Surefire Saint headlamp? (Part 2) - Page 3

grnamin · #61 10-21-2009, 01:52 PM

I just got off the phone with Surefire and I was told that the Saint was supposed to be available to dealers today.

DaFABRICATA · #62 10-21-2009, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grnamin

I just got off the phone with Surefire and I was told that the Saint was supposed to be available to dealers today.

Thanks for checking!!!

I guess we will all wait and see.
SF has been better with releases as of late hopefully they were listening to the complaints about putting products in their catalogs that are still WAAAY out in terms of actually being available.

On a side note, I pulled a dumb-ass move the other night...
I went to the garage to make a heatsink and was going to use the minimus to help with lighting...I turned it on and it would get bright then ramp down to very low and kept doing it.

I figured it was a low battery as it has been used a lot with the same cell.
I opened my toolbox where I keep a spares carrier and put a fresh cell in it...Same thing...Bright then dim and up and down..

At this point I thought I was going to have to send it in.
I checked the cell on my ZTS tester and it had 20% left

Found an ACTUAL fresh cell and it worked as it should...I felt like a jack-ass.

Moral of the story: If you're gonna put dead cells back in a spares carrier, flip them upside down so you know they are crap.

Has anyone else noticed this behavior when the batteries get low?

SunDog · #63 10-21-2009, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mx125

Apologies if this specifically has been addressed . . but a question about READING with the minumus . . should I assume the beam is too focussed and a bit bright?

I've seen comments that the minimus does not have enough throw for walking . . . while still having too much light on low for up close work in a tent without upsetting others/night vision . . but not sure how it fares as a reading tool. I love my Zebralight on low for that purpose and wonder how the minimus compares in specifically that use? I'd like an excuse to get one, but as 80% of my headlamp use is reading, I don't want to be completely frustrated.

Thanks.

We just got back from a week of backpacking and camping in southern Utah and we both took our new Minumus headlamps. We loved them for reading on the very lowest setting and did so for up to a couple of hours every night.

The low is great for around camp in many situations or a bit more light for some. In the dark going cross country, the medium worked well but at times we dialed them up higher. On high they were plenty bright to see how to move through rugged terrain and we only needed that much light momentarily at times. We liked the simple design very much and the relatively light weight. They were very comfortable on the head for hours every night.

As much as we used them we never did have to put the spare batteries in. They ran all week long on one battery each. Low can preserve or blow your night vision depending on what you are doing. Around camp it was preserved fairly well but when reading, it would blow it at least to a degree.

We have used the Princeton Tec Apex Pro for the last couple of years and the Minimus comes in at 70 grams lighter and a whole lot more comfortable with a much better tint and no rings. It was easy to get used to rotating the beam after some use. It is good to have it hold tight and not move when you don't want it to move. The Apex Pro would move at times when not wanted. Operation of the light levels is very intuitive. They have a nice rugged build.

This is the kind of terrain we were camped in and traveled in for a week. We never needed or wanted another light in that time. It is very versatile for what it is.

DaFABRICATA · #64 10-21-2009, 08:00 PM

SunDog,

AWESOME PICTURE!!!

I would LOVE to be able to do that in my lifetime!!

Thanks for the reveiw of how it did for you!

WOW!!, you've been a member for a Loooooong time and only 4 posts!

Good to hear from ya!

RGB_LED · #65 10-21-2009, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tpchan

Received my Saint Minimus today, and I'm happy with it. In case it hasn't yet been answered in this thread, the Minimus seems to work just fine with a rechargeable 16340 as long as you have a small magnet to put on the positive end to make a firm contact with the light. I used an AW IMR 16340 and the Minimus is working fine with it. Same as the SureFire T1A for working with 16340 cells.

Thanks tpchan, that's the info that I was looking for.

Still, I'm on the fence about this light... I initially thought that, with the dual fuel option and peripheral vision / diffused beam profile (a la Zebralight), this would make an ideal headlamp. But, the things I'm reading now re: edge artifacts that appear distracting at night, no low-low, stiff switch mechanism now makes me pause. I'd like to hear more feedback from those who have gone camping / caving with this light as that would be my primary use...

carrot · #66 10-21-2009, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grnamin

I just got off the phone with Surefire and I was told that the Saint was supposed to be available to dealers today.

That's EXCELLENT news. I look forward to seeing these.

