Saint Minimus

Posted by: 6brnorma

Saint Minimus - 09/28/09 10:33 PM

Wondering if anyone has tried this little 'Headlamp' by Surefire. www.surefire.com/SaintMinimusHS2-A-BK
Posted by: aimless

Re: Saint Minimus - 09/29/09 01:17 PM

Basic specs:

Output:
High: 100 lumens
Low: 1 lumen

Runtime:
High Setting: 1.5 hours
Low Setting: 50 hours

Weight: 3.3 ounces with batt.
Batteries: One 123A lithium

Price: $139.00

I do not suppose you will find many TLB members who would pay quite so much for a 3.3 oz headlamp, regardless of how wonderful it might be.
Posted by: Rick_D

Re: Saint Minimus - 09/29/09 02:27 PM

It looks lovely! I can envision it illuminating the inside of my coffin with spectacular detail and pleasant color should my dear spouse ever discover I dropped $140 on a headlamp.

Cheers,
Posted by: Trailrunner

Re: Saint Minimus - 09/29/09 03:09 PM

Here is a poor man's version for a mere $49.00. It uses the same cell, it's aluminum, same basic configuration. Not quite as bright but I have the AA version and it's all the light I'll ever need in camp, or in a coffin grin

http://www.zebralight.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=184
Posted by: Kieran

Re: Saint Minimus - 09/29/09 03:19 PM

given the steripen cold weather debacle on models that use the CR123A batteries, I don't know that I'll be buying/trusting anything that uses those batteries. and i agree with the other posters - that price is quite steep. I think that might be a pretty good definition of the line where weight savings vs. price becomes unreasonable.
Posted by: CJennings

Re: Saint Minimus - 09/29/09 03:43 PM

I agree that the price is outrageous, but there is definitely a market out there for them, it just may not be the backpacking community.

They are currently on back order.

Hunters over at 24hourcampfire.com are big fans of Surefire products.

Kinda like buying a Rolex, I suppose.

To be fair, they are precision pieces of equipment and are nice if one has the money to blow.
Posted by: Arizona

Re: Saint Minimus - 09/29/09 07:18 PM

Originally Posted By 6brnorma
Wondering if anyone has tried this little 'Headlamp' by Surefire. www.surefire.com/SaintMinimusHS2-A-BK


Okay, here is one who has tried it. I have two Surefire flashlights and have always been amazed at the quality of the things, the build, the beam quality and the regulation of the light. Both use 123A batteries as does my Princeton Tech Apex Pro headlamp. If you buy the domestic batteries you will not have a problem as long as you store them properly. Some of the foreign batteries are not protected but the US made batteries are.

To save myself from the fate that Rick alludes to I bought two of these things, one for me and one for Girlfriend. We both do a lot of night stuff together, sometimes bushwhacking and other times just getting in some reading around camp at night. The Surefire Minimus is perfect for our needs.

The very lowest setting is great for reading a close page. It can be used to faintly illuminate camp if you need to have a bit of light but not totally blow your night vision. There is a slight detent at mid range which is a great level for general hiking. When you need to put out a wall of light there is high. We have need for big variances in light levels and the Minimus can be dialed to any level between 0 and 100 lumens. Normally with a good beam quality, I like about 15 lumens for cross country travel with momentary bursts of brigher for certain passages.

The beam color is way better than the Apex Pro and it is about 70 grams lighter that the Apex pro as well. There are some tiny, faint artifacts in the beam if you white wall it but in real use, you will not notice it. All headlamps I have used have had far worse beam qualities compared to the Minimus.

The beam can be angled up or down to any angle like many other headlamps.

Some of my friends have broken headlamps. Many of them are plastic things. The Surefire build is so good that I expect that this one will still be around after decades of rambling.

They are very comfortable.

Yes they are expensive. I'm not exactly well to do but I do buy the best quality I can afford in certain tools.

I hope that helps you some 6brnorma.
Posted by: 6brnorma

Re: Saint Minimus - 09/29/09 11:52 PM

Originally Posted By Arizona
I hope that helps you some 6brnorma.


Thanks Arizona, very useful information and thanks to everyone else also.

I have a number of Surefire products and all are superior in both quality and performance. None are cheap however. Biggest problem I've had is that they seem to 'grow legs' and walk away. I'm a little dissappointed in the 'adventurous' nature of some of you men here....don't you know what old worn out backpacks are for. That's how you move items such as this in and out of the house without 'dear wifey' finding out grin Didn't sound like many/any were interested but if you are...Bright Guys.com has them in stock for same day shipping.
Posted by: thecook

Re: Saint Minimus - 09/30/09 12:16 AM

Obviously, you aren't married to an accountant. It is not the bringing into/out of the house that gets noticed, it is the bill or 'missing' cash wink
Posted by: 6brnorma

Re: Saint Minimus - 09/30/09 10:23 AM

Originally Posted By thecook
Obviously, you aren't married to an accountant. It is not the bringing into/out of the house that gets noticed, it is the bill or 'missing' cash wink


grin Touche'
Posted by: Rick_D

Re: Saint Minimus - 09/30/09 12:51 PM

Okay, now you've done gone and made me want one. It's wife.gov's birthday this month, I wonder if she'd like....

Originally Posted By Arizona
Okay, here is one who has tried it. I have two Surefire flashlights and have always been amazed at the quality of the things, the build, the beam quality and the regulation of the light. Both use 123A batteries as does my Princeton Tech Apex Pro headlamp. If you buy the domestic batteries you will not have a problem as long as you store them properly. Some of the foreign batteries are not protected but the US made batteries are.

To save myself from the fate that Rick alludes to I bought two of these things, one for me and one for Girlfriend. We both do a lot of night stuff together, sometimes bushwhacking and other times just getting in some reading around camp at night. The Surefire Minimus is perfect for our needs.

