Sofirn SP40 is good, but Wurkkos HD15 is way better. I really believe that after several attempts Sofirn finally managed to create a budget 18650 headlamp as close to perfect as possible.
Affordable, dual light, good (well, just acceptable for some BLFers here) color temperature, fast type-C charging, convenient UI, a magnet in tailcap.
This headlamp might be better, but it is damn good bang for your buck as is.
Even my corgi makes right choice.
you can buy Wurkkos HD15 at:
➤ AMAZON
SPECIFICATION
LEDs:
FLOOD 1x Samsung LH351D 5.000K 90CRI 75m maximum range
SPOT 1x Luminus SST20 5.000K 70CRI with 148m maximum range
Battery: 1x 18650 Li-ion battery
2A Type-C reverse charging
Size: 110mm (length) x 27.4mm (head diameter)
Weight: 72g (without battery)
Flashlight Body: Aircraft Grade 6061 Aluminum Alloy, CNC Manufacturing, Type III Military Specification Hard Anodizing, Abrasion Resistant Surface for a Rugged Body, Collision Resistant Geometry and Better Heat Transfer.
Waterproof level: IP68 (up to 2m / 6.56ft underwater).
Temperature Control Technology (ATR): When the temperature at driver reaches 60°C, ATR automatically lowers the brightness level to prevent overheating.
Sofirn SP40 review
Wurkkos HD20 review
Package and appearance
This is just the situation when the package is way worse then the content. Wurkkos use this box for almost any flashlight they produce.
There is everything you may need in kit, including a short tube for those few who prefer 18350 batteries. There is also a replaceable non-manget tailcap. Good for carrying bank cards and flashlight in one pocket.
Interesting fact. Tailcap with a magnet is the same as that of Sofirn SP40, but non-magnet tailcap is designed in the style of Wurkkos HD20.
The headstrap is the same. Quite soft fabric, no bad, but really, really, budget. It would be cool if Sofirn start selling separate higher quality headstraps.
Sofirn and Wurkkos are technically separate brands, but they have the very same origin. So it is appropriate to show a family photo that will illustrate the design and size. The usual 11cm length of the Wurkkos HD15 is reduced by a third with the 18350 tube.
I definitely like new design. If only the anodizing was matte, and the headstrap was not so budget, then Wurkkos HD15 would look no worse than models from much more expensive brands.
btw, there is coloured models now.
Well, now, let’s go in order.
I mentioned the magnet in the tailcap. This one is strong.
!
The headlamp body here is similar to the HD20, so the grip here is extremely reliable.
The flashlight is divided into three parts. In the regular position, the clip is mounted near the tail cap, which I don’t like
But! Nothing prevents you from turning middle part upside down, so clip will be mounted near head. Contact is good, Wurkkos HD15 works as supposed.
There are two springs, at tail and head.
As usually, there is the charging connector at the rear side of head.
If Sofirn SP40 has Micro USB, then Wurkkos HD15 is equipped with reverse Type-C charging port. 2A charge power.
The cover is good and thick. I don’t see any chance of accidentally opening it.
The button is the same as it was, with the same backlight. Pretty handy button
And here is the most important change. For some idiotic reason, being aware that so damn lot of people have asked for SP40A version with floody TIR optic and have had install such lens by themselves, Sofirn didn’t bother to release such version of SP40 and release good, but quite large Wurkkos HD20.
Sofirn SP40 is not bad as is, that is classic headlamp with reflector, definitely convenient for working at a medium distance, with decent throw (as far as this word is applicable to a headlamp). But it is really not that good for close range work.
Well, now you have Wurkkos HD15 and this is completely what you need. The same size as SP40, but with both spot (SST20 ) and flood (Samsung LH351D Hi CRI) light.
I think that SFT40 would be better as a LED for Spot light. But increasing throw would result in worse color temperature.
Wurkkos HD15 looks more attractive then Sofirn SP40, but the appearance (and especially the package) still doesn`t allow you to confuse it with handsome models by big and expensive brands.
Design of Wurkkos HD15 is quite at it`s price level.
I did not see any flaws in the quality of manufacture.
UI
By and large, the same as in the Wurkkos HD20
There is a mode memory, you can choose between spot \flood \ both lights
There is an access to firefly mode when flashlight is locked.
You cannon set brightness for SPOT and FLOOD when they both are on. So it is MID + MID, not like LOW+HIGH. This is, i guess, only one feature that can be improved.
1 click - OFF-ON Hold from OFF - firefly
2 clicks - turbo
3 clicks switch light type (low/far/both)
4 clicks - (time) blocking. In the locked state, pressing the button turns on the firefly.
Quite a decent control, except that I sometimes miss with 3 clicks to switch the light. Here, two separate buttons on the HS15 are definitely more convenient.
WURKKOS HD15 runtime and illumination
With such a combination of price and functionality, I don’t care at all that the flashlight does not have brightness stabilization.
It perfectly holds the higher modes and the difference in runtime between the LEDs is clearly visible here only in Turbo.
When it comes to flood light, you can safely count on the fact that it will work for an exceptionally long time without a real stepdown , especially when there is some wind cooling.
The eye, of course, perceives everything a little differently, but I’m sure you can catch the main difference. In terms of light versatility, the SP40 loses miserably here.
Wurkkos HD20 vs Wurkkos HD15:
flood light: 1000lum of HD15 is way brighter then 650lum of HD20. Clearly visible difference
spot light: XPL-Hi of HD20 gives wider and visibly brighter light. But SST20 of HD15 gives tighter beam, so throw is the same.
!https://s7.gifyu.com/images/720_VS-SP40_3.gif !
here is pic in 4K resolution.
upd. They`ve just released red light mode as well. So, there is Flood light LH351D + red light.
and here is video review as well
OVERALL IMPRESSIONS
Sofirn have a serious drawback. They tend to spoil a really interesting model by addin some some completely useless features. They have done this more than once and, alas, they will probably screw up in the future.
Fortunately, this did not happen with the Wurkkos HD15. This headlamp is a successful combination of Sofirn SP40 and Wurkkos HD20. The size of the classic 18650 headlamp and affordable price make it similar to the first one, and the dual light and type-C charging to the second one.
The Wurkkos HD15 has a wide Hi CRI flood light , and the spot light has a decent range for a headlamp. Combined light in lower modes gives a comfortable walking light. I do not see much use from it at higher brightness modes. The spot light here will be already bright enough to give visible side light . And the flood light will also have some throw, just because of 1000lumens brightness.
UI maintains a good balance of simplicity and flexibility and gives the firefly missing in the SP40 and access to it in the lock mode.
It seems to me that Wurkkos HD15 makes SP40 quite useless now. I dont think that anyone would want to save a couple of bucks and not get a radically better and more versatile light, convenient UI and fast charging. Previously, only Wurkkos HD20 had all this. But with a bonus of extra weight and size. I’m not saying HD20 is bad, no. Many are quite satisfied with the size of this headlamp and the long runtime by a 21700 battery.
But someone bought it simply because they could not find something similar in 18650 format. A clear competitor - YLP Panda costs dramatically more. And the prices of models from BIG brands are even higher, and at the same time it is far from a fact that they will be any better in terms of light and UI. The logic of major brands, alas, very often relies only on large numbers in specifications, and not on what the end user needs.
Yes, the Wurkkos HD15 has room for improvement. For example, to give the opportunity to set flood and spot at different levels for combined light mode, like LOW + HIGH. Well, it would be nice to finally get full brightness stabilization.
If we take the dry residue, then what the Wurkkos HD15 review came down to, then I can say that the Wurkkos HD15 is an affordable universal headlamp that will cover absolutely all the needs of an ordinary user. Yes, and an advanced user, I’m sure, also will not hesitate to keep such a flashlight in his collection.
In short, if you need a good inexpensive and convenient headlamp, then Wurkkos HD15 seems to me the first and obvious choice. Purchase of Sofirn SP40 makes sense only if you are really limited in your budget or have no need in Flood light.
Well done Sofirn, i applause.
