Review: Skilhunt H02 Headlamp with Full HD Video Review and Pictures.

The trouble is that Skilhunt themselves do not make extension tubes. The available extension tubes for 18650 lights that I have seen are made by 3rd parties.

Once my light has been delivered I could then identify in engineering terms the thread needed for the extension. But I still would not know what threads the available extensions have and I would be very surprised if a seller of them would be able to tell me.

Looking at various extensions on sale and reviews from purchasers, I can see that there are AT LEAST two different threads used. One is used by an Ultrafire light and the other by a Convoy C8 light.

Yes, very floody.

As floody as a ZL H602?

Couldn’t tell you, as I don’t on a single Zebralight. But seeing as it looks like just a bare emitter, and I had a Spark SG5, probably not quite. I personally prefer the TIR optic like the Skilhunt and Armytek to the ultra floodiness of the Spark, or the hotspot of a reflector like the Fenix HL50 (all headlamps I own). In my opinion, there is a point where the light is too scattered, and you have to use a higher setting than you would on a light that focuses a bit more. A TIR optic gives me plenty of light where i need it most, and enough of spill in my peripherals.

Once you get the light, you may have to do a little trial by error, until you get what you need. You may just need an additional 18650 tube to thread onto the original host. Just have to be sure of the threads, and the size.
I know, that is probably what you’re looking for know, but…… You will end up having a frankenstein light. :slight_smile:

Mine hasn’t arrived yet, so I’m asking: if you hypothetically wanted full flood from the H02, not using the TIR optic, you could just remove the optic, and use it with a bare emitter, right? Obviously you wouldn’t want it bouncing around in a pocket or pack, but for home use (sitting on a shelf or whatever), it would be fine, right? Or does that optic hold other things in place?

You know I haven’t removed mine yet. I would guess it should be fine, it seems it should just sit there without a problem… if you were going to pick it up and move it around a lot, I’d leave the optic on.

The TIR optic holds the star down. I suppose you could use thermal adhesive to glue the star down, but with that big gap, I’m sure a bit of the output would be lost back inside of tube.

I’ll just include my observations here as a mini review, as people looking for reviews will find MHanlen’s.

First, I want to contradict the OP’s assertion in post 45 that it’s a “very floody” headlamp; it is not. His assertion is clarified and better-reflected in post 47, where he contrasts the H02 against headlamps which are in fact very floody. Perhaps he meant in post 45 that the projection is even—as in: the projection is one big, fairly even (if not extremely wide) hotspot. But evenness of beam does not equate to “very floody”, or wide width.

So, projection angle (which isn’t published, and on which, I’ll say politely, there is scant information) is much narrower than I anticipated. I was hoping the optic would be more of a “diffuser” (like frosted tape). But no, it’s actually a TIR (Total Internal Reflection) optic. This is good for many, but bad for me: I like bare-LED style “full flood” in my headlamps. The hostpot is surprisngly almost identical in size to an SK68 in flood mode (in other words, not extremely wide), but with a more diffuse edge. And of course, much brighter, with a much better tint (I got Neutral White). The throw cast from an SK68 in “bare LED” mode (lens removed) is almost precisely double the width of the H02 beam. Most people have an SK68 clone, so that can give you an idea.

This is a matter of preference, but I like to wear headlamps as clip-ons and necklaces, because in warmer months, insects like to fly at your face if you’re wearing a light on your head. Mule-like floods work well for those applications, as the light won’t be precisely aimed when clipped or hanging. When I tried to clip the H02 to me, the aim was always too left, right, high or low… just too narrow. So I tried it on the head mount.

One thing that wasn’t clear to me before the purchase, is this mount is made purely of rubber. The rubber itself is very soft and supple, which is very nice for mounting the rings. It’s just that there’s no plastic frame to help the rubber keep its shape. So, it can distort out of shape if you don’t have the flashlight evenly mounted. (I tried to push the neck, which is wider than the tube, through one of the mount holes, to more-center the emitter.)

