Lumin AID Max Quick Inflate Review: A portable solar-powered lantern and mobile battery! It's amazing because it serves two purposes
Written by Yosuke.C
When camping or hiking in the great outdoors, light is essential to ensure a safe night. Even in the darkness of the night, having a light allows you to feel safe and relaxed inside your tent. This is not just limited to the outdoors; electricity is also one of the lifelines that allows us to live comfortably in our everyday lives
Thanks to the development and evolution of technology, smartphones have become a necessity in modern times. Smartphones, which can access information such as maps, social media, news, and weather forecasts, are the most versatile and convenient item for mountain climbing and other outdoor activities. Along with the popularity of smartphones, demand for mobile batteries has also increased. Since there is no electricity in the mountains, running out of smartphone battery can be a matter of life and death
A light source and a power source are two essential items that are absolutely essential even in the mountains. I was looking for a single item that could provide both, and that's when I discovered the luminAID Max QuickInflate . This time, I'll be reviewing this excellent product that serves as both a light and a mobile battery, and can even be charged by solar power and reused in places without power.
table of contents
Main Features of Max Quick Inflate
The luminAID Max QuickInflate is an inflatable lantern that combines a light and battery. Crafted from lightweight, highly flexible, and durable TPU material, it can be assembled by simply twisting it by hand, without the need for blowing air into it. It emits up to 200 lumens of light. The brightness can be adjusted to four levels, plus a flashing (SOS) mode, allowing you to find the perfect brightness for your needs.
The built-in 2000mAh battery can power your devices. It can be charged via USB or with a solar panel, allowing for repeated use even in places without power sources. Its waterproof rating is IP67, making it suitable for use even when wet, making it a useful lantern and battery not only for outdoor activities but also in emergencies
Favorite points
- Up to 200 lumens of brightness
- Comes with a 2000mAh battery
- 2-way charging via solar panel and USB
- Remaining battery level can be seen at a glance, making operation easy
- Waterproof so you can get it wet without any problems
Points of concern
- It takes 16 to 20 hours to fully charge in sunlight
- Considering the battery capacity of recent smartphones, it has a low
- A bit heavy for UL fans
Main specifications and evaluation
| Item Name | Max Quick Inflate |
|---|---|
| size | 15cm x 15cm x 15cm |
| When stored | 15cm x 15cm x 2.5cm |
| material | TPU |
| weight | 360g |
| Battery capacity | 2000mAh |
| Charging method/time |
|
| Output Function | USB-A output (5V/2A) |
| Waterproof performance | IP67 |
| Maximum Brightness | 200 lumens |
| Continuous lighting time |
|
| Emitting color | white |
| Outdoor Gearzine Review | |
| Brightness | ★★★★★ |
| weight | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Storage capacity | ★★★☆☆ |
| durability | ★★★★★ |
| Ease of use | ★★★★☆ |
| Versatility | ★★★★★ |
Detailed Review
Up to 200 lumens, 360-degree illumination
the Max Quick Inflate is, without a doubt, its lantern. It emits up to 200 lumens of light, which is enough to light up a 2-3 person tent with the same level of brightness as a fully-electric room, and its illumination range is 360 degrees (excluding the top where the solar panel is attached).
Because it emits white light, even at maximum brightness it feels brighter than it actually is. It's covered in translucent TPU material, so it's soft and not too bright. Its brightness can be adjusted in four steps from 200 lumens to 15 lumens, and it also has a flashing (SOS) mode, allowing you to adjust the light to suit your needs. For example, you can set it to maximum brightness when cooking, so you can clearly see what's nearby, and then lower the brightness afterward to enjoy some relaxation time
Foldable for compact storage. Simply twist to assemble
To use it, simply open the cap on the bottom and twist to let air in, making it easy to set up. Its square shape means you can place it on the ground, or you can hang it up using the included Velcro strap. The Velcro strap is adjustable in length and has a hole for a carabiner, so it can be used in a variety of ways
It has a built-in 2000mAh battery and can be charged using solar power (solar panel), making it suitable for endless uses
There are many solar-powered lanterns on the market, but the Max Quick Inflate has a built-in 2000mAh battery and is equipped with a mobile battery function, allowing it to power smartphones and USB devices. Considering the battery capacity of the Max Quick Inflate alone is not enough to charge a device, but the solar charging allows for a constant supply of power even in areas without power sources, broadening the range of uses.
