All in all, while not a *perfect product*, this is a great one for the price. Part of what people need to take into account is cost and given what you get the price is really excellent. So if you don't want to read the long story, the short one is that I don't see how you can go wrong with this flashlight. Recommended without reservation!For those that like the long story... here you go!Pros+++++++++++++++++++++++++ + Price! + Features + Super solid feeling, good weight, and tight build + Accepts 3x AA or 1x 18650 or 26650 + Thick glass lensCons------------------------- - Minor quality issues - Single-button on/off combined with mode changingFor the price, my Cons are really quibbles. I knew both of those going into the purchase and as such they are not surprises and no deduction on my star rating. However here are my comments on those.There are minor imperfections in the materials. One of my two units had minor scuffs through the black on the tail end. Both had minor scratching or possibly original surface defects in the glass lens. Neither of these affected my use or my opinion of the flashlight.I also know that for this price I'm not getting two switches where the mode is handled in a different button. I know that but I'd still like to have it. I'm not always reasonable ;) .On the flip side, the pros are great.This flashlight is a really really good price for what you get. This is not one of those puny AA penlight sized flashlights. It's more like the size of a D cell old style light but a bit shorter than a 2 D cell flashlight. When you pick it up, you feel like you have something in your hand. No plastic junk or thin metal. It's built nicely.It has the fairly standard tail switch (press) to both turn it on/off and change modes. What is a bit different about it is that it has standoffs on the tail so you can actually stand it up on the tail. Most lights in this price range are just a button on the tail and it's not realistic to stand them that way. I like being able to stand it up when it's on at times to use it more generally as a light and not have to hold it. The nose end also has standoffs so it can easily be left standing on either end but most likely not left on while on its nose (more for storage).The on/off/mode switch works fine (single switch small grumble here). When off, pressing the button fully in turns it on. When on, pressing it fully in turns it off. When on, partial presses cycle between modes: High (bright)/Medium/Low/Strobe/SOS flashing. If in High/Medium/Low and you turn it off, when you turn it back on it will come on in the same mode. If in Strobe/SOS mode and you turn it off, the next time you turn it on it will be in High mode. Holding the button down for longer, when turning it on, clears the mode and starts it High.The flashlight is very flexible on batteries. It comes with both a 3x AA holder and a 18650 spacer. Both of those are 26650 size. The options are very good. I have tested on 3x Powerex Imedion 2400mAh NiMH cells and brightness and runtime are very good. I don't have runtime results and I probably won't take time to do real tests but my informal use of the flashlight, quite a lot over the last day, makes me think it's going to be very nice.I have some 26650 cells en route to me and I'll post an update once they have been charged and I've given them a try. I'm hoping for great results. They are my first foray into Lithium cells. :PLastly, I know there are reports of scratches in the glass lens. Mine does have some light scratching on the inside and a bit on the outside but realistically in a flashlight, I'm never going to know they are there unless I look closely. Keep in mind this is a very inexpensive flashlight, that you get a lot of value for. I don't know what the cost would be to have a perfectly polished glass lens but I (personally) would rather not pay more for something that doesn't really matter in the context of what this is and how it is used. If it was a magnifying glass or eyeglasses or a telescope or microscope... sure. I'd definitely want perfection. In a sub 20 dollar flashlight... meh.All of that and back to the same thing I reported at the top. Great value. It's a pretty inexpensive and very useful tool. I'm thrilled... two thumbs up!Update: My error about the lens. It really seemed like glass but I figured out how to take it apart and it is synthetic. I'm unsure about the actual material but this doesn't depreciate how I feel about this product.~~~~~~ Update: August 30, 2019 ~~~~~~After around a year of using three of these flashlights, we love them. You could stop at that statement but I will explain.~ Quality/Durability: We've had exactly ZERO issues with any of the three units. They are used by two adults (reasonably careful) and one pre-teen (pretty careful for a kid). No signs of wear and all aspects of the lights are like new.~ Value: I don't know what else you can say but ... it's fantasti...
