The ThorFire S70s searchlight is an upgraded version of the S70, now achieving over 3000 lumens while adding low-lumen moonlight and standby modes. A single Cree XHP70 emitter, two 26650 (or 18650) batteries in series, and an orange peel reflector get the work done. It is packaged with an array of spare parts and a shoulder strap to carry the S70S.
Here are the key review details:
Skip to the commentary section at bottom to read my subjective notes on the TD26.
Disclaimer: This light was provided free of charge by ThorFire, shipping through the closest Amazon distribution center. As December 2, 2017, the light can be purchased through Amazon (U.S.) for $53.20. This is a bit less than the MSRP of $69.99 and recent going rate of $59.99.
Unboxing
The S70S is packaged in a sturdy but utilitarian brown cardboard box with the light's image and maximum output on top. Most ThorFire lights are packaged in common boxes with white labels – but it looks like this one gets a unique box due to its size.
Website and UPC are on one side (not pictured).
The S70 is nicely protected by custom-cut foam. The box also includes the manual, a shoulder strap for carrying the light, and a generous number of spare parts – including an extra lens!
In total, the S70S, shoulder strap, strap attachment rings, manual, spare lens, two spare switch boots (of alternate colors), two smaller o-rings for the battery tube, and one larger o-ring for the lens.
The included manual is in English only. It properly covers modes, features, operation, and troubleshooting.
ThorFire backs the TD26 with a 2-year warranty. Repair after 24 months is available for the cost of shipping and parts.
Design
The ThorFire S70S is a large, single emitter searchlight with a shape similar to the D cell lights we've all used for years. Utilizing 26650 Li-Ion cells (rather than D Alkaline or thinner 18650 Li-Ion) helps the S70S achieve more output and runtime while keeping the traditional feel in hand.
Consider the silhouette here – it is a traditional ("old school") flashlight shape.
For comparison's sake, here is the ThorFire S70S alongside a 3D-cell Maglite and an Acebeam T21 that runs on two 18650 cells.
ThorFire reports the S70S is 245 mm long, 74 mm wide at head, and 35 mm wide at the battery tube. I confirmed the width measurements exactly; I measured length at 248 mm. Weight is listed at 590 g without battery; I measured a bit more at 621 g.
This definitely puts it towards the top of the size range of modern day flashlights. It won't fit in a pocket and it isn't lightweight when loaded with batteries.
To demonstrate relative size, here is the S70S alongside some other lights.
Left to Right: JetBeam T6 (4*18650), Acebeam T21 (2*18650), ThorFire S70S (2*26650), Maglite LED 3D (3*D), Olight R50 Pro (1*26650), Nitecore EC23 (1*18650).
The S70S with other lights in the ThorFire lineup:
Left to Right: S70S (2*26650), TD26 (26650), TK15S (18650), TK15 (18650), VG-15S (18650), TG06S (AA).
The head of S70S has a flat black bezel. Being flat, light won't escape if the light is placed head-down on a flat surface while on. The bezel is not glued in and can be unscrewed by hand to access the lens, o-ring, reflector, and emitter.
The lens is AR-coated. (The spare lens is as well.) The reflector is of a moderate orange peel variety and free of imperfections.
The XHP70 emitter is centered well. Notice the crosshair created by the 4 dies.
The bezel is not glued, so it can be easily removed by hand to access the reflector and emitter.
The head of the S70S has the ThorFire logo and the model number embossed in white. This is the only writing on the entire light. Edges are crisp and the printing is easy to read. The head has several deep cooling fins that add a lot of texture and dissipate heat. Eight recessed areas around the circumference provide some mild rolling resistance.
The side switch is a translucent raised rubber circle with the Thorfire "T" logo. It is easy to locate in hand and has good feedback when pressed. When the light is in standby (tail switch on, side switch off), the side switch glows green. While this uses a small amount of battery power (around 4.35mA), it makes the S70S easy to find in the dark.
(Dust is visible in this picture but the anodization is clean.)
When in use and the batteries dip to around 3.5V, the switch changes to orange.
Around 3.1V, the switch begins flashing red.
Above the switch is the hole where the shoulder strap attaches using a keyring-style ring.
The S70S's battery tube has a shallow line wrapping the full length of the battery tube – a departure from more common diamond-pattern knurling. Grip isn't quite as good as with knurling, but between the cigar ring and the general size of the S70S, I don't think accidentally dropping the S70S will be a problem.
Near the tail is a cigar ring, making the light easier to grip when using the tail switch with a thumb. It is threaded onto the body independently of the tail cap threads and can be removed if desired. It also provides an attachment point for a lanyard (not included) or the shoulder strap (included).
