Sofirn SF36: Action Test, Hard Use, Real Value

How much stress can a tactical style light with a solid aluminum body take? Does it hold up to the manufacturer specs? Will it easily fail you and leave you standing in dark? I am action testing the Sofirn SF36 in my video, a 25 USD light that comes with all the accesssories needed to get started.

+ Beauty test: How beautiful is the light?

+ Runtime test: Does the light endure as the manufacturer claims?

+ Explosion test: Does the light survive minor explosions?

+ Extreme mechanical stress: If you drop it again and again really hard will it no longer stay with you?

+ Deep dive with predatory fish: Will the light go where no light has boldy gone before and survive?

All the answers:

Nice video m8 :+1: i have 3x sf36w and i love them :heart_eyes:

Yes, I like the SF36 too. Good output, nice allround-beam , simple, robust. Very unlike some of the lights who compete for the highest output, smallest size and most sophisticateded UI:

I tip my hat to you for doing fair review of a good light, unlike some people here just take advantage of the generosity of the sellers.

Thank you! I will work for flashlights :wink: I am aware that I need to put in work for a company that gives me free stuff for my channel. They don’t buy my judgement but they do deserve a good review. Besides that the Sofirn is a good light. It is also possible to fit an O-ring on the bezel outside and between bezel and glass (after removing the original one. With that tweak the light is 110% waterproof.

I have the SF36W 3000k version and although I love the UI, the 3000k is a little too yellow for my taste. Would be perfect if it was 4000k. But it has the best rear clicky UI I have ever used.

Nice review! Wish I could do videos like that… :smiley:

Interestingly, the VG10/VG10S have the same issues with the front O-rings, or lack thereof. If I wanted to make them truly waterproof, I’d have to seal them with additional O-rings as well. And the front bezel does have that groove for an O-ring.

If I wanted to go crazy with that, I’d take some RTV and lightly coat the O-ring before attaching it to the glass and bezel, to make it a semi-permanent assembly. Of course, let it outgas sufficiently before reassembling.

It can later be scraped off the glass with a razor if needed.

I’ve first felt the ’36W was a bit warm, but I grew to like it a lot very quickly.

Only when compared to a cooler CT does it seem to show up as “yellow”.

Nope, shining it around right now… quite nice! :smiley:

I’ve been considering the SF36W 3000k, I’ve been wanting to try a warm tint.
My warmest lights are a Convoy S2+ 4C (4300-4500K) and the U-torch UT01 NW (3789K measured by komeko) I’m really beginning to like those two more & more.

Both tint versions of the SF36 are on sale right now for $17-$18 Expires in about 8 hours, so I need to make up my mind tonight. And lightbringer you’re comments about it are pushing me off the fence :smiley: ………. C’mon keep going…. just need a little shove now…. :stuck_out_tongue:

Wellp, it’s got a really nice OP reflector, NO hint of a “fried egg” beam, nice diffuse hotspot, perfect for medium range (ie, not a wide flood but not overly throwy, either). No rings or other artifacts.

It’s an all-around great general-purpose light.

And at night, that nice warrrrm beam doesn’t jar you awake like a bucket of icewater, but just lets you see what you
need to, then doze right back off to dreamland.

Whups, hang on a sec. I’m referring to my SF31W, which ain’t available anymore. Damn.

Anyhoo, I got my ’36W around here somewhere. Same nice warm beam, but I’d have to get my ’36W again to see how the SMO reflector looks. I think I put it away for safe keeping (ie, make sure no cell’s in it, make sure if doesn’t get lost, etc.), so would have to dig it up again.

I don’t recall have any issues with it. But yeah, you’ll get used to the warm beam very quickly.

And of course, it’ll look yellow when next to a NW or especially CW, but reds and browns just pop under a warmer beam.

18bux for a VG10- or M2-class light? In WW??

Go for it…

Trust me on this, you’ll be kicking yourself if you miss it.

Many thanks for the interests about Sofirn SF36, this link include SF36 5350-5700K and 3000K to chose.

https://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/Sofirn-SF36-High-power-LED-Flashlight-18650-Cree-XPL2-1000LM-Tactical-LED-Flashlight-5-Mode-LED/3145031_32837045078.html?spm=2114.12010615.0.0.68baa0bdXwDy2e

I purchased Sofirn SF36W and absolutely love it. Very well-made and great attention to detail. I would recommend without any reservation! :smiley:

Had been trying to hold out on the SF36W, but this bump did me in. Looks like 9 left at $15.43 with batt and charger on Amazon after my order updates.

Nice review! Thoroughly enjoyed the tongue-in-cheek dry humor, as well as the completeness of the review.

By the way, you have an amazing English accent that I simply couldn’t place. At times I had you anywhere from the southern USA all the way up to Scandinavia. Had to Google Österreich. :sunglasses: