Skilhunt is best known for their flashlights with magnetic charging ports. About a year ago, the EC series was introduced, which instead uses a standard USB-C port. The first model was the EC200, a compact EDC flashlight with a floody beam.
With the EC500, Skilhunt expands the series with a high-performance thrower featuring an excellent beam. A welcome feature: the flashlight is also available in a version with a warm white LED and high color rendering.
You can find the German version of this review on my website: SammysHP Blog › Skilhunt EC500
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 EC500 comes in a colorful retail packaging. The accessories are in a separate box inside.
- Skilhunt “BL-250” 21700 Li-ion battery (5000 mAh, protected, button-top, 75.6 mm in length, 3.56 V at arrival)
- Lanyard
- Separate dual-way clip
- 2x replacement o-ring
- USB-C charging cable
- Manual (EN, CN, DE, ES, FR, IT, NL, PL, RU)
As a true thrower, the EC500 needs a large reflector – so the head diameter of just over 50 millimeters is no surprise. It is still compact enough to fit comfortably in a jacket pocket.
Length: 138 mm
Diameter (bezel): 51.6 mm
Diameter (head): 34.8 mm
Diameter (battery tube): 25.4 mm
Diameter (tailcap): 28.0 mm
Weight (without battery): 135 g
Weight (21700 battery): 73 g
Weight (total): 208 g
At 138 mm in length, the EC500 is actually shorter than a Convoy C8+, despite using a 21700 battery. Overall, its proportions feel well-balanced and is nice to handle.
Convoy C8+ | Skilhunt EC500 | Cyansky K3 v2
The flashlight is available in gray, black, and brown. 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.
Small ridges on the head add some visual details to the design. These are followed by a slightly raised section with subtle cooling fins, positioned at the height of the LED.
On flat surfaces, the EC500 tends to roll away easily. While tailstanding is possible, it’s generally more stable when placed head-down.
A finely textured surface with cross-shaped interruptions along the battery tube ensures a secure grip, even with wet hands. The included two-way clip can be attached at the rear end. With the reflector facing upward, the center of gravity sits a bit too high and it’s unlikely that you’d want to wear the flashlight on a baseball cap. A simple clip would have been perfectly sufficient.
Two small holes in the tailcap make it possible to attach a lanyard or carrying strap. I like this design because it doesn’t dig into the hand and still allows for tailstanding. However, the inner edges are a bit sharp, so using a small keyring to protect the cord is recommended.
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.
The small tab that makes it easier to open the cover sits recessed in a cutout. This reduces the risk of the cover accidentally opening from catching on something.
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.
A charging current of just under 2.5 A is appropriate for a battery of this size. Although the transition from the constant current to the constant voltage phase is somewhat erratic, it shouldn’t have any negative effects.
The EC500 can also be used as a power bank. For example, in an emergency, you can charge a smartphone via the USB-C port. While in use, the status LED blinks rapidly. After about half a minute without a load, the output shuts off again to save power.
Thanks to the springs on both ends, 21700 batteries of all types – protected or unprotected, both button-top and flat-top – can be used without any issues.
According to the specifications, the EC500 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 EC500 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 600 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/S4) |
| 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/S4 |
| 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/S4 |
| 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/S4 |
| T1/T2 | 1H | Switch between T1/T2 |
| S1/S2/S3/S4 | 1C | Turn off |
| S1/S2/S3/S4 | 3C | Switch to previously level |
| S1/S2/S3/S4 | 1H | Switch between S1 → S2 → S3 → S4 |
| Lockout | 2C | Turn button indicator on/off |
| Lockout | 4C | Unlock and turn on in L2 |
| Lockout | Hold | Momentary L1 |
The EC500’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, a beacon with 1 Hz, an “SOS” (more of an “S-O-S”) and – added in this version – a really nice beacon with a period of two seconds.
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. 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.
The flashlight feels comfortable in the hand and has a well-balanced weight distribution. However, the switch can be a bit tricky to locate without looking.
Illumination
For a thrower, the built-in Luminus SFT-40 is a solid choice. It has a relatively small light emitting surface with high brightness and can be operated at fairly high power. The EC500 is offered in three color temperatures: cool white (6500 K), neutral white (5000 K), and warm white (3000 K).
The warm white option is reminiscent of classic incandescent bulbs and produces a cozy, warm light. It also offers excellent color rendering with a CRI of 95. However, this high light quality comes with a slightly lower overall brightness.
The light is shaped by a large, smooth reflector. The protective glass lens features a subtle magenta-tinted anti-reflective coating.
The very compact and sharply defined spot is surrounded by a subtle, petal-shaped corona. The spill is wide and even. It’s truly a beautiful and “clean” beam pattern.
The close range is evenly illuminated by the spill without causing excessive glare. The transition to the spot is balanced, allowing for an impressive throw. This is exactly how I imagine a good thrower should perform.
I especially like the warm white light. Compared to cool white light, it scatters less in the air, making the beam less visible. This can be particularly beneficial in light fog. To me, the warm light also feels easier on the eyes.
Driver and runtime
Depending on the chosen LED variant, there are differences in brightness. However, the runtime remains the same across all versions. In total, there are seven brightness levels available.
| Mode | Brightness¹ (Luminus SFT-40 3000K) |
Runtime¹ | Intensity¹ (Throw²) | Current³ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T1 | 1300 lm / 640 lm / 385 lm | 2 + 110 + 30 min | 122 000 cd (698 m) | 7.40 A |
| T2 | 640 lm / 385 lm | 115 + 30 min | 1.98 A | |
| H1 | 385 lm | 250 min | 1.00 A | |
| M1 | 180 lm | 9.5 h | 0.44 A | |
| M2 | 60 lm | 29.5 h | 0.14 A | |
| L1 | 3.5 lm | 300 h | 0.02 A | |
| L2 | 0.5 lm | 0.01 A | ||
| Off | 43 µA |
¹ According to manufacturer ² ANSI FL1 ³ Measured
The brightness stays nearly constant throughout almost the entire runtime. Only on the highest level (T1) it gradually steps down to the second-highest level (T2) after about a minute. After that, the brightness can be increased again. At level T2, the temperature reaches just under 40 °C.
All levels are regulated by the buck driver without PWM. Using an oscilloscope, only the lower levels show a minimal ripple, which is completely invisible to the naked eye.
Below a battery voltage of 3.0 V, the status LED in the button flashes continuously in red while the flashlight is in use. At a voltage of 2.7 V the flashlight turns off automatically to protect the battery from deep discharge.
Conclusion
The Skilhunt EC500 is a successful addition to the EC series, bringing a capable thrower to the lineup. It impresses with an excellent beam pattern featuring a compact, sharply focused spot. A USB-C port allows for convenient battery charging – no special adapter required. I especially like the warm white 3000 K version, which produces a pleasant, cozy light with high color rendering.
The only drawback: the switch is a bit hard to find by touch. An asymmetrical design would improve usability in this regard.
Got curious? Take a look at the Skilhunt EC500 on the manufacturer’s website.