The tail cap itself has lanyard/strap attachment points as well.
U-shaped cutouts on the tail cap allow easy access to the button while still allowing the S70S to tail stand – though tail standing requires a flat surface given the large head. The light ships with a black tail switch boot installed but the included green or orange boots can be swapped based on user preference.
Anodization is consistent and free of defects. The cooling fins do tend to attract dust that may show in some pictures, but I was unable to find any nicks in the anodization.
The S70S disassembles into 3 sections – head, battery tube, and tail.
The head end of the battery tube has lightly-lubricated, square-cut, bare threads. An o-ring helps prevent water ingress. (ThorFire rates the S70S as IPX-8 to 2 meters underwater.)
The tail end of the battery tube also has square-cut threads. Lubrication is more generous and the threads are anodized – so a quarter turn of the tail cap will mechanically lock the light out.
The head has a single gold-colored spring allowing button or flat top cells to be used.
The tail switch assembly also has a single gold-colored spring. Both head and tail springs are pretty stiff, but long protected cells worked just fine.
The light includes battery spacers so that narrower 18650 cells can be used in the 26650-width body. The inner diameter of the spacer is a couple mm too wide and the outer diameter not wide enough, so the 18650 cells can rattle a bit (though not affecting performance).
With 26650 cells, fit is excellent and there is no rattle.
Performance
Beam
The quad-die XHP70 has a natural crosshair-style dark spot in the middle of its beam. To mitigate this, ThorFire uses an orange peel reflector that spreads the light out and makes the dark center crosshair disappear in normal use. (It is possible to see at very close distances still.) The deep reflector allows the S70S to still have some throw, producing a beam with a bright hotspot, soft corona, and bright spill.
Tint
The bin is not specified by ThorFire but I found the XHP70's tint to be fairly typical. The hotspot and corona are on the warm side of neutral and slightly yellow while the spill is cooler with a hint of blue. Approximate temperatures were 4300K in the hotspot and 5200K in the spill (tested on Medium).
Here is the S70S alongside a couple other XHP70 lights. The Olight is a tad warmer, but the tint is more consistent and pleasant than the Nitecore.
L to R: Olight R50vnPro modified with neutral XHP70, ThorFire S70S, Nitecore TM03.
To demonstrate the overall color balance, here is the S70S surrounded by lights with emitters of various tints and temperatures.
L to R: Convoy S2+ with cool XM-L U2 1B, ThorFire S70S with XHP-70, Lumintop Tool with warm 219B, BLF348 with neutral 219B.
Output
ThorFire rates the S70S at 3960 lumens on Turbo with their own brand 5000mAh 26650 cells.
Using Acebeam ARC26650NP 5000mAh protected 26650 cells, I tested 3578 lumens at turn-on and 3465 lumens at 30 seconds with ambient temperature of 75F (24C).
Output then dropped ever so slightly before rebounding to as high as 3527 lumens at 2.5 minutes. At 5 minutes, a timed stepdown reduces output to about 2300 lumens. Output then dropped in a linear manner to about 1600 lumens at 35 minutes – when another stepdown to 670 lumens occurred. The S70S eventually reaches 10% of initial output at 6 hours and 30 minutes – well after ThorFire's 55 minute specification.
High is rated by ThorFire at 1800 lumens. I measured a notably higher 2423 lumens at 30 seconds. Output dropped in a linear manner to 1750 lumens at 30 minutes – when a timed stepdown reduced output to about 700 lumens. It then reduced very gradually until 10% output was reached at 7:01 – again in excess of ThorFire's 3:45 rating.
Medium is rated at 320 lumens. Testing showed a much higher output at 926 lumens at 30 seconds. The output curve was similar to the higher modes after the stepdowns – and hit 10% output at 8:36. This is short of ThorFire's 18 hour rating.
Low is rated at 65 lumens. I tested it at, again, a much higher output of 2.91 lumens. Runtime was tested at 31:48 – well shy of ThorFire's 72 hour rating.
Ultralow (moon light) mode is rated at 1 lumen by ThorFire. I tested a spot-on 1.1 lumens. Runtime is rated by ThorFire at 480 hours (20 days) but was not tested. That said, I expect it to be much longer than that given the low amperage consumed (see Amperage section below for numbers).
All outputs:
All runtimes tested:
Amperage Draw
As measured with fully charged cells:
Throw
With the same Acebeam batteries, I tested throw distance at 3.21 meters and the resulting candela was 60,078 at 30 seconds - equivalent to 490 meters of throw.
