Sofirn HS40 vs Sofirn HS20
Quick take: The Sofirn HS40 costs $3 less; the Sofirn HS20 is brighter (2,700 vs 2,000 lm); the Sofirn HS40 throws farther (184m vs 161m); the Sofirn HS20 runs longer on high (2.5 vs 2 hrs).
| Spec | Sofirn HS40 | Sofirn HS20 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $30 | $33 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Headlamp | Headlamp |
| Lumens | 2,000 lm | 2,700 lm |
| Candela | 8,500 cd | 6,500 cd |
| Beam distance | 184m | 161m |
| Runtime | 2 hrs (high) | 2.5 hrs (high) |
| Battery | 18650 | 18650 |
| LED | SST-40 5000K | dual source: XHP50.2 or SFT40 6500K spot + TN-3535 flood |
| Beam type | Flood | Flood |
| Modes | 4 Stepped | 4 Stepped |
| UI | Simple | Simple |
| IP rating | IPX8 | IPX8 |
| CRI | 70 | 90 |
| Weight | 2.5 oz | 2.0 oz |
| Dimensions | 4.2 x 1.1 in | 4.0 x 1.0 in |
| Warranty | 1 Year | 1 Year |
What owners report
Sofirn HS40
- ✓Ships with both 18650 and 18350 tubes — long runtime or light on the head
- ✓Buck driver with better regulation than earlier Sofirn headlamps
- ✓USB-C port sits nearly flush under its plug
- ✓Simple interface with nothing to learn
- ✓Right-angle body works as a headlamp and as a work light
- ✗The button is on the end rather than the side, so no pinch activation
- ✗Less independently reviewed than Sofirn's headline headlamps
- ✗No high-CRI option in the standard configuration
- ✗18350 tube trades most of the runtime for the weight saving
- ✗Basic feature set with no secondary emitter
Sofirn HS20
- ✓Independent flood and spot emitters, each with its own dedicated button
- ✓USB-C with PD support, and it runs while charging at reduced output
- ✓High CRI available on the flood channel
- ✓Around $40 for output and runtime well beyond that price
- ✓Long runtime from the 21700, extendable indefinitely from a power bank
- ✗Heavy — uncomfortable over long sessions and prone to causing headaches
- ✗Poorly balanced; reviewers advise against it for running
- ✗The headband mount is secure but frustrating to remove the light from
- ✗No magnet on either tailcap
- ✗Almost too many brightness levels, several of which feel redundant