Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I've got about a dozen LED flashlights - most bought that way and some are retrofits (a Maglite, a Rayovac, and a 1st gen SnakeLight). They vary in brightness from 30 or so lumens up to 800 lumens. My favorite is my EDC (every day carry) Mini MLR2 that's 1/2 inch shorter than my chapstick and has 7 settings, including a high setting of 180 lumens. I'm currently jonesin' for a $120 L3 K40 with 1147 lumens and 700 meter beam distance - that thing is FRIGGIN' AWESOME! Now, I'm no flashaholic . . . ok - scratch that. I guess my point is that even though I didn't need this little adjustable focus, 3 aaa, cree led flashlight, and it doesn't do everything the description says it would do, and it has middle of the road brightness (compared to other led lights), I STILL love it. Just like a $3 bottle of Oak Leaf Pinot Grigio from Walmart, for $9.90 this flashlight was nearly guaranteed to please. Admittedly, as long as it didn't short-circuit and cook my fingers like grilled kielbasa, I was probably going to like it. Using only 3 aaa batteries, this thing throws a beam that will make you wonder why you'd want any flashlight that's more powerful (trust me - you will). It will also zoom out and cast a flood that's very impressive. What it DOESN'T do is strobe or change brightness, even though the description says it will. You know what? I'm giving it 5 stars anyway. I do recommend taking it apart and using some di-electric grease (silicone lubricant) on the rubber o-ring where the head slides to zoom in and out. Doing this will make it easier to work the zoom. Go ahead and put some on the threads, too. Bottom line? If you haven't seen what they're doing with flashlights these days, you will absolutely be amazed by this purchase. In fact, for less than ten bucks, you too can begin a life of searching for more lumens/$ and trying to justify/rationalize your every flashlight purchase to yourself, your friends, and your therapist. Do yourself a favor and buy it, then give your old incandescent flashlights to Goodwill, the Salvation Army, your so-called friends, or your judgmental therapist. Now - I'm off to look at the K40 website. Again. Edit: I see the description has been changed and no longer says it changes brightness or strobes. This flashlight gets used regularly and is still a 5 star purchase. Edit to my previous Edit: They're claiming again that this light has three brightness level choices. It does not. There is a single brightness with no change in battery consumption. I love the zoom feature, but changing the zoom function does not equate to changing brightness. To clarify, the zoom is a continuous slide from spot to flood - there is no setting for spot, flood, or area (and what the heck is the difference between area and flood, anyway?!?). This thing still gets 5 stars from me, but I wish they'd get a better translator. Update: Just received my third one. I bought it as a gift for someone who will be hiking in Peru. This, along with an Olight I3S 80 Lumen Cree XP-G2 LED LED Flashlight (Black Body) with 3 X EdisonBright AAA batteries (also uses an AAA battery and can clip to the brim of a hat), should provide versatile lighting that only uses one type of easily obtained battery. I'm ordering 2 more for some nephews who are in Scouting. Since theirs might get used infrequently, I'm also ordering Energizer Advanced Lithium AAA Batteries 6 Pack - EA92BP4F2 ($8.74 shipped) to guarantee against leakage. In fact, I'd recommend that battery or Eneloops rather than alkalines, especially if the light sees infrequent use.