Mag Lite is not a cheap flashlight. They are durable and innovated the small lights. I am referring to the ones you find at the hardware stores where you get a pack of 5 for $10 and such things.

Oh, you were referring to the "promotional" units featuring the name of a battery company.

Jeanette Isabelle

Maglites are about as state of the art as Model T's. At one time (70s) they were about the best, but the company missed the LED revolution, and they are now archaic.

There are now numerous good brands, better in every way.

MAG-LITE was late on the LED bandwagon. In some aspect, they are still not on board not until they offer an LED bulb for incandescent flashlights. My reason for bringing them into this conversation has nothing to do with technology.

Jeanette Isabelle

I agreed with comments on Fenix.

I like the older Fenix E01. They are single AAA- one brightness, about 11.00 Not too dim, not too bright, JUST Right.

I like the newer LD05. Single AAA 3 brightness levels Dims level allows more time.

I differ regarding rechargeable- I like Lithium Light, great life, no leaks ever. my oldest Fenix e01 is on its 2nd lithium in 8 years. No bash on rechargables, I agree on the theory.

I EDC single battery light for size, even though I like 2 battery lights.

The e12 is a single AA, the E20 is a 2 AA...

I have had several Maglights across time. There are 6 or 7 LED adapters available. I like the Nightize one.
Link to Nightize (This is info only, not to buy- I am not affiliated)
https://www.niteize.com/collection/LED-Upgrades.asp

If you have a maglite, keep it, upgrade it, use the batteries you like best. (Keep in mind, Maglite have very tight clearance, once you get a leak inside maglite you need a sledgehammer the get the %%% %%% batteries out, and need to sand the inside for a half hour to ever use it again--- ask me how I know...sigh)

+1
I have an LED replacement bulb in both my 2xD & 3xD Maglites. IIRC the bulb has electronic regulation circuitry inside which allow them to operate with the wide voltage differences of 2-6 D batteries. Definitely worth the money, new life to a flashlight I bought in 1990.

Instead of a 2xAA flashlight, I would suggest you look into a 1xAA light that can run on Alkaline, Lithium, or a rechargeable in NiMH or LiION (a.k.a. "14500"). That gives you a lot of options on how you want to power it. And you can get some darn bright flashlights in this size if that's what you want. The brightest will be when you power it with a 14500 LiION.

I like that method. A 1x and a spare battery for the same weight and room. Gives you a backup.

I will also say the Fenix is a good choice. I've got a couple of the AAA EO5 lights and they are really great - one is pocket carry and the other lives on the key chain.

Ah yes, mag-lights are great and I've got a C size that I put an LED head on and a D light that also has a new LED bulb and they are both really good lights but heavy/big. I also have a Safariland Kel-light from the '70's that uses two c cells and is still plugging away - it's on the garage work bench right now and has been "everywhere" with me over the years.

I really like and rely on SureFire lights but they are beyond the price point for the most part in this discussion... Elzetta lights are good too from what I've seen but really expensive.

I got a five pack of 'coast' lights at the local big box a couple of years ago - AA powered metal construction(one battery) and nice, bright LED bulb which cost me about 20 bucks for the pack. I've given a couple away, have one downstairs at home, one at work at my desk and another one tucked away there too. They work great and are still going strong. That's an idea too.

Paul -

I am amazed by the Surefire Titan Plus my son gave me for Christmas. But that's a 1xAAA, so getting pretty far from your initial description of what you want. However, this little 1xAAA can outdo the old three D-cell Maglights of years past.