Outdoors

Mpowerd launches inflatable solar lantern

Mpowerd launches inflatable solar lantern
The Luci has two brightness levels and an emergency flash mode
The Luci has two brightness levels and an emergency flash mode
View 4 Images
10 white LEDs provide light
1/4
10 white LEDs provide light
The Luci has two brightness levels and an emergency flash mode
2/4
The Luci has two brightness levels and an emergency flash mode
The Luci packs small, making it easy to carry
3/4
The Luci packs small, making it easy to carry
The Luici's solar panels, battery and lights are built into the base
4/4
The Luici's solar panels, battery and lights are built into the base
View gallery - 4 images

New York City-based Mpowerd introduced the Luci solar-powered inflatable lantern earlier this month. The lantern folds like an accordion and shines with the force of 10 LED bulbs. Its integrated solar panels also means you should never have the hassle of switching out batteries.

The Luci is designed for maximum portability. It folds into a 3.8-ounce (108-gram) disc that measures about 5-inches across and an inch thick (12.7 x 2.5 cm). With the help of a pop-out blow valve, it inflates into cylindrical lantern form in under a minute.

The Luci's base houses a total of 10 LED lights. It has two brightness settings and a flash mode that are accessed by a small push button. The 3.7-volt lithium- polymer battery provides power for between six and 12 hours of light and takes about seven hours to charge. It can be charged with both sunlight and incandescent light.

The Luci's inflatable, waterproof design lends itself to outdoor use for primary or back-up purposes. It can easily fit in a backpack pocket or large jacket pocket. Mpowerd also suggests using it as an emergency back-up light in a car or home and a party/accent light.

The Luci isn't the first inflatable lantern we've seen. In fact, the Luminaid inflatable lantern that we covered in 2011 was on display right next to the Luci at the recent Outdoor Retailer Winter Market show. The Luminaid folds into a smaller 5 x 3 x 0.25-inch (12.7 x 7.6 x 0.6 cm), 3-ounce (85 gram) rectangular package. Both designs are very easy to inflate and deflate, and both include handles for carrying and hanging. The Luci has a leak-proof valve, making it easy to fully inflate, and its hard bottom suggests that it should stand more stably than the pillow-like Luminaid.

The Luci is available for US$15.95. Mpowerd also plans to launch a buy-one-give-one social campaign, similar to the one Luminaid hosts.

Source: Mpowerd

View gallery - 4 images
6 comments
6 comments
yrag
Interesting.
In looking at the 2nd large photo, I see the silver colored top where the inflation valve is—so where are the solar cells that were implied in the produce being solar powered?
Intellcity
On the bottom. The only view that isn't shown.
Chris Goodwin
If all the lights, and the solar cells, and the battery, are in the base, why bother to inflate it ? Just leave it, and use it, as a disc, biscuit or cookie.
Yotam Ariel
Very nice indeed.
Stan Faryna
52 hours left for the Indiegogo project and Mpowerd isn't half way to their funding goal.
It's a nice idea. Luci might even be useful in a zombie apocalypse, but it seems to me that their attempt to force gifting to needful communities with little reward to the givers was a poorly constructed strategy.
Larry Brown
@ yrag the cells are on the bottom below the LED's. see them on the video