Cosmo". And as far as utility, the next time an officer of the law approaches your car, notice what he or she carries, and how he or she carries it. Oh yeah, that's why they have them out during broad daylight!

For the Gardeners out there, no more running back for the hammer when a tomato stake needs attention. For the Winter Sportsman or woman, this will come in handy when heading out to your ice fishing shack and you find a layer of ice over your fishing hole. One swing and your done, just keep a firm grip, as they don't exactly give these away.

Doorstop, ice-pick replacement, and signal safety light, the uses are limited only by your ingenuity. If these were any more effective, there would be a 3-day waiting period to buy one.


Mag-Lites are the only flashlights you'll ever need.   June 9, 2000
Doug Briggs (Houston, TX USA)
19 out of 21 found this review helpful

Once in a while you'll encounter a product that's so far out front that the others should pick up their marbles and go home. Mag-Lites are the standard bearer in the flashlight category. (Were it not for the picture, you would hardly know from the product description up there that we're talking about a 4-cell flashlight.)

The primary job of a flashlight is, not surprisingly, to create light. Mag gets more light out of their flashlights than anybody. Maybe it's the bulb, or the reflector. But NO flashlight will come close to putting out as much light as a Mag.

Another quality we hope to find in any product is functionality -- does it work every time, or mainly when you don't need it? I can't recall more than a time or two that a Mag failed to come on. I've dropped them from heights that would have destroyed anything less and they still worked.

I have an old black AA-size Mini-Mag here that spent about a decade in the cockpits of airplanes -- the poorest lighted places this side of the Black Forest -- so it got a world of use. The place on the end cap for attaching a lanyard or hanging ring is worn completely through. But the little guy still works like a charm.

The switch on this D-cell model is under live rubber; it has a solid click on and off. The beam is adjustible to a sharp spot. You'll probably want to set it there and leave it alone.

I am certain that batteries last longer in a Mag-lite. The only explanation for this would seem to be that a tiny bit of battery drain occurs on some others. Before I became 100% converted to Mags I would too often pick up a flashlight that was full of dead batteries. I can go for years without changing the batteries in a Mag-lite.

All Mags are rugged. The barrels are sturdy aluminum extrusions -- not plastic or stamped metal. Both end caps have O rings to keep the case waterproof. And who else would be so thoughtful as to put an extra bulb in the bottom endcap?

A reviewer below had a legitimate gripe about tubular things not staying put on anything but a level surface. Of course, that has been a complaint for years about pens and all kinds of tubular devices. This can be cured for the Mag-Lite with a very small bungee cord. Tie several knots in it until it is shortened enough to fit tight around the barrel. The knots will keep the light from rolling around.

I like the new hot red Mag-Lites. Anybody with any sense at all would know a pretty red flashlight would throw more light than a black one. It just stands to reason.


Quality Flashlight   March 14, 2000
18 out of 20 found this review helpful

This flashlight is built to last a lifetime. If you're an engineer you'll like the design and quality of this product. I'm a little surprised that the price isn't higher. The aluminum is of a heavy enough gauge to resist dings, the switch has a good crisp feel to it, and the fit of the parts is very good. It has a good heavy feel to it (even without the batteries). Only negative: you have to be careful where you sit it because it will get away from you fast and it is too tall to stand on end. Would be perfect with a non-round head shape that would resist rolling.


Does every guy own a Mag-lite?   October 9, 2000
Rebecca Johnson (Washington State)
18 out of 19 found this review helpful

My husband keeps this by the bed ready to shine it into the eyes of any intruder. This is not only a flash light, it could be considered a weapon.

This is one heavy flashlight which could almost be used as a mini weight bar. The light turns on with the press of a button and you can adjust the light beam to focus in or show a wide beam to see your way while walking in the dark, say while camping.

Doug's review will tell you the details, I just wanted to tell you how much my husband loves this flashlight. Do all guys love this Mag-lite brand? Must be a Tim the Toolman power light thing!

For women, I recommend the mini Mag-lite, it is cute and is much lighter to carry around. You can keep it in the car or in your purse.

~The Rebecca Review