Thrunite TH30 Headlamp Review

Here’s the Thrunite TH30, a headlamp with an indicating e-switch. It uses a Cree XHP70.2, and has built-in charging, too! Read on for testing.

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Official Specs and Features

Here’s a link to the Thrunite TH30 Headlamp product page.

Versions

Two versions.  One is cool white, and one is neutral white.

Price

These go for $79.95 currently.

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Short Review

This headlamp lives up to the claims Thrunite makes! I like the full package nature of it, and overall it’s just a solid contender.

Long Review

The Big Table

Thrunite TH30
Emitter:	Cree XHP70.2 (NW)
Price in USD at publication time:	$79.95
Cell:	1×18650
Turbo Runtime	High Runtime
LVP?	Yes
Switch Type:	E-Switch
Quiescent Current (A):	?
On-Board Charging?	Yes
Chargetime
Power off Charge Port with no Cell?	?
Claimed Lumens (lm)	3350
Measured Lumens (at 30s)	3550 (106% of claim)^
Claimed Throw (m)	155
Candela (Calculated) in cd (at 30s)	244lux @ 5.887m = 8456cd
Throw (Calculated) (m)	183.9 (118.6% of claim)^
All my Thrunite reviews!

^ Measurement disclaimer: Testing flashlights is my hobby. I use hobbyist-level equipment for testing, including some I made myself. Try not to get buried in the details of manufacturer specifications versus measurements recorded here; A certain amount of difference (say, 10 or 15%) is perfectly reasonable.

What’s Included

• Thrunite TH30 Headlamp
• Thrunite 3100mAh 18650
• Headstrap
• Pocket clip
• Charge cable
• Spare silicone housing for headlamp carry
• Spare o-ring (2)
• Spare charge port cover
• Manual and paperwork

Package

The package is a normal Thrunite box.  It’s got a Thrunite branding and a checkbox for NW or CW.

The manual is typical Thrunite, and just fine.  I like that it’s small but complete.

Build Quality and Disassembly

This is a well-built light, with a couple of nice touches that make it stand out.

The first thing I noticed is that the reflector and emitter on this light are just … different.  Surprising, I don’t know – just “wow that’s a big emitter in a small light!”

To deal with the heat from that big emitter, the head has some deep, thick cooling fins.  The knurling on the body and tailcap are diamond pattern and quite grippy.  The knurling isn’t aggressive enough to be hard on skin but could be on pockets (if you opt for the pocket clip.)

Here’s a very minor teardown, with just the head and tail off.  Both come off easily.  The cell tube isn’t reversible – one end has unanodized threads (head) and the other has anodized threads (tail).  The anodized threads mean a physical lockout is possible by just a very short twist of the tailcap (but not the head!)  Also see that those threads are big and square-cut, and very very smooth.

These parts are very high quality.  The tailcap has a big coated spring, which is springy enough, but not super stiff.  The head has a brass button, with no give at all.

The tube isn’t reversible.  Not only is one anodized and one not, but they’re different diameter as well.

Size

Officially 107mm (Length) x 28.5mm (Bezel Diameter) x 24mm (Tube Diameter), and 123g without battery.

It’s shorter than the Convoy S2+.  Quite a bit shorter, and the head diameter is bigger (of course; it’s a headlamp).  Still, it’s shorter while adding charging….

Retention

The primary means to carry this light will be the headband.  I so rarely use a headlamp as a headlamp that unfortunately I failed to get any photos of the light in the strap.  The strap is a nice rubber (silicone?) band.  The light has smooth indentions which hold the light tight but still allow the light to rotate, too.

I will say that I found the headstrap to be very uncomfortable

Secondly, the light can be used with a pocket clip.  The clip isn’t deep carry (at all) but will go on the head or tail end.

There is no magnet in the tailcap – probably the light is too heavy to use that way anyway.  It will talstand.

And it will headstand too, but the button is proud, so it doesn’t headstand well.

Power

A single 18650 runs this headlamp.  The button on the positive end would cause no problems using any type of 18650 (button or flat).  Do be aware that Turbo requires a lot of the cell (6.5A, that is), so you need to use a high-quality cell for this light.

