Sofirn SP40A vs Sofirn ST1
Quick take: The Sofirn ST1 costs $0.010000000000001563 less; the Sofirn ST1 is brighter (1,500 vs 1,200 lm); the Sofirn ST1 throws farther (226m vs 136m).
| Spec | Sofirn SP40A | Sofirn ST1 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $25 | $24.99 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Headlamp | EDC |
| Lumens | 1,200 lm | 1,500 lm |
| Candela | 4,620 cd | 0 cd |
| Beam distance | 136m | 226m |
| Runtime | 2 hrs (high) | |
| Battery | 18650 | Built-in |
| LED | LH351D 5000K | Luminus SFT25R 6000-6500K + 4x CSP1313 5000K |
| Beam type | Flood | Balanced |
| Modes | 4 Stepped | Spot + Flood |
| UI | Simple | |
| IP rating | IPX7 | IPX7 |
| CRI | 90 | |
| Weight | 2.2 oz | 3.5 oz |
| Dimensions | 4.25 x 1.0 in | 4.7 x 1.1 in |
| Warranty | 1 Year | Not stated |
What owners report
Sofirn SP40A
- ✓Magnetic base turns it into a stick-anywhere work light off the headband
- ✓Aircraft-grade aluminium with machining quality well beyond the price
- ✓Four genuinely useful brightness levels, with a very bright 1,200 lumen turbo
- ✓Headband comfort improved over earlier Sofirn models
- ✓Long-standing reputation as the best-value 18650 headlamp with onboard charging
- ✗Micro-USB charging rather than USB-C — the clearest sign of its age
- ✗Output is unregulated and tracks the cell voltage down
- ✗No strobe or SOS mode at all
- ✗The head strap is thinner than premium brands'
- ✗Superseded by newer Sofirn headlamps with USB-C and better emitters