For spot focus applications, which is what the majority of flashlights are used for, the MagLite Magnum Star Xenon flashlights so far remain ummatched and will very easily out-throw any LED flashlight on the market, and in emergencies, the MagLite flashlight can be used as a baton to aid in self-defense. My cousin works as a veterinarian and she says pepper spray is absolutely useless against an angry attack dog and will serve no other purpose save to anger the dog even more.

Usually, and in the vast majority of cases, even versus the new LEDs, incandescent bulbs can very easily out-throw LEDs in spot-focus applications with alkaline batteries. For example, the MagLite White Star Krypton flashlight powered by four D-size alkaline batteries will very easily out-throw a Rayovac Roughneck Flex360 LED flashlight in spot-focus comparison tests, even though the MagLite flashlight is only rated for 122.2 lumens while the Roughneck is rated for 130 lumens.

Incandescent vs LED is like comparing apples to oranges. There is no comparison. Incandescents win no contest against LEDs in almost all comparison tests.