Hello everyone, today I have the Sofirn SR23 that Sofirn has provided for me for free to give an honest review on.
It is a easy to handle 21700 light that has dual channels controlled by a flat rubber capped e-switch with two separate buttons. The tailcap contains a nice strong magnet, also the light is driven by a boost controller as per the Sofirn website. Similar in form factor to the popular S21E so it is easy to hold and manipulate the side switch.
The fit and finish on the light is well done and the crenulated bezel is a nice touch if you like an aggressive front end. The USB charging port seals up well and is recessed in the light which helps to keep dirt and liquids out. The 3 main emitters are listed as TN-3535 sitting behind a very floody TIR and a 3W 365nm with it’s own reflector. The driver does flash pads for those that are interested.
The user interface couldn’t be any simpler in my opinion
Here are some beamshots of the light in action:
Turbo shots, the volleyball net is 60ft away with the trees in the background being 300ft. The river tree line is 200ft away and the SR23 does a decent job of lighting up a wide area.
Even on a lower brightness it can still light up a decent area
It comes at no surprise that these emitters aren’t winning any CRI awards, they do what they need to do. Light up an area as bright as they can at a bit above 5000k.
The UV light is only limited by it’s reflector as seen here, on the left is the SR23 and on the right is the Weltool Purple Beard which has a more intense hotspot. It’s hard to notice but the difference is there.
Perfect for finding wild fishing line though
The battery is your basic Sofirn 5000mAh cell, the light charges between 8-10 watts and takes roughly 3 hours and 43 minutes to charge.
It is a unprotected cell and has decent IR
Overall this is a fairly solid light, the easy access to the UV light makes it fun for night time bug or yooperlite hunting. My only gripe is the rubber sleeve on the body but it can be removed if you do not like it.
Pros:
- Good size and form factor
- On board charging at ~10 watts
- Easy UI
- Generous amounts of flood
The only con I can see is a personal one and it isn’t that big of a deal and that is the rubber battery tube grip.
Beyond that, it is a fantastic light