With the Skilhunt EC150, the manufacturer expands its EC series with an especially compact model. The flashlight strongly resembles the EC200 but is noticeably smaller – making it ideal as an everyday carry companion or as a backup in your backpack. It can be powered either by 14500 Li-ion or AA NiMH batteries and offers a convenient USB-C charging feature.
You can find the German version of this review on my website: SammysHP Blog › Skilhunt EC150
The flashlight was provided by the manufacturer for this review. Thank you very much!
Skilhunt vs. ESKTE
Skilhunt is in the process of changing their brand to ESKTE, at least they list some flashlight models under both names. New packaging, same content.
According to the manufacturer, ESKTE is the stylized form of “SKT” and this name was also used briefly several years ago. Now try again in a slightly modified form. But whether it’s Skilhunt or ESKTE – this review will be about the product and not the name.
Overview
The EC150 comes in a colorful retail packaging. The accessories are in a separate box inside.
- Skilhunt “BL-109” 14500 Li-ion battery (920 mAh, protected, button-top, 50.2 mm in length, 3.80 V at arrival)
- Lanyard
- Dual-way clip
- 2x replacement o-ring
- USB-C charging cable
- Manual (EN, CN, DE, ES, FR, IT, NL, PL, RU)
The finger-sized EC150 is a compact and lightweight EDC flashlight that is barely noticeable in your pocket. This makes it a perfect everyday companion.
Length: 80.0 mm
Diameter (bezel): 22.5 mm
Diameter (head): 23.5 × 20.8 mm
Diameter (battery tube): 17.9 mm
Diameter (tailcap): 20.0 mm
Weight (without battery): 35 g
Weight (14500 battery): 19 g
Weight (total): 54 g
In terms of style and size, the EC150 is comparable to the Emisar D3AA (which, unfortunately, I don’t have in my collection yet), but it also features an integrated charging port. For small flashlights that need to be charged more frequently depending on use, this convenience shouldn’t be underestimated.
Wurkkos TS10 | Skilhunt H150 | Skilhunt EC150 | Skilhunt MiX-7 | Skilhunt EC200
The design follows the style of the other models in the EC series. A finely textured surface with cross-shaped interruptions on the battery tube ensures a secure grip, even with wet hands. Due to the switch and charging port, the head is slightly thicker on one side. The other sides with the cooling fins are slightly flattened.
The flashlight is available in black, blue, brown and orange. All three versions come with a black stainless steel bezel featuring small notches, allowing you to see whether the light is on even when it’s standing on its head.
A lanyard can be attached to the lug on the tailcap. However, the edge is sharp and could quickly cut through the cord. I therefore recommend using a small keyring between the flashlight and the lanyard. Additionally, the tip presses uncomfortably into the hand. A concealed hole like on the H150 would have been nicer.
A magnet in the tailcap allows you to attach the EC150 to magnetic surfaces. It can be easily removed if needed by using a pointed tool to unhook the spring inside the tailcap.
The included two-way clip can be attached in two positions. In the rear position, it reaches all the way to the end of the flashlight, allowing for deep carry in the pocket.
In the front position, it sits a bit more centered but, due to the shape of the head, can no longer be freely rotated in every direction.
Skilhunt is often associated with the magnetic charging ports of the M and H series. A key feature of the EC series, however, is the integrated USB-C charging port, which allows the battery to be charged directly in the flashlight without the need for a special adapter – a standard USB-C cable is all you need. The port is located opposite the side switch and is reliably protected from water and dirt by a silicone cover.
Although the small tab that makes opening the cover easier sits slightly recessed in a cutout, from time to time it gets caught accidentally. This poses a risk that the cover might open unintentionally. For me, the solution was simply to cut off the tab.
The charging progress can be monitored via the LED in the switch. It cycles from blinking red to solid red and finally to blinking blue. The battery is fully charged when the LED is solid blue.
If the battery is fully discharged, it is pre-charged with a reduced current up to a voltage of about 3 V. Ignoring this time, the actual charging process takes approximately 70 minutes. Although the charging current of up to 900 mA is somewhat borderline for the small 14500 battery, it is still acceptable. NiMH batteries cannot be charged using the integrated charging function.
