Skilhunt H150 3000K Headlamp Review
The Skilhunt H150 3000K headlamp is rechargeable and uses the great Nichia 519a emitter. And it works with 14500 (4.2V) or AA (1.5V)! Check out the 3000K data!
Official Specs and Features
Here’s a link to the Skilhunt H150 3000K headlamp product page.
Versions
Four body colors are available: orange, grey, green, and black. Those are available with two emitter choices: Cree XP-L2 HD in 6500K, as well as a Nichia 519a emitter. That Nichia option is broken down even further into 4500K and 3000K (seen here) options. Two kits are available too, and they vary only in the 14500 cells included. (A 14500 is included either way, though.)
Price
Pricing starts at $46.90 but based on the options you select, it might go up to $53.90.
Short Review
It shouldn’t be any secret that I love Skilhunt and in particular, their headlamps. This is another great iteration. In fact, it’s essentially the headlamp version of the great Skilhunt M150, which you should already own. I like that there are (emitter and body color) options. Cell options are nice too! The H150 is just a great headlamp!
Long Review
The Big Table
| Skilhunt H150 3000K headlamp | |
|---|---|
| Emitter: | Nichia 519a (3000K) |
| Price in USD at publication time: | $50.90 |
| Cell: | 1×14500 |
| Runtime Graphs | |
| LVP? | Yes |
| Switch Type: | E-Switch |
| Quiescent Current (mA): | ? |
| On-Board Charging? | Yes |
| Charge Port Type: | Proprietary magnetic |
| Charge Graph | |
| Power off Charge Port | with cell: all modes without cell or tailcap: lowest 5 modes |
| Claimed Lumens (lm) | 480 |
| Measured Lumens (at 30s) | 368 (76.7% of claim)^ |
| Candela per Lumen | |
| Claimed Throw (m) | 95 |
| Candela (Calculated) in cd (at 30s) | 161lux @ 3.16m = 1608cd |
| Throw (Calculated) (m) | 80.2 (84.4% of claim)^ |
| Claimed CCT | 3000 |
| Measured CCT Range (K) | 2900-3000 Kelvin |
| Item provided for review by: | Skilhunt |
| All my Skilhunt reviews! | |
| Skilhunt H150 3000K headlamp | |
|---|---|
| Emitter: | Nichia 519a (3000K) |
| Price in USD at publication time: | $50.90 |
| Cell: | 1xAA |
| Runtime Graphs | |
| LVP? | Yes |
| Switch Type: | E-Switch |
| Quiescent Current (mA): | ? |
| On-Board Charging? | Yes |
| Charge Port Type: | – |
| Charge Graph | |
| Power off Charge Port | – |
| Claimed Lumens (lm) | 180 |
| Measured Lumens (at 30s) | 121 (67.2% of claim)^ |
| Candela per Lumen | |
| Claimed Throw (m) | 56 |
| Candela (Calculated) in cd (at 30s) | 51lux @ 3.26m = 542cd |
| Throw (Calculated) (m) | 46.6 (83.2% of claim)^ |
| Claimed CCT | 3000 |
| Measured CCT Range (K) | 2900-3000 Kelvin |
| Item provided for review by: | Skilhunt |
| All my Skilhunt 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
- Skilhunt H150 3000K headlamp
- Skilhunt 1050mAh 14500
- Charging cable (USB to proprietary magnetic)
- Charging cable (USB to USB-C)
- Lanyard
- Headband and headmount
- Spare o-rings (2)
- Pocket clip
- Manual
Package and Manual
The paper you see included below might or might not be included with your package but anyway, it indicates that the H150 has gone through one revision already. The first iteration had a short issue with flat top cells. That has been fixed; you can see below how to identify your light.
Build Quality and Disassembly
This “H” series from Skilhunt is fairly familiar by now. For example, the H300R is just about the same light but in 18650 format. I like that one a lot (in fact I love Skilhunt lights in general), and this H150 is good too.
At some point, we could talk about the brand name change from Skilhunt to Eskte. I don’t know why they needed to do that! “Skillhunt” works just fine for me, and plenty of perfectly reasonable reasons for not switching to ESKTE were brought up. But that’s what Skilhunt did, so here we are. I will say, in this post, I’ll freely refer to this as the Skilhunt H150, because there’s clear Skilhunt branding on this light. When the change is complete, I suppose I’ll start calling the brand “ESKTE.”
The tailcap has a big spring as well as a strong magnet. These threads are quite smooth, too.
Size and Comps
79.8mm x 21.4mm x 18mm and 33g without the cell.
If the flashlight will headstand, I’ll show it here (usually the third photo). If the flashlight will tailstand, I’ll also show that (usually in the fourth photo).
Here’s the test light with the venerable Convoy S2+. The version you see below is an orange Convoy S2+ host that’s been laser engraved by GadgetConnections.com. I did a full post on this light right here! Or go straight to GadgetConnections.com to buy your Convoy S2+ now!
Also above is the light beside a new standard 18350 light! It’s not one I’ve reviewed yet but this is the CWF Arcadian Peanut in aluminum. This one is stonewashed and has the new Quantum Dragon driver – a whole new product! Stay tuned for a full review of this tiny powerhouse!
Retention and Carry
The Skilhunt H150 rechargeable headlamp is primarily a headlamp, so let’s cover that first. The plastic attachment that connects to the headband has a clip-in slot for the H150. It’s very easy to use.
The pocket clip works while the light is mounted in the headband!
As you can see below, there are three band slots, including one that allows an over-the-head band. The light can also rotate while still attached, which is a great new feature.
The headband is standard Skilhunt, and that’s good.
Skilhunt has adequately covered how to build this headband, so I’ll just link their video.
The second option is, of course, the pocket clip. It’s a good clip. Flexible, deep carry, and the fitment is very snug.
This clip can attach on the head or tail end of the H150. That’s an upgrade from previous lights like the H300R.
Also included is a lanyard, which attaches through this little hole in the tailcap.
I don’t usually show it but the little red thing that Skilhunt includes really does aid in installing the lanyard.
The removable magnet in the tailcap is also perfectly sufficient to hold the H150.
Skilhunt also included these pouches. They’re smaller than similar ones I’ve seen by Skilhunt before, so they seem very rightly sized for a 14500 light. These shipped separately, so I’m not sure if the package includes them.
Power and Runtime
The Skilhunt H150 3000K headlamp runs on a single lithium-ion cell. It’s sized for a 14500, and an appropriate cell is included. It’s possible to buy two cells – I think the only (or at least “main”) difference is capacity. This one is the bigger capacity option: a 1050mAh cell and the other is 800mAh.
The 14500 fits into the H150 with the positive terminal toward the head, as seen below.
In case you forget that bit of information, there’s a sticker just inside the tube to help.
Here are a few runtime tests. I wouldn’t say there’s anything super surprising here. Output is very stable once a stepdown has happened, and low voltage protection is observed. There’s also a low voltage warning in the indicating e-switch. The switch also indicates the power level upon turning the H300R on. The indication it gives indicates the power level as follows:
Blue constant: 100-80% power
Blue blinking: 80-50% power
Red constant: 50-20% power
Red blinking: 20-0% power
A bonus feature in Skilhunt products that run one 14500 cell is that running one AA cell is also an option! Here are three runtime tests with an Eneloop cell. Performance is great!
Charging
The Skilhunt H150 3000K headlamp also has built-in charging, just like the other Skilhunt headlamps. This charging is by way of a magnetic charge port at the top of the light.
A proprietary cable is included. This is the same type as is used on other Skilhunt lights, so if you’ve “bought in,” you’ll be all set to use this on your other Skilhunts, too. Note that there are some versions – this is the MC-10.
The charger also has a little indicator as well – while charging, the indicator is red. When complete, it’s blue. Charging is around 0.9A, which is around 1C. That’s fine for this cell.
According to the manual, this charging circuit should not be used to charge anything but 14500 lithium-ion cells.
Surprisingly, the included cell also has a USB-C charging port. That’s good if you are super turned off by “proprietary magnetic charging.” This is another difference between the two cells (the 800mAh and 1050mAh, seen here). This larger capacity option is the only one offering USB-C charging.
A cable is even included, too. It’s USB to USB-C.
Modes and Currents
| Mode | Mode Claimed Output (lm) | Claimed Runtime | Measured Lumens | Tailcap Amps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T1 (14500) | 480-250 | 1m-65m | 375 (0s) 368 (30s) |
1.64 (@4.2V) |
| T2 (14500) | 320-250 | 3m-65m | 253 | 1.04 (@4.2V) |
| H1 (14500) | 250 | 70m | 183 | 0.71 (@4.2V) |
| M1 (14500) | 80 | 260m | 56 | 0.20 (@4.2V) |
| M2 (14500) | 13 | 22h | 10 | 0.03 (@4.2V) |
| L1 (14500) | 1.5 | 100h | 1.3 | [low] (@4.2V) |
| L2 (14500) | 0.2 | 50d | 0.08 | [low] (@4.2V) |
| T1 (AA) | 180-75 | 85m-20m | 122 (0s) 121 (30s) |
1.34 (@1.5V) |
| T2 (AA) | 115-75 | 160m | 74 | 0.71 (@1.5V) |
| H1 (AA) | 75 | 280m | 47 | 0.46 (@1.5V) |
| M1 (AA) | 24 | 14h | 17 | 0.14 (@1.5V) |
| M2 (AA) | 6.5 | 49h | 3.5 | 0.04 (@1.5V) |
| L1 (AA) | 1.5 | 105h | 1.2 | 0.01 (@1.5V) |
| L2 (AA) | 0.2 | 55d | 0.06 | [low] (@1.5V) |
Pulse Width Modulation
One thing to love about these lights is the lack of PWM. No mode has even a ripple of PWM.
Here you can see a “baseline” – a chart with almost no light hitting the sensor. Then there’s the Ultrafire WF-602C flashlight, which has some of the worst PWM I’ve seen. It’s so bad that I used a post about it to explain PWM! Here are multiple timescales (10ms, 5ms, 2ms, 1ms, 0.5ms, 0.2ms) to make comparing this “worst” PWM light to the test light easier. That post also explains why I didn’t test the WF-602C at the usual 50us scale.
User Interface and Operation
The Skilhunt H150 3000K headlamp is operated by a single switch. It’s an indicating e-switch on the head. The switch has a silicone cover and is black but still translucent. It requires minimal force and has a positive, quiet actuation. If you’ve had other Skilhunt headlamps, you’ll be very comfortable with this switch. Skilhunt uses various switches; this one is just like the switch from the EC300 (yet another Skilhunt light I love!)
Below, you can see the switch indicating in blue.
The user interface could be a bit daunting, but it’s very straightforward when you get used to it. It’s also very logical and provides access to low from off, which is as close to a requirement from a user interface as I have.
Here’s a user interface table! Note that this is the same user interface as is on the recent M300 lights, and likely many of the other new-generation Skilhunt lights. That’s fine because I love it, and I also love the delivery of a consistent and reliable user experience. (Also it’s super nice to be able to just copy the already-written table into this post.)
| State | Action | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Off | Hold | Low (Memory between L1 and L2) |
| L1 or L2 | Hold | Iterate between L1 and L2 |
| L1 or L2 | Click 2x | No change in level |
| L1 or L2 | Click Click Hold (“2H”) | Switch to main group (with memory) |
| Main group | Click Click Hold (“2H”) | Switch to low group (with memory) |
| Off | Click 4x | Lockout (Three blinks of main emitters to confirm and the switch turns red briefly) |
| Lockout | Click 4x | Unlock to Low group (memory, can be L1/L2) |
| Lockout | Click 2x | Iterate lockout indicator^ |
| Lockout | Hold | Momentary Output (Appears to be approximately L1) |
| L1/L2 | Click | Off |
| Off | Click | On in “Main Group” (Mode memory M2/M1/H1) |
| Main Group | Hold | Mode advance (M2 > M1 > H1) |
| Main Group | Click | Off |
| Main Group or Off | Click 2x | Turbo Group (Mode memory T1/T2) |
| T1/T2 | Hold | Iterate between T1 (higher) and T2 (lower) output |
| T1/T2 | Click | Off |
| T1/T2 | Click 2x | Main Group (memory output) |
| Main Group or Off | Click 3x | Strobe Group (with memory) |
| Strobe Group | Click 3x | Previous Group (T1/T2 or M2/M1/H1, depending on how you accessed Strobe Group)^^ |
| Strobe Group | Click 2x^^^ | Strobe Advance (S1 > S2 > S3)† |
| Strobe Group | Hold | No result |
^ Lockout indicator blinks a red switch every 2-3 seconds.
^^ Aside from just general mode memory (which you know I don’t like) this seems to me to be the only place where you may need to immediately remember what mode you were in so you have the experience you expect. However, the difference is getting the two highest white outputs, or the three main white outputs – it won’t be that dramatic even if you don’t remember. Also note that if you access the strobe group from off, triple-clicking will not return to off. For continuity, it should! In fact, if you accessed the strobe from an off state, a triple-click sends the light to the Main group!
^^^ Seems like the strobe group is the only group that isn’t advanced by a hold. Since there’s no hold anywhere else into or out of Strobe, I am not sure why that user interface continuity wasn’t maintained here.
† Strobes are like this:
S1: Disorienting strobe of White (turbo, ish)
S2: SOS (main white, some mid-High output)
S3: Beacon (one highish blink every second or so)
The only thing I don’t like about this user interface is that there’s no way to get from the lowest two modes to the main mode group (medium/high). You can get directly to turbo, though!
LED and Beam
To achieve the High CRI claim, Skilhunt has used a Nichia 519a and it’s rated at 3000K. The light uses a dimpled TIR.
In some text elsewhere (maybe commentary but not the posts) I mentioned how I’d love to see the 3000K – well this is that light! Very special thanks to Skilhunt for sending all three CCTs – that’s great support from the manufacturer! I said I’d probably like the 3000K best – and I really do. It’s so very right; it’s a great nightlight! And being that warm, it’s great for kids, and since it supports 1.5V cells (like Eneloops), this is yet another huge hit from Skilhunt – great for the family!!!
LED Color Report (CRI and CCT)
The CCT is around what Skilhunt states – warmer than, but around 3000K. CRI is very high, at around 96. They’re labeled on the chart, but just for reference, the top row is 14500 output and the second row is AA (NiMH) output. That’s the same for all the photos below, too (and the PWM photos above, for that matter.)
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.
I compare everything to the KillzoneFlashlights.com 219b BLF-348 because it’s inexpensive and has the best tint!
Conclusion
What I like
- 14500 is included (with options, and the bigger capacity is an obvious better choice)
- Very high CRI!
- AA cells work great!
- Charging is sufficient
- Emitter options give plenty of choices
- Body colors include orange
- User interface offers plenty of options
- Light can be rotated while in the headband
- Nice indicating switch
What I don’t like
Can’t get to main group from low group while onThis was wrong actually: Click then click/hold goes to the main group!- Price creep (>$50)
Notes
- This content originally appeared at zeroair.org. Please visit there for the best experience!
- For flashlight-related patches, stickers, and gear, head over to PhotonPhreaks.com!
- Please use my amazon.com referral link to help support zeroair.org!
- Please support me on Patreon! I deeply appreciate your support!
