I don’t think I’ve ever done a review of a regular pocket flashlight before—neither for a phone nor for photography, just a simple everyday flashlight. This topic somewhat overlaps with EDC (Everyday Carry) gear, but I haven’t really covered it much.
Unboxing
Sofirn SK1 comes in a box with a reminder to remove the paper insulator protecting the battery during transport. Inside, we find the flashlight itself, a user manual, a USB charging cable (just a standard USB), a wrist strap, and two spare O-rings for sealing.
If you unscrew the flashlight, the paper insulator will fall out. It comes with a rechargeable lithium 18650 battery in branded wrapping featuring the flashlight manufacturer’s logo. Of course, they don’t actually produce batteries themselves—this is just a rebranded cell from another manufacturer. There’s no way to tell exactly which one, but the stated 3000mAh capacity seems reasonable. I can check the charge level separately, but it would still be just an approximation.
Charging & Build
An external charger isn’t needed, as the flashlight has a built-in charging system. You just connect it to any USB power source. The charging port is covered by a silicone seal for protection.
There’s also a green LED indicator on the flashlight that turns red when charging. It shows the battery status in four different charge levels.
The flashlight’s length is about one and a half times the size of a standard 18650 battery. The body is made from aluminum alloy, painted black. I’d like to believe it’s anodized, but it’s more likely just regular paint. The markings on the flashlight are also printed rather than engraved.
It has a clip for attaching to a pocket or belt, which can be removed. However, the wrist strap attaches through a hole in this clip, so if you remove it, you lose the ability to use the strap. This is a bit of a design flaw in my opinion—I’d prefer to remove the clip (since they tend to scratch things) but keep the wrist strap, which isn’t possible here.
Light & Modes
The flashlight uses an LED that is non-replaceable. There is no zoom function, meaning you can’t adjust the beam from spot to flood. Instead, the beam is a mix of a wide floodlight with a bright central hotspot. The light has a cool white tint.
Controls consist of two elements:
A side rotary switch for mode selection
A rubberized tail button with both half-press and full-press functions
Modes:
Lock Mode – Prevents accidental activation
Tactical Mode – For momentary and strobe functions
(Let’s call it “Strategic Mode” because why not?) – Full functionality
The tail button is electronic, not mechanical—similar to a mouse clicker.
In regular mode, a full press turns the flashlight on and stays on until you press again.
A half-press cycles through four brightness levels, from lowest to highest. These settings are remembered, even when turning the flashlight off or changing modes.
When the flashlight is off, a half-press activates a dim “nightlight” mode, which stays on only while holding the button.
In Tactical Mode, the flashlight only stays on while the button is held.
A half-press activates max brightness.
A full-press activates a strobe light at full power.
In Lock Mode, everything is disabled except for the nightlight mode (activated by a half-press).
Usage & Impressions
The Tactical Mode is probably the most convenient—you don’t have to think too much, just press and hold for max brightness.
In hand, the flashlight feels comfortable—lightweight yet sturdy. The threading is sealed with rubber O-rings (with two extras included), and the button is also sealed, so rain and humidity shouldn’t be a problem. Even if it falls into a puddle, it should be fine.
One small quirk: Even in Lock Mode, pressing the button still activates the flashlight in its lowest setting.
Heat & Performance
Looking at it with a thermal camera, there’s no extreme overheating, despite a warning label near the LED. The light does get warm, but nothing concerning.
Conclusion
Overall, I like this flashlight! I don’t have much experience or passion for flashlights, so maybe hardcore enthusiasts would have different opinions, but it works well for me.