Fortunately, Thrunite includes a nice 3100mAh cell, very capable to run this light.  All the testing I did on this light was with the included cell.

Below is a runtime on Turbo.  The temperature spikes a little at first, but the stepdown is quick (less than a minute, fan-cooled).  Once the stepdown has happened, it’s possible to hit Turbo again, but the light doesn’t quite hit the initial output.  Once the stepdown has happened, the light maintains extremely steady output at a level just lower than “High.”

Note that I’m measuring the output at over 3500 lumens at 30 seconds.  And still practically 1000 lumens after the stepdown!

High output is very stable.

The light has low voltage protection, which kicks in somewhere around 3V.  There’s also an indicating switch, which will light red when the cell voltage is low.  Also notable in both runtimes, is that the main LED will blink when the cell voltage is low!

Thrunite includes a 3100mAh cell.  It’s a button top, protected cell.

Charging

The TH30 has onboard charging, too.  The head has a micro-USB port, which is covered by a rubber boot.  The boot is a little long and flexible for my tastes, but at the same time, does seem to stay very well put.

Charging works well, and the CC phase is 1.2A or over for the duration.  It’s also very consistent (note that there are two tests shown below, and they’re indistinguishably similar).

The indicator switch is red during charging, and blue when charging is complete.

User Interface and Operation

The TH30 has a single switch on the head.  It’s an e-switch, with two indicating emitters; red and blue.  The switch is held in place by a bezel I couldn’t remove (not sure if it’s screwed in or press-fit, but there are no reliefs, so it’s likely press-fit) This might not seem like a big deal but have a look at it below.  It’s very smooth and great for button-pressing-comfort.

The action on this button is a little odd for me.  The knurled dome has about 1-1.5mm of travel before the click of the actual switch.  It’s not a problem, and it works well.

The blue indicating switch is on if the light is on, except on the lowest mode.

The user interface is good and well-considered.  Shortcuts to the bookends from off, for example.  The downside is that SOS is in the main mode group.

Here’s a user interface table!

State	Action	Result
Off	Click	On (Mode Memory except Firefly, Turbo, and SOS)
Off	Hold	Firefly
Any	Double Click	Turbo
On	Hold	Mode Advance (LMH>SOS direction) (No Firefly, no Turbo)

There is no strobe!

Modes

Mode	Mode Claimed Output (lm)	Claimed Runtime	Measured Lumens	Tailcap Amps
Turbo	3350>1050	1.5m>103m	3550	6.27
High	1275	90m	1137	1.65
Medium	352	5h	322	0.39
Medium-Low	130	14h	146	0.13
Low	25	60	30	0.02
Firefly	0.5	32d	–	–

LED and Beam

The emitter in this TH30 is a Neutral White Cree XHP70.2.  The reflector is a fairly shallow orange peel reflector.  There’s a bit of an artifact in the beam – a donut most people call it.  It’s a blue spot in the center of the beam, with normal beam color everywhere else.  The 70.2 isn’t my favorite emitter, but this one’s a good example of an NW 70.2.

Low is fortunately pretty low.

Beamshots

These beamshots always have the following settings:  f8, ISO100, 0.3s shutter, and manual 5000K exposure. These photos are taken at floor level, and the beam hits the ceiling around 9 feet away.

Tint vs BLF-348 (KillzoneFlashlights.com 219b version) (affiliate link)

I keep the test flashlight on the left and the BLF-348 reference flashlight on the right.

Random Comparisons and Competitive Options

Here’s a relevantly filtered page on parametrek.com. The only real competitor to this light is the Acebeam H15, which pumps out 2500 lumens.  It does have strobe, but doesn’t have onboard charging.

Otherwise, it’s going to be hard to find a headlamp that outputs more lumens than this one.

Conclusion

What I like

• Output is ridiculous for a headlamp!
• user interface is very simple and pretty good.
• Build quality is good
• Full package is included
• Hits all it’s numbers (throw and output)

What I don’t like

• SOS in the main mode group
• Head strap is uncomfortable on the forehead

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Notes

• This light was provided by Thrunite for review. I was not paid to write this review.
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