Energizer MAX C Batteries, Premium Alkaline C Cell Batteries

Why I picked up these C cells

I keep a mixed fleet of battery-powered gear around the house and shop—an old-school lantern, a portable radio in the garage, a couple of kid toys that mysteriously eat cells, and a wall clock that’s too high to want to reset often. That means C cells still matter to me, even in an era dominated by AA and rechargeable packs. I picked up an 8‑pack of Energizer MAX C batteries to refresh all of those devices at once and to see how they stack up against the usual suspects in alkaline.

Setup and first impressions

The 8‑pack arrived in a tidy, fully recyclable box—no blister pack wrestling. That sounds small, but being able to store spare cells in a rigid box is genuinely useful in a drawer or go‑bag. Each cell had a clearly printed expiration date a decade out, in line with Energizer’s 10‑year shelf‑life claim. Out of the box, all cells measured at a healthy open-circuit voltage (just shy of 1.6 V), which is exactly what I expect from fresh alkalines.

A note on naming: this is an 8‑pack of C cells. If you’re shopping across listings, some pages and spec tables confusingly mix battery sizes; make sure you see “C” on the box and device requirements before you click buy. These are definitely C, not D.

Where I used them

I spread the pack across four common use cases:
- A two‑cell LED lantern in the emergency kit
- A portable AM/FM radio in the garage (two cells)
- A battery‑hungry toy keyboard with lights (two cells)
- A high wall clock (one cell, with a spare stored)

That leaves one extra on standby—another advantage of an eight‑pack: devices that use pairs can be fully refreshed with spares left over.

Performance and runtime

Alkaline C cells shine in low‑to‑moderate drain situations, and that’s exactly what I saw.

• LED lantern (2×C): I logged roughly 18–20 hours of bright, usable light on the high setting before output dipped to the point where I’d swap cells in an emergency. On low, it continued to glow for many more hours, but with the expected dimming curve as voltage sagged.
• Portable radio (2×C): At moderate volume, I got a little over 50 hours of listening across a few weeks. The radio became more sensitive to volume changes as the cells approached the end of life, but it never abruptly cut out.
• Toy keyboard (2×C): About 10–12 hours of start‑stop play over a couple of weekends. These toys are tougher on cells because of the bursts of sound and lighting, but the batteries handled it without drama.
• Wall clock (1×C): Two months in, it’s still ticking on time. A simple quartz clock will run a very long time on a single C, so I expect many months before a swap is needed.

Across the board, I didn’t see any early drop-offs or inconsistent cells in the pack. The discharge curve felt predictable and well‑matched to these devices.

Leakage resistance and storage confidence

Leakage is the biggest reason I avoid bargain batteries. I’ve had too many cheap alkalines ruin battery compartments on infrequently used gear. With these MAX C cells, Energizer’s “PowerSeal” pitch is about both shelf life and anti‑leak design. I can’t verify a decade in a couple of months, but I can say this:

• No signs of weeping, swelling, or crust around the seals, including in the lantern that lives in a closet most of the time.
• The spare cells I kept in the box held their nominal voltage over a few months of storage in a temperate drawer.

Practical tip: even with good alkalines, remove them from devices you won’t touch for six months or more—especially in warm spaces. That’s true for any brand and will save you heartache.

Usability touches that matter

• The box: keeps cells from rolling around and makes it easy to see how many are left at a glance.
• Clear marking: polarity icons are bold and easy to read in low light.
• Expiration date: printed large on each cell, not just the box.

These are small details, but they add up when you’re swapping batteries during a power outage by flashlight.

Where they fit—and where they don’t

• Great fit: clocks, radios, flashlights/lanterns, simple toys, and anything that draws steady current at modest levels. The chemistry’s energy density and cost per hour are well matched here.
• Less ideal: high‑drain, motor‑heavy devices (some bubble machines, small pumps, or older motorized toys). They’ll work, but you’ll see faster voltage sag and shorter runtimes than you might hope.

If you routinely use high‑drain gear, consider good NiMH C cells (true C size, not AA adapters) for better sustained current and a lower cost per cycle. Just note that NiMH self‑discharge and cold‑weather behavior are different, and you’ll need a charger that handles C cells properly.

Cold weather and emergency kits

Alkalines can struggle in sub‑freezing conditions, where internal resistance rises and voltage sags. If your emergency kit lives in an unheated garage and you expect to use a lantern in the cold, keep the cells in a warmer indoor spot or move them into the house when a storm is forecast. Primary lithium cells perform better in the cold, but true lithium C cells aren’t as readily available as AA and AAA, so these MAX C cells remain a pragmatic choice for most households.

Smart replenishment

If you use an Amazon Dash Smart Shelf for consumables, these are eligible for automatic reordering. I tried dropping the boxed pack onto a shelf in the shop; setup recognized the weight and let me set a reorder threshold so I don’t find myself cell‑less during storm season. It’s not essential by any means, but for offices or makerspaces it’s a nice convenience.

Value

Pricing fluctuates, but per‑cell cost for this 8‑pack is typically competitive, and the performance aligns with what I expect from a top‑tier alkaline. The math gets better if you value the 10‑year shelf life for emergency stock—buy once, rotate occasionally, and you’re covered for a long time.

If you burn through C cells every month in the same device, rechargeables will beat any alkaline on cost per hour. For the mixed, occasional use I outlined above, these MAX C batteries hit a sensible balance of price, availability, and reliability.

Quirks and what could be better

• Listing clarity: some online spec tables muddle battery sizes; I had to double‑check I was getting C cells. The box itself is clear, but retailers should keep those fields accurate.
• Not rechargeable: obvious, but worth stating. If you’re outfitting devices used daily, plan for either bulk buys or a switch to NiMH.

Beyond that, I didn’t run into quality inconsistencies, short‑dated inventory, or packaging waste that’s common with cheaper options.

Tips for best results

• Store at room temperature; avoid car trunks or hot sheds.
• Don’t mix old and new batteries in the same device.
• Don’t mix brands or chemistries in a device.
• Remove cells from gear you won’t use for months.
• Recycle through a local program—most hardware stores accept household batteries.

The bottom line

The Energizer MAX C batteries deliver exactly what I want from everyday alkalines: predictable runtime, clean packaging, long dated stock, and no leakage headaches so far. They’re a strong match for household and shop devices that sip power, they’re easy to keep organized, and the 8‑pack size is practical for pairing devices with spares. If your use case leans high‑drain or daily‑use, step up to quality NiMH rechargeables; otherwise, keep a box of these on hand and you’ll be set for most C‑cell needs.

Recommendation: I recommend the MAX C pack for general household and shop use. They’re reliable, reasonably priced for a name‑brand alkaline, and backed by a shelf life that makes sense for emergency kits and occasional‑use devices. For users who prioritize cost per cycle in high‑drain gear, consider rechargeables—but for everything else, these are an easy yes.