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Head-to-head · Best Rechargeable Headlamps

BioLite Range 500 vs Sofirn HS21

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

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The short answer

BioLite Range 500 comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.5 vs 4.4). BioLite Range 500 is best for: backpackers needing fast charging. Read the strengths below before deciding.

BioLite Range 500
Higher ratedRanked #1 in Best Rechargeable Headlamps
BioLite Range 500
2 sources$70as of Oct 11

The BioLite Range 500 is a light, fast-charging headlamp putting out 500 lumens. Runtime reaches up to 200 hours on low and it recharges quickly. A 1Lumen reviewer measured 445 lumens output and 84 meters of beam distance. At $70 it comes recommended for backpackers and outdoor enthusiasts who want reliable, comfortable lighting.

Strengths
  • — Lightweight design at 2.6 oz (75 grams)
  • — Fast charging capability, 80% charge in 30 minutes
  • — Comfortable uni-body lamp/strap design with soft padded band
Watch-outs
  • — Unit can slip when little tension is applied to the band
$70 · Buy at bioliteenergy.comFull review →
Sofirn HS21
Ranked #5 in Best Rechargeable Headlamps
Sofirn HS21
1 sourceall derived$43as of Oct 10

The Sofirn HS21 is a T-shaped headlamp with an infrared gesture sensor, one spotlight LED, six floodlight LEDs, and three red LEDs. Reviewers liked the hands-free operation and the range of lighting modes, and the floodlight LEDs hit a high CRI at 99. Measured flood lumens didn't match the advertised figures, though. Bracket durability also came up as a build-quality concern. It suits people who want flexible lighting options with gesture control, but anyone who needs the lumen figures to be exact should look elsewhere.

Strengths
  • — Features gesture sensor for hands-free operation
  • — Provides multiple lighting modes including spot, flood, and red LEDs
  • — Rechargeable 18650 battery with USB-C charging capability
Watch-outs
  • — Build quality concerns with bracket snapping reported by some users
$43 · Buy at flashlightgo.comFull review →

Derived means the reviewer published no score, so one was inferred from their written verdict. Everything else is a number the publisher printed. How we rank.

How they stack up

BioLite Range 500

The BioLite Range 500 reaches an 80% charge in 30 minutes, where the Knog Bandicoot 250 takes 4 hours to charge fully. It puts out 500 lumens against the Knog's 250 and costs more than the Knog. The Fenix HM50R v2 is brighter at 700 lumens and is rated IP68 against the BioLite's IP67.

Sofirn HS21

The Sofirn HS21 has a gesture sensor for hands-free operation and is listed at up to 2,300 lumens, against 700 lumens for the Fenix HM50R v2 and 800 lumens for the Nitecore UT27 MCT 800, though its flood output measured below the advertised figure. At 168.53g with battery and headband it is heavier than the Fenix at 78g and the UT27 at 74 g. Its IP65 rating sits below the Fenix's IP68.

Specs side-by-side

SpecBioLite Range 500Sofirn HS21
Weight75 g87g (without battery), 168.53g (with battery/headband)
Lumens500 lumensUp to 2,300 lm
Beam Distance100mUp to 230 m
Waterproof RatingIP67IP65
Battery1634 mAh lithium-ion1*18650 3.7V Li-ion
ChargingUSB-CUSB-C
Modes5 modes (White Spot, White Strobe, Red Flood, Red Strobe, White Flood)Spotlight, Floodlight, S+F, Red
LED TypeWhite and Red LEDsSpotlight (1*Luminus SFT40), Floodlight (6*CSP1919), Red (3*HFL1-R)
MaterialAbs, PolycarbonateAluminum
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