The EC150 can be powered by 14500 Li-ion batteries as well as NiMH or alkaline batteries in AA size. The only important thing is to use “button-top” batteries, since the flashlight has a mechanical reverse polarity protection and “flat-top” batteries would not make proper contact.
Interestingly, Skilhunt decided to remove all markings from the components. An insulating sticker would have achieved a similar effect while also providing extra protection against short circuits and damage to the components.
According to the specifications, the EC150 is rated IPX8 water-resistant, meaning it’s protected against continuous submersion up to 1 meter deep. It’s also designed to withstand drops from up to one meter. The build quality is excellent – just as I’ve expected from Skilhunt.
User interface
The switch on the head of the EC150 is made of durable silicone. Small raised dots around the edge, along with a stylized sun or light source icon, add some visual interest. It has a short travel and produces a clear tactile and audible click when pressed, requiring about 750 g of force.
The UI follows Skilhunt’s usual scheme: one group each for low, medium and high brightness and one group for the blinking modes. There are several levels in each of these groups, which can be switched by holding the button. The selection is memorized separately for each group.
| State | Action | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Off | 1C | Turn on (previously used in H1/M1/M2) |
| Off | 2C | Turn on (previously used in T1/T2) |
| Off | 3C | Turn on (previously used in S1/S2/S3) |
| Off | 4C | Lockout |
| Off | 1H | Turn on (previously used in L1/L2) |
| L1/L2 | 1C | Turn off |
| L1/L2 | 2C | Switch to previously used in T1/T2 |
| L1/L2 | 3C | Switch to previously used in S1/S2/S3 |
| L1/L2 | 1H | Switch between L1/L2 |
| L1/L2 | 2H | Switch to M2 |
| H1/M1/M2 | 1C | Turn off |
| H1/M1/M2 | 2C | Switch to previously used in T1/T2 |
| H1/M1/M2 | 3C | Switch to previously used in S1/S2/S3 |
| H1/M1/M2 | 1H | Switch between M2 → M1 → H1 |
| H1/M1/M2 | 2H | Switch to previously used in L1/L2 |
| T1/T2 | 1C | Turn off |
| T1/T2 | 2C | Switch to previously level |
| T1/T2 | 3C | Switch to previously used in S1/S2/S3 |
| T1/T2 | 1H | Switch between T1/T2 |
| S1/S2/S3 | 1C | Turn off |
| S1/S2/S3 | 3C | Switch to previously level |
| S1/S2/S3 | 1H | Switch between S1 → S2 → S3 |
| Lockout | 2C | Turn button indicator on/off |
| Lockout | 4C | Unlock and turn on in L2 |
| Lockout | Hold | Momentary L1 |
The EC150’s UI is already up to date and includes the latest improvements: switching between strobe modes now also happens by holding down the switch instead of using a double-click. Additionally, when switching from the low group to the main group using the 2H command, it no longer uses the previously used brightness in the main group, but its lowest level (M2).
The blinky group contains a strobe alternating between 6 and 14 Hz, an “SOS” (more of an “S-O-S”) and a beacon with 1 Hz. The nice beacon with a short flash every two seconds, as known from the EC500 and M200 V4, is missing unfortunately.
After turning on the flashlight, an indicator LED in the switch shows the approximate state of charge of the battery for five seconds. On very low voltage, the indicator will blink in red as long as the light is turned on.
| Color | State of charge |
|---|---|
| Blue | 80% – 100% |
| Blue blinking | 50% – 80% |
| Red | 20% – 50% |
| Red blinking | < 20% |
When locked, the button blinks every two seconds in red. This makes it easier to find the flashlight in the dark. The indicator light can be switched off and on with a double-click, but is reactivated each time the flashlight is locked. Of course, the flashlight can also be locked by loosening the tailcap.
Despite its compact size, the EC150 feels comfortable in the hand. As is common with most flashlights that have a side switch, the button is a bit tricky to locate by feel alone due to the symmetrical design. However, it usually works quite well to squeeze the opposite sides between your thumb and index finger.
