This Skilhunt EC300 was provided by Skilhunt for review.

Overview

Devices that try to perform multiple functions often do all of them poorly. With the EC300, Skilhunt has produced an excellent white flashlight that's also a good USB powerbank and a serviceable multicolor flashlight. Output is sufficient for most use cases, though the thermal throttling is a bit aggressive for my tastes. Color rendering is excellent, and the tint is a close match to afternoon sunlight. Its powerbank function is capable of powering USB devices at nearly 15W and is compatible with all standard USB-C power supplies and cables, though it does not take advantages of any of the higher power standards like QC or PD.

I find 21700 lights too large and heavy for casual pocket carry, but this is one of the smaller options on the market and it can be carried in average pants pockets if necessary. The extra capacity over an 18650 can make the difference between only needing to carry a single device and bringing a separate powerbank. The EC300 is waterproof with an IPX8 rating, however the USB cover comes open easily, and I would recommend caution in extremely wet environments.

What the EC300 doesn't have is a sub-lumen moonlight mode or output adjustment for the colored modes. The red mode in particular is quite bright at 40 lumens. A 0.3 lumen low white is advertised, but it looks and tests higher. While it's suitable for situations where some authority mandates the use of red light, lower output would be better for actually preserving dark adaptatation.

Overall, the EC300 is a versatile flashlight and powerbank, and it is recommended.

Specifications

Spec	-
Battery	1x21700
LED	Luminus SST-20 x4
Color temperature	4332K
Color rendering index	97
Max output	1855 lm
Max throw	142 m
Max sustainable output	652 lm
Max output at 50% battery	1424 lm
Best efficiency	123 lm/W
Candela per lumen	2.5 (floody)
Length	115 mm
Head diameter	29.5 mm
Weight	81 g
Weight with battery	153 g
Environment	IPX8 (submersible)
Charging	USB-C
Power from USB without battery	Low/colored modes
Low Voltage Protection (LVP)	Yes
Lockout	Electronic and mechanical
Approximate price	$68 (without battery), $81 (with battery)
Rating	★★★★☆ (recommended)

Highlights

• High CRI (optional)
• Pleasant tint
• Fast + broadly compatible USB-C charging
• Powerbank function with nearly 3A output
• Compact for a 21700 light
• Good battery compatibility

Lowlights

• Low modes could stand to be lower for dark adaptation
• Timed stepdown level of 652 lm is lower than I'd like
• USB flap comes open easily

Details and technical analysis

Versions

The EC300 offers a choice of low-CRI cool white and high-CRI neutral white, both using Luminus SST-20 LEDs. It can be ordered with or without a 5000 mAh protected 21700 battery, and only comes in grey anodized aluminum at this time.

This is the high-CRI neutral white version.

Accessories

The EC300 includes a pocket clip, lanyard, carrying pouch, USB A-C cable, spare O-rings, and user manual. A 5000 mAh protected 21700 battery is optional.

Modes and user interface

Modes

Mode	Advertised Lumens	Estimated Lumens	Estimated throw (FL1 meters)	Candela
L2	0.3	1	-	-
L1	3	7	-	-
M2	26	30	17	75
M1	98	135	36	329
H	274	384	62	960
T2	750	1028	101	2550
T1	1500	1855	142	5007
Red	10	40	-	-
Green	28	30	-	-
Blue	7.5	61	-	-

The following blinking modes are also available:

• Strobe
• SOS
• Red beacon
• RGB strobe

User Interface

State	Action	Result
Off	Click	Medium group
Off	Long-press	Low/color group
Off	Double-click	High group
Off	Triple-click	Strobe group
Medium group	Double-click	High group
High group	Double-click	Medium group
Low group	Double-click	Toggle white/color
On (except strobe)	Long-press	Cycle modes within current group
Strobe	Double-click	Cycle blinking modes
On	Click	Off
Off	Quad-click	Lockout
Lockout	Quad-click	Low group

Every group memorizes the last-used mode from that group. The powerbank feature is available in lockout mode; slightly loosening the tailcap locks out the light mechanically, disabling the powerbank feature and all standby power consumption.

While there's a lot of functionality on a single button, I don't find the UI particularly difficult to remember. Perhaps it's not the best fit for someone who believes they'll need quick access to RGB strobe in an emergency, but the average person will find a useful medium mode with no instruction at all.

Output, runtime, and efficiency

Mode	Estimated lumens	Minutes to 80%	Minutes to 50%	Minutes to 10%	Efficiency (lm/W)	Current (mA)
Standby					14 years	0.04
L2	1			30 days	35	7
L1	7			11 days	90	19
M2	30			3 days	114	64
M1	135			17 hours	110	299
H	384	304	350	354	120	767
T2	1028	4	203	262	121	2480
T1	1855	1.3	1.8	219	123	6330
R	40			14 hours	40	362
G	30			14 hours	30	359
B	61			14 hours	42	357

I suggest taking the numbers for the colored modes with a grain of salt, but the red and blue do look both brighter than advertised and at least as bright as the green to my eyes. My output estimates exceed what's advertised in every mode; that's good thing in higher modes, but not in low.

Efficiency is a bit below what I've come to expect from Skilhunt. While high-CRI SST-20s have never been the most efficient emitters, four of them should have higher efficiency than one LH351D, for example.

Light quality

Readings are taken from the center spot diffused with DC Fix diffusion film using an X-rite i1Pro spectrophotometer.

Mode	Color Temperature	Tint Duv	CRI	CRI R9 (deep red)	CRI R12 (deep blue)
L2	4681K	0.00175 (slightly green)	93	93	71
L1	4169K	0.00126 (neutral)	96	96	75
M2	4186K	0.00125 (neutral)	96	96	75
M1	4125K	0.00157 (slightly green)	97	98	76
H	4332K	0.00155 (slightly green)	97	96	77
T2	4179K	0.00134 (neutral)	97	91	79
T1	4199K	0.00003 (neutral)	96	87	80

I've seen very few flashlights that do a better impression of afternoon sunlight than this. There's little shift from mode to mode, and the color rendering is excellent.

Beamshots

EC300 (first) vs Zebralight SC64c LE (second)

RGB

Batteries and charging

The EC300 uses a single 21700 battery; a 5000 mAh protected button top is optionally included. All 21700 batteries I tested from unprotected flat-tops to an extra-long Acebeam with a USB port fit and function normally, but vigorous shaking will cause an unprotected flat-top to break contact and turn off the light. Protected 18650s can be used without a spacer, but are subject to rattling. Combining the maximum mode and powerbank function should not exceed 10A, meaning nearly all 21700 batteries can safely provide all the power the EC300 might use.

Charging a 5000 mAh cell takes less than 3 hours, and the powerbank function can output nearly 3A at 5V (15W). Both charging and powerbank functions work with the light on. Low modes can be used from USB power without a battery installed.

Size and ergonomics

The EC300 is marketed as an everyday carry light and can be carried in a typical pants pocket, but all 21700 flashlights are on the large side for that use case. The switch is raised and not difficult to find by feel, though it's opposite the USB port, which is also raised. Squeezing to press both reliably actuates the switch.

The pocket clip is usable, but could be improved with more ramp as Skilhunt has done with the M150 and M200 clips. The EC300 clip can require some effort to insert in many pockets.

Modification potential

The bezel unscrews easily providing access to a custom MCPCB with four white LEDs and one single-package RGB unit. Reflowing LEDs should be easy enough, but sourcing a replacement MCPCB may be difficult. The optic is the popular Carclo 10623, and can be replaced with other optics in that series such as the more focused 10621. The 10621 produces signiicant artiacts with the colored LED, but works well with white.