Headlamp Like First Gen Surefire Minimus

[cm_mtb]

I have a first generation Minimus Vision. I love the infinitely variable brightness, which can be easily and rapidly adjusted by the side knob. I don't like lights with several defined modes, and I'm too impatient to press and hold a button to gradually increase or decrease brightness.

As much as I like the UI of my Surefire, I'm tired of using primaries, and the tint has always sucked. Here's what I'm looking for in a new headlamp:

- infinite brightness control with twist knob
- 1 lumen or less on low
- neutral or warm LED, high CRI is a plus
- rechargeable 16340 or 18650
- basically a Minimus Vision but better!

Does my dream light exist?

 

[Lynx_Arc]

I don't know about the twist knob but I have a light that has ramping from 5 to 600 lumens with a 1200 lumen turbo, neutral white color using a side switch and 18650 light. I prefer modes myself that way once you do get in a mode you have an idea how bright it is and how long you can run it at that level of light.

 

[parametrek]

I wish there was. Nothing comes close in the database. There are a few with ramping but they are all push button. And there are a few with rotary dials but they mostly still have modes. There are a couple with both features but everything else about them falls short.

 

[Dark Attic Works]

There are infinitely variable rotary lights like the Jetbeam RRT series, Sunwayman VR, Nitecore SRT. The rotary control is a ring instead of a side dial though but you might enjoy it. Neutral white options on some of them. My Jetbeam rotaries go crazy low and they can all run on Li-ion cells.

Edit: totally missed the headlamp part... whoops. I guess you could always rig up some contraption to attach the above lights to your noggin... :thinking:

 

[Kestrel]

I feel for you, OP; while I have been running my flashlights on rechargeables for over 10 years, I am still running through a few CR123's per year using my SF Minimus Vision.
It is otherwise such a perfect design, that I can't imagine SF or any other company making anything like them again. :-/

Nobody here has actually confirmed that it cannot be run on 3.7v LiIons; members here have measured tailcap currents on the T1A Titan (using a very similar driver) and found a decrease in current draw commensurate with the higher voltages, so anything is possible.

Not endorsing that practice of course - because this headamp of mine is virtually irreplaceable, I will continue to take exceedingly good care of mine.
Am going to be using mine again for a camping trip this weekend actually. :thumbsup:

 

[jabe1]

The only other ones I can think of are OKs Ikon headlamps from years back.
I still have one of each somewhere. You can't get a more intuitive UI than what is basically a potentiometer.

 

[cm_mtb]

Thanks for the thoughts, everyone. Sounds like there really isn't anything comparable out there. Is anyone aware of a headlamp with a rotary knob that at least meets the other criteria? I would be okay with several modes if I could still get a ≤1 lumen low and one or two modes beyond that which didn't exceed 25 lumens. It's frustrating how bright headlamps are these days. I would give the new Minimus a try if it weren't for the 5 lumen low.

I feel for you, OP; while I have been running my flashlights on rechargeables for over 10 years, I am still running through a few CR123's per year using my SF Minimus Vision.
It is otherwise such a perfect design, that I can't imagine SF or any other company making anything like them again. :-/

Nobody here has actually confirmed that it cannot be run on 3.7v LiIons; members here have measured tailcap currents on the T1A Titan (using a very similar driver) and found a decrease in current draw commensurate with the higher voltages, so anything is possible.

Not endorsing that practice of course - because this headamp of mine is virtually irreplaceable, I will continue to take exceedingly good care of mine.
Am going to be using mine again for a camping trip this weekend actually. :thumbsup:

Same here! I have a stash of primaries just for my Minimus. I use the headlamp almost daily, and go through a battery every month. I'm tempted to try rechargeables, but don't want to risk damage.

 

[Kestrel]

There were also the SureFire-branded 3.0v rechargeables; they didn't really catch on (partly due to their low capacity), but that could be another option. :shrug:

 

[Yupitsnuge]

Are the newest gen surefire not as good as first gen?