Sofirn HS40 vs Wurkkos HD15R
Quick take: The Sofirn HS40 is brighter (2,000 vs 1,300 lm); the Sofirn HS40 throws farther (184m vs 179m).
| Spec | Sofirn HS40 | Wurkkos HD15R |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $28 | $28 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Headlamp | Headlamp |
| Lumens | 2,000 lm | 1,300 lm |
| Candela | 8,500 cd | 8,000 cd |
| Beam distance | 184m | 179m |
| Runtime | 2 hrs (high) | 2 hrs (high) |
| Battery | 18650 | 18650 |
| LED | SST-40 5000K | LH351D + red |
| Beam type | Flood | Flood |
| Modes | 4 Stepped | 4 Stepped |
| UI | Simple | Simple |
| IP rating | IPX8 | IP67 |
| CRI | 70 | 90 |
| Weight | 2.5 oz | 2.2 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
Wurkkos HD15R
- ✓Same well-rated HD15 platform: dual emitters, magnetic tailcap, strong build
- ✓USB-C charging in the head at over 2.3A
- ✓Nothing to lose — no cell to misplace or fit incorrectly
- ✓Smaller and lighter than the 21700 HD20
- ✓Good value for the feature set
- ✗Sealed cell — no swapping a fresh one in on a long night
- ✗Finite lifespan: when the battery degrades the light is finished
- ✗Too few brightness levels, as on the removable-cell HD15
- ✗Published runtime figures overstate reality by two to three times
- ✗No Anduril, so the mode spacing can't be reconfigured