Help me choose two flashlights (one compact EDC, on for countryside control)

LED Flashlights – General Info
1

Hello, i would like to buy two flashlights with different pourposes.

- First one should be a compact, everyday use flashlight, to keep into the pocket or into the car closet. The budget is about 30€. For this one, i’ve searched into this forum and found that probably the Sofirn SC31 Pro is a good option and can be found for less than 20€ (but loooong shipping time….). My main doubt is colour temperature, 500K vs 6500k. Do you think that this model can be a good choice? Which colour temperature should be better, considering that the standard use will be mainly outdoor, into countryside environment?

- Second one should a light with a good throw but also quite wide beam, for long range survellaince purposes around the house (we live in the countryside), mainly to spot feral animals that regularly come into the fields which surround the house and make dogs burk. This torch can be bulkier than the first one and possible should be more powerful. It will be kept into the house and should be simple to use as will be basically used by my parents. To give an idea of the desired type,this torch will be the substitue of this B&D one (model BDSL302) that stopped working:

The budget for this one is around 50€. I’ve seen that Sofirn makes other good models (SP36 Pro, SP70….) but i can’t figure out which one will fit better for my purpose. Other model, brand suggestions are welcome, especially if they have a shorter lead time.

Thank you :beer:

2

I think you can do a bit better than Black and Decker. Too many options, where to begin.

3

welcome to BLF

I like your explanation of the applications you want to fulfill

there are some factors to consider

  1. battery type, even if you dont own a battery charger, and dont know the risks and safe use of the LiIon battery type,

for your parents, or for you,
you can still buy the SP31 IF you want the Anduril UI, which can be very complex. After you try it, you can decide if it would be suitable for your parents, or if you want to keep it for yourself.

it has a charging port, and it can be 6500k, which will be bright and most shocking to bother an animal in the dark… the main risk is they must NOT leave it plugged in to a charger when they are sleeping…

charging should only be done in a fireproof location, and under adult supervision… such as in the kitchen, where it will be seen and unplugged, when charging is done

2. CRI (Color Rendering Index)… for you, I suggest you look for a light with a 5000k LH351D… think about what battery size you want to use, primary options include AA, or 16340, or 18650

3. UI (user interface). Anduril is a ramping UI that remembers where it was last left in brightness… it has a LOT of button press combinations, that are very complex…

a simple 3 or 4 mode light might be more appropriate… consider for example, an AA Lumintop Tool

it is not available in High CRI, but might be simple for your parents to use, and it uses common batteries. It also leaves open the option to use rechargeable Eneloop, if you want to invest in a charger and batteries.

You could buy the Tool first, try it out for yourself, and decide if you want to make that one your parents light, or get them something with a bigger beam

note that a wider beam is sometimes a disadvantage when trying to shine the light far, because close range objects can be illuminated and obscure the ability to see far

I dont know your flashlight experience level, so forgive if Im saying things that are already obviously known to you

good luck with your search for some lights that work for your needs

4

First one - Wurkkos FC11, side switch is more comfortable IMO, bright, high CRI emitter which is really nice, also available with more neutral tint (I’d choose between 4000K and 5000K), more floody beam than SC31 which is a little thrower. Available from both Amazon and Aliexpress.

Second one - Sofirn SP70 has much better throw than SP36 (multiple small reflectors are not equal to one big reflector). It’s also very bright. Thing is - 6500K cool white is the only color temperature available and it’s very big. Don’t forget that you’d have to buy two good 26650 cells which are not cheap, plus a charger. Combined you will go way above your budget.
Much more handy, easier to use and with more throw than PS70 - I’d recomment Convoy L21A with SST40 5000K emitter (and 4 modes). Lower brightness but still plenty and multiple times more than B&D, more manageable size, single battery.

PS. What do you mean by “lead time”?

5

It's nice to see you, stercoraro!

6

For the larger one I’d recommend the convoy m21c-u with the xhp70.2 led. I’ve bought one and its a great middle ground between illuminating a wide area and throwing a long way. Theres reviews for it if you search on this forum. You can buy it at convoy.aliexpress.com

7

Just to make sure we’re not too quick to dismiss the SP70, Sofirn actually also offers it with a ~5000K LED!
(I’m still waiting on mine though, so I can’t comment on the tint.)

https://sofirnlight.com/sp70-flashlight-kit-5000k-6500k-p0112.html

Paired with the 10% off discount code they seem to be running on their site, I think that puts the kit at €55, which is just a bit overbudget.
Still big, though.