The very lowest setting is great for reading a close page. It can be used to faintly illuminate camp if you need to have a bit of light but not totally blow your night vision. There is a slight detent at mid range which is a great level for general hiking. When you need to put out a wall of light there is high. We have need for big variances in light levels and the Minimus can be dialed to any level between 0 and 100 lumens. Normally with a good beam quality, I like about 15 lumens for cross country travel with momentary bursts of brigher for certain passages.

The beam color is way better than the Apex Pro and it is about 70 grams lighter that the Apex pro as well. There are some tiny, faint artifacts in the beam if you white wall it but in real use, you will not notice it. All headlamps I have used have had far worse beam qualities compared to the Minimus.

The beam can be angled up or down to any angle like many other headlamps.

Some of my friends have broken headlamps. Many of them are plastic things. The Surefire build is so good that I expect that this one will still be around after decades of rambling.

They are very comfortable.

Yes they are expensive. I'm not exactly well to do but I do buy the best quality I can afford in certain tools.

I hope that helps you some 6brnorma.
Posted by: aimless

Re: Saint Minimus - 09/30/09 01:51 PM

Rick D, a new headlamp won't cut it for your wife's birthdaygift; not when she's pining away for that new vacuum cleaner or ironing board! laugh
Posted by: 6brnorma

Re: Saint Minimus - 09/30/09 02:03 PM

Originally Posted By aimless
Rick D, a new headlamp won't cut it for your wife's birthdaygift; not when she's pining away for that new vacuum cleaner or ironing board! laugh


As I've said ... ooh...5-6 times before. Wifey can never have too many shotguns..er..headlamps laugh laugh laugh
Posted by: phat

Re: Saint Minimus - 10/01/09 11:51 AM

Originally Posted By 6brnorma
Originally Posted By thecook
Obviously, you aren't married to an accountant. It is not the bringing into/out of the house that gets noticed, it is the bill or 'missing' cash wink


grin Touche'


Yeah, that's waaaaay too close to home (I am married to an accountant).

It's much easier to hide the gear than the bill smile
Posted by: CamperMom

Re: Saint Minimus - 10/01/09 12:10 PM

We run with a "Don't ask/don't tell" philosophy. As long as the other bills can be paid, I don't ask what hubby's archery tackle costs, and don't tell what I spend on backpacking gear ...

CamperMom
(Who, for now, can access the forum again.)
Posted by: Rick_D

Re: Saint Minimus - 10/01/09 12:45 PM

Y'all are trying to get me deaded! How can I hike from inside a box?

Sheesh!

p.s. REI, it turns out, carries this thing. REI is known to occasionally spew forth 20% off everything coupons, although "everything" has all kinds of restrictions on electronics. Just sharing information....

Originally Posted By 6brnorma
Originally Posted By aimless
Rick D, a new headlamp won't cut it for your wife's birthdaygift; not when she's pining away for that new vacuum cleaner or ironing board! laugh


As I've said ... ooh...5-6 times before. Wifey can never have too many shotguns..er..headlamps laugh laugh laugh
Posted by: Arizona

Re: Saint Minimus - 10/01/09 01:32 PM

Originally Posted By Rick_D
Y'all are trying to get me deaded! How can I hike from inside a box?

Sheesh!

p.s. REI, it turns out, carries this thing. REI is known to occasionally spew forth 20% off everything coupons, although "everything" has all kinds of restrictions on electronics. Just sharing information....



Go ahead and get it and then try for the witness protection program. LOL

My better half is not an accountant but she could be the way she manages all the records. I never can slip any credit purchase by her so all online stuff has to have full disclosure. Lucky we both have the same interests and pursuits.
Posted by: CJennings

Re: Saint Minimus - 10/05/09 11:52 PM

Got my Minimus today and have been playing with it tonight.

The beam is bright, and is very full and uniform. Very solidly built and easy to use and adjust. Typical Surefire quality.

I own several other brands of headlamps which do the job, but this one will probably be the one I grab first.
Posted by: lars

Re: Saint Minimus - 10/06/09 11:00 PM

Well, I now have both of them. And as you can obviously guess from this, I'm not married.

But these two are very different animals. The Zebralight is a lot lighter and smaller, while the Minimus is a serious and weighty piece of hardware. Some plusses and minuses from using the Zebra for about 2 years, and both of them on a two week safari trip that I just got back from.

Zebra positives:
-small and lightweight
-even smaller when using the included cord as a headband
-uses AA batteries with are available anywhere, even in rural Tanzania
-glow in the dark attachment

Zebra negatives
-without this weird aluminum snap on piece that I loose all the time it is almost impossible to keep part of the spill beam from getting into my eyes
-at least on the AA model, the 3 levels are all a bit off from being useful. Low is too low for anything but reading a book I hold very close to my eyes. Medium is just a bit below what I'd like to see for walking in a forrest, and high is too much for hiking, and too little for spotting or lighting a hotelroom when the generator dies.
-the beam color can only be described as nasty. Very blue, very "artificial". It makes for a very flat view.



Minimus positives
-no spill beam in the eyes
-much brighter than the nominal 50% difference in lumen suggests
-much better beam color
-very adjustable output
-bean shape is much more useful than the Zebralight. It's rectangular and weighted towards the center.

Minimus negatives
-much heavier
-much larger. The Zebra is basically the size of a AA, I'd guess that the Minimus with headband has at least 5 times the volume of the Zebra with cord
-uses 123A which are almost impossible to get except in specialty stores
-more expensive

Anyway, for me, the Minimus is the one I'll take on trips in the future, unless I just go with my old Fenix flashlight. But YMMY, and if you are trying to shave ounces, this is probably not the light for you.