Sofirn SF14 LED Mini Flashlight Keychain light Super bright 600 Lumens Small CREE XP-G2 LED 3 Modes IPX8 waterproof Lamp power by AA battery(Battery Excluded)

As a user of several models/brands of LED flashlights, I don't do a lot of reviews (of anything). But when I am impressed (like REALLY impressed) by something, I sometimes find the time to review it because I feel is really worth knowing about.I have a small collection of these handy lights around the house and in my cars. When I hunt and fish at camp, I take these lights often as gifts to my buddies I see once a year. After owning several different brands and sizes of these lights over the last decade, I HAVE come to know a few of the "ins and outs" of this market and the technology. I'm no expert, but I have spent some time with them and even built a FEW of these lights too (weekend project when it's raining/snowing out).What I've learned, is that there are a FEW well machined, durable, quality engineered products out there today in the LED flashlight market-- and this Sofirn SF14 is one of these few out there.My several AA sized lights I use are very small and handy. They are all about 4" long (like this SF14), so they can fit onto a chain of keys (and Sofirn supplies a fast connect just for that with this light), or slip into my pocket when I go outside at night to curb the dog. I'm not a guy who carries a light in his pocket when home or around town, but when out camping or on an evening hunt (often, as I live in the country)- the really sturdy clip on this light keeps it on the back corner of my pant's front pocket-- where I can grab it quickly when needed. It's small enough to get other things in and out of my pocket without being in the way using the clip this way. Sofirn also supplies a lanyard (too) with this light. I use it WITH the fast clip on mine when camping- to hang it from my dome tent's ceiling at night, then pop it off and into my pocket for the evening fire (beer drinking).I decided to give this SF14 to my wife as she wanted a smaller light to use to go to the gym (at 5am) 5 days a week. She clipped it to her gym bag strap-- and now has a bouncing "headlight" between the house and garage ;) She likes the basic clicking tail on/off switch on this light compared to my SP10a (similar Sofirn AA sized light) which has a side switch with a short delay when you turn it on/off (have to hold it down 1/4 second for the same light setting to come on as when last turned off with that light). I prefer the side switch myself, but as Bugs Bunny once said... "what baby wants, baby gets." So I am happy when the wife ("baby") is happy with her "fast clicking" little SF14 light ;)I'm not qualified to give a lot of detailed info on performance or compare to other stuff out there, but I WILL say that this SF14 is a VERY bright little light with a not too white or too yellow a beam. I quickly compared it to a few other lights I have and it is somewhere in the middle- but slightly whiter than my average light. It gives a good bit of side light too, so you can see wide and close-in nicely. But it really does get out there good too! (because it has the right stuff build into it like a top-line CREE emitter, its milled solid aluminum, mirror polished reflector, and... I ALSO DO power it properly).One thing I have learned is that IF you want your light to run "right and bright" you need to use a good battery. Some people WILL use regular AA batteries in this light and they do work. They are not as bright (at any setting) but in a pinch they can be used. But I DO NOT USE AA alkaline batteries in ANY light in general-- because they ALL leak. They also destroy whatever they leak into (as we all know). So a few years ago, I bought some NiMH (rechargeable) AA batteries and they run the SAME output (1.2V) as Duracell, Energizer, etc. but with NO leaking!Then I realized, that a few good 14500 Li-Ion batteries WERE worth investing in (Check out "EBL 14500" batteries here on Amazon- great batteries for this light!). The 14500 Li-Ion battery has more (3.7V Vs. 1.2V) power output and REALLY turn this SF14 "ON". As I ALSO own other LED lights (that use larger 18650, 3.7V batteries)... I can ALSO charge BOTH these 14500 batteries AND larger 18650 batteries-- in ONE charger that charges these Li-Ion 3.7V batteries of different sizes- mixed or matched. And key point here: it is an adjustable battery sized charger (a very common and inexpensive charger: just search "Li-Ion charger" and look for adjustable battery size slots- there are many out there to choose from).Today, when I gift a light; it comes with an adjustable battery charger and a set of better Li-Ion batteries... and everyone is happier with them. For the few dollars more it cost to do it right, I find my buddies returning to camp WITH the light I gave them last year (and a smile on their face) as they didn't have to figure out the battery/charger problem (and be tempted to use a leaking battery). And they also appreciate the better output of the Li-Ion battery. So they appreciate the light more over-all (therefore, a memorial and sincere gift when done right I think)!I have to say that I've owned (and thrown away) a couple of these LED flashlights, and so I have learned about quality like many people do- the hard way via "trail and error". There are a FEW really good LED flashlights makers, and a FEW really good QUALITY lights for the money out there. But there are VERY FEW makers who deliver BOTH top quality AND a VERY FAIR price- like Sofirn does. I again am no expert, but to date: I personally have never found a better light (in several models, not just this SF14 light) for my money (and time) spent.Sofirn is really just an exceptional manufacturer (one of several, there again are not many out there) and I KNOW I will have several of these flashlights the rest of my life because they are that well made. Ironically, for the FEW extra dollars you will pay for this light (over the 1000s of junk lights sold everywhere, some here on Amazon too), you get a well crafted light that won't easily fail on you or fall apart. Sadly... we ALL know many fortunes have been made selling "landfill" to the public (and somehow, people keep on buying and replacing junk year-after-year). But in the case of this Sofirn F14, a FEW dollars more spent on this light, good batteries, and a decent Li-Ion charger got me a VERY durable, well engineered light that will be around and working a LONG time (probably longer than me).I have (and have gifted) several Sofirn lights in several models-- and not one has failed me (or anyone I gave one to as far as I know). They are durable (I've dropped several on hard ground and used them in serious rain), they are very well build (even down to their machined, square threads), they are waterproof (i.e. my wife's Sofirn dive light- rated down to 100 meters!)... and as far as I've learned over the years of buying, building and owning a few of these-- Sofirn over-all... and this "little" SF14, just can not be beat for the quality or price.

This is the perfect lightfor me. I keep it on my keychain and put it in my pocket with my keys hanging out. I can grab it in a jiffy, it’s super convenient this way. I’ve had this for six months now and use it every day as a utility light. The things I like about it Is that it starts on low every time, you can quickly cycle to high in two clicks if needed. The battery seems to last a long time. I’ve run it down a couple times by not charging it for a few days with a lot of use and then it just goes to the medium setting. It does heat up quickly and cycle down within a few minutes when using it on high but it’s OK for me as I use it just in spurts anyway. I bought another one for my son and forgot to get the battery so we put in a AA and it is still almost as bright as the 14500 battery.Summary: small, durable and plenty bright.

August/4/2018: OK - here is the final tally: The company replaced the defective unit and I purchased a second backup unit. Both flashlights have died now in about 3 months. The second one I purchased lasted a very short time. STAY AWAY FROM THESE!Original rating: Simple and very bright with the higher voltage battery. I use it about 3 to 4 times a week in the mornings walking the dog. After six months it completely died. I tried several batteries to no avail. I had high hopes for this flashlight. Thought it would last a couple years at least. I would stay away from these.Second rating: Change of rating due to positive contact and replacement of flashlight.OK, I received the replacement, but not after I had ordered a second flashlight with the thought of using a regular 1.5v battery. I'll give it time to see what the long-term usage is. Thanks for contacting me. I'll return the defective part. I'm also going to order your 1500 lumens flashlight and see how that works camping.