On my head, the H02 did much better for me, due to much more precise aiming that head-mounting allows. I still like to have more even lighting for peripheral vision; again, preference. The H02 does not light up the whole room in front of you, but a circle in front of you. I feel this was not adequately revealed in feedback I read previously. I believe the angle to be similar to many reflectored flashlights, and probably also the reflectored H02R version, except with a smooth, even distribution of light within that hotspot. This was my biggest disappointment with the H02. But to others, that may be a plus.

I may try to remove the optic, but having been told the optic holds down the emitter star, I don’t have time to mess around with that now. But I’d like to in the future.

In every headlamp mount I’ve used, the light ironically felt lighter when I didn’t use the top head strap. This was no exception, and was probably the best example so far. Felt much lighter with the top strap disconnected. But it will take some doing to completely remove the top strap. Some of the strap connectors seemed to be threaded backwards; I’m not sure if this was intentional.

Tint was good. It was however more warm than cool. Pretty much a yellowish. Not as warm as incandescent and a “warm tint” LED lamp bulb I have. The SK68 beam looked very blue-ish next to it. I’d prefer a step towards cool (not sure what tint rating that would be), but the tint is good, and probably my favorite thing about the light. I would not want warmer than this. I understand the tint rating is 3C.

I personally like the interface. Let’s face it: with a soft switch, you’re going to have to hold down the button to do some kind of function. That will either be to turn it on, turn it off, or switch modes. You single-press to change modes. You single-press to turn it on (memory), double-click to turn on in Low mode, or hold to turn on in High mode. Makes a lot of sense. You hold to turn it off. Some people complain about that, BUT, think of it this way. Which do you do more: change modes, or turn the light off? For every time I turn the light on, I usually change modes at least once, often several times. So, I’d RATHER have single-press to change modes (instead of long-press to change modes, like ZEBRALIGHT). To me, this resembles the half-press of Reverse Click switches, and I think it’s intended to. (I prefer a hard switch anyway.) So to me, this is the best fundamental interface, better than Zebralight (not in mode numbers, just fundamental UI navigation), because I don’t like holding down to change modes. No one likes delays, but I’d rather hold down to turn off. For safety though, I think the safest is to hold down to turn ON, but this is not going to happen.

I would not carry the H02 in a pack (or pocket) without being in Lockout mode, and I don’t like to have to rely on that. This is one reason I just don’t like soft switches. Most of us have probably had a light accidentally turn on in a pack or pocket. Those occurrences usually (not always) involve soft switches (happened to a friend of mine with a twisty/momentary).

The switch is not hard to press. I could handle (and would probably prefer) a little firmer, for safety. It’s in a good position, and ‘clicks’. It’s actually perfect IMO if you’re not going to pack it anywhere (shelf queen).

The magnet is really nice to have. It holds the light, but not with the strap mount attached, as others have noted.

I expected to scratch the finish a bit with the clip, and did, even using silicone grease. But to be fair, I scratched my Zebralight’s finish a bit doing the same (though not as badly). So far, I think the clip is okay, and I don’t think it’s flimsy, unlike a comment I read. I think the shape of the clip is unusual and perhaps unnecessarily complex, though.

The next-closest light I have I can compare this to is a Zebralight H502 (AA/14500, full flood). I used to EDC the Zebralight until I apparently lost it (I can’t find it). I will never again spend that much money on an EDC light. Runtimes were short, and the GITD ‘reflector’ created an odd green cast to the light, but it was very light, easy to wear and carry (even more of a need for tailcap lockout, though); and the customizable modes were my favorite feature, effectively giving you double the modes.

Even though this light doesn’t use PWM (Pulse Width Modulation), it still produces a lot of RF (radio frequency/electromagnetic) radiation. Probably not as much as the Zebralight, but still a lot. The way you can test it, is to hold it to an AM radio, and change modes. Zebralight claimed their lights were shielded, but to me, that clearly wasn’t the case. If you don’t mind holding a cellphone to your ear when you talk, you won’t care about this. But personally, I would not use one of these on my forehead for many hours or over years. The worst LED RF offenders in my home are my LED lamp bulbs (I don’t use them at my bedside), which in turn are about as bad as CFL. LED’s themselves don’t emit EMR; it’s the driver circuitry. I have a single-mode XR-E flashlight that emits no detectable RF.

