tandem
Enlightened
I love the turnaround you've done! No, really, I believe a good small light as a first light always makes sense because it can be EDC'd by anyone. The MiNi being a twisty is diminutive in size.
When buying a first light you just never know what is going to turn your crank, or fail to. Sometimes you can guess. I knew I didn't really like twisties for anything but a simple on-off light, and sure enough, that has proven true over time. If the UI is more complex than on and off I prefer a clicky of some sort, even a reverse clicky is better than a twisty in my hands. But I don't only prefer I love momentary forward clickies, but would not have known that out of the gate.
I wish I could reprogram my EDC to start on medium or maybe even high... I only use low sporadically. If I have nearby one of my other lights that starts on high, often I'll reach for that one first.
Choosing a light often is choosing a set of compromises, and the compromises one has to make are not always obvious when we are pressing the Buy It Right The Heck Now button. For example some here believe the HDS EDC is a perfect light without flaws of any sort. I don't share that view, not because the light isn't great but because it is too bulky for me for EDC purposes and uses a cell type I do not wish to support in either primaries or rechargeable cells. What I really would love to see from HDS is a slimmer HDS EDC powered by a single AA and then I'd buy one in a heartbeat. I'd probably buy several in fact on day one alone.
I could live with the MiNi's (or the LD15's) twisty interface (a compromise to gain the very small size), but I've found that an EDC light for me has to have a pocket clip. A good, strong, long lasting pocket clip. I can't compromise there. I really wanted to buy a MiNi or an LD15 for my wife but just can't because of that missing feature.
I like clips on an EDC light as they keep the light higher in my pocket and away from change or what-have-you. I can even run some without my EDC light bouncing around. The clip is useful in my back pack and fanny pack, keeping the light out of the bottom of dividers and internal pockets. I clip it on a sternum strap on my pack at times when I want it near by. Just all around useful, and on my particular light, can be reversed and turned into an instant headlamp stuck on to the brim of a ball cap. That little clip adds so much value to my EDC light that having experienced the value I could never buy another EDC form factor light without one. Sadly... clips are often done poorly on many lights it seems, based on feedback from many folks here.
I'm not trying to talk you out of anything nor am I going to recommend anything as an alternative. I'm just getting you warmed up for light purchase #2, #3, #4, ...
Enjoy the light and have a happy birthday!
PS: Beyond the EDC of today... When you go to Greenland just get a MD2 with a Malkoff M61 or M61W perhaps preferably and be done with it. :)
When buying a first light you just never know what is going to turn your crank, or fail to. Sometimes you can guess. I knew I didn't really like twisties for anything but a simple on-off light, and sure enough, that has proven true over time. If the UI is more complex than on and off I prefer a clicky of some sort, even a reverse clicky is better than a twisty in my hands. But I don't only prefer I love momentary forward clickies, but would not have known that out of the gate.
I wish I could reprogram my EDC to start on medium or maybe even high... I only use low sporadically. If I have nearby one of my other lights that starts on high, often I'll reach for that one first.
Choosing a light often is choosing a set of compromises, and the compromises one has to make are not always obvious when we are pressing the Buy It Right The Heck Now button. For example some here believe the HDS EDC is a perfect light without flaws of any sort. I don't share that view, not because the light isn't great but because it is too bulky for me for EDC purposes and uses a cell type I do not wish to support in either primaries or rechargeable cells. What I really would love to see from HDS is a slimmer HDS EDC powered by a single AA and then I'd buy one in a heartbeat. I'd probably buy several in fact on day one alone.
I could live with the MiNi's (or the LD15's) twisty interface (a compromise to gain the very small size), but I've found that an EDC light for me has to have a pocket clip. A good, strong, long lasting pocket clip. I can't compromise there. I really wanted to buy a MiNi or an LD15 for my wife but just can't because of that missing feature.
I like clips on an EDC light as they keep the light higher in my pocket and away from change or what-have-you. I can even run some without my EDC light bouncing around. The clip is useful in my back pack and fanny pack, keeping the light out of the bottom of dividers and internal pockets. I clip it on a sternum strap on my pack at times when I want it near by. Just all around useful, and on my particular light, can be reversed and turned into an instant headlamp stuck on to the brim of a ball cap. That little clip adds so much value to my EDC light that having experienced the value I could never buy another EDC form factor light without one. Sadly... clips are often done poorly on many lights it seems, based on feedback from many folks here.
I'm not trying to talk you out of anything nor am I going to recommend anything as an alternative. I'm just getting you warmed up for light purchase #2, #3, #4, ...
Enjoy the light and have a happy birthday!
PS: Beyond the EDC of today... When you go to Greenland just get a MD2 with a Malkoff M61 or M61W perhaps preferably and be done with it. :)
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