Andrey · #67 10-21-2009, 10:18 PM

I lent my new Minimus to non-flashaholic friend we frequently hike and camp with.
He was quite happy with the headlamp mostly due to simple intuitive interface. Not really low minimal level was not bothering him as much as myself. Neither he noticed beam artifacts until I specifically pointed him at them.

At the same time I find Zebralight H501W more comfortable than Minimus for following reasons:
- Warm tint.
- Lower low.
- More compact. You will not notice H501 in your pocket.
- Weigh less.
The above factors outweigh for me a really nice interface of Minimus.

Conclusion: I will wait for smaller headlamp with warm tint or replaceable LED and lower low.

Andrey

zemmo · #68 10-22-2009, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SunDog

We just got back from a week of backpacking and camping in southern Utah and we both took our new Minumus headlamps. We loved them for reading on the very lowest setting and did so for up to a couple of hours every night.

The low is great for around camp in many situations or a bit more light for some. In the dark going cross country, the medium worked well but at times we dialed them up higher. On high they were plenty bright to see how to move through rugged terrain and we only needed that much light momentarily at times. We liked the simple design very much and the relatively light weight. They were very comfortable on the head for hours every night.

As much as we used them we never did have to put the spare batteries in. They ran all week long on one battery each. Low can preserve or blow your night vision depending on what you are doing. Around camp it was preserved fairly well but when reading, it would blow it at least to a degree.

We have used the Princeton Tec Apex Pro for the last couple of years and the Minimus comes in at 70 grams lighter and a whole lot more comfortable with a much better tint and no rings. It was easy to get used to rotating the beam after some use. It is good to have it hold tight and not move when you don't want it to move. The Apex Pro would move at times when not wanted. Operation of the light levels is very intuitive. They have a nice rugged build.

This is the kind of terrain we were camped in and traveled in for a week. We never needed or wanted another light in that time. It is very versatile for what it is.

That slickrock is big fun! Always enjoyed it myself.

I have been using my minimus the last few days and do find it very comfortable. Personally, I would like a little more throw, but I supplement it with a flashlight when walking around at night. Good to be able to tell what those eyes belong to, be it cougar, coyote, javelina, fox, bear, or? All in all I am pretty pleased with the light, and I use a headlamp of some sort a lot.

Size15's · #69 10-22-2009, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RGB_LED

But, the things I'm reading now re: edge artifacts that appear distracting at night, no low-low, stiff switch mechanism now makes me pause. I'd like to hear more feedback from those who have gone camping / caving with this light as that would be my primary use...

I used a Minimus on a weekend trip to hike up Snowdon.
I suggest that the 'edge artifacts' are not normal, and if the one I had had them I'd arrange to have it replaced.
The 'stiff switch mechanism' is also not normal.
I suspect isolated instances of this nature were the result of SureFire being a bit hasty when putting together the first batches - I am confident that lessons learned and assembly details have been worked.

The 'low-low' was something I was a little concerned about myself but the reality is that in use it was low enough.

I don't have time to go through all my feedback but the Minimus has retired my Princeton Tec EOS headlamps as my active use headlamp for camping, hiking and general use.

Woods Walker · #70 10-22-2009, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Size15's

I don't have time to go through all my feedback but the Minimus has retired my Princeton Tec EOS headlamps as my active use headlamp for camping, hiking and general use.

That alone is high praise. Look forward to more reviews and feed back on this headlamp. I am thinking about the Saint.

kelmo · #71 10-22-2009, 09:16 PM

I used mine at work quite extensively yesterday. I was chasing down a construction defect in a ceiling cavity for a couple of hours. It was quite literally urban caving. I had to crawl around pipes, ductwork, wiring, excetera all in a 2-3 foot tall space. I did not need the hand held I had with me. The nice smooth flood and 100 lumen high were perfect. The breathoprene piece acually worked pretty well. It was soaked when I took off the headlamp but it dried very fast.

grnamin · #72 10-23-2009, 10:26 AM

My apologies to everyone. I called Surefire again just to see if their answer would change because I hadn't found any dealers that had the Saint in stock. The person I talked to said that the full version Saint won't be out until November 23rd and that dealers will get them two weeks prior. At this point, it's really anyone's guess when it will come out.

DaFABRICATA · #73 10-23-2009, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grnamin

My apologies to everyone. I called Surefire again just to see if their answer would change because I hadn't found any dealers that had the Saint in stock. The person I talked to said that the full version Saint won't be out until November 23rd and that dealers will get them two weeks prior. At this point, it's really anyone's guess when it will come out.