I’m grateful to Skilhunt for not gluing these flashlights. I like that the head can unscrew, just like the tailcap. I like that this seems to be the most mod-able decent headlamp out there.

Brightness: I won’t dispute the 800 Lumens claim, but I expected it to seem subjectively brighter. I am familiar with flood versus reflectors, tins and all that, so I don’t think it’s the effect of the TIR; I just feel like I was expecting more at max, especially with its “narrowness”. I need to keep it at Level 3 (out of 4) to have it satisfyingly bright (‘380 lumens’). I am therefore among the apparent few who would’ve preferred the original mode spacing, for the brighter medium modes. Level 1 (which I think is same as original, 5 lumens) with the TIR is pretty good for reading something you’re holding at about book-reading distance, or a little closer.

In conclusion, this was actually my most-anticipated flashlight purchase ever, even more than my Zebralight. In the end, I’m a little disappointed, because I actually prefer the beam from a Franken-headlamp I cobbled together out of two Ebay cheapies, using my favorite parts of each. What I do like, is I didn’t pay a ridiculous amount to find out, so I don’t feel bad about the purchase, but unless I make a breakthrough in removing the TIR optic, I don’t think I’ll buy a second or the Reflector version. I guess this is the somewhat unpleasant reality behind why some of us keep buying lights (even though the hobby is enjoyable): we never really find what we like. (Unless we make it or mod it.)

Thank you brjones for this outstanding hands on mini review….
It looks like I will not be purchasing it too. I never knew about drivers emitting RF/electromagnetic emissions….Is it for all flashlights? I use mine daily as a night side lamp with a baby in room. Maybe put it farthest in room or remove it?
From what you describe, I certainly would not purchase the skilhunt as I want floody beams in a headlamp which is at least on par with the Zebra H52.

Brjones is right on the money. Once folks discover how useful bare emitter headlamps are, it’s game over. My H602w is used daily. With a super wide beam, it pretty much lives on my head when the sun sets each night. So far the ONLY application in which I wouldn’t want a mule headlamp (and perhaps an accompanying thrower flashlight) is caving. Ran some lava tubes today, and I wished I had a slight bit more throw. But in the 6 months I’ve been using the light, this is the only time I wished it had any throw at all, and that’s simply because caving makes holding a second light impractical. I had a Tiara A1 pro before my Zebra, and was extremely disappointed with the narrow beam pattern of the TIR. I can only imagine that a traditional reflector beam pattern for a headlamp would be even more of a let down.

Simply put, mule headlamps are life changers. I love working on cars and now I can annoy my neighbors until 2am (or whenever I get sleepy) working in, what appears to be, broad daylight. I can’t wait for a MT-G2 mule headlamp with a waist-mounted battery pack running 2s2p 18650’s.

Take a look at the Spark headlamps. They have a mule type emitter and a very simple UI. There is also a different bezel that you can change out that is for distance. And it is built extremely well.

I think I properly clarified my position in post #47. Very floody is of course very subjective. I could call a Spark (without the optional reflector) too floody (which in my opinion they are), and a Fenix HL50 not floody enough. Or on a your scale, the Zebralight is the most floody, and the Skilhunt could still be called very floody. Again, I am just assuming a Zebralight is about as floody as my Spark because of the lack of an optic. Maybe, but you seem to think your opinion is “more right.” Of course a bare emitter is floodier then an optic. I’m sorry if you think it’s misleading, or disingenuous but yeah. The Skilhunt has a nice even beam pattern that tapers very usably and nicely in your peripherals. Personally… since I own a “very floody” headlamp… let me give you my opinion on that. Bare emitter lights do not focus the light well. It scatters a ton of light around… so I find you have to turn the light up higher to make it more useful (again in the assumption most wear this as a headlamp), which results in shorter run times (of which you complained). Since this is primarily a headlamp, and I don’t like right angle lights for hand use… I wear it on my head. So where I’m looking it where I want most of the light… and I need it to throw (probably a misleading word to you) further in the direction I’m looking… I prefer a TIR optic headlamp… as opposed to a reflector based light or bare emitter light. TIR optic based lights are in my opinion very floody, but offer a good compromise in more usable light in front of you but plenty of spill in your peripherals. My beamshots in the video seem to support that at least. I have tried with several brands of headlamps to use them as a clip-light, but I found that a clip never holds as well as I want it. They often move around a lot- even expensive lights like the Armytek… which also have clips that remove finish, and don’t keep the light stable if you wear it that way. I have never found a clip that works as well as a headband. Though I do understand the thing about the bugs. I think it seems to be a well liked headlamp for most people, and plenty floody enough, for those who aren’t accustomed to or do not like bare emitter lights (like me). Bare emitter lights are too democratic with the light. I do not need the same amount to the left or right as I do the front… since the light is strapped to my head. Plus the light tapers off much quicker over distance, hence the need to use a higher mode on a bare emitter light. I find I need more light a bit further in the direction I am looking, versus the as-much-light-in-the-peripherals-as-in front-of-you approach of the bare LED. I hesitate to post this, because I’ve been on the internet a long time, and I know how flame wars start… but since you posted to contradict my assertion… even when you agreed that I clarified my post later- I figured it still may need to be clarified further. Mainly since you felt the need to post an alternate review on my review… just to let the world know that my opinion may have been less accurate than your opinion.

