Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

If you're wondering like I was whether to upgrade with a product like this, or buy a whole new Maglite, here's a comparison of the original Maglite 3D (incandescent bulb), a Maglite 3D with this product (Nite Ize LED Upgrade Bulb C/D High Power), and finally Maglite's own LED 3D flashlight (LED bulb as stock). This comparison was done with a new pack of D cell batteries for all flashlights. Note that due to my lack of photography skills, the difference in brightness doesn't really come through in the photos I've uploaded, so you'll have to trust my assessment below which also included ceiling bounce tests (shine the light at a white ceiling and assess the overall brightness of the room). The original incandescent vs. the Nite Ize High Power LED Upgrade: I would estimate that the LED upgrade is about 50% brighter than the original incandescent. As is obvious from the photos, it's also significantly whiter and clearer than the incandescent. Nite Ize High Power LED Upgrade vs. Maglite LED 3D: The stock Maglite LED light is about 50% brighter than the Nite Ize LED. Worth noting, and rather obvious from the photos, is that the stock Maglite LED not only has a larger and brighter spot, but also a nice bright flood even when the spot is highly focused as it is in the photos - so bright it actually overpowers any flood light from the other two lights. So, does it make more sense to upgrade an old Maglite, or buy a new LED one? First off, if brightness is what you want, it must be noted that these days you can get equivalent or greater brightness from even single AA LED flashlights - and with many of them, variable brightness levels, so you can go from very dim for close-up tasks, to blinding bright for distance viewing. If you need extra long-run times, I guess the Maglites are still a good option, but I think the real advantage is that a 3 or 4 D cell flashlight can also make a decent club, and I assume that's why you're interested in having one (though I'd still recommend a good pocketable AA LED light as well). If you already have an old Maglite and you're thinking of an upgrade, the problem with the Nite Ize LED is that it's not significantly cheaper than the sale price of the Maglite LED 3D and, additionally, not as bright. I think the price of these Nite Ize upgrade LEDs should be more in the 5 to 7 dollar range. $5 would make it a no-brainer. As it is, though, if you're going to spend the current asking price, you should first ask what the condition is of the old Maglite you're upgrading (i.e. is the lens all scratched up?) and whether it wouldn't be worth it to spend $10-$15 more for a new Maglite with LED, which will be brighter and better than an old Maglite with this upgrade. Either way, you should definitely move on from those incandescent bulbs. The brightness and durability of a *good* LED flashlight is a world of difference from old incandescent ones.