Sofirn SK30 Tactical Flashlight with Dual Tail Switches (SFT-70 6500K, 21700)
An Accurate Review by AccurateJazz
The Sofirn SK30 feels like a “Fenix PD36R Pro killer” in spirit - same specs and dual switch concept, but at roughly 3× lower price. If you want a budget tactical 21700 light, read on.
Disclosure: Sofirn sent me this flashlight for free in exchange for an honest review. I’m not holding back on problems or defects.
Specification
- Emitter: SFT-70 LED (6500K), 3000 lumens
- Efficient boost driver
- Size: 28Ă—140mm (1.10Ă—5.51 inches)
- Weight: 157g with 21700 battery and clip (87g/2.96oz without battery)
- Dual tail switches with momentary strobe and momentary memorized level
- USB-C charging port
Price context: SK30 is currently on sale for $35.99 on Sofirn site with coupon (with 21700 battery, holster and free shipping).
Form factor
It’s a simple, narrow tube (28 mm diameter - a 21700 light can’t be any slimmer).
Tailcap is fixed; you can unscrew the head only. Mechanical lockout available by loosening the head a few millimeters.
Switch feel / ergonomics:
- All controls are on the tail. Dual tail switches are much more useful than a tail + side switch combo (especially for tactical use).
- Large proud main switch + smaller flatter strobe button = very easy to identify by feel.
- Downside: the raised main switch kills tailstanding.
Both switches look very similar to a Fenix PD36R Pro style layout:
Source: 1lumen’s Fenix PD36R review
User Interface
Main switch from OFF:
- Half press: momentary memorized mode
- Full press (click): memorized mode
- “Double click” for Turbo shortcut. Because of the forward momentary switch, from OFF you have to half-press, release and half/full press quickly to turn the light on momentary/constant Turbo. This can be tricky in stress situation, but Turbo can be memorized, so you can store it in memory and get to Turbo with a normal full press if you wish.
You can use this double click shortcut for Turbo also from ON from any mode.
Main switch from ON: click to turn off.
Strobe button behavior:
- Light OFF: strobe is momentary-only.
- Light ON:
- short press cycles modes Eco > Low > Med > High > Turbo > Eco
- long press enters constant strobe. Another strobe-button press exits strobe and returns to the memorized mode.
I usually set the mode memory to Eco so I can quickly access both the lowest memorized mode (momentary or full press) and the highest mode (double-click for momentary or constant turbo).
One UI disadvantage:
There is no “ramp down” / reverse cycling. From Turbo you must wrap around through Eco and back up.
Good news: mode cycling can be spam-clicked as fast as you can (no enforced delay).
Overall the UI is great for the intended tactical purpose.
Performance
Thanks to the boost driver, this flashlight is very efficient (it doesn’t waste part of the energy as heat during voltage conversion).
I don’t have the equipment to measure lumens, so I’m including the values measured by ZeroAir, whose reviews I highly recommend:
| Mode | Mode Claimed Output (lm) | Claimed Runtime | Measured Lumens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turbo | 3000-780-280 | 70s+120m+60m | 2852 (0s), 1819 (30s) |
| High | 1000-780-280 | 11m+120m+90m | 836 (0s), 830 (30s) |
| Medium | 350 | 9h | 291 |
| Low | 150 | 20h | 124 |
| Eco | 30 | 42h | 22 |
The SK30 starts at around 2,850 lumens on Turbo and after about two minutes it steps down smoothly (not jarring) to thermally sustainable output:
Turbo graph source: Darren Yeo’s YouTube SK30 Review
Mode spacing feels good because High is basically the thermally sustainable level (830lm).
The lowest mode isn’t moonlight:
Eco (22lm) is not low enough to be called moonlight, but for a tactical light I can accept it.
I’d pair this with a floody headlamp if you need true moonlight.
Strobe is a single mode with alternating cadence: fast strobe, then after ~2 seconds different slower frequency, then fast again (repeats).
Beam and tint
Small reflector + throwy SFT-70 LED makes a very practical beam: big and strong hotspot and very wide, bright spill.
It’s the kind of beam that lets you see your feet and still scan out to ~200 m (650 feet) in real use.
The pole is 100 m (328 ft.) away, and the trees behind it are 170 m (558 ft.) from the camera.
The spill is even a tiny bit wider than the Convoy S2+ with the LHP531 (floody setup). There are some rings at the edge of the beam - they’re pretty noticeable when wall hunting, but I don’t mind them in use. You can see the outer ring in this beam shot in the hall:
The hall is 13 m (43 ft.) long.
The bars are 46 m (151 ft.) away.
Tint note (from a tint snob):
This SFT-70 6500K is better than lot of other cool white emitters.
On High and Turbo the tint is very pleasant, clean with no green, and Turbo can even look slightly rosy. Low levels are a bit greenish.
Measurement of color temperature and rosiness by ZeroAir:
- Eco CCT 6168, DUV 0.0069
- Low CCT 6277, DUV 0.0058
- Medium CCT 6377, DUV 0.0045
- High CCT 6610, DUV 0.0019
- Turbo CCT 7269, DUV -0.0034
Carry / holster / clip
SK30 is great for outdoor carry. This size is basically the upper limit of what still fits in a pants pocket. For short-term pocket carry, I usually go with smaller options like the TD11, SR12 with the short tube, or the Convoy T6/S6.
Side snap-on clip (preinstalled) works well. I’m glad it’s not a two way “hat clip” on a light this size.
Lanyard holes are on the clip and on both sides of the tail.
The included holster is surprisingly good and not emphasized enough on the product page.
It fits SK30 perfectly and has sturdier hardware than typical budget holsters (metal rivet + metal D-ring).
Other notes
Charging:
- USB-C C-to-C works (including from a phone).
- Red indicator while charging, green when full.
- One caveat: the port cutout is not very wide; chunky connector housings may not fully seat.
Build:
- Threads are smooth and lubed, one O-ring.
- Port cover looks fine for rain use; I’d treat it as “rain-ready”, not a dedicated submersion light. Sofirn rates the light IPX8.
Head can accept 5x tritium vials:
Tail “slots” are too shallow to be practical:
Pros / cons (summary)
Pros:
- Dedicated strobe button + momentary options in one package
- Big 21700 capacity + swappable cell
- Very wide spill + still useful reach (~200 m / 650 feet practical scanning)
- Great tint on High/Turbo (clean, no green)
- Turbo ~2 min then smooth stepdown to strong sustainable output
- Excellent included holster
Cons:
- Eco isn’t true moonlight
- Mode order is one-way only (wrap-around via Eco required)
Summary:
If you want a dedicated strobe button, momentary modes, 21700 capacity and low price - with a surprisingly good tint - the Sofirn SK30 is one of the best budget tactical packages right now (especially for $35.99 with 21700 battery, holster, free shipping and no additional taxes).
Use coupon “light” for 10% off.
Sources:
- Sofirn SK30 Tactical Flashlight Review - ZeroAir Reviews
- Best Value Tactical Flashlight in 2025? Sofirn SK30 Review - Darren Yeo YouTube
- Fenix PD36R Pro review | Tactical flashlight with 2800 lumens | 1Lumen.com
- Official Sofirn site: SOFIRN SK30 Rechargeable Tactical Flashlight with Dual Tail Switches