ThorFire rates the TD26 at 680 meters of throw and 87,000 Cd, but these two numbers don't match. 87,000 Cd is 590 meters of throw, not 680. To achieve 680 meters, almost 116,000 Cd is required.
Measured output was 12.5% under specification; if the measured throw was adjusted the same amount in reverse, it would nearly align with 590 meters – so I believe this was the intended specification.
PWM
Very high frequency PWM appears to be present on Low and Medium modes, based on a camera's CMOS sensor. I was unable to see it visually in normal use or using the "mirror test" so it should not trouble users. Other modes showed no signs of PWM.
Parasitic Drain
The TD26 uses a mechanical tail switch so no parasitic drain is possible. Those who are concerned about accidental tail switch activation can unscrew the tail cap by a quarter turn to lock the light out.
Low Voltage Battery Protection
The cells' own low-voltage protection was not tripped on any tests. Termination voltage (after the cells had time to rest) was between 2.96 and 3.19 V on all tests with the average being 3.09V. These are good termination voltages; the S70S can safely be used with unprotected cells if desired.
Outdoor Beamshots
All photos taken with a Canon SD4000IS camera. 1/10" exposure, ISO1600, Daylight white balance, F2.0.
Approximate distances: White deck railing @ 15 ft., white fence in distance @ 75 ft., center of boat @ 100 ft.
Control shot:
Low:
Med:
High:
Turbo:
Interface
The interface is a simple and easy to learn.
From off:
From standby:
From on:
All normal modes are memorized. Strobe is not memorized.
Problems
No problems were experienced with the S70S flashlight while testing.
The inside of the lens could have arrived cleaner, but this is a minor cosmetic issue and was easily corrected since the bezel is easily unscrewed providing access to the lens.
Note: The purple tint of the anti-reflective lens coating is visible in the picture above.
Commentary
I'll get right to it… The S70S my favorite ThorFire flashlight and ranks highly amongst all the flashlights I have owned or tested.
Yes, the outputs as tested don't align with ThorFire's specifications. Yes, the step from ultralow to low mode is too big. But these are the only real complaints I could find with the S70S.
It's just a really solid light with a high output single emitter, good heat management, long runtimes, mode memory, and a useful balance of throw and flood. The illuminated side switch is incredibly handy for finding the light in a dark campsite or worksite.
The biggest competitor for the S70S is the Convoy L6 – a highly regarded light itself. They are both of similar size and use 26650s and XHP70 emitters. The Convoy offers emitter choice,but the ThorFire has a standby mode and illuminated side switch, a removable cigar ring, a shoulder strap, time-based temperature management, includes more spare parts, and is a bit cheaper.
The ThorFire S70S is a great single emitter, high-output light. The outputs don't match specifications, but the S70S has many great features that make it an excellent value.
Lux Meter: Dr. Meter LX1330B
Integrating "sphere": Homebuilt tube-style device calibrated on other known lights and test results. Numbers should be considered relative to each other and my other review figures but accuracy is in no way certified or guaranteed.
Camera: Canon SD4000IS
Multimeter: Craftsman 82170
Here are the key review details:
Skip to the commentary section at bottom to read my subjective notes on the TD26.
Disclaimer: This light was provided free of charge by ThorFire, shipping through the closest Amazon distribution center. As December 2, 2017, the light can be purchased through Amazon (U.S.) for $53.20. This is a bit less than the MSRP of $69.99 and recent going rate of $59.99.
Unboxing
The S70S is packaged in a sturdy but utilitarian brown cardboard box with the light's image and maximum output on top. Most ThorFire lights are packaged in common boxes with white labels – but it looks like this one gets a unique box due to its size.
Website and UPC are on one side (not pictured).
The S70 is nicely protected by custom-cut foam. The box also includes the manual, a shoulder strap for carrying the light, and a generous number of spare parts – including an extra lens!
In total, the S70S, shoulder strap, strap attachment rings, manual, spare lens, two spare switch boots (of alternate colors), two smaller o-rings for the battery tube, and one larger o-ring for the lens.
The included manual is in English only. It properly covers modes, features, operation, and troubleshooting.
ThorFire backs the TD26 with a 2-year warranty. Repair after 24 months is available for the cost of shipping and parts.
Design
The ThorFire S70S is a large, single emitter searchlight with a shape similar to the D cell lights we've all used for years. Utilizing 26650 Li-Ion cells (rather than D Alkaline or thinner 18650 Li-Ion) helps the S70S achieve more output and runtime while keeping the traditional feel in hand.