But for the world… yes a bare emitter light will be more floody than this light. In my opinion, the H02 is still very floody. I own many lights, and my TIR optics are the flood-iest lights I own outside of the single bare emitter Spark, which I rarely use. I hope this offers more context than my nine minute video review provided. And makes my review very accurate, instead of just accurate. If you were unsatisfied with the Zebralight and this one, maybe you need to carry two or three types of headlamps- because I don’t think there’s a Do-it-all (runtimes, the most flood, price) headlamp.

My hiking light? Armytek Wizard Pro. I like the lower modes and better tint of the warm versions over this particular light. TIR optics are the floodiest sort of light that I find to be useful in a headlamp.

Very well put. We have two different preferences in headlights stated above. While I absolutely love my mule for working in the range of my hands I find it too power consuming to use when hiking down a trail, which is where I prefer my TIR headlight. The TIR is a good compromise but luckily I don’t have to compromise. Horses for courses.

Having first-hand experience with bare-LED, reflectored, frosted-lens and TIR-based headlamps, I agree that floody-ness is subjective and task-related as already stated.

Is the H02 floody enough for trail walking and close up work? It is in my opinion. I am a believer myself of bare LED headlamps and still find H02’s beam well enough suited to do the same tasks I’d use a bare LED headlamp for.

As for the HL50: I also found it very much throwier than optimal, but the way it is made allows for a very easy fix:

Apply a square cut of diffusing tape (optical grade makes for less lumen loss)

Original beam

Modded beam

I agree with both above posts. People have different needs in headlamps, that’s obvious. The TIR is an excellent compromise between a bare emitter and spot reflector. I can see why one would prefer a bare emitter… but I personally hate the compromise of runtime. Until they make a bare emitter light bright and efficient enough to offset the loss in throw distance and runtime, the TIR optic works best for a headlamp for me.

I will revise my opinion and say yes mhalen :stuck_out_tongue: Thanks for clarifying. Nothing as great as first hand reviewers!

I personally dislike the TIR, too - as I wrote elsewhere, the H02's TIR's flood is less wide than the H02R's spill. That's why I recommend a H02R plus d-c-fix diffuser film for those who want a wide flood - it's still more concentrated than a mule. You can even switch back&forth between flood and spot.

It's a forward concentrated flood and I like it a lot...The beam concentration softly tapers out to the edge of my peripheral vision and I think this sort of diffusion is optimal for walks ans hikes. No point having light beyond your peripheral vision if you can't see it.

Plus its a headlamp, need more illumination left,right,upward or downward?, then turn more in that direction.

Nice review mhanlen and good job on the video.

I personally feel the clip is flimsy, however fortunately the clip from Olight S20 fits perfectly.

Yeah I don’t use the clip- with really any of my headlamps. Too many of them scratch the anodization when I take them off or put them back on, so I usually leave them off. I have since modded this light to use a Nichia emitter and a driver with better mode spacing. It’s my car headlamp.