Why doesn't that suprise me at all!!!

hurricane · #74 10-23-2009, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaFABRICATA

Why doesn't that suprise me at all!!!

Exactly! Brutal.

In a few days we'll hear "February 17th - 2010" ...

dcycleman · #75 10-24-2009, 09:07 AM

I dont take anything seriose from surefire untill someone else on here actually has one.

dcycleman · #76 10-24-2009, 04:59 PM

Well, I just pulled the trigger on the minimus, should be here by tuesday, kinda sucks, I'm going hiking tomorro, Mt Washington. Probly coming out in the dark. I'll have to make due with my old headlamp.

hurricane · #77 10-25-2009, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dcycleman

Well, I just pulled the trigger on the minimus, should be here by tuesday, kinda sucks, I'm going hiking tomorro, Mt Washington. Probly coming out in the dark. I'll have to make due with my old headlamp.

Mt. Washington, NH? Awesome place. I've climbed it three times in winter ... one cold February night in 1997, I hit 150 mph gusts while hunkered down in a full-on mountaineering tent - just north of the summit and about 750' below the summit [enroute to climb the n. presidentials]. Survived, though the tent was fk'up [three broken poles and a ripped fly]. I remember I was using an old Petzl headlamp with alkaline batteries ... it was so cold, I'd get about 15 minutes out of the thing before the lamp would turn yellow and glow like a candle. I love that place, with it's crazy horizontal ice - totally extreme.

I'm sure you'll love the minimus and you can probably pick-up the "upgrade to a Saint kit" later ... have fun hiking in the White Mtns!

dcycleman · #78 10-25-2009, 06:24 PM

thanks man, we had an awesomw hike, it was below freezing with 75 MPH gusts when we got above treeline. I had to keep rubbing the ice off my glasses. we got out before dark so no lights were needed.

dcycleman · #79 10-27-2009, 05:01 PM

got the minimus in the mail today!!!!!

grnamin · #80 11-02-2009, 05:20 PM

Alert! Tadgear has some Saints in stock. If it's not yet listed on their website, you'll need to call to order. Got one arriving tomorrow.

grnamin · #81 11-03-2009, 01:00 PM

It's finally here!

DaFABRICATA · #82 11-03-2009, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grnamin

It's finally here!

Ummm.. you can't just leave us with that!

Take that thing outta the box and lets see some pictures!!

I'd like a close up of the part that replaces the battery on the Minimus...please!

Also, Does it come with the battery cap that allows it to be converted to a Minimus?

opc orn:

: popcorn:

opco rn:

opcorn:

grnamin · #83 11-03-2009, 01:49 PM

Not to worry.

I only have my iPhone at work to take the first pic. I'll take more unboxing pictures when I get home (with a more decent camera). The red plastic thing in the box (in picture) is a cap that contains the small battery tube with a spring to convert to a Minimus. Hmmmm... Maybe an unboxing video instead.

DimeRazorback · #84 11-03-2009, 02:54 PM

OMG OMG OMG!!

Oh man...

Not good for the paypal finger.

grnamin · #85 11-03-2009, 06:41 PM

Unboxing a Surefire Saint and assembling it without reading the instructions

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SrKYuyef2s

Battery compartment details:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JORBRZTCg8s

PoliceScannerMan · #86 11-03-2009, 07:11 PM

Sweet video Greg, thanks for sharing. My minumus should be here tomorrow. Like I needed it, I just couldnt help myself.

I really dont have a use for a headlamp, but I am sure it will some in handy unloading the wifes 100's and 100's of pounds of Christmas decorations out of the attic.

FrogmanM · #87 11-03-2009, 08:34 PM

Thanks for the video Greg

-Mayo

grnamin · #88 11-04-2009, 02:41 AM

You're welcome.

grnamin · #89 11-04-2009, 07:53 AM

Note to self: Disconnect battery pack from the headband first before installing the Minimus conversion cap. Otherwise, you'll end up with a battery pack wire looking like a phone cord.

RobertM · #90 11-04-2009, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grnamin

Unboxing a Surefire Saint and assembling it without reading the instructions

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SrKYuyef2s

Battery compartment details:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JORBRZTCg8s

Whoa! The Saint not only comes with the means of using 3 batteries instead of one, but it comes with a SureFire sticker!!!

Man, I should have held out for the Saint instead of quickly getting the Minimus.

-Robert