Consider the silhouette here – it is a traditional ("old school") flashlight shape.
For comparison's sake, here is the ThorFire S70S alongside a 3D-cell Maglite and an Acebeam T21 that runs on two 18650 cells.
ThorFire reports the S70S is 245 mm long, 74 mm wide at head, and 35 mm wide at the battery tube. I confirmed the width measurements exactly; I measured length at 248 mm. Weight is listed at 590 g without battery; I measured a bit more at 621 g.
This definitely puts it towards the top of the size range of modern day flashlights. It won't fit in a pocket and it isn't lightweight when loaded with batteries.
To demonstrate relative size, here is the S70S alongside some other lights.
Left to Right: JetBeam T6 (4*18650), Acebeam T21 (2*18650), ThorFire S70S (2*26650), Maglite LED 3D (3*D), Olight R50 Pro (1*26650), Nitecore EC23 (1*18650).
The S70S with other lights in the ThorFire lineup:
Left to Right: S70S (2*26650), TD26 (26650), TK15S (18650), TK15 (18650), VG-15S (18650), TG06S (AA).
The head of S70S has a flat black bezel. Being flat, light won't escape if the light is placed head-down on a flat surface while on. The bezel is not glued in and can be unscrewed by hand to access the lens, o-ring, reflector, and emitter.
The lens is AR-coated. (The spare lens is as well.) The reflector is of a moderate orange peel variety and free of imperfections.
The XHP70 emitter is centered well. Notice the crosshair created by the 4 dies.
The bezel is not glued, so it can be easily removed by hand to access the reflector and emitter.
The head of the S70S has the ThorFire logo and the model number embossed in white. This is the only writing on the entire light. Edges are crisp and the printing is easy to read. The head has several deep cooling fins that add a lot of texture and dissipate heat. Eight recessed areas around the circumference provide some mild rolling resistance.
The side switch is a translucent raised rubber circle with the Thorfire "T" logo. It is easy to locate in hand and has good feedback when pressed. When the light is in standby (tail switch on, side switch off), the side switch glows green. While this uses a small amount of battery power (around 4.35mA), it makes the S70S easy to find in the dark.
When in use and the batteries dip to around 3.5V, the switch changes to orange.
Around 3.1V, the switch begins flashing red.
Above the switch is the hole where the shoulder strap attaches using a keyring-style ring.
The S70S's battery tube has a shallow line wrapping the full length of the battery tube – a departure from more common diamond-pattern knurling. Grip isn't quite as good as with knurling, but between the cigar ring and the general size of the S70S, I don't think accidentally dropping the S70S will be a problem.
Near the tail is a cigar ring, making the light easier to grip when using the tail switch with a thumb. It is threaded onto the body independently of the tail cap threads and can be removed if desired. It also provides an attachment point for a lanyard (not included) or the shoulder strap (included).
The tail cap itself has lanyard/strap attachment points as well.
U-shaped cutouts on the tail cap allow easy access to the button while still allowing the S70S to tail stand – though tail standing requires a flat surface given the large head. The light ships with a black tail switch boot installed but the included green or orange boots can be swapped based on user preference.
Anodization is consistent and free of defects. The cooling fins do tend to attract dust that may show in some pictures, but I was unable to find any nicks in the anodization.
The S70S disassembles into 3 sections – head, battery tube, and tail.
The head end of the battery tube has lightly-lubricated, square-cut, bare threads. An o-ring helps prevent water ingress. (ThorFire rates the S70S as IPX-8 to 2 meters underwater.)
The tail end of the battery tube also has square-cut threads. Lubrication is more generous and the threads are anodized – so a quarter turn of the tail cap will mechanically lock the light out.
The head has a single gold-colored spring allowing button or flat top cells to be used.
The tail switch assembly also has a single gold-colored spring. Both head and tail springs are pretty stiff, but long protected cells worked just fine.
The light includes battery spacers so that narrower 18650 cells can be used in the 26650-width body. The inner diameter of the spacer is a couple mm too wide and the outer diameter not wide enough, so the 18650 cells can rattle a bit (though not affecting performance).
With 26650 cells, fit is excellent and there is no rattle.
Performance
Beam
The quad-die XHP70 has a natural crosshair-style dark spot in the middle of its beam. To mitigate this, ThorFire uses an orange peel reflector that spreads the light out and makes the dark center crosshair disappear in normal use. (It is possible to see at very close distances still.) The deep reflector allows the S70S to still have some throw, producing a beam with a bright hotspot, soft corona, and bright spill.
Tint
