Interested in 2.
Thanks!
[QUOTE]Heck if someone wants a single 18650 lantern, just get a frigging diffuser to put over the head of a tail standing 18650 flashlight with the head diameter of choice.[/QUOTE] Pretty much the same could be said for any lantern if you want to take that stance. Why even *have a lantern with that philosophy?
The core reason for wanting this was that we were all thinking this was going to be a pocket sized ‘lantern’ based on the IF25. I dont need a 26650 lantern. Going 26650 size in the tube means the head also needs to be increased appropriatley so that it’s bigger than the body. That means a MUCH bigger lantern than we originally thought.
[Quote]This is a mini. LT1 compared to the LT1M shows a huge drop in diameter. Camping means out in the rough, with limited options. So having a light that can take 21700, 18650, 26650 or a 3x AAA carrier… is terrific.
[/quote]
This is why cars, and everything else, keep getting bigger and bigger until manufacurers completley completely abandon whole size classes, only to alienate those who liked the minimalist approach to things.
I had a ‘95 nissan pickup that got 28 to 30 mpg in the city. 6’ bed, ok tow capacity for what it was. Used it for everything. Good luck getting 30 mpg with any pickup made today. Even new toyotas barly get 18.
Just my modest opinion that theres nothing wrong with minimalist simple goods that do one job very well.
It look too tall for a lantern make it shorter and use 26650/18650/3xAAA not 21700 should help
Camping and backpacking are totally different use cases. For camping, the LT1 is already amazing. For backpacking, the LT1 Mini looks like it just got a lot less appealing. For backpacking, nobody is going to need the additional battery options, they aren’t going to carry multiple battery types for one light and space is at a premium. Mini is what we were looking forward to, this last minute switch away from the original concept to 26650 is a step in the wrong direction. I’m sure it will be a decent light and there may be design pressure to move to 26650 because they think it will sell better, but it sure wasn’t what I envisioned when I first saw the project and I think with this change it misses it’s originally stated purpose.
Camping, Backpacking… there’s many shades of gray. Some people do both.
The LT1M is mini relative to the original. If someone needs something smaller, just for a short while when taking a break during a backpacking trip on the evening leg back, then I don’t think an elaborate multi-tint emitter lantern is necessary. Again, any flashlight can be made into a temporary lantern, with a tall diffuser for it. The LT1M is beefy enough to take higher capacity cells for a more extensive backpacking/camping trip, where space is enough of a premium to make the big LT1 too much to carry.
The IF25, on the right, is the light that this project started with. The other two are some of my shortest 26650 lights. I don’t see any advantage to starting over with a larger cell.
- Certainly any unilateral battery change should free anyone on the preorder list of any commitment they may have made. They can decide again whether they want the new version.
- I don’t think I’d take either version of this light backpacking. I’d just use a flashlight or headlamp with a diffuser. When backpacking I don’t go ultralight-berserk, but I do try to keep weight down.
- Re tail standing: how about a tripod hole on the tailcap? That would allow screwing in an anti-tipover disc, that could be included on top of the light. It could be made of plastic or PCB material for light weight.
- A magnet for the above would be useless, I think, unless you’re also going to bring along a chunk of iron (perhaps an anvil) to stick it to.
- If you want to run on commodity batteries in an emergency, why mess with 3aaa and a bigger tube? Include a boost converter on the driver, that can use 1aa at lower brightness. 50 lumens maximum is fine, it’s an emergency after all. Actually it could be based on the in-progress SP10 Pro driver which already supports dual fuel.
- In fact if there is talk of separate battery tubes, how about an 18500 tube? That would allow use of 18500, 14500, and maybe AA with no length extenders. There would have to be some kind of widening thing for 14500/AA, like a simple and light plastic cylinder or just a friction fit spacer ring.
- I also find 26650 to be a weird choice of size. It has some attractions for very high current but that doesn’t apply to this light. 21700 at least has higher capacity compared to 18650.
If this project were starting from scratch and holding a vote on battery size, I’d probably pick 21700 and then 18650 in that order, but I can understand preferring 18650 over 21700 for those prioritizing small size. I wouldn’t pick 26650 either way. I’d support making the 18650 tube long enough for “18700”, i.e. those protected 18650s with built in USB charging. As it is, I would say just stick with whatever was originally agreed on, and perhaps offer alternate versions for other audiences if they seem to want them.
Thanks for all the work on this light, by the way.
I DIY this with a Oomomo flashlight.
I do not think a 22650 design will hinder anything when comparing it with the WK30.
thanks for all the ideas. But how to make a poll?
There should be 3 options
1. keep the current design, thicker tube that eats 21700(unprotected), 18650, 26650 battery. Because there are springs on both sides.
2. thinner and shorter tube, it accepts 18650 only, keep the wide base. (some say use diffuser on 18650 flashlight is a better choice)
3. long tube, accepts 21700, keep the wide base, but with adaptor for 18650. (engineer told it won’t be thinner)
I will talk with engineers, he told 21700 can be used in LT1-mini without adaptor, because the dual springs keep it stable.
I will send more pictures later
The interest list is just that…nobody should feel any obligation to purchase the mini just because they’re on it 
Based on messages with Barry there will be a standard tripod mount on the tail cap.
No magnet as far as I know.
The biggest con against the 26650 is that it makes the tube wider. I doubt that there’s a noticeable difference in weight and it’s 5mm shorter than a 21700 so there’s no effect on height (for those who suggested that a 26650 will make the mini taller).
Polled created. Comments can be added here
I set the poll to be active for 2 weeks which I think is way more than enough time for people to make their vote.
when standing with LT1, LT1-mini is not that long. How do you think?
You can see the dual springs.
I think it looks good
I like it too! albeit my eyes are drawn to its tube being a fraction taller than LT1. Perhaps 26350 tube option as well?
I do like it though. I’ve not logged in for some time; if I’m not on the list, please include me.
It does seem to be long in the body and short in the head… but it is very small compared to the LT1. I’m still in. How would it compare to the Lumintop CL2
Thanks, SIGShooter, I was just about to ask
I’d find a 1/4” tripod mount useful to increase my mounting options when using the LT1M as a work light.
This looks promising
Please add me to the list for 1. Thanks
Love it. The ability to choose three different batteries will make it versatile. I agree the tripod mount will be very useful hopefully it will be on the base and also the side. It would also be nice to have the option to have a magnet on the bottom flushed as some will prefer no magnet. Please also consider the button to be warm amber versus annoying green. Thank you.
I really like this idea, the anti-tipover disc