I’m looking for a clip light. I actually want one that’s side emitter so I can wear it clipped and be visible, using it mostly as a beacon on my coat pocket to be seen by others. Both a white and red emitter is needed, and I’d want to vary the brightness of both.
Wanting something light and small, so AA AND rechargeable 14500 would be good. Bonus if it has in-built USB-C charging port.
Sofirn ST10 for $24 is on the top of the list. Hits most of my wants except no built-in recharge.
Coast HX4 is a close second. AA only (not 14500 compatible). But it’s only $10, and available at home depot!
Some Wuben options came close (like the G5), but the non-replaceable battery lost me.
What else am I missing? I know I’m a bit all over the place with my specs here, but if a light is good, I might be willing to let slide some wants. The Coast HX4 has emitters that can be rotated, so that’s super useful, and I’d be willing to give up the 14500 for that.
That makes sense. I guess I’m OK with that - beacon can be fixed to the brightest level, but able to control the continuous modes brigtnesses.
Been looking at a couple of reviews, and I think I like the form factor the utility of this light. I didn’t think having both a top and side light was necessarily what would sell me, but I can see the hat plus shirt pocket use coming in handy.
I hate internal charging - it’s just a system that can fail. It’s a built in weakness for water ingress. It also necessitates keeping the light charged all the time - not the best for battery management. I’d rather carry a spare battery and run the installed battery till it needs changing. This way I’m always prepared. The ST10 seems a no brainer - just ordered one myself. I mainly want it for the red lamp; the other lamps just add to its versatility.
I was very close to getting the TS10 when it came out. But not being able to take a AA in an emergency is a bummer. And the Sofirn’s additional side emitter adds a lot of utility.
Water ingress isn’t a very high consideration for me. I live a pretty tame life
What did you mean by the built-in charging necessitating keeping the light charged all the time? I think built-in charging is pretty handy. But for a smaller light maybe the extra footprint isn’t worth it.
I just got the ST10. If you want to be visible with a beacon (red one, right?) I think it is possibly a good choice because the red LED is pretty bright. I just tested it and it blinds you if you are close in plain daylight. Very visible probably.
I don’t know about other clip lights which accept external batteries, that’s why I got this one. Even when it doesn’t has a charging port, it it shipped with a battery that does have a charging port.
agree
and fwiw, maximum output is half as bright on AA as on 14500, so there is an option to use it at a lower output… by choosing AA/Eneloop instead of LiIon, if desired.
re keep light charged with built in charger: because you don’t have the option to swap the battery out if the light goes flat. For me I’d want max charge all the time in case I need it. Having a removable battery means I can go out regardless of charge state and take a spare battery with me.
I get that. Although at a certain price point and size, the clip lights are cheap and only slightly bigger than the AA battery. So instead of packing a spare battery - you could just pack another one of the lights!
For larger lights with more features packed in, that logic doesn’t work as well. But for a $20 light, buying two is a viable plan.
Having been using the Sofirn ST10 for about a week now, I find the it to be a very good size. I love the clip, and found that to be more useful than the front emitter. I’ve been using it as a clip light in times when I would have put on a headlamp if I didn’t have a handy clip light.
But I wish it was made of plastic so it’s lighter. I’m not the kind to enjoy premium feel of metal lights, so a more utilitarian material choice for clip light use case would make the light better.
Deducting one star for the harsh white emitters though. Could really use a more neutral white option.
yes, that’s a valid plan and also allows for a mechanical. I actually do this but with a twist; a headlamp and a handheld. This way I have a spare battery and a spare light. If I’m walking at night I can use the headlamp and have two batteries at my disposal. Your needs are different to mine; I have to consider travel, extended walks etc so I need the extra versatility.
