Comparison Console
Nitecore NU31 vs Sofirn HS40
EDC Flashlights comparison. Compare price, weight, specifications, materials, and real-world use case.
Command Brief
Recommended read
Sofirn HS40 stands out as the lightest option for weight, with about a 32% gap from the closest alternative. Sofirn HS40 stands out as the cheapest option for retail price, with about a 22% gap from the closest alternative. Sofirn HS40 stands out as the highest output option for max lumens, with about a 264% gap from the closest alternative.
Decision Signals
What stands out
Sofirn HS40 stands out as the cheapest option for retail price, with about a 22% gap from the closest alternative.
Nitecore NU31 stands out as the most expensive option for retail price, with about a 28% gap from the closest alternative.
Sofirn HS40 stands out as the lightest option for weight, with about a 32% gap from the closest alternative.
Nitecore NU31 stands out as the heaviest option for weight, with about a 47% gap from the closest alternative.
Nitecore NU31 stands out as the lowest output option for max lumens, with about a 73% gap from the closest alternative.
Sofirn HS40 stands out as the highest output option for max lumens, with about a 264% gap from the closest alternative.
Sofirn HS40 stands out as the shortest runtime option for max runtime, with about a 95% gap from the closest alternative.
Nitecore NU31 stands out as the longest runtime option for max runtime, with about a 1738% gap from the closest alternative.
Specification Profile
Relative dimensions at a glance
Each axis is normalized against the largest raw value among the products in this comparison. Farther outward means a larger value, not necessarily a better result. Axes with an unverified value are omitted.
Price & carry
Retail price
US$39.95Most expensive
US$31.13Cheapest
Weight
95.5 g (3.37 oz)Heaviest
65 g (2.29 oz)Lightest
Length
62.3 mm (2.45 in)Shortest
111 mm (4.37 in)Longest
Output
Max lumens
550 lmLowest output
2000 lmHighest output
Max candela
5800 cd
Unknown
Beam distance
145 m (476 ft)Lowest
175 m (574 ft)Highest
Max runtime
8820 minLongest runtime
480 minShortest runtime
Power & durability
Battery type
Built-in 1800mAh Li-ion battery
18650 battery
Charging type
USB-C charging port (5V
1A)
USB-C (5V 2A)
Rechargeable
Yes
Yes
IP rating
IP66
IP68
Impact resistance
1 m (3 ft)
Unknown
Material
Aluminum alloy front housing with durable PC material body
Aerospace grade 6061 aluminum alloy, hard-anodized type III
Use case profile
Best for
Outdoor activitiesCampingHikingNight trekkingSkywatching
EDCHeadlamp useWorklightCampingOutdoor activitiesHands-free illuminationRight-angle beam illumination
Common praise
Lightweight and compact at 95.5gVersatile lighting modes including white, red, and high CRI auxiliary white lightLong battery runtime up to 147 hoursGood waterproof rating (IP66) and 1 meter impact resistanceUSB-C fast charging with short recharge timeSimple dual-button interface for easy operationReflective headband for safety
High max output of 2000 lumensRight-angle beam useful for headlamp and hands-free useLightweight at 65g body weightGood runtime on medium modesEffective dual-use as headlamp and flashlight toolWaterproof to IP68 standardUSB-C charging with battery indicatorStepless and stepped ramping modes
Common complaints
Charging time varies between 1.5 to 3 hours depending on sourceSlight green tint on white LED reportedCannot replace internal rechargeable battery
Lowest moonlight mode relatively floodier and lacks ultra-low sub-lumen outputNo built-in high CRI emitter optionSome users dislike new tube knurling and tailcap designMode spacing and lack of advanced firmware customization
Dataset Expansion
Missing a brand?
Suggest an EDC brand for CarryCrew to research and add to the comparison database.
Community indexing queue online