8

SP70 is great and love 2 button approach 1 mech 1 elec.

9

I wouldn’t recommend it in this particular case. For multiple reasons. First - it has the least throw here. Second - XHP70 is a bettery killer, and we’re talking about a single cell flashlight. Third - complicated UI (OP said it should be simple to use as it will be used by his parents which may not be fluent in “clickology”).

Not too quick, it’s just too massive, also it may make a lot of light but the throw is just good, not very good.

€55 plus two fairly expensive batteries and a charger. Although the whole set can be had for the same 55 euros directly from Sofirn but through Aliexpress:

So OP has two choices here - a massive wall of light from a massive flashlight slightly over the budget (SP70) or still plenty bright but much more compact and yet with more throw - Convoy L21A.

10

Thank you all for the replies, it seems that there are many options and i have to do some homeworks….
A copule of things that i’ve found, looking at some reviews, is that for the EDC torch i don’t like colder lights (so 5000K will be good) and that a good colour represantation is also appreciated (so medium-high CRI).
The beam should also be not too concentrated, but have some amount of flood……if i’m walking on a pathway, is better than a the torch lights up the surroundings on the short-medium range, than a point far away.

I’ve read a couple of things about the Anduril and seems interesting and plenly pof features but not so user friendly for a “point and shoot” torch, so for the “bigger” one, that should be used by my parents, i would prefer a simple UI, as someone as corrrectly said.

I mean shipping time….all the Sofirn torch bought from aliexpress have mode than couple of month of stated delivery time

11

So for the first light Wurkkos FC11 is an obvious choice. With high CRI I’d recommend even the 4000K version.

Shipping time stated by Aliexpress is over-exaggerated because they have to give money back after that time (so they made is super long to make sure that most packages will reach their destination). The actual shipping time is usually 3-4 weeks, sometimes less (there are some comments from people who ordered SP70 that they got it within 2 weeks).

12

The Sofirn SC31 Pro is actually a pretty sweet light. The anduril UI works great as is, or you can program it in a wide variety of ways. Its plenty bright, and build quality is great. The 5000k tint is absolutely amazing. I’m a sucker for high CRI and despite this one only being 65-70 CRI, the tint is so good you don’t even notice. I have another that was supposed to be 5000k but I think its either out of spec or the 6500k emitter. Still a good tint, but this one is going to get a LH351D swap just for fun. Its not the throwiest light, probably comparable to a Zebralight SC64W or a malkoff M61 in that regard. Just love the Sofirn build quality for the price, though.

As for a “country side light” well, the SC31 Pro will do OK in a pinch with the ~2000 lumen max but its not ideal. IF you stick with Sofirn there is the SP70. Otherwise check out the Astrolux FT03. For a more main stream, duty quality, light there is a couple options from Streamlight. For example, I have the Streamlight HL-3 and while it doesn’t have the raw lumen output of many lights these days the large, well designed reflector gives it a ton of throw. Something like 50,000 lux IIRC… but double check that if you are interested.

13

I’d avoid Astrolux as they use Anduril UI and the light will be operated by OP’s parents.

14

For the EDC torch, i’m stuck between the Surfin SC31 Pro (less then 20€ with 3000mah battery) and the Workkos FC11 (a little over 20€), both in the 5000k configuration. Does the hi cri of the Workkos compensate the lower lumen?

15

In my opinion - yes, especially when FC11 actually has a bit over 1300lm which is still plenty. It also steps down later (SC31 Pro starts dropping brightness after just 60 seconds and after another 40 seconds it drops down to ~400 lumens).

16

Sofirn SD01.

Can’t get any simpler to use and easier to hold.

17

Oh good idea! And the “low” mode is bright enough for 95% of anything one would need, so longer battery life in real use.

18

Except the big flashlight was meant to have good throw to illuminate the property at the distance and SD01 is very average in that department and the highest mode probably doesn’t last very long (battery aside - it’s a diving flashlight, it’s meant to be cooled by water). As you can see in this review:

It needs to be in the highest mode to illuminate the tree in the middle which doesn’t seem to be that far away.

19

Not to denigrate the light or the brand, but just how “high performance” is the Black&Decker??

That “3000lm” spotlight on the Amazon deals thread was off by about a decimal point, as it’s maybe 300lm on high.

We’re judging by hi-po lights we’re used to, not something you buy at Home Despot or whatever.

20

It may not be very bright but it has a big smooth reflector so the throw may actually be decent.