I had a Mini Maglite in each of the three cars that I have. All three were dead when I checked them. I replaced the AA batteries in two of them and still they don't work. In the third one, I couldn't even get the "tail" open to replace the batteries, so that's completely hopeless. I'm looking to replace all three of them with LED flashlights. I'm looking for a flashlight that I can set on the ground and aim at the area where I need light so that both of my hands are free. Does anybody have a recommendation for an LED AA flashlight that I can keep in the car?

 

Get a "tactical" high intensity LED flashlight.

I have a Streamlight PRO-TAC HL:

https://www.streamlight.com/products/detail/protac-hl



It is several orders of magnitude more flashlight than old-fashioned maglites. I never liked maglites even when they were de rigeur.

There are smaller models of the PRO-TAC. Streamlight's products are robust and high performance.

 

I have one in each vehicle:

Anker Rechargeable Bolder LC90

 

Thanks for the response. I was thinking of this one because you can stand it up straight or attach it to a metal surface with the magnetic bottom and swivel the light up or down.

 

Great suggestion ! I never would of thought about a flash light for my car.

 

I second this. These are "light" years better than the cheaper "tac" flashlights out there.

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Check out Fenix or OLight or whatnot, Streamlight and Surefire have been overpriced for ages for the performance you get out of them.

 

I found headlamps to be more practical than a flashlight to keep in the car. Hands-free light when you have to poke around under the hood or underneath the car and you can still hold one in your hand like a flashlight.

 

Get a nice LED headlamp, e.g. something from Fenix (no affiliation).

Trust me, you don't want a flashlight, you want a headlamp.

 

This is what I keep in the car - work light and jump starter combined: NOCO - 1000A Lithium Jump Starter - GB40

It's IP65 rated and, I know from experience, that it will start a Macan S.

 

Agree a headlamp is good to have in the car.

 

Here's what I ultimately bought. A three-pack of Duracell flashlights from Amazon for $28 -- which is less than the price of one Mini-Maglite AA. Each Duracell flashlight produces 1000 lumens and takes four AAA batteries which are included in the package (12 AAA batteries in all).

 

Nothing from Duracell is allowed within a 100' radius of my house. They all leak, sooner or later, usually sooner.

 

I get these by the bunch and spread them around;
You can charge them in the car.

 

I've had great experiences with Klarus, Nitecore and Sure fire and Streamlight. IMO, Klarus and Nitecore are a WAY better value. Both of these are very bright (like, I have lit up the beach from the 7th floor of a beachside high-rise condo building while my girls looked for crabs... probably 300+ yards away). Both lights cast about a 40' circle at that range, but the Klarus is a tad brighter with a little further throw.

I've had an earlier variation of this model for 15 years and it still works like brand new.
Amazon

I have this exact light also.
Amazon