I used the BLF LT1 at my parents house this weekend during a bbq. It performed perfectly. It has 5 modes (default). I ran it on level 4 for about 3-4 hrs and it didn’t dim at all; used the battery feature to check the batteries status; 3.9v. Not bad… not bad at all. No one use theirs yet?
I lended my LT1 out to a collegue last weekend. On highest (7x7135) setting he fully drained the (NCR18650B) batteries during a 6 hour clean-out session of his attick where there is no electricity. He was extremely happy with the lantern for that purpose.
WOW, 7x7135, wouldnt that generate lots of heat? I left mine factory… I believed it’s 5x7135.
mine will take its’ rightful place as a Shelf Queen.
I wasn’t there to check the temperature, but even if it became 90degC it should not be a concern apart from it being quite unpleasant to touch the top of the lantern. I’m charging the lantern back up right now and see what it does after an hour on high.
Had it on high for an hour or so (room temp, no airflow) and the temperature of the top settled at 61 degC.
With all 7-7135s enabled correct? (my tests were all around the 60 degC mark, so that is close.
I tried my LT1 in two very different use cases this evening.
Case 1 - on our nightly walk around the block, the LT1 was not a hit. We were very visible, and could see decently well in front of us (as well as all around), but a lantern held a bit below waist level is not really what its designed for. My wife tolerated it for the walk, but was not really a fan. That’s likely the last walk the LT1 will go on at home.
Case 2 - a year ago we were going through a kitchen remodel, and ate dinner in a darker than desired room often. I used my Q8 in ceiling bounce, but it was not really that great. Likely the diffuser would have helped significantly, but I digress. Tonight, when we returned from our walk, I turned off all the lights in kitchen / dining area/ living room, and put the LT1 on top of the door. The room was fully illuminated. My wife was very impressed (as was I). LT1 is fantastic in its intended use case, illuminating a wide area from above. (also as noted by djozz in this post)
Thanks Sofirn and team for the tangible beginnings of bringing this project to fruition. We will continue to PATIENTLY await the availability of the LT1 for the remainder of the group buy.
Same with me, the default 5-chips enabled is plenty for a lantern use in most all cases, (unless you’re trying to light up a stadium) the fact that lanterns are a light source that is intended to run constantly for hours & days at a time non-stop, even on maximum, (something a flashlight does not be used for) the LT1 has that ability that no other consumer lantern i have seen or tested can even come close to. if you have 3 or 4 LT1s in your house during power outages, or use at cabins & cottages, it is really good to have a lantern that can provide light for hours each night for many nights without needing battery recharges or replacements, (and in this case with a great tint & CRI that can be adjusted to one’s likes, not seen in any consumer lantern before.
I have a dilemma with my first LT1. I like it a lot. But, I have a relative in California who has been a recent victim of one of the PG&E intentional power outages outages. For those in other countries, PG&E is the electric utility and has not maintained the infrastructure well enough for a decade or more. Their equipment has been the cause of several of the devasting wildfires in CA in the past couple of years. In an effort to prevent more wildfires when winds are very high, the utility is turning off power to hundreds of thousands to millions of customers at a time and for several days running. Hence the LT1 is an ideal light for general purpose emergency illumination. I have my name in for more LT1’s so I may send this one off to where it may be a very handy thing to have. I’ve waited since 2016 so I guess being w/o a little longer is not so bad.
It is situations like that is happening in California with the grid, where a LT1 and a 10~15-watt USB solar panel can be a matter of light over darkness indefinitely and ability to light the nights in those cases where there is no light for long periods of time. One of the reasons i worked on designing the LT1 original concept, is to provide a sustainable/indefinite, reliable, dedicated light source (with great versatility & features) like the LT1 has for those caught in a disaster or crisis situation. I know they will appreciate you sending them your first LT1 lantern, but yours others will be your’s soon. I feel with the current society and things happening around the globe, the LT1 can be a needed area lantern light source to have. :+1:
Simple solution. Flip the breakers and make her think there is a power outage. Tell her the Coleman is broken. You now have an immediate need for a new lantern.
Or… You can use my approach.
I’d rather ask forgiveness than permission. Just buy the damn thing. You deserve it.
I like your train of thinking! 
Mine will be for camping and bugout bag. We don’t get too many power outages in Southern California where I’m at.
Sometimes you just gotta spoil yourself lol.
agree with this. The recent threats of power outages, as well as other opportunities, have lead to me connecting a 10W solar panel to a set of 3 used lawnmower batteries. The controller has a USB outlet, which allows me to charge my LT1, any other USB driven electronics, as well as provide outside security/landscape lighting every evening. Fortunately, we have not yet lost power in Santa Barbara yet, but its likley only a matter of time. Still need a generator for long term food storage (refrigerator), as anything over half a day would wipe out my present system (which would require an inverter). To really survive off grid for days a more significant investment is required.
Declare it as a hobby - then the expense immanently needs no justification 
I’ll be using mine for camping mainly but also to be able to light my house in a rare case of power outage. Fortunately we do have a fairly stable power grid in my country so this is more a prepping effort than actual need.
I’m eager to be able to replace my trusted old petroleum Petromax which has served me for years without issue but is a pain to take on a camping trip.
One LT1 will light a shed which has no electricity.
Mine had improperly bridged solder pads from the factory so I just went ahead and did them all. No regrets. If I need more battery life or it it gets too hot I just run it a little dimmer than the max (it’s never gotten too hot though). This actually works well for me since I prefer warmer color temperatures and so with the auto tint ramping it keeps things on the warmer side at the levels I tend to use it.
While I have been using my LT1 daily since I got it, I had my first “legitimate” use last night. We had a fire break out in Santa Barbara last night, and I spent probably an hour or more over the course of the evening up on the roof watching the progress. The LT1 provided a wide spray of light in all directions and helped keep us relatively safe up on the roof. I didn’t think to take a picture of the LT1, but I did take one of the fire. Flames 100’s of feet in the air, and at one point a portion of the fire distinctly looked like the eye of Sauron. By the time I got my phone it had changed, it was eerie for sure. The picture was from earlier on and the flames don’t look as big or as dramatic as later in the evening.
Whoa. I hope all is well.