I upgraded my old 3xD cell MagLite with an LED emitter. It's way too big and bulky to carry around, and it's not bright enough for anything but close-up work. However, it makes a great troubleshooting-the-sump-pump light, as it survives horrific abuse while providing long runtime.

(I'm not picking on you, Phaedrus, I'm just incapable of not commenting on a flashlight thread .)

I should probably do that since I already have the light. Of course, I also wind up "throwing good money after bad" sometimes by refusing to ever throw anything away!

again mentioned before... for a "door buster" at Lowes a couple of years ago for hurricane tax free days here in Florida, 2 and 3 D cell LED MagLights were on sale for $12 and $15....if you haven't seen the D cell LED Maglights, they have serious throw and spot compared to the incandescent older versions... true, you don't put them in your pocket (I attached a key ring with a plastic cable tie to attach it if necessary) but they are my "go to " light for routine duties... guess old habits die hard...(change of topic warning)... if you live in a jurisdiction that prohibits, or you choose not to carry a handgun, the 240 and 320 lumen tactical lights IMHO are a better option than pepper spray... they can seriously disorient if flashed in someone's eyes...

I suspect the D cells disappear quickly because they are not anywhere near as commonly used as AA cells are.

I also upgraded my late 80's vintage 3D Maglite with an LED emitter, but I splurged and bought a 3 watt emitter that had the voltage regulation circuitry in the bulb. It's a big light but the throw with a focused beam is fairly impressive. I did the same with my newer 2D Maglite but with that I used a 1 watt emitter and then put it in my truck.

The emitters were not cheap, but it was a one-time thing and now they are very useful lights as long as you aren't carrying them. For a lightto keep on your belt (as I do when I walk the dog at night), AA and 123A lights rule.

One thing D cells give is a lot of run-time before a battery change is required. Since these are both back-up lights, I hope for the batteries to hit their expiration date (March 2018) before the light dims.

Yes - the D cell mag lights were the best and brightest at one point - We all had them. But now there are better options for most applications.

i keep a bunch of AA-to-D cell adapters around so i can use AAs in my D-cell tools ('lights, radios, etc).

they aren't expensive and sure come in handy. i love running my big old D-cell radio for hours on almost-worn-out AAs that were used in other tools.

Got some AA/D cell adapters,use them rarely,they are pretty much dinosaurs anymore.

D cells then AA cells are the first to disappear here in Florida. I've walked into an otherwise stripped battery section and found C cells though.

Just stock up before the first day of hurricane season and don't sweat shortages. That goes for all expendables, batteries, water, TP ... propane. The last minute should be reserved for topping off things like auto fuel tanks and putting lawn furniture away.