UV flashlight 2020 test: Now Live

UPDATE JUNE 16, 2020

The tests are done and live: https://1lumen.com/best-uv-flashlight/

The following are tested

. Jetbeam Jet UV Mantaray S1 Ultrafire SK68UV Convoy S2+ Convoy S2 Jaxman U1 Jaxman U1C Sofirn SF32 Weltool M2-BF Xanex 51 Convoy C8 UV
Battery AAA AA AA 18650 18650 18650 18650 18650 18650 3*AA 1-2*18650
Modes 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1
UV filter
LED 365 nm UV Seoul 365nm 3W 365nm Nichia 365UV LG UV 365nm 365UV Nichia 365nm UV LG 365 Seoul 365nm 395nm LG UV365nm
Distance Close Close Close Medium Medium Medium Close/Medium Medium Medium/far Medium Far
Sponsored No No No No No No Yes No Yes No Yes
Average price $23 $17 $7 $25 $20 $25 $55 $18 $70 $12 $30

The first UV flashlight was ordered in Q3 2019.. It's now Q2 2020.

reserved

Just a variety of suggestions for things to test:

1) Money (if you have any other currencies from travel, that would be cool to compare them)
2) Stamps
3) Driving license/passport (obviously can’t upload the personal info to a public forum)
4) Rocks/minerals - Calcite, fluorite etc
5) Anything with optical brighteners will really pop, laundry powder, highlighters, bright colored plastics, etc
6) Some food and drink- tonic water with quinine will glow bright blue.

Looking forward to seeing your thoughts on the list of lights you have!

I use my UV light (with Nichia led 365nm and UV filter, both from Convor originally) while cleaning home, near the stove, kitchen, etc.
The other UV lights I have (395nm) are not as good to show grease and other stuff. So that can also be a “testing spot” :+1:

We use our Convoy S2+ UV with a ZWB2 lens primarily to find dog urine around the house. With lighter carpeting, it’s pretty easy to find the yellow spots, but with darker carpeting, it’s nearly impossible to find without a UV flashlight.

Not sure if you have the same problem in your household ChibiM, but I’m sure BLF members with pets would appreciate a test that helps find these accidents.

As a corollary, could you please look at the performance of a few ZWB2 filters also? What to look for in an online ad that would indicate a genuine filter, or worse, a fake filter? Perhaps a quick & dirty way to test at home?

I'd like to be confident that a lens touted as being bandpass for ~365nm really does exactly that, and isn't just a piece of overpriced (or insanely cheap) dark glass or plastic.

slmjim

For the test you should probably mention how close the light is from whatever object you look at. Some small UV lights are only really usable at very close range. A fixed arbitrary distance test for all lights would certainly be meaningful.

Good stuff.

Any recommended UV flashlights you want to see reviewed?

I'm waiting for ordering the Olight i3 UV and Jetbeam Jet UV next week. Fasttech had a 10% discount on all products on April 1st.

Any higher end, popular UV lights?

Good point. My AceBeam UC 15 has one but it needs to be up close unless in total darkness.

I'll try to keep that in mind.

Does anyone know of any other UV lights that are popular?

How about the new MF01 UV (full size or Mini)?
It is supposed to be UVC+UVA to use as a sterilizing tool… so it probably does not compare to the others?

I thought about that as well. But since it's used for different purpose and at the same time a little more 'damaging' in use, I don't think it's wise to add.

I’ve got a little Olight i3UV coming as a bonus item, so I get to see what all of the fuss is about?

It should work fine for a small UV keychain light.

Chris

I am about to order that one this week at fasttech.

I concur on the distance test. I have been keeping an eye out for a good UV light to check for scorpions. Having to get within a few inches to see them would not be ideal

Test results are live: https://1lumen.com/best-uv-flashlight/

If possible please consider including the Wurkkos WK30 (which one of my all time favorite lights) in any future testing.

This post contains my observations as a casual observer concerning the UV LED on the WK30:

https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/57734/280

Thank you for the idea.

For my test I solely focused on dedicated UV flashlights. I had to draw a line somewhere. There are many flashlights that have a UV emitter installed, and I have thought about adding those as well, but then the comparison would be even harder. Anyways, thank you for the idea.

Very nice review. May I suggest to add to the last line in your review the words:

UV light reflected by windows, or shiny bathroom and kitchen tiles can be as hasardous as UV light that shines direct in your eyes.

The human eye does not respond the same way to UV light as it responds to visible light.
If you look into the sun you pupils contract in order to reduce the input to acceptable levels.
Looking into a UV-light does nothing of the sort, your retinas get blasted at full force.

I will put that on the top! :D