Skilhunt H03 Review

Hey folks today we will be reviewing the Skilhunt H03 this is my first Skilhunt light but I have read many great things about this light and the brand itself. I was keen to test the H03 my self. My testing includes the usual fishing trip! Really any old excuse to go fishing will do! Also any excuse to wear a headlamp. My usual headlamp wearing exercises include working on other lights and cleaning in spots where there isn't enough light. Did I ever tell you how much I love headlamps? They are so awesome I currently have 7 headlamps that are in rotation. Now this light will also be added to the list.
This light was sent to me for review by Gearbest I can not put the selling price here but I will say its dirty thirty three maybe? Just ask me for the coupon you will love the price. If I was to go by price to performance hands down this has already won. Way cheaper then the HC30. Purchase Link: Skilhunt H03 (link is external)
Coupon: Ask me! The price is way under MAP.

I am kind of tossing up to whether i should do a shorter review for the H03 seeing as there is already a few reviews outs and heaps of members already have this light. I have not seen many threads listing problems with this light that is good thing. Especially when every second person has one.
The Skilhunt H03 is a general purpose flashlight/headlamp. I think skilhunt was trying to go for a few markets with this flashlight. It is a headlamp but you would have no problem to EDC the H03. When I first got my Nitecore HC30 I did EDC that light for a while. These style lights are good for EDC use they offer a relatively high output and small size. Like all headlamps the Skilhunt H03 doesn't have the overall mass to make it as full sized flashlight. In this way I mean your drop resistance will not be the same as a bigger flashlight these lights will take a fall harder then other full sized lights. This show in the 1 meter drop resistance rating you do still get the usual IPX8 rating but no measurements so I am not sure what the rating is which is strange to not say how waterproof it is. IPX8 is a minimum of 1 meter I think I will have to look further into this to see what is going on. The H-3 weights 44 grams without the battery it is super lite weight. The overall length is 99.9mm lets just call it even at (10cm) shall we? Head diameter is 23.5mm (2.35cm) and the body diameter is 21.6mm (2.16cm). As you can imagine it is super small and lite weight.
Output on the Skilhunt H03 is about average for a high end headlamp nothing amazing but more then enough with a single 18650 you get 900 lumens max output (Turbo 1) on the highest mode. Using 2 16340s you will get 1000 lumens max output (Turbo1) on the highest mode but you will lose run time. The 900 lumens is more then enough light but you also have to account for the fact that the H03 is using a neutral white tint and optics which makes the light seem not as bright. The main reason for this isn't the tint because its still 900 lumens its the fact that the beam is so flood heavy and spread out and there is no visible hot spot.
Please note Skilhunt left the run times out for the following modes Turbo 1 and mode 2 low with both batteries i am not sure why? I will do my own testing when I get time. I find this weird even if they where to include the step down why not just list the run times? The H03 uses a thermal step down so all testing will vary from person to person.
Before we start this UI isn't confusing so much its just massive its fairly easy to access and are you really going to use all these modes? Think of the UI as using a Nanjg driver that lets you chose your modes and outputs. Or as the bistro style driver where you have different sets of modes to chose from. I am a simple person I only use one mode group on both drivers.
The Skilhunt H03 uses a range of different cells 18650s and 16340 and there primary counterpart the CR123 so you can use store bought of the shelf batteries for this flashlight. Great for EDC purpose.

Run times and outputs are as follows for use with 18650

• Turbo 1: 900 lumens @ Unknown (stepdown)

• Turbo 2: 490 lumens @ 3.5 hours

• High 1: 365 lumens @5 hours

• High 2: 160 lumens @ 11 hours

• Medium 1:70 lumens @ 25 hours

• Medium 2: 20 lumens @ 75 hours

• Low 1: 3 lumens @ 450 hours

• Low 2: 0.5 lumens Unknown

Run times and outputs are as follows for use with

• Turbo 1: 1000 lumens @ Unknown ( step down)

