Three EDC Flashlights Compared: Sofirn SP31 V3, Klarus FlatTac X1, and Wurkkos HD01 UV

Introduction

Flat-bodied flashlights became a trend over the past year, with almost every manufacturer squeezing white light, UV, green laser, and RGB modes into a slim chassis. Not every new release follows that playbook, though, and looking at three recent lights together shows how different the approaches can be. The Sofirn SP31 V3 sticks to a traditional cylindrical EDC format. The Klarus FlatTac X1 goes big and flat with tactical styling and an OLED display. The Wurkkos HD01 UV leans fully into the multi-function trend with a spotlight, flood sidelight, UV, and RGB packed into one compact body.

After spending time with all three, the most interesting result is that the least hyped of them turned out to be the most versatile. Here is how each one stacks up.

Sofirn SP31 V3: The Traditionalist

The SP31 V3 is a standard-looking everyday carry flashlight, and the size is arguably its best feature. It is compact enough for pocket carry without feeling small in the hand, which is exactly what many people want from an EDC light.

On paper, the numbers are strong: a maximum output of 2,000 lumens, a maximum throw of 269 meters, and a max candela of 18,100. That candela figure translates to a very intense hot spot. The SST40 LED sits at roughly 6,000 to 6,500 Kelvin, so the beam is a cool white. The body is 6061 T6 aluminum with ridges around the center for grip, it carries an IP68 dust and waterproof rating with 1 meter of impact resistance, and it runs on a non-proprietary 3,000 mAh 18650 battery with dual springs. A removable pocket clip and tail tabs that let the light stand upright on its tail are genuine pluses for daily carry.

The main quirk is the dual-switch setup. You have to turn the light on with the tail switch, and only then does the side switch do anything, cycling through low, medium, and high. There is no way to activate the light from the side switch alone, and the 1-lumen moonlight mode has an awkward activation: you must press and hold the side switch and then press the tail switch in. Combine that with the spotty, high-candela beam profile that is not ideal for everyday tasks, and the SP31 V3 has a lot going for it but a few quirks that hold it back.

Klarus FlatTac X1: Flat, Bright, and Tactical

The FlatTac X1 is a larger flat-style flashlight, noticeably longer than several popular flat EDC lights on the market. Klarus positions it as a tactical light, with four ceramic beads at the bezel acting as a striking surface and a wedged body that sits naturally in an overhand grip, thumb resting right on the two tail switches.

The headline figure is 4,200 lumens on turbo, activated by press-and-hold from off. That is a burst mode rather than a sustainable output, and notably it does not dim while running. For steady use, Klarus quotes 185 meters of throw, 9,360 candela, and six brightness levels on high, with SOS, beacon, and strobe special modes. The UI is well thought out: a single click of the primary switch starts on high and works backwards, the auxiliary switch gives instant one-lumen moonlight with a single click, press-and-hold triggers strobe, and double-clicking reaches SOS and beacon. It is the only light here with an OLED display, which shows mode information right on the body.

There are trade-offs. The built-in 2,150 mAh battery charges over USB-C under a rubber flap, but proprietary built-in cells are less convenient than a swappable battery. The IPX6 rating is good but not great, since dust proofing was not tested and the light cannot be submerged. The proximity sensor dims the output when the light is close to a surface and, annoyingly, does not step back up when you move away. And the fixed pocket clip sits low on the body, leaving a lot of the light exposed above the pocket. None of these are dealbreakers, but they are worth knowing before buying.

Wurkkos HD01 UV: The Surprise Winner

The HD01 UV was the most surprising of the three. It is available in two versions: this UV model in black and purple, and a green laser version in three colors that sells for under $29. The UV version shown here sits under $40, which makes it a fantastic deal for what it delivers.

The feature list is exactly what the flat-light trend promised, but executed well. The front spotlight maxes out at 1,200 lumens with 157 meters of throw and 6,175 candela. The sidelight puts out up to 180 lumens and 98 candela of diffused white flood, and the front light and sidelight can run at the same time, which is a genuinely smart touch. The rear button also activates a very bright 975 milliwatt UV light, and press-and-hold from off brings up RGB colors with a flash mode and a triple-click set of decorative RGB modes that are fun once but have little real-world use beyond the solid colors and the flash.

As an everyday or emergency tool, it is hard to beat at this price. The body is 6061 T6 aluminum with a type III hard anodized finish, there is a two-way pocket clip that is almost deep carry, battery indicators glow green above 50 percent, and the magnetic flat tail holds the light horizontally and vertically on metal surfaces. Stick it to the side of a car in a breakdown and activate the red flash, and it becomes a credible emergency light. The one real negative is the built-in 1,200 mAh lithium polymer battery charged over USB-C. The RGB cycling also only moves forward, so if you overshoot a color you have to keep cycling around.

Beam Profiles Compared

The beam tests made the differences obvious. The Sofirn SP31 V3 is clearly the spotty light of the group, with that 18,100-candela hot spot punching hard at distance but leaving the near field less evenly lit. Fine for throwing, less ideal for close-up everyday tasks.

The Klarus FlatTac X1 is much floodier, lighting up an entire backdrop with a very evenly spread beam, and its 4,200-lumen turbo burst is dramatically bright. The Wurkkos HD01 UV reaches the distant barn and tree on high, and its 1,200-lumen turbo is plenty for everyday use, with medium hitting a sweet spot that covers most applications. The sidelight is the standout, spreading a useful area of light that makes the HD01 far more versatile than its size suggests.

Which One Should You Buy?

If you want a classic pocket light with swappable batteries, tail-standing, and strong throw, the Sofirn SP31 V3 fits, provided you can live with the tail-switch-first operation and the awkward moonlight mode. If you want maximum brightness, tactical styling, and an OLED display in a flat body, the Klarus FlatTac X1 is the pick, with the built-in battery and proximity sensor as the main caveats. For most people, though, the Wurkkos HD01 UV is the easiest recommendation: it is the most functional light of the three, and at under $40 it earns a spot in a regular rotation.

Conclusion

These three lights show three different philosophies: traditional EDC done with a few frustrating quirks, flat-body tactical brightness with a display, and a multi-function light that actually makes its extra features useful. Of the three, the Wurkkos HD01 UV stands out as the best all-rounder for the money, while the Sofirn and Klarus each appeal to more specific preferences.