Review: ThorFire C8S Flashlight
Kevin Felts 06.12.17
Of all the handheld flashlights I have reviewed, the Thorfire C8S has to be the most versatile. This is not just a flashlight, it is a beam of light ranging from half a lumen all the way to 900 lumens.
When the flashlight was removed from the package and held for the first time, it felt like holding a hammer. It feels like the head has more mass than the rest of the light, which gives it a good hefty, solid feel.
The Thorfire C8S was put through the standard test-drop, drown and drug behind an ATV.
ThorFire C8S Specifications
- Moonlight 0.5 lumens
- Low 30 lumens
- Mid 280 lumens
- High 900 lumens
- Battery 18650 X 1
- Weight 6.9 ounces
- Length 5 5/8 inches
- Bezel diameter 1 3/4 inches
- Body diameter 1 inch
- LED CREE XM-L2
The housing has a three piece construction: bezel, body, and tailcap.
Operation is by on/off push button on the tail cap. Push the tail cap once to turn on, then gently push the button again to cycle through the brightness settings.
The ThorFire C8S has a memory, so that it goes back to the last brightness setting used.
Beam
Beam of the ThorFire C8S is wonderful.
I live in a rural area and use my flashlights just about everyday. Sometimes the dogs will start barking at something in the woods. So, I will grab a flashlight, walk out to where they are barking and look around. Or, sometimes I will use a flashlight to check on the chickens
The high setting of 900 lumens was absolutely perfect. I was able to light up the field behind the house, or the top of a one hundred foot pine tree with no problems.
Water
To test the waterproof features of the ThorFire C8S, the flashlight was tied to a tree and tossed into a shallow, sandy bottom creek.
However, before the flashlight was tossed into the creek, the threads and o-rings were coated with a thin layer of wheel bearing grease. In some of my previous flashlight reviews, there were some comments that if the threads and o-rings were coated with oil, it would help keep water out.
After being in the water for a little over an hour, the ThorFire C8S was retrieved, and there was no water to be found. There was no water in the body or in the bezel.
Drop
Next came the drop test. The ThorFire C8S was dropped several times from a height of around 4 feet onto a railroad cross tie. Each time the flashlight was dropped, it was held at a different angle.
What I look for in the drop test is for the flashlight to flicker. Does it provide a steady beam, does it turn off, does it stop working, is there any disruption in performance.
The flashlight was dropped on the side, tailcap, and bezel without a single flicker.
ATV
The last and final test of the ThorFire C8S was to drag it behind a Kodiak 4-wheeler ATV for around a quarter mile.
I regret to report that during the drag test, the glass lens broke.
In all honesty, I can not fault the lens for breaking after being pulled across rocks and dirt for close to quarter mile. With that kind of abuse, something has to give.
On the bright side, the housing did not suffer any serious damage. The “ears” on the tailcap did not bend or collapse. Nor were there any serious gouges in the housing.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I found the Thorfire C8S to be an outstanding light.
The beam and brightness setting are just right. It goes from 1/2 lumen all the way to 900 lumens. This makes it ideal for security, camping, or looking around the backyard.
Lanyard holes measure around 3/16 long and 1/8 inch wide. I was able to replace the factory lanyard with a piece of 330 pound trotline cord.
I feel the housing is a little short and the on/off switch should be moved to the body rather than the tailcap.
As of June 11, 2017, the Thorfire C8S has a price of $16.99 at Amazon and is eligible for Prime shipping. The regular price at Amazon is $35.99.
Whether the price is $16.99 or $35.99, I feel this is an excellent flashlight.
