Skilhunt H03
-With coupon it is under 30$ almost always
-It is almost the lightest 18650 headlamp
-it has nice floody beam
-It is available with nice neurtal tint efficient XM-L2 U4 led
-very good overall quality both the head strap and the flashlight
-usable as EDC light with magnetic tailcap and pocket clip
-it has thermal regulation and programmable modes
I have a Boruit RJ-02 and this H03. The H03 is newer for me and after I got it I never used the boruit again. The Boruit is heavier, the head strap sewing is itching my head. The strap material is much softer on Skilhunt. And the boruit switch become faulty and I need to press hard to work.
Thanks for the reply - I’m strongly leaning towards that one!
Questions:
- It looks like the temperature range is “4000-5000”? Trying to find out which emitter it is since 5k is starting to get pretty blue but 4k is pretty neutral.
Isn’t the XM-L2 pretty old by now? Any reason people aren’t using at least the XP-L’s?
Sorry I edited the post.
The U4 is the newest and most powerful bin of XM-L2.
It has 60 degree TIR lens so it has very good beam. I worked under my car 5 hours and I almost forgot that it is on my head. Tomorrow I can make some beamshots if you want or you can find plenty reviews here on BLF or on youtube if you search.
Sounds really nice, but I’m also thinking about just going really super cheap instead. Hmmmmmmm. Any 18650 headlamps under like $15-20 that are good other than that RJ02?
I can not name one. A few days ago the Imalent HR20 was on sale at banggood with coupon for 26,5$ included battery and with Micro USB charging.
There is a gap between Boruit RJ-02 and H03 and HR20.
When I bought the RJ02 I was happy.
When I bought H03 I thought I spent too much for a headlight…
But after the first use…It worth every penny and the boruit collecting dust since.
The H03 has more thinner wall of tube and a bit less material in the head so it is lighter.
And I think the UI is better. The H02 has 4 modes fixed. But the H03 has 4 modes with selectable lower or higher submode and the light memorizing what you selected. For egzample I use it in low2, med2, High1, and turbo2. 2 is higher output than 1. you can switch between 1-2 with double click.
Definitely an XP footprint, but dunno if it’s even a real XP-G. Probably some generic Mystery Emitter. I’d love to swap it out for an XP-G2 or so, whatever’s the lowest Vf of the XP series, just to keep it in regulation as long as possible.
It’s not that “cool”, let alone “cold”, so don’t be scared off by that. I was out chiselling out a coupla feet of frozen snow that drifted up against a door (snowed, melted, refroze) for quite a while this past winter, and even reflecting off white snow, I didn’t mind it at all.
Gotta confess, with the price being what it is (and having like 4 spares), I kinda beat the Hell out of this critter, and other than losing the tethered rubber plug over the usb port (no idea how…), it’s held up admirably.
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Hey, anyone know/recall offhand if 219BTs have the same solder-pad pattern as XP-Gs? I’d love to go high-CRI in at least one of these puppies.
Doesn’t seem to be available on gearbest right now, though =/
Downsides seem to be no firefly mode (0.5) or lower powered medium mode in the 20-70 range. Not sure if either can ramp up infinitely between their modes.
H02 is taller and heavier than the H03.
But they have the same TIR or reflector.
H03 can preset all 4 modes in 2 levels with double click (low 1 / low 2 - medium 1 / medium 2 - high 1 / high 2 - turbo 1 / turbo 2).
If you’re a long distance hiker, then yes, 18650 is too heavy. I have a Zebralight H52 to cut down some of that weight and bulk, but unfortunately for you, I don’t think there’s a Nichia option. Since I’m out there to hike, I’m awake for very little time when it’s dark, so I can easily get 500 miles from a battery, so it’s safe to use a lithium primary AA, which saves even more weight. The H52 really is overkill for me, but I really like the ability to get a spare AA while restocking my food bag in town. The beam pattern is great for hiking too. Just the right amount of flood and throw to light up the trail, but still enough throw to find campsites if I waited to long to get off the trail.
For outdoor use, high CRI is what matters more than anything else, if you want to be able to see details.
The Nitecore NU20 CRI is a very nice lightweight headlamp.
I swapped out the default TIR from my RJ02 to a 60°. Very nice.
Tried a 90 and 120 which I got yesterday, but didn’t like the beams. Too much of a “bullseye”, rather bright ring around the periphery, then slightly darker towards the middle, then pretty much the same hotspot as my 60. It’s annoying even in practice, not just white-wall hunting.
Sticking with the 60, as it’s nice and smooth. If I need a little more throw, I got the come-with TIR just in case.
The Imalent HR20 is a nice package, but it has a normal beam, not a wide one, what more people prefer on a headlamp.
All comparisons I’ve read favour the H03 for headlamp and normal use.
