Review: Piko TL by LUPINE LIGHTING SYSTEMS

"Darkness is fought with light, because light guarantees what we see." This is written in the Black Book 9 by SPARTANAT on the topic of NIGHT FIGHTING. The German company LUPINE LIGHTING SYSTEMS (shortened as LUPINE) is known for their products in the field of bike and headlamps. Few are aware of the compact and powerful flashlight Piko TL. We introduce you to the pocket flashlight Piko TL MiniMax by LUPINE.

Delivery Contents

In the high-quality box, you will find the Piko TL MiniMax, a charger, and a detailed, well-illustrated user manual.

Technical Data

The length is 87 mm, the diameter of the lamp head is 42 x 24 mm. The housing of the Piko TL MiniMax is made of hard-anodized aluminum and milled from a single piece. This makes the lamp dust and waterproof and has protection classes IK 09 (impact resistance), IP 67 (waterproof). The weight is 150 grams.

The lenses are made of polycarbonate.

The Piko TL MiniMax is powered by an internal 7.2 V Li-Ion battery with a capacity of 2.0 Ah. Inside the flashlight is an electronic regulation that is designed to protect against overheating and ensure constant light output. (Photo: LUPINE)

The microprocessor-controlled charging time is approximately two hours. Charging status is indicated by a red-green LED. Green means fully charged, red means charging.

Why no USB? Even USB 3.0 is not fast enough for LUPINE! That's why they do not include built-in USB ports and continue to use their special chargers. The flashlight can also be charged via USB with an accessory.

The battery runtime is 47 hours. Red and blue LEDs indicate voltage, battery warning, lamp head, and remaining capacity.

The shape of the flashlight allows the Piko TL MiniMax to be placed upright for a candlelight dinner at the summit. The flat profile also prevents accidental rolling away.

On the underside of the Piko TL MiniMax there is a threaded opening. The flashlight can be mounted on a bicycle with a knurled screw from the accessory Toolfreehalter.

Lighting

The Piko TL MiniMax uses 2-fold Cree XM-L3 LEDs.

The Piko TL MiniMax has five lighting levels from 0.3W (40 lumens) to 16W (1800 lumens). In addition, it features Alpine SOS, SOS, and "Disorientation Flash" 15Hz.

Illumination with 16 watts, 10 meters distance, completely darkened room. Program 4 on the Piko TL MiniMax.

Illumination with 8 watts.

Illumination with 3 watts. The difference can be seen in the light cone.

Illumination with 0.3 watts. Same conditions as the previous levels.

Operation

The Piko TL MiniMax has a touch switch on the top. This is used for turning on and off and for changing modes. A double press or single press can be used to turn on the flashlight. To turn it off, press the switch for a few seconds. By tapping the switch while the lamp is on, you can cycle through the different modes.

There are seven programs available for the Piko TL MiniMax, offering different combinations of light intensities and special functions. To program these, the button must be pressed continuously. After the corresponding number of red or blue LED flashes, release the button.

The settings for this are printed on the flashlight. The well-described user manual shows the settings on page 6.

Accessories

A Piko/PTL Diffuser as a useful accessory provides a gentle, soft light for various activities.

The diffuser simply attaches to the lamp head. The diffuser disperses the emitted light, ideal for lighting up a room or reading a map. Here, the Piko TL MiniMax with diffuser illuminates a room at the highest level.

With the USB Charger and a Piko TL Adapter Cable, the flashlight's battery can be charged via the USB port of a PC, laptop, mobile phone charger …

… or power bank to charge the flashlight battery.

For traveling across the Alps or in operational areas far from the nearest power socket, the Piko TL MiniMax can be charged in combination with a solar panel such as the Goal Zero Nomad 7.

The hand-sewn MASC Holster Piko TL MiniMax made of high-quality leather fits belts up to a width of 45 mm. The holster is precisely fitting, maintains its stable shape, and makes it easy to holster the Piko TL MiniMax.

The Toolfree Holder for the Piko TL MiniMax is the ideal accessory for all bikers. Within seconds, the flashlight can be turned into a full-fledged bike light or stroller light when darkness unexpectedly sets in. O-rings for 31.8 mm and 25.4 mm handlebars are included.

As described above, there is a threaded opening on the bottom of the Piko TL MiniMax and the Toolfree holder is mounted above it by the knurled screw.

Attention

An important note from LUPINE: Please observe the laws of your country! The mounting on a bicycle is not approved for use within the scope of the German Road Traffic Licensing Regulations (StVZO). This product may only be used in the racing and outdoor area.

CONCLUSION: The Piko TL MiniMax from LUPINE convinces not only with its luminosity, but also with its high-quality workmanship, application possibilities, sustainability, service, and quality "Made in Germany". The lamp is easy to use, handy, and robust. The company LUPINE convinces every user with its products, whether on a bike, in the outdoor area, or by professionals in rescue services, police, and military.

The flashlight Piko TL MiniMax can be purchased directly in the LUPINE shop for 295 EUR, or from retailers who carry this brand. The featured accessories can also be purchased through the LUPINE shop.

LUPINE LIGHTING SYSTEMS on the Internet

LUPINE LIGHTS – PROFESSIONAL on the Internet

"NACHTKAMPF" by Hermann Conrad and Christian Väth, SPARTANAT Black Book 9, Pocket-sized paperback, 140 pages, 15.90 Euro