SOFIRN SF 01 AAA forward clicky

LED Flashlights – General Info
1

Because of the boom and good name that is forging SOFIRN in BLF and Forolinternas I bought this model for only $ 7 and has turned out to be a high quality and performance ligh , the better that I have purchased at that price since 2012 when I discovered the LED torches and the torch forums world, so I decided to share my personal impressions on this thread.

The first thing is to say that in Sofirn Aliexpress Store there are two flashlights with this name, the tactical or forward-clicky and the usual reverse clicky. The one of this revision is the Tactical forward switch, that allows momentary-on before totally clicking the switch.

Strong points of this flashlight:

- Price: $7 taking in mind that the constructive quality and performance is comparable to premium brand torches, in my modest opinion.

- Good working forward clicky switch.

- Neutral-fresh white light, about 5700 K

- Low-medium-high mode sequence

- It has memory modes for anyone who doesn’t like that sequence.

- Regulation of the light output without visible pulses even in low mode

- Strong clip

- High level homologable to any premium brand

- Constructive quality and quality appearance, good fit

- Anodized front thread

Wakenesses of this light:

- No tailstand - Large size: 96 mm

- Slightly Rrings in the beam of light on white wall, which do not disturb in normal use.

- It seems that it is not possible to disassembly the pill, that is strongly glued.

- It doesn’t take lithium in theory, although I haven’t asked the manufacturer about it. The modes announce the following lumens: 1 - 25 - 110; my subjective perception is that the high mode stays a little below the announced 110 and the other two throw the announced lumens, being the low mode a moonlight mode, with 1 lumen or less.

The flashlight:

It is unscrewed in three pieces:

In the last photo we can see that the contact PCB of the positive is assembled or stuck to a silver pill that seems to be the one that is threaded to the head, so I have not dared to force the unscrewing of the whole PCB-Pill for fear of breaking the assembly of both.

Led (Cree XP-G2) and reflector:

The beam:

On the left, cold light 6500K (Rayus C01), on the right Sofirn SF01 tactical;

Comparative picture:

2

Well, I’ve been using SF01 with lithium for a couple of days, and it’s going great. The low and medium modes hardly gain any light compared to the use of Ni-mh and alkalines, but the high mode is put into a stream of light of at least 250 lumens (being cautious, as the measurement is at “eye-calculator”; they will probably be more).

It goes very well with unprotected Efest, which measure the same as any AAA. And with the Trustfire 10440 in its various versions, all protected and longer, can work even if they do not fit well, simply taking care to thread the body to the top with the head (anodized thread) and leave the tailcap slightly unscrewed against the body, as this last thread is in natural aluminum and does not lose the closure of the circuit even if we unscrew a little.

3

Thanks for the review and test with a 10440 - it’s a gamble when not explicitly supported.

I did notice that AAA light at the Sofirm store. Not sure whether i bought one or not, just to see… I may have gifted it too… Not the most appealing AAA light i’ve seen - rather large and i don’t like the big protruding tail switch for instance. I’m missing the Astrolux A01 when it had a nice Nichia emitter and a driver with no next mode memory.

4

Thanks for the review.

I might try this light, since the clip is reversible.

I got the SF02 a couple days ago and was expecting a forward clicky on it, but received the reverse clicky instead. I still like it, but would prefer forward clicky for this light.

5

The SF01 has two versions, one with reverse switch and the other with forward button; the latter is what Sofirna calls “tactical”.

Yes, the appearance is not appealing; but when it comes into your hands it starts to like more.

I can’t get enough of it with 10440, it’s a small pocket cannon.