• Turbo 2: 500 lumens @ 1.5 hours

• High 1: 370 lumens @ 2.5 hours

• High 2: 160 lumens @ 5 hours

• Medium 1: 70 lumens @ 10 hours

• Medium 2: 20 lumens 35 hours

• Low 1: 2 lumens @ 200 hours

• Low 2 0.5 lumens @ Unknown

That was a pain to type out I am not sure what format to use! lol I wish I could use a column but I can not find the options.
To achieve these output figures the H03 uses a Cree XML2-U4 so a fairly new LED. Most lights are still using a U2 or U3 unless you buy the high end lights. Even then i do not see the U4 being used in every light.
The Skilhunt H03 uses a very neutral tint. It appears to be more neutral then most of my neutral tint flashlights. This would be a good time to insert a picture I guess. I would be thinking the tint is some where around 5000k. For most people this NW tint would be the main selling point also the fact that the H03 uses TIR optics. There are different versions of the H03 if you do not want the TIR optics but they all have a NW tint There isn't many other options out there for a headlamp with a neutral white tint and TIR optics. Even more so in this price point. The button on the Sklihunt H03 kind of lights up well it does but it uses the light from the LED so it only lights up when the H03 is turned on. The button gets brighter and dimmer when you change modes accordingly. The H03 does actually have a proper red LED in the switch this is ued for lockout mode which activates the beacon mode at the same time.
Skilhunt say the H03 has a copper LED board (MCPCB) which would be needed in this situation as the light is so small that should help keep the light cool. Plus the H03 comes with intelligent temperature control. Yes this headlamp will step down when it is to hot the H03 has a big step down curve but most good headlamps do. Or else they will make you sweat some thing bad!
The modes are plentiful on the H03 you can access them doing the following.
Press side switch once to access standard (group 1) Low-Mid-High-Turbo, cycle. Quickly double press the side switch to access Sub-level (group 2) . Quickly triple press the side switch to Strobe (S1), then double-click to switch S1/S2/S3 mode, Press side switch back to previous brightness level. You have to push and hold the switch to turn of the H03. Easy enough right?
The H03 also has a lockout mode which is why they used a clear switch cover because the H03 has a location beacon that flashes red in the button. It looks cool. When the H03 is turned off press and hold switch for 1.5 seconds. The location indicator will then switch on and lock-out function will be activated at the same time, If you simply push the button it will not unlock the H03 it will only turn the location beacon of. You have to push and hold the switch for 1.5 seconds to unlock the H03.
Overall the build quality of the H03 is awesome it has a much more premium feel to it then most other lights at this price point. Every thing sits in place and works well together. The button feels great not to hard or to soft the knurling has a really good amount of grip and looks awesome it has a really unique pattern. When i first got the my Nitecore HC30 i was a bit disappointed with the finished but it is still a great light. The H03 just look so good straight out of the box.
The threads are very well cut and came lubed always a bonus or else I have to add my own. No comment! Looking at the H03 its more finished then the Nitecore HC30 it look more well rounded and more polished overall. The TIR optics are frosted so that looks cool the light uses a stainless steel bezel and screws which give the H03 a very premium feel. There is also stainless steel used around the switch added bonus. The H03 utilizes double springs one on the tail cap and the other on the head of the light this is needed for the use of 16340 or else they may rattle. The magnet in the H03 is removable and Skilhunt even give you a part to fill in the hole where magnet would be once removed. The tail cap spring has to be removed to get the magnet out but that is no big issue because it is so easy to do. The magnet itself lives up to my expectations it hold the light very well and firm even when used side ways. I am a big fan of magnets on an EDC flashlights so this may come in handy depending on how you will use the H03. The anodizing is the usual type 3 hard anodizing but this color looks awesome its not to slick its more matte if that is the right word. My art sense and wordings are horrible. I love my HC30 by far that has the most hours of use on it compared to all my other lights. Every where I go outdoors at night time it comes in handy even to hang the washing out. Yes I some times hang washing out at night. On nights like tonight where is it 21 degrees it drys good. I now have TIR optics in my HC30 so this should be a really good line up against each other. Line up for the boys maybe? I have now found a new go to light this light seem just better. The clip on the H03 is awesome it holds the light really firm and doesn't budge its big enough but also small enough to not get in the way.
The headband on the H03 has a premium feel its even better then the HC30 of the HC50 headband. Its much thicker and more comfortable and has heaps more padding the rubber rings that hold the H03 to the headband are no joke 3 times as thick as the HC30 rings. This headlamp legit has changed my mind and won me over i wish i got one sooner. The one issue is you have to build the band your self Ikea style put it together your self where the Nitecore bands come ready made.


What do you get in the package?

• Silkhunt H03

• Silkhunt Headband

• Clip

• Lanyard

• Spare O-rings

• Magnet already in the H03

• Magnet replacement piece

• Instructions

• Setup manual

• Warranty card

Summery Overall you can not fault the H03 it does a lot of things and it does them all very very well for the price it matches up against the best and it comes out on top easily. Its small and lite and compact if you need to use the H03 for EDC purpose its size to performance ratio is amazing. If you want to use the H03 as a headlamp it has a great set of modes and features and the headband is amazing quality overall i can not see any faults in the H03. The price it is going for is a steel which makes this deal way to hard to resist.
Beam shot time yay.

Thanks for the taking the time to read!
Regards Chris

I think you meant 44 grams

I received my H02R about a month ago. I should have guessed there was a newer version out since it was in such a good sale. What it lacks is a moonlight mode. I may consider H03 once I have some spare money.

Thank you for the review!

For th H03 there is a GB coupon availiable on banggood
0207cb

Thanks mate!

Yea mate defiantly 44 grams thanks for pointing that out i think you would have a sore neck if it was 444 grams!

This light has a proper moon light mode.

What exactly is a moon light mode?

hazard2036 said:

Thanks mate!

Yea mate defiantly 44 grams thanks for pointing that out i think you would have a sore neck if it was 444 grams!

This light has a proper moon light mode.

Click to expand...

The light has 2 very dim modes around 1 lumen, they are so low they illuminate like the moon in the night
or less then its called firefly

Moonlight and firefly are to keep your eyes adapted to night but still giving you some light

THanks! I was figuring that, but didn't want to assume!

HOPE they go on sale again soon!

Lexel said:

The light has 2 very dim modes around 1 lumen, they are so low they illuminate like the moon in the night
or less then its called firefly

Moonlight and firefly are to keep your eyes adapted to night but still giving you some light

Click to expand...

Many thanks to Hazard and everyone else who reviewed or commented on this light.
I've had to make some changes in my spending habits and really couldn't afford to drop $90 on a Zebralight, this one was on sale at GearBest for $31.99 which was easily within my current budget.
I hadn't switched to 18650 headlamps and after using the ZL SC62 for over a year realized that the extra runtime is worth the investment.
This light is nice enough to use as a main EDC if you can deal with the right angle head, and use as a headlamp.

The fins on the headsink terminate directly behind the nice copper MCPCB for maximum cooling.
The interface, while different from ZL, has an order and method to it that doesn't take long to understand.
Tint and beam profile are great if you're NOT looking for a small hotspot. Great for working or walking in the dark.
Will take me a while to get used to the center band on the headband, love the simplicity of the single strap on smaller lights. Tried it on a spare ZL strap and the H03 feels too heavy for the mount without the center strap.
Easy access to LOW, easy tailcap lockout or lockout with long press, flashy modes if you need them, low voltage indicator is nice. Magnet in the tailcap rounds out a complete package.
The only thing they could add would be a Voltage or relative capacity remaining indicator.
If they rotated the end 90 degrees and made a standard flashlight from this exact design I'd buy one of those also.

Thanks again.
Bansuri

Thumbs up buddy! I've determined I can't do hold to turn off. Other than that, really great value and easily modded.

I understand if English isn't your first language, but in most cases, you're using the word "then" incorrectly, where the word you should use in order for the sentence to make sense is "than":

"Way cheaper then the HC30."
"will take a fall harder then other full sized lights."
"nothing amazing but more then enough with a single 18650"
"The 900 lumens is more then enough light"
"It appears to be more neutral then most of my neutral tint flashlights."
"it has a much more premium feel to it then most other lights at this price point."
"more finished then the Nitecore HC30"
"The headband on the H03 has a premium feel its even better then the HC30 of the HC50 headband."

Click to expand...

I mention this, not to be pedantic or to criticise you, but rather in the hopes that it will improve the quality of your writing, to everyone's enjoyment. Otherwise, thanks for the review, overall good work. :thumbsup:

Looks like a nice headlamp, might have to get me one...

I did an emitter swap


The MCPCB is DTP


Runtime test


Beamshots