SF26 Rapier

Sofirn SF26 Rapier rechargeable flashlight, 2,000 lumens, 964 ANSI metres – compact long-ranger! Customer reviews

I see destiny written all over this torch. 

In an age of (very good) multi-function flashlights the Rapier does only one thing – deliver an incredibly intense beam. 

We're talking a beautiful column of clear white light reaching almost 1,000 ANSI metres which, in the real world, will expose shapes and movement up to four rugby fields away!

And this beam comes from a tactical torch small enough to slip into the pocket of a jacket or cargo shorts, and light enough to carry with you for days without noticing its 244g weight, complete with battery.

When life and limb depend on your light, the Rapier should be at the top of your list.

Let's start with the beam which basically lights up subjects as far as you can see. It consists of a well proportioned, clearly defined and incredibly intense hotspot, surrounded by a pale spill-beam just bright enough to support peripheral vision without causing "back glare" from the foreground.

It's wonderful to see how a beam can be fine-tuned to work with our eyes so we can see further in the dark. For a detailed discussion of this see my article on beam profiles.

The engineers at Sofirn perform this feat of optical magic by using a sophisticated and expensive TIR lens, which stands for "total internal reflection" and is such a big deal it has its own Wikipedia page. What it boils down to is that all the light is delivered exactly where they want it to go, and none of it goes to waste.

These clever optics direct the light from Luminus' benchmark SFT40 emitter through a reinforced glass lens so you can see clearly, while anyone on the receiving end...can't. It's no joke to stare into nearly a quarter of a million candela, so please don't point this beam at anyone unless they mean you harm.

Then there's the user interface – if you feel torches have become too complicated, this one's for you! The two-switch tailcap is a masterclass in design, with both buttons easy to find in the dark and difficult to mix up.

The primary switch falls under your thumb or forefinger to turn the torch on and off (including a half-press for "momentary on") at the last-used brightness level, while the mode switch, set to one side and a bit lower, adjusts the brightness through five levels. 

Professional users will be delighted to hear the dimmest and brightest settings are just part of the regular lineup – if you want a torch you can simply turn on and off at your chosen brightness level with a click of the tail-switch, this is it!

If you've checked out the link on beam profiles or my FAQ you'll know that lumens have almost nothing to do with beam distance, but more lumens do mean more heat and less runtime – the Rapier's maximum output of 2,000 lumens represents the minimum needed to deliver this amazing beam.

Peak output, level five, is more than enough to light up subjects far, far away, for a couple of minutes before the heat of the torch reminds you turn it down... or the internal temperature sensor does it for you.

Level four is my favourite, delivering a 1,000 lumen beam over two rugby fields for more than four hours continuously – just what you need for a night-drive at the game reserve or a neighbourhood watch patrol.

I call level three "the cucumber mode" because it runs as cool as a cucumber while delivering light over the length of a real-world rugby field for more than six hours – how cool is that?

Level two gives you a useful beam for 19 hours, while level one is just what you need to walk around at night without drawing attention to yourself... or to find your way out of a cave even if it takes four days!

When it comes to personal security, the Rapier has you covered. Pressing the secondary mode switch while the torch is turned off delivers a paralysing dual-frequency defensive strobe – no double clicks or other nonsense when you're at your most vulnerable. While the torch is on, repeated double-clicks of the mode switch gives you the strobe, SOS and a flashing beacon.

The Rapier is powered by an industry-standard 21700-format lithium ion (Li-Ion) battery which combines maximum capacity (5,000mAh) for the longest runtimes with the best bang-for-your-buck when the time comes to replace it, 3-5 years down the road. No searching for over-priced battery packs.

These Li-Ions are invariably "unprotected", meaning they will be trashed if you run them down too far, but the Rapier is equipped with Sofirn's low-voltage protection feature which cuts out before the battery reaches the point of no return.

Equally important, you can "lock out" the electronics when you store your torch so there's no gradual draining of the battery and your Li-Ion will stay juiced up and ready to rumble for many months after charging.

The Rapier features internal charging of the battery via the familiar USB-C port, which is concealed beneath a waterproof screw-down collar, and there's an indicator light to let you know when your battery is charged... or needs charging.

The Rapier is built to Sofirn's usual professional standards from 6061-T6 aluminium alloy with military-grade anodising and sealed to IPX-8 standards. It's 60mm across the head and 149mm long. The battery tube is 25.4mm in diameter and there are strong gold-plated springs at both ends of the battery tube.

The Rapier is for customers who need the longest possible beam from a tough, compact tactical torch. If you need even more distance, my weapons-mountable T217 Hunter shines a third further (four rugby fields, end to end!) – it's too big to fit into a pocket but comes with a holster so you can carry it on your belt.

If you need a "fatter" beam for security (leaving an intruder nowhere to hide!) my compact C8L Panga and full-sized SP60 Beast are the answers, as countless farmers and armed-response companies have already discovered.

Like all our torches, the Rapier is built to take hard use in rough conditions while still delivering exceptional value for money.