sofirnSP35T Tactical Flashlight, 3800 Lumens Super Bright Pocket LED Flashlight Rechargeable with Dual Switch, IPX8 Water Resistance, EDC Flashlight for Camping, Hiking, Emergency

I've been a flashlight lover since I bought my first LED flashlight sometime back in 2005. Over the years, I've used all sorts of lights from simple 1 AAA battery lights to modern 18650 flashlights that have complicated interfaces. I've been a fan of Sofirn flashlights since I bought my first Sofirn SP10 a few years ago. Since then I've probably purchased about ten Sofirn lights. I like them because they are well made, bright, have useful features, and cost considerably less than the more famous brands like Surefire, Streamlight, and Pelican. Well this flashlight is no exception.This is my first 21700 battery flashlight and it is considerably larger than a standard 18650 battery light. I'd say that this SP35T is about 40-50% larger than an 18650, so it is not really an EDC light for someone like me, who prefers to EDC smaller flashlights. This is more of a tool box, glove compartment, or bedside drawer sized flashlight. But what you gain by going up a size is the light output. This flashlight is bright! When I got her, I charged her overnight and tested her out during the daytime and the TURBO mode was so bright, it brightened the entire room even though the evening sun was shining in through the windows of my office.At night, the modes are useful, and the middle level is probably sufficient for 90% of the tasks you'll ever need a flashlight for, but the high mode is really bright and is about as bright as the high end of a typical 18650 light. The TURBO modes blows away my other flashlights of this size. At night, the TURBO mode will blind you even if you are looking at it from a distance of about 50 feet. It is like having a small blazing sun pointed at you.I liked the simple interface, the two switch mode of operation (tail cap switch for on/off/momentary, and the side switch for levels), and I liked the beam pattern. It is not very tight and gives a large, voluminous cone of light that is useful for lighting up things in the near distance and up to maybe 100 feet in the higher modes. The beam pattern reminds me of another one of my favorite EDC lights, the Streamlight Jr., but this light is far superior in brightness and throw distance.Pros:1. Excellent brightness on the top end2. Useful brightness levels3. Easy to use, intuitive interface with some nifty shortcut modes4. Sturdy build quality - the light feels solid5. Excellent run-time, especially on the lower brightness modes6. IPX8 waterproof rated, which means you can use it at the bottom of a pool if needed7. Easy to recharge with a USB-C cable, which is convenient since you don't need a special charger for the 21700 battery8. Comes with a 21700 battery installedCons:1. Kinda big for an EDC light - this is more of a tool box or bedside light2. 21700 batteries can be expensive and hard to find if you are not familiar with them

At first I was a little skeptical because how often manufacturers describe anything as "tactical" for no specific reason, but owning a couple other good flashlights from the same brand, I set my expectations a little higher for this flashlight, and was not disappointed in the end.The product description already brings up all the specifics on the product, so I don't see much reason to go in detail about what it does and doesn't, so for anyone that still wonders if this is worth the extra few dollars compared to the cheap "tactical" stuff that is being sold around, I'll just straight compare it to one of those.It's a smaller package, with the help of the deep carry clip it's very easy to pocket, and it's CONSIDERABLY more powerful. The pictures speak for themselves. It's unfair compared with the stuff for sale around that promises tens of thousands of lumens for a couple dozen (wasted) dollars. The included battery delivers the expected runtime, and the build quality gives the confidence that even being banged around on a daily basis as an EDC you'll get your money worth out of it. Another big thing is the rubber lid for the charger port. It is well designed and of good quality, so it doesn't get open all the time during normal use. The "other" flashlights, they'll not only get open every time you handle the light, but they also get ripped off sooner than later, ruining the waterproof seal.One thing that sets it apart from its peers is the tactical mode to it, where it simplifies the operation for situations where all the extra operation possibilities could get in the way. It's easy to switch modes, so at any point you can decide between fancier menu or straight to the point operation.The only negatives I can find to it, is that I prefer warmer light beam colors (and would be a personal preference), and there's a very slight yellow corona around the center of the beam, that can be noticed on the driveway picture. This happens because of characteristics of the LED emitter.Overall, it's an excellent product. So if you're looking for something you can fit in your pocket, easy to use, and can turn night into day close by, here's an excellent option.

Sofrin is a newer brand for me, but I have a couple of their lights now and I have no reservations about them at this point. They make very good lights at a very reasonable price. The fit and finish on this light is great. The Thrunite TN12 Pro and a Nitecore MH12S lights are very comparable to this light. When compared to the Nitecore it doesnt seem to be built as heavy duty, but it is also quite a bit cheaper, but doesn't feel or look cheap at all. The rubber button tailcap switch and metal side switch feel great. The side switch on this feels better than the one on the Thrunite. It has USB Type C charging, which is becoming the new standard, so you can recharge the 21700 battery in the light. It also has a battery indicator on the side switch.What really sets this apart from the competition if the User Interface. On a typical side switch light with brands like these typically there is a "direct to moonlight or ultra low" function. It is normally accessed by holding the side switch for a second and the lights goes directly to moonlight / ultra-low or firefly mode. On these tactical style lights with both a side switch and a tail cap switch there normally is not a way to access moonlight mode, but on this light there is. If you press and hold on the tailcap switch and then press on the side switch you will go directly to moonlight mode. I haven't seen that on any other tactical style light and for me that is a huge plus and I would buy this light over the others for that reason alone. The Thrunite light does have this function, but you can't cycle thru the other modes from that ultra low mode.This is a great light and if you like the tactical style then this is a great light for you.