Loop Gear SK05 Pro 2 Review: A New Favorite Handheld Flashlight

Introduction

Very few handheld flashlights manage to be genuinely versatile without becoming complicated to use. The Loop Gear SK05 Pro 2 manages exactly that, and it has earned a place as a top pick among handheld torches, edging out the well-regarded Nitecore EDC37. Loop Gear has only been around since 2022, but the brand is quickly building a reputation for design, quality, and innovation, and this upgraded version of the SK05 Pro shows why.

The Pro 2 looks almost identical to the original SK05 Pro, which is no bad thing given how well the original was received. The differences are in the details: better handling, increased power in every mode, and a series of small tweaks that add up to a significant step up.

Design and Build Quality

The SK05 Pro 2 is made from aluminum and comes in a black anodized finish, plus a super tough MAO finish in white or gray. Overall build quality is excellent, with a size and shape that incorporate plenty of thoughtful design details.

The top-mounted rotary switch with a central push button carries over from the original, and it has been noticeably improved. It feels smoother, more clicky, and has much less friction, so it can be operated easily with the thumb, aided by grippy knurling. It seems like a small change, but it makes a real difference in daily use.

Performance: Spot, Flood, and Combined Output

The rotary switch has four positions: a lock, flood, beam, and side light. Flood uses a triple lens array, while beam uses a deep reflector for long-range reach. This separate dedicated lens arrangement is generally more effective than a single lens trying to do both.

Output has increased across the board. Flood now reaches a maximum turbo of 3,800 lumens, up from 3,060. The spotlight tops out at 2,500 lumens, double the original 1,300, giving the light an impressive 410 meter range.

One of the best features is how easily you can switch between spot and flood, even with different brightness levels set for each. You can walk along with the flood at medium, flip instantly to the beam at high to light something in the distance, and flip straight back. Pressing and holding the center button steps through low, medium, and high, while a double press activates a turbo burst of up to 30 seconds.

You can also run both lens arrays together at maximum turbo for a combined 5,000 lumen output in short bursts, and a triple click triggers a bright combined strobe that can be switched to an SOS pattern.

The Improved Side Light

The side light is another welcome upgrade. The Pro 2 adds 38 high CRI, color-corrected white LEDs alongside the 22 RGB color LEDs from the original, raising the white side light output from just 1 lumen to a much more useful 120 lumens across four levels. The result is a bright, diffused, color-accurate light that is genuinely practical rather than decorative.

As before, there are five flashing and phasing side light options, stepped through with a double click, and seven color options via press and hold. The colors will appeal to some users, though a simpler red-only visibility mode would arguably make the light easier to operate. There is also a red and blue flashing emergency pattern, activated by a triple press. It is very bright and effective for warning motorists of danger at night, though in some regions such a pattern could be mistaken for emergency services lights.

Batteries, Charging, and the Power Bank Bonus

The light uses two 18650 batteries with a combined 8,000 mAh capacity, replaceable through a lockable hatch at the rear. Both batteries face the same way, pointing to a parallel connection, so the light still works if one battery is removed, just with reduced runtime.

Runtimes are strong. Low mode, rated at 40 lumens for spot and 50 for flood, is quoted at up to 48 hours per charge. There is no 1 lumen moonlight mode on the main lights, though the side light does offer a 1 lumen setting alongside 10 and 40 lumen options.

Charging is via USB-C at up to 22 W, now protected by a metal flap instead of the original rubber one. Better still, the port is two-way, so the light doubles as a power bank to charge other devices. If you normally carry both a flashlight and a power bank, this one can do the job of both, saving weight and space. Add a new lanyard attachment point, a magnetic base, a battery level indicator using the side bar LEDs, a quality belt or pocket clip, and an IP68 rating that handles full submersion, and there is very little left to ask for.

How It Compares to the Nitecore EDC37

The Nitecore EDC37 was the previous favorite in this category. It matches the SK05’s battery capacity in a slightly smaller form factor, achieved by making the batteries non-replaceable, which is a compromise. Its OLED power and duration display is a genuine asset, and its two smaller, shallower reflectors with multi-LED arrays blend beam and flood, though you cannot choose one over the other at main light levels.

The EDC37’s quoted search mode reaches 420 meters at 3,000 lumens, similar to the SK05 but with a bit more light spill, and its 8,000 lumen lumen shield flood mode is extremely bright, though limited to 10-second bursts. The SK05 counters with a combined 5,000 lumen output that can hold for closer to 30 seconds, which is arguably more useful in practice.

Where the SK05 Pro 2 pulls ahead is in practical utility: switchable beam and flood, a four-level white side light, color and warning light options, the power bank function, a magnetic tail cap that allows self-standing, and replaceable 18650 batteries that extend the light’s lifespan and let you swap in fresh cells to keep going.

Buying Advice

The SK05 Pro 2 lists at around £150 or $160, but discounts of at least 20 percent have been seen online, which represents strong value for what you get. If you want a single handheld light that covers walking, distance work, close-up task lighting, emergency signalling, and even charging your phone, this is an easy recommendation. If you prefer a slightly smaller light with a superb OLED display and do not mind non-replaceable batteries, the EDC37 remains a very capable alternative.

Conclusion

The Loop Gear SK05 Pro 2 is a thoughtfully refined upgrade with more power, better handling, a genuinely useful side light, and features like replaceable batteries and power bank charging that make it more practical than most rivals. For anyone in the market for a premium handheld flashlight, it currently sets the standard to beat.