| Vastlite Minima Bow | |
|---|---|
| LEP type / class | shine through |
| Max. beam intensity (candelas) | 140,650 cd |
| Max. beam distance (meters) | 750 meters |
| Max. output (lumens) | 280 lm |
| Modes | 2 |
| Avg. Price | $120 |
Smallest LEP flashlight, the size of a 21700 battery
The Minima Bow is a tiny LEP flashlight, touted as the smallest on the market at just 71mm (2.8 inches) in length. Its twisty design minimizes mechanical components, and offers a easy user interface: simply tighten the light to turn it on and unscrew slightly to change output levels. It also reduces potential points of failure eg switch.
The overall build quality is okay, but the screw-in bezel gives it a somewhat cheap appearance, which detracts from its otherwise solid construction.
The removable pocket clip that helps in carrying and prevents rolling off flat/slightly inclined surfaces. The Minima Bow uses a shine-through LEP module, with a smooth beam without major artifacts. However, its narrow beam limits its practical applications compared to larger lights, though it could serve well as a backup light for hiking or inspections.
Powered by a 16340 lithium-ion battery with USB-C charging, make the use of the Minima Bow pretty convenient. But the charging process is relatively slow, taking about 2 hours and 51 minutes. I also tested the included battery’s capacity, and it measured 868mAh (while rated 850mAh).
While it may not match the throw distance of larger LEP flashlights, it provides a usable beam of approximately 300 meters (350 yards) for about an hour. That makes it a pretty nice addition to your collection.
Performance
Lumen
All of my readings were taken from a fully-charged Vastlite 16340 battery
The measurements were taken manually at turn on and 30 seconds. The 10-minute numbers are taken from the runtime graph.
| Mode | Specified output | Turn on | 30 sec. | 10 min. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low | 50 lm | 44 lm | 39 lm | 25 lm |
| High | 280 lm | 275 lm | 164 lm | 25 lm |
| HIgh at 3.7V | – | 281 lm | 42 lm | – |
Runtime
| Mode | Specified runtime | Runtime (ANSI FL1) | Time till shut off* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low | 1h 15min | 1h 20min | 1h 20min |
| High | 1h 2min | 1h 12min | 1h 16min |
Throw measurements
Measurements were taken outdoors at 20 meters, and indoors at 5 meters with a Hagner E4-X Lux Meter. The measurements were taken 30 seconds after turn on.
| Mode | Specified intensity | Specified beam distance | Candela measured | Meters | Yards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low | 24,030cd | 310m | 30,000 cd | 346 m | 379 yd |
| High | 140,650cd | 750m | 112,000 cd | 669 m | 732 yd |
Mine performed slightly below spec in High, and above specs in Low mode. But keep in mind that the output keeps dropping around the 30 seconds mark, so it’s not weird to have a difference.
