Arbitrary List of Popular Flashlights - Winter Solstice 2024 Edition
In honor of Winter Solstice, I’ve made an updated list of popular flashlights. Today is the day you’re most likely to need a flashlight in the northern hemisphere, and I have some good candidates here.
What is the point of the one that shines in an ‘L’ shape?
@SubArcticTundra Those can be used as headlamps, handheld, and for most of them, magnetic work lights.
@flashlightI’ve started using them almost exclusively, they can be used just like a normal light but they also work really well as a headlamp. Most have a magnetic base which combined with the side output makes them ideal for working on stuff that requires both hands. Normal magnetic lights just mean you have a flashlight pointed at your face.
I have an H300 and it’s absolutely amazing if you just ignore the weird charging thing.
If anyone cares, the SP10 Pro and SC13A have been deleted from Sofirn’s site. Dunno if they are just OOS or discontinued (Sofirn backing away from Anduril). SP10 Pro was kind of problematic (turns on in your pocket if you don’t set a lockout) but SC13A seemed kind of nice. All things considered I hope they come back. SP36 is still there but for how long. I guess there’s always Wurkkos.
Great to see you as always zak! Keep up the awesome work, you legitimately got me into this hobby.
Also, is it possible to request a review of sofirns SC28? I know “tac lights” aren’t the vibe here but for anyone looking for a light for emergency response, police/military, and such; I think it’s one of the best offerings in the category! 21700 bat, extremely pocketable, robust little light with on board charging usbc, one click turbo, and a pretty unique reflector design that gives a nice balanced beam with no hot spot. It’s been my favorite tac light for a while now and I’m interested to hear your thoughts!
Heck I’d even send one or the money for one if that helps, I just think it’s neat, and should be on this list. But it’s your list and up to you of course. Thanks as always!
Super interesting read, thank you. This showed up on All for me and now I want to get a cool flashlight
One of us, one of us!
It always starts with just one cool flashlight
As always, great list. Shame it seems like there hasn’t been much change or innovation in the last few years.
Changes:
Linked reviews for the majority of lights
Removed EC35 II (discontinued)
Removed Pineapple Mini (discontinued in aluminum)
Removed Sofirn SC21 and SC21 Pro (discontinued)
Removed Thrunite T1 (discontinued)
Replaced Fenix PD32 v2 (discontinued) with PD32R
Added Sofirn HS21
Removed Acebeam L18 (discontinued)
Added Acebeam L19
Added Skilhunt EC500
Replaced Convoy S3 with S2+
Removed Wurkkos TS10 Max (it’s not that compelling)Later changes:
December 27: added Wurkkos HD10
One more comment: in the Skilhunt E3A section I’d mention that the slate blue version (that specific case color) has a harder finish (type 3 anodization) and usually costs a little more.
I’d add Wurkkos TS10 or TS10 SG, both seem more attractive than SP10 pro by now. They are 14500 while SP10 Pro claims to support 1.5V but at least in mine, 1.5V doesn’t work, so I discount the claim.
Change Sofirn SC13 to SC13A, which uses Anduril.
Add Wurkkos/Sofirn/Boruit(?) H25LR and H25S, these are really good 1x18650 budget headlamps. I reviewed H25LR here recently. I don’t see much reason to buy any other 18650 headlamp unless there is one with Anduril and you want that.
Wurkkos HD10 Mini seems worth adding: right angle 1x14500 with USB-C charging and Anduril. I’d always take an Anduril light over non-Anduril. BLF review of earlier version. It would be great if they did ths light in other formats too (16340, 18350, 18650). The BLF review complains of several issues (no flash pads, no removable bezel, firmware bugs) that are all fixed now. The product page, the current version does have flash pads and a threaded bezel. Weight is 46g (no battery), 65g (with battery), headband weight unknown.
For Nitecore Tube, I’d mention explicitly that it uses micro USB. Maybe they will eventually do a USB-C version.
Maybe dubiously, add Home Depot Defiant 3AAA cheap headlamps. They are functional and reasonably sturdy and ridiculously cheap. Main drawback is horrible UI where you have to advance through all the modes to turn off, plus the 3AAA format which is nonetheless popular. Currently $10 special for a 3-pack, shipped (in US), including batteries, just crazy. They seem to do this at the end of each year. The rest of the time they are $16 for 3-pack, still cheap. They are great for leaving in glove box, tool bag, etc. I got a pack last year and might get another pack:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Defiant-200-Lumens-Headlight-3-Pack-90651/320076177
People wanting random cheap flashlights for their cars should be told to get headlamps instead, of whatever kind. They are way more useful if you have to fix something in the car or even read a map (if anyone still uses paper maps).
Added: TS10 Max is still of interest I would say, despite recent price increase. It’s cheaper than a D4v2 and can handle button top cells including the type with built in charge ports. That is a significant advantage imho, especially since I have several lights with 18650 button cells and interoperability is nice. I’d restore it to the list and maybe drop some other random 18650 lights instead.
@solrize The TS10 is already on the list, in the enthusiast section. I think that’s the right place for it because it trips USB-charging 14500s, doesn’t have onboard charging, doesn’t take AA, throttles hard on max, and uses Anduril. I don’t have a hard set of criteria for it, but that’s a lot of non-mainstream traits in one light. My SP10 Pro runs on Eneloops, and it’s one of the highest output lights I’ve seen on 1xAA with 403 lumens and good regulation.
The SC13A is mentioned as a variant of the SC13. Currently, it’s priced quite a bit higher, which diminishes one of the most compelling things about the SC13.
I’ll think about something from the DL25 series. I see there’s a version with deep red now, and there’s some merit to that.
Added HD10, enthusiast section for now. The USB charging might get it moved to mainstream later.
Noted about the Tube.
I’m not adding a 3xAAA headlamp with a bad UI no matter how cheap it is.
I’m hoping they’ll do a bit work work on the TS10 Max. I believe a buck driver was part of the original plan.
Maybe for the toys section?
https://coastportland.com/collections/headlamps/products/rl35r
Just what I needed, a voice controlled headlamp, lol.
Hey Zak, if you’re still updating this, I’m going to suggest linking Parametrek’s very precise review of the Nitecore HA11 in the section about that light: http://parametrek.com/blog/ha11.html
I’ve almost lost interest in the HA11 though. The H25LR is now my goto light for just about everything. It’s my #1 recommendation for a first or only light for almost anyone, unless you specifically want a pocket EDC. Also, I hadn’t really thought about it before, but it seems to me to be of higher quality (thicker metal) than the earlier micro-USB version that I had used for a while. So I think it is a no-brainer and I might make a followup post saying so, particularly if I manage to install a tritium vial. The HA11 is a lightweight in-the-pack light for occasional use, and I might install an L91 cell in mine to save a little bit of weight.
Do you think you might review the Wurkkos HD10? I’ve been intrigued by that for a while, as an SP10 Pro alternative. I still haven’t fixed my Skilhunt E3A.