Illumination
The EC150 is offered in two versions, which differ in color temperature, brightness and throw:
- Nichia 519A: good color rendering, neutral tint
5000 K | 950 lm | 2000 cd | 89 m | 2.1 cd/lm - Luminus SFT-25R: more throw and higher brightness
6000 K | 1350 lm | 7200 cd | 169 m | 5.3 cd/lm
So you have the choice between brightness, throw and color rendering. I usually prefer the Nichia 519A for its better light quality. However, for this review, I had the opportunity to compare both versions side by side.
In the EC150, three LEDs are used side by side behind a single TIR optic. A glass with a bluish anti-reflective coating protects the optic from scratches. The Nichia 519A version has a clear optic.
The version with the Luminus SFT-25R, on the other hand, uses a frosted optic that slightly diffuses the light. This reduces the throw somewhat but improves the flashlight’s suitability for close-up use.
Both models produce a soft beam with a diffuse spot. However, the SFT-25R’s light is a bit more focused in the center and brighter. Especially when compared side by side, the strong greenish tint of the SFT-25R is clearly visible, while the Nichia 519A impresses with a noticeably more neutral color.
Outdoors, the difference in throw is clearly noticeable. It would be interesting to compare the SFT-25R paired with a clear optic for even greater throw (Skilhunt offers TIR optics as accessories). That said, a flashlight this size is generally designed for close-range use. In that area, the Nichia 519A version delivers excellent performance that fully convinces me.
For better comparison, here are the photos of both versions side by side:
Driver and runtime
The driver uses a boost regulator to supply the LEDs with a constant current from both Li-ion and NiMH batteries. This ensures consistent brightness and efficient operation.
| Mode | Li-ion | NiMH |
|---|---|---|
| T1 | 3.30 A | 2.30 A |
| T2 | 1.50 A | 1.45 A |
| H1 | 0.64 A | 0.65 A |
| M1 | 0.21 A | 0.23 A |
| M2 | 0.05 A | 0.11 A |
| L1 | 0.01 A | 0.04 A |
| L2 | < 0.01 A | 0.02 A |
| Off | 35 µA | 61 µA |
There are no significant differences in runtime and power consumption between the two LED variants. They differ only in brightness and throw.
When using a Li-ion battery, the highest modes T1 and T2 step down to level H1 after one and three minutes, respectively. The brightness then remains steady for most of the runtime and only decreases again at the end.
Since the diagram with so many lines looks a bit cluttered, here are additional graphs showing the runtimes separately for Li-ion and NiMH batteries:
With light air cooling, the temperature stabilizes at just under 35 °C when using Li-ion batteries. When using NiMH batteries, however, the flashlight barely gets warm.
Without cooling, the temperature gradually rises throughout the runtime, eventually reaching 50 °C. In practice, such a temperature should only be reached if the turbo mode is used repeatedly.
Regardless of the battery type, all modes are regulated completely without PWM. When tested with an oscilloscope, not even ripple was detectable.
When using Li-ion batteries and the battery voltage drops below 3.0 V, the status LED in the switch continuously blinks red while the flashlight is on. At a voltage of 2.6 V the flashlight turns off automatically to protect the battery from deep discharge. For NiMH or alkaline batteries, the cutoff voltage is 0.5 V, but there is no low voltage warning in this case.
Conclusion
The finger-sized Skilhunt EC150 is a compact and lightweight EDC flashlight that is barely noticeable in your pocket, making it a perfect everyday companion. Skilhunt got almost everything right with this light: an efficient boost driver ensures consistent brightness, it can run on both Li-ion and NiMH batteries and thanks to the integrated USB-C charging, it’s easy to recharge anytime. It is also available in a version with Nichia 519A LEDs, which impress with their excellent light quality.
There’s not much to complain about the EC150: the switch can sometimes be a bit tricky to locate by touch and the sharp attachment lug for the lanyard can feel uncomfortable. However, these are minor issues that hardly detract from the overall very positive impression.
Got curious? Take a look at the Skilhunt EC150 on the manufacturer’s website.
![[only Li-ion]](https://www.sammyshp.de/betablog/uploads/Skilhunt_EC150_runtime_Li-ion_full.png){kind=link}
![[only NiMH]](https://www.sammyshp.de/betablog/uploads/Skilhunt_EC150_runtime_NiMH_full.png){kind=link}