First Impressions Sofirn HS21 Headlamp

[jon_slider]

This is a very nice headlamp. It fits well and is very comfortable.

The rotary Beam selector is easy to use to reach each of Four Beam types. Each Beam type has 4 outputs, They each memorize their last used output.

Red Flood:

White Flood combined with White Throw:

White Flood:

and White Throw beam:

The switch button is easy to use and locate by feel. The switch button also indicates state of charge by showing green or red when first turned on.

The optional motion sensor switch is easy to use. It defaults to off and can only be enabled by triple clic from On. The motion sensor gets disabled when the light is turned off. There is no way that the light can get turned on accidentally by the motion sensor.

Opple 3 data at the lowest output level for each mode:
Flood and Throw beams:

Red Beam:

There are Four positions on the Rotary Bezel, which selects the following LEDs:

1. The Red LEDs are 620 nanometer, with a floody low mode of 0.2 lumens that seems suitably low for dark adapted situations. The beam is wide and floody with even diffusion and no artifacts.

2. The White Throw LED combined with the Floody LEDs produce a combined beam of about 5900K CCT, w CRI 76 and Tint DUV of 0.0063. The low mode of 1.8 lumens is suitable for illuminating the ground near our feet, or something in our hands or on a table.

3. The White Flood LEDs are 5100K CCT, CRI 100, and Tint DUV 0.0016. The low mode of 1.5 lumens is suitable for illuminating the ground near our feet, or something in our hands or on a table. The Tint and Color Rendering seem excellent and the Floody beam is nice and wide, and evenly diffused. A very pleasant close range mode.

4. The single Throw LED is 6300K CCT, CRI 68, and Tint DUV 0.0096. The low mode of 1.4 lumens has a tight focus that can illuminate the ground a couple of steps ahead. The beam has a nice bright round hotspot that reaches forward very well.

I envision the Sofirn HS21 can be very useful as a camping light, thanks to the Red beam, plus the nice floody High CRI beam. It would also work well when walking a trail, using the throwy or throwy plus floody beams together. It also seems like it would be a useful work light, when making mechanical and home repairs.

This headlamp has a very nice feature set. Im very glad to have it, and grateful to Sofirn for the Review Sample. The combination of beams and LEDs are very useful for various different applications, and the built in USB-C charging means it is a total package. The headlamp arrives with everything needed to start using the light immediately.

I also really like that there are no Magnets anywhere on the light, so it can be used safely to take compass bearings without concern for magnetic interference. This also means the light can be stored safely, in a kit with a compass.

The light can be physically locked out by loosening the battery cap. Note that this will erase any memorized outputs, and resets all 4 modes to the minimum levels.. I find this very convenient.

I really like this headlamp, lots of useful features. Recommended for anyone interested in long runtimes from its included 18650 battery, with multiple beam options.

 

[Schokokeks]

The UI seems really great for a headlamp, especially as it looks like it has a motion sensor, but it looks very front heavy. How'd it feel on the head?

While it'd be significantly less runtime, I'd be interested in a 14500/AA version with only low levels (which, tends to be mostly what I use on headlamps, anyway) to cut down on the bulk/footprint, or maybe even if they put it in their more "triangular" footprint, so it'd lay flatter against the head.

Overall, with the infrared sensor, dial, and high CRI flood, seems like something worth keeping an eye on to catch on a sale...

 

[jon_slider]

it looks very front heavy. How'd it feel on the head?

thanks for commenting

when the top headband strap is adjusted to rest over the top of my head, the unit sits securely and comfortably.. it will not work without the top strap adjusted.

Sofirn provided a link with a 20% discount: (affiliate link to Amazon). Plus they provided an additional 10% discount code: 10BB9D1C

for a total of 30% discount (however Im having a little trouble figuring out how to use that 10% code in my Amazon shopping cart.) I asked Sofirn for clarification.. will update when I hear back..

If you test the link and are able to use the 20% code, plus the 10% code, please let me know if it is working for you.

 

[jon_slider]

Update, full disclosure

Im finding the motion sensor, which is only active after doing 3 clics from On, is very unreliable. Sometimes instead of getting mode switching the light just turns off by itself, or after I wave my hand past the sensor.

At other times, when motion sensor is activated, output will change unintentionally, due to moving the sensor past some inanimate object.

imho, the motion sensor feature should be ignored.. Just dont enable it at all. The light works fine with the button, and it does have both red and white beams that are very useful.

 

[Schokokeks]

Update, full disclosure

Im finding the motion sensor, which is only active after doing 3 clics from On, is very unreliable. Sometimes instead of getting mode switching the light just turns off by itself, or after I wave my hand past the sensor.

At other times, when motion sensor is activated, output will change unintentionally, due to moving the sensor past some inanimate object.

imho, the motion sensor feature should be ignored.. Just dont enable it at all. The light works fine with the button, and it does have both red and white beams that are very useful.

That's been my experience with the motion stuff, too; it's pretty unreliable...

 

[jon_slider]

That's been my experience with the motion stuff, too; it's pretty unreliable...

I just just learned that the sensor induces parasitic drain if exposed to bright light, when the light is off, details here, so I have covered the two sensor holes with some black electrical tape. This means both the parasitic drain and the motion activated mode switching are completely disabled now.