Maybe you love hiking or simply walking your dog. Now, with summer coming to an end and the days increasingly shorter, hiking or simply taking your dog out to do his business can become a challenge, especially if you live outside the city, in the countryside for example, where the roads often lack lighting. Luckily, tactical flashlights exist, and I've tested one of the best and most compact ones for you, with many unique features. Let's discover the SOFIRN ST10 together.
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New Sofirn ST10 EDC 14500 1000LM USB C Rechargeable Waterproof Flashlight with Red Light Magnetic Tail and Clip for Camping Emerge
Technical Features of the SOFIRN SK30 Torch
- brightness at maximum power: 1000 lumens
- range maximum: 144 meters
- resistance to falls from 1,0 meters
- impermeability IPX6
- material: AL6061-T6 aluminum alloy
- battery: 14500mAh 900mAh with built-in USB-C charging port; compatible with AA battery
- dimensions: 69,3 33,8 x x 20,4mm
- weight: 49 grams (without battery)
Unboxing
The flashlight arrives in a simple cardboard box, making it a perfect gift. Inside the packaging, we find the flashlight encased in plastic wrap and a lanyard, so you can hold it on your wrist and prevent it from falling during risky maneuvers. Finally, we find the user manual, the Type-C charging cable, and two spare rubber tips to replace the one already present in the battery compartment thread. This will keep the battery inside the flashlight safe from leaks. Remember to remove the small cardboard that prevents the flashlight from turning on during transport.
First impressions “out of the box”
The first impression when holding the flashlight is one of robustness. Excellent build quality is immediately apparent; it's a small monolith with remarkably compact dimensions. It weighs about 70 grams (including battery), making it light and comfortable to hold. Its compact size also makes it easy to carry around backpacks or other gear. The slightly raised handle provides a firm grip, thanks in part to the excellent weight balance. There's also a clip for attaching the flashlight to a jacket or hat, allowing you to work with the light directed at something while still keeping your hands free. The clip also features a silicone coating to prevent scratching or pulling on jacket threads, etc.
The peculiarity of this SOFIRN ST10 tactical flashlight lies in two things: the first is the magnetic attachment positioned in the base, i.e. the battery compartment cover, but the magnet is also present in the clip, offering the possibility of attaching the flashlight to lampposts, car bodywork, etc. Furthermore, we have a triple light: the upper one with a direct beam and a brightness of up to 1000 lumens and then two side LEDs, with diffused light or red light for the night with brightness of 500 lumens and 100 lumens respectively.
On the back, we find the rubber buttons with a small status LED inside that indicates the battery charge level with a green or red light, steady or flashing. The buttons are used to control the top light or the two side lights, with diffused light. Finally, the magnetic base is the cover that protects the integrated battery, a sort of smart AA battery as it integrates the Type-C charging input on the positive terminal and a charging status LED. Another special feature of the SOFIRN ST10 is that it is compatible with standard AA batteries, which means that if you are in the middle of nowhere and cannot charge the flashlight, you will achieve the same results with standard batteries.
The entire body of the flashlight is made of aircraft-grade aluminum alloy, which is of excellent quality, but only intensive use will truly reveal its robustness. SOFIRN claims the ST10 can withstand drops of up to one meter, with an IPX6 waterproof rating.
Battery
The battery is SOFIRN branded, a 9000 mAh 14500 battery with an integrated USB-C charging port. For battery life, you can look at the image below, but it depends on how you use the flashlight and how powerful you want the beam to be. In any case, you can get up to 150 hours at minimum brightness, while in Turbo mode you'll have a maximum runtime of 1,3 hours. When emitting the beam in Turbo mode, be careful not to point it in anyone's eyes, especially not your own, and don't place flammable objects in front of the beam; I assure you, the heat generated is extremely high.
Impressions after the first few days of use
I confirm my very first impressions: the SOFIRN ST10 is a well-made tactical flashlight that does not disappoint. It is aimed at those looking for a quality, reliable, robust, and compact product. It is a well-balanced flashlight that is comfortable to carry. I tested all the brightness levels, and already at the second level I managed to achieve sufficient visibility in total darkness. The Turbo mode provides a lot of light, practically making it daylight! I used it on medium power most of the time, with occasional high power settings, and occasionally (to illuminate something far away or specific) on turbo power. This also allows for perfect management of any potential overheating of the flashlight. The beam is well-balanced between field length and uniformity close to the flashlight.
New Sofirn ST10 EDC 14500 1000LM USB C Rechargeable Waterproof Flashlight with Red Light Magnetic Tail and Clip for Camping Emerge
Conclusions and price
You've probably guessed that I'm very enthusiastic about the SOFIRN ST10. Using it is a pleasure! The two side switches are very easy and quick to use. Considering the price and the excellent features, I recommend it. Ideal for workers, hikers, campers, and anyone looking for a lightweight and versatile flashlight. Three lighting modes, magnetic and clip-on options, red night light, IPX6 resistance, and much more are qualities that are almost impossible to find in a product of this kind at a decidedly affordable price.