For example, I recently ran into a problem on a mountain hike: my mobile battery ran out of power while I was in the mountains, so I couldn't charge it, and my smartphone battery was almost dead. When using public transportation to hike, it's not always possible to charge your device on the way there. In such cases, you have to use a mobile battery before entering the mountains, but using up power before entering the mountains can mean you run out of battery while you're in the mountains. If I the Max Quick Inflate, this problem might have been solved.
The portable battery I brought with me powers my smartphone, and the Max Quick Inflate creates a flow of power supply to the portable battery. By attaching it to the outside of my backpack and using solar charging while I'm out and about during the day, I can return to the ground where there is a power source without interrupting the power supply. Incidentally, the Max Quick Inflate can also be used as a portable battery to power my devices while also turning on a light, so I can charge my devices while I relax at night.
It takes 16 to 20 hours to fully charge using sunlight. You can check the remaining battery level and manage it well
Solar charging allows for continuous power supply even in places without a power source, but it takes about 16 to 20 hours to fully charge the battery using sunlight. If you start hiking in the morning and assume there are about 9 hours of solid sunlight until sunset, the power obtained during the day will charge the battery to about 50 to 60% of its capacity. Charging is most efficient on sunny days, but the weather in the mountains is changeable, so it may not always be sunny when you want to charge. (Charging will occur even if there are clouds.)
Although solar charging provides a continuous supply of power, the power obtained from sunlight is weak, so power consumption management is essential. The Max Quick Inflate is equipped with an indicator that shows the remaining battery power at a glance, making it easy to manage power consumption. By charging the battery before it runs out of power, you can prevent the battery from running out.
The remaining battery level can be seen at a glance (green lamp). When the red lamp on the far right is lit, charging is in progress
2-way charging possible: solar power (solar panel) and USB
If you rely entirely on solar power, you won't be able to keep up with the power consumption, but the Max Quick Inflate has a 2-way design that allows you to charge it via USB. Even in the mountains, there are mountain huts that provide electricity, so you can quickly charge it in those places, and it can be charged via USB in about 2 hours.
It's a little heavy for hikers, but there are pros and cons depending on your hiking style and the duration of your hike
The Max Quick Inflate weighs 360g, which is a bit heavy for hikers, and some may be hesitant to add it to their mountaineering gear. Even for me, the weight is a concern when adding it to gear for short mountain hikes of one or two nights. But what about long-term traverses or trips? If the extra 360g can provide a power source for a light source and solar charging, the weight of 360g looks different. Solar charging is dependent on the weather, making stable charging difficult, but if you want even a little power while hiking, the Max Quick Inflate is definitely worth considering.
Waterproof so you can get it wet without any problems
The Max Quick Inflate boasts high waterproofing, with an IP rating of IP67, the highest level for waterproof and dustproof electronic devices. This means that it is completely protected against dust and will not let water in even if submerged 15cm to 1m below the surface for 30 minutes. With this level of waterproofing, it's no problem if it suddenly rains while you're charging it attached to your backpack. There's no need to worry about water damage in the mountains.
Summary: A survival lantern that has a "light source" and "power source" that can be supplied by the power of nature
We introduced luminAID Max QuickInflate
While it may seem heavy in terms of weight alone, it can be a valuable source of power for long mountain hikes or long days without power, helping to power essential devices like smartphones. The tough Max Quick Inflate making it useful for more than just outdoor activities like mountain climbing. It's also an excellent item with features that make it a useful lifeline in emergencies like disasters.
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Yosuke.C (Yosuke)
A person who travels around with just one backpack, with the motto of "as light as possible" without causing inconvenience
From spring to autumn, I go fishing in mountain streams in pursuit of char deep in the mountains. I hike the mountains in search of spectacular views that cannot be seen from the ground. I camp to relax by a bonfire. I snowboard to experience the feeling of floating in the silvery white mountains
A freelance writer with over 20 years of outdoor experience who enjoys the outdoors in his own way all year round. Based on his experience writing articles for over a dozen outdoor web publications, he will share his own experiences and the best tools he has used
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