We love our outdoor gadgets and tools especially when they are genuinely useful out on the mountains. During the winter months you can often find the mid afternoon coffee stop takes place in low light and subsequent trip off the mountains is in almost complete darkness all before it has even reached teatime. Welcome the LuminAid Packlite 16.
The LuminAID PackLite 16 is a solar charged, inflatable LED light system made from strong, durable PVC-Free material that folds down to a lightweight neat pack (see the image below). The large solar panel on the front offers easy charging while on walks and a small coloured LED on the front indicates the level of stored charge left in the internal battery.
The LuminAid PackLite 16 provides up to an amazing 16 hours of LED light from its two ‘extra-bright’, 45 lumens multi-chip Light Emitting Diodes. We found the device charged quickly whilst clipped on to our pack while out in the hills. Without any advanced charging we found 5-6 hours of autumn light while attached to our backpack offered enough charge for 8-10 hours of use so this isn’t a device that you really need to prepare in advance for a day walk.
Pushing the little red button on the front rotates through the different light options, Extra Bright – (approx 6 hours), High, (approx 10 hours), Low (approximately 26-30 hours) and finally a flashing strobe option which I will deal with later.
LuminAid PackLite 16
I am not boasting but I was able to inflate the LuminAID Packlite 16 with just one blow and at maximum inflation the weather resistant material defuses the light to create a massive lantern. It is amazing just how well the Packlite illuminates an area and it will comfortably light up a 125 square feet space on full brightness. We waited for total darkness and attached the packlite to a tree for a few photos.
Different Modes
As well as being a practical lighting system the LuminAID Packlite 16 has an important safety application for hillwalkers. With a 32+ hour strobe mode the LuminAID Packlite 16 can draw attention to the emergency services should things go wrong in the hills. The strobe light can be seen from quite a distance and given the size and cost it makes sense to carry the LuminAID as part of your everyday kit.
In Conclusion
At only 85 grams and costing around £25 the LuminAID Packlite 16 is the perfect portable light solution. Although we see massive potential as a camp light we feel the essential benefit is the lanterns use as a safety device, especially on dark winter walks. In short the LuminAID Packlite 16 is lightweight, portable, cheap, amazingly practical and one of the brightest LED lights we have used. If you are looking for the ideal gift for the hillwalker in your family, you can’t go far wrong with the LuminAID Packlite 16.
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