Video comparison - Sofirn D25L vs D25S

I just received my D25L yesterday. This is my first headlamp that I will use as a headlamp (I’ve had a Nitecore HC30 NW and Zebralight H600W Mk II for years, but haven’t used them on my head), and I am very impressed. I was worried it might feel too heavy on my head, and I was considering one of the lightweight, cheap headlamps on Amazon instead - but I’m glad I went with this light. The quality and performance for the price are very impressive - as with the other Sofirn light I bought recently, a IF22A. The D25L works perfectly, it charges the Sofirn battery supplied with the light to 3.19V, and it is not uncomfortable on my head. The beam will work very well for my purposes. The headband also works.

I had also considered a Coast headlamp, using the 20%-off coupon they give you for signing up for emails, but there seem to be issues with each model that make them less suitable for me than the Sofirn light. There are many comments in reviews about switches not working or being difficult to use, lights turning on accidentally, and magnets in tailcaps, which I need to avoid.

I appreciate the excellent review above, as well as the beamshot comparison - I looked at the Slonik headlamps and also the D25S, but I wasn’t as confident about the Slonik quality and performance as I was about the Sofirn products. Now I’m tempted to look at getting a Slonik or maybe a D25S……maybe I can rationalize that I need a backup headlamp. :wink:

It’s a hobby and we know then there is no logic, just rationalization. :innocent: I don’t have need for 5 headlamps either. FWIW I am keeping the Slonik (my night walk) and Sofirn 25L (near field around house). One thing that might help with your decision is the flood vs throw: Slonik is definitely more throwy, Sofirn S is medium-plus throwy, great flood (very bright), and Sofirn L is medium minus throwy, medium flood. Hope I’m making sense here, me and my OCD LOL.

Re. Coast: I love the light, it exudes quality and workmanship and as such a level above Sofirn/Slonik. The quality is a match for Fenix and hence cost is fairly amazing at $45. However, it weighs 8 oz and the only way I could wear it is to sew the headband to a baseball cap and lay the light on the bill of the cap. Other weights:
Sofirn 25L: 4.2 oz, battery 1.62 oz
Slonik w/ USB-C: 4.5 oz, battery 1.55 oz. (odd considering Slonik and Sofirn look identical, and the 3000 mAh Sofirn battery weighs more than the 2200 mAh Slonik battery, maybe it’s the headband)
Fenix HM65R-T: 5 oz
Coast: around 8 oz (I haven’t weighed it yet because it is now on the baseball cap)
Somewhere around 4.5 oz, I could not tolerate heavier lamp.

Keep in mind also all of these headlamps step down. The Slonik for example steps down after 30 minutes to a level about third from highest, which is still good enough and is the reason why I keep it.

cannga: thanks for the weight comparison - that is exactly the information I was trying to find. I’m like you - I have a weight limit of what is usable for me. I have to consider the weight of a headlamp, due to neck/spine problems, so I think I would go with the Sofirn D25S as my backkup, given that its weight is probably close to the weight of the D25L. Still, it’s good to know that the Slonik quality is good enough. I saw some reviews of the latest Slonik headlamp design (the ones that look silver on Amazon) that were critical of the design compared to the older version, but I don’t know much about their latest updates.

Have you seen the Boruit headlamps in this style for sale on Ebay? They seem to be labeled HP300 and HP500. The descriptions say they have one round lens with an “XM-L2” LED and two small COB lights with XPE LEDs either to the left and right of the main round lens or on one side of the main lens. They are USB-C rechargeable and have mode memory - but I have no idea what the outputs and runtimes are. The weight of both is claimed to be 73 grams (presumably without battery). I haven’t seen anyone comment on these lights here on BLF, so I was curious about them when I saw them for sale.

Slonik has two top models on Amazon, one is $35, black; the other is $45, silver, and is claimed to be a recent upgrade. That $45 silver Slonik is inferior to its less expensive twin in nearly every aspect: aggressive step down that is very dim, captive headband that cannot be removed to be washed, a hard rubber lamp holder (vs solid plastic of others) that bunches up and causes pressure point on forehead, micro USB vs USB C. I don’t understand what Slonik is thinking. That silver lamp deserves all the negative reviews and a reminder that we just can’t trust vendors completely.

Re. Boruit, don’t know about that lamp, but I like the twin lead design for brightness and between the 2 Sofirns and $35 Slonik, I’ve seen the important characters that allow me to choose: thrower, combo bright thrower-flooder, and warm high CRI. BTW it seems Boruit uses 2000 mAh battery, vs Sofirn’s 3000?

Re. the weight, at around 4 oz and up, the pressure point on forehead is just too much for me. I am having trouble dealing with my 5 oz Fenix. And yes D25L and D25S weigh about the same. That 73 gms/2.6 oz of Boruit is surely without battery. The 18650 battery alone averages 45 gms/1.6 oz. I like Sofirn and don’t think you would go wrong with them. Just wishing they had a USB C version of these lamps. I am having some fun nit picking/comparing these lamps, hope you are too.

Have you tuned them at all, or are they exactly has shipped by Sofirn?

Exactly as shipped by Sofirn. I tested to check their behavior in my daily walk: max brightness initial setting, then 50 minute walk. Btw, my comments obviously should be in context of headlamps, ie the Slonik’s throw is great but only in context of headlamp comparison. Nearly any flashlight would of course be much superior in terms of brightness and less aggressive step down.

It’s also subjective what’s “best” (personal preference). Somehow I feel safer during a walk to have better throw (to see anything/one lurking ahead of me) than to have better flood (bright around me but darker far ahead). But that could be because I am old. FWIW, I haven’t seen any discussion about this last point but I wonder if a lamp with nearfield bright flood causes pupil to constrict and reduces far field brightness, further enhancing its floody character.

Bottom line, I like both the Sofirn’s and the $35 USB-C Slonik. They compare very favorably to my Coast and Fenix 65. Even though it’s not as bright as others (commonly observed in warm tone, high CRI version of any flashlights) and lacks USB-C, I love the Sofirn D25L :innocent: , but all 3 recommended.

I’m also using my D25L exactly as shipped by Sofirn. I am also very pleased with the D25L. I might get a lighter-weight headlamp, also, just to have something that I can wear for long periods without feeling it, but the D25L will suit me just fine. It has all the throw I really need in a headlamp, but it is still tempting to get the D25S, because it’s also a great value and will provide some extra throw.