All of us use Flashlights, in one way or another.  They are perhaps one of the few items (along with Calculators and Wristwatches) that are so common that EVERYBODY owns at least one.  And the most common problems we all have with them, are that the batteries don't last long enough, or the light dies when we really need it.

Technology has brought us a cure for that problem: The LED (Light Emitting Diode) Flashlight.  These use one LED, or a batch of them, in place of a standard bulb - delivering a battery life (depending on model) from around 20 hours to over 200 hours.  Compare this with a regular flashlight, where battery life is typically between 1 and 4 hours.  The LED's also have an advantage in that, when the batteries are fading away, the light does an extended gradual fadeout rather than a sudden outright failure - a difference that can allow you to finish changing that flat tire on a dark rainy night, for one example.  Also, the Light produced by most LED's is a rich, White light - better for seeing in the dark than the mixed tint of a standard light.

There are literally hundreds of LED Flashlight models available now, here on eBay and elsewhere.  Many of them, from China, use clusters of smaller LED's - soldered together on a small circuit board - to produce their light.  Some of these are quite bright, indeed - in much the way that striking a whole book of Matches at once, is brighter than striking just one Match.  A problem that I have encountered with these 'cluster' lights, is that with exposure to vibrations or 'life's little bumps', often one or more of the small LED's quits working - permanently.  This is not a problem with the LED itself, which are highly resilient - but rather with poor soldering in assembling the cluster.

A more durable solution - and generally brighter, too - are the higher class of LED Flashlights which use the 'Luxeon' brand high-intensity single LED's.  These are currently available in 1-watt, 3-watt, and 5-watt versions - with even more powerful ones probably under development.  The Luxeon LED's are, of course, larger than the small LED's used in the 'cluster' lights.  Having the full light intensity available from a single large LED allows for more efficient reflector designs, which make these lights even brighter.

Two AMERICAN manufacturers of high-quality flashlights now have Luxeon-based LED models on the market - and these are among the very best you can buy.

Mag-Lite is the brand which is 'price accessible' for the majority of us.  Their 'Mag-Lite LED' line currently features four versions - using 2 or 3 batteries, in AA or D sizes - with a price range of $25-$40 (US $).  They also have a LED 'conversion kit' available for their regular Krypton-bulb lights, for about $20.  All of these models utilize the same 3-watt Luxeon LED - coupled with a 'power management chip', which maintains consistent brightness throughout about 97% of the battery life, then a reduced light level for the remaining bit of battery life.  My experience with them - at least in my perception - is that the LED versions are a bit brighter than Mag-Lite's standard Krypton bulb.  Battery life, in my experience, ranges from 50 to 150 hours, roughly - with the 2AA version being on the short end, and the 3D model being on the long end.  And both will keep producing light for a few HOURS in the reduced-light mode, when the batteries are almost depleted - so you get plenty of warning that it's time to replace the batteries.

The other brand is SUREFIRE - best known for the Weapon Lights and Tactical Flashlights, used by police and military worldwide.  Their design priority is on Absolute Brightness, with battery life taking a clear 'back seat' - at least in their 'regular' lights (such as the model 6P, which delivers just one hour of intense light on a $10 set of lithium batteries!  Been there, done that, then sold every one of them I had....)

I am not as 'up to speed' on Surefire's LED lights as I am on Mag-Lite's.  The models I have seen from them, appear to be using the new 5-watt Luxeon LED, and appear to cost $150 and UP.

As I mentioned earlier, LED's are quite resilient.  The LED itself will survive the long haul - most have a rated life of 100,000 hours - which is, effectively, a Lifetime of flashlight usage.  Or about 11-1/2 YEARS of continuous around-the-clock light.  If you're anything like me.....and chances are that you are.....you will most likely Lose the light before you can ever make a dent in wearing it out.

A quality LED Flashlight is MOST DEFINITELY THE WAY TO GO!!!!!!!!