The side switch format flashlight is a wonderful example of Thomas Sowell’s most famous quote: there are no solutions, only tradeoffs. The lights are smaller and more pocketable, but only the very best designs are immune to that which all flashoholics fear—Hot Pocket (accidental activation in the pocket during carry). For me, the tradeoff is usually not worth it. Sure Zebralights have the format down to a science, but for other size switch lights out there, Olight I am mainly looking at you, they aren’t great. The Skilhunt EC200 might be more in the Zebralight camp than the Olight camp. I have had one instance of hot pocketing, but the light’s output, USB-C charging, versatility, and top shelf UI make the side switch a tradeoff I am willing to make.

Here is the product page. The light has a very difficult to follow model name. If you google the “EC200” you will get an 18650 light. But they are often offered with the option for a 18350 body tube. The EC200-Mini is the same light that comes with ONLY the 18350 body tube. But that’s not all, some EC200s have an alternate mode using one of the three emitters. There a UV model and a red model. There might be a green and blue model as well, I am not sure. Those models are sometimes designated as “EC200s” models, but not consistently. In short I do not know FOR SURE what the model number is on this light nor do I know how many variants there are. Just so you don’t think I am an idiot, even the manufacturer’s packaging wasn’t helpful. The light, instruction manual, and the retail box all had different designations (light: EC200, instructions: EC200s, box: EC200 MINI). Here is a review by the esteemed and great Zero Air. Here is a video review. Here is my review sample (purchased with my own money):

Quick Review Summary: An excellent full featured EDC that is more Muggle friendly than most torches with one serious flaw.

Design: 0

I thought about failing the EC200. It has a profound design flaw. But the flaw has a workaround and the light is really good aside from that flaw. Be forewarned though—this mistake is a frustrating headslapper.

As you can see the EC200 is a side switch clicky. The problem is that the OTHER side of the light has a rubber boot that covers the USB-C charging port in the EXACT same place. That means that in the dark you can’t really tell the difference between the side switch and the boot. If you need light quickly, this is a real problem. Why they did this is just mystifying to me. There were dozens of solutions and workarounds. The ideal one would be to have the light charge from a port located somewhere else on the light or have no port but a battery with a port on it. The flaw is so bad that I strongly considered labeling this a product failure. But there is a workaround. I positioned the clip to the left of the switch when the switch is facing me. Now I have to remember this every time I reach for the light in the dark, but it means that I can find my way to the switch the first time, if I really need to.

The switch’s design itself isn’t great either. I love the recessed side switch on Zebralights as it precludes the vast majority of accidental activations. Not all of them, but like 98% of them. This light has regularly gotten switched on by accident and that is a bad thing. Part of this is just the nature of side switch lights, but compared to the Zebralight’s switch, this one is a mess for two independent reasons. Fortunately, the rest of the light is pretty stellar, especially the UI, so let’s keep going.

Fit and Finish: 2

Like oLight or Thrunite or Nitecore, the Skilhunt EC200 is well made with precise machining and interesting textures. None of these lights have the Mercedes door feel to them but they are generally error free and nice in both the hand and the pocket.

Grip: 2

Thanks to a decent midsection, the EC200 isn’t terrible in the hand at all. I think the Zebralight is a step above thanks to a more pronounced hourglass shape, but between the rubber bits and the clip, there is plenty to hang on to here.

Carry: 1

Only Zebralight seems to have perfected the side switch format because the EC200 like the Baton and all other side switch lights I have used hot pocketed pretty regularly. Fortunately, it doesn’t default to high, but still it is a bit frustrating that companies know how to solve this problem and for some inexplicable reason they don’t. The clip is effective but unnecessarily bulky.

Output: 2

The output is remarkable not for its highs and lows, which have all become so good that differentiation is very challenging, but because of the flexibility of the secondary emitter. You get highs and lows here too and unlike on something like a Zebralight you can drop into a secondary mode very easily and very consistently.

Runtime: 2

While not Zebralight good, the EC200 is quite capable at going for days. I am not super hot on the “bursty” turbo, but that is what you get in 99% of lights these days. Realistically with a good low, you can use a single cell EDC torch to get you through a 3 day blackout. That’s pretty good.

Beam Type: 2

The squashy all around beam type with a smidge of throw made up by sheer photonic overload is pretty handy for most tasks and I think its a good choice for EDC, but it does make stuff like the Surefire EDC1-DFT really stand out.

Beam Quality: 1

These triples aren’t great high quality beams and making the triple actually a double doesn’t help. The smashed beam types cover up those problems, but not enough to ignore, especially when you square the light up against something good like the Surefire. Against something like the Haiku its…well…obviously flawed.

UI: 2

And we have arrived at the real reason to buy this light. For a complex light with two different emitters and scaling brightnesses within each emitter, the Skilhunt EC200 is a revelation. This is the difference maker for the light and the reason why, despite some flaws, it is worth considering.

Hands Free: 2

The light tailstands, doesn’t roll and can, in a pinch be used between the teeth. Its what you need in an EDC torch to make it a top shelf light.

Other Considerations

Fidget Factor: Low

The clicky isn’t all that fun and the form factor isn’t great.

Fett Effect: Moderate

Orange HAIII ano will take hits okay, but over time it will start to look cooler and a bit more beat up.

Value: Moderate

$60 is about what you would expect for a light of this design and build quality.

Overall Score: 16 of 20

The beam quality is a bit lacking, the light can hotpocket, and the switch is hard to find in the dark. That should be enough to sink the light, but the UI saves the EC200 and keeps it relevant in a market that is crowded with stuff. This isn’t a world beater, but the light is good enough to consider. If you need two different emitters, you don’t have a ton of easy to use options and so that EC200 is the best choice in a small niche. That said, one quick changes—recessing the switch—would fix both switch-related problems. I’d love to see Skilhunt make this platform one it iterates on, but alas, I doubt it will happen. For that we have to go to oLight or Zebralight for real evolution in product designs.

Competition

In terms of side switch EDC lights, the obvious competitors are Zebralight and Olight. This torch is easily superior to the Olight stuff. I have never been a fan of the Baton series, as they were always okay, but never more. This is better than okay. But it is not quite as good as a Zebralight. It has more features and a better UI, but Zebralights are essentially immune to hot pocketing. They also have a better clip. But it is not a sweep for Zebralight. This torch is brighter and more full featured, plus it offers onboard USB-C charging. In terms of other EDC options, I still like the robust simplicity of the 47s Turbo Mark III better. The Reylight Mini Pineapple is also better—an easier to carry form factor with a better clicky. That said, if you want multiple modes with multiple different emitters, this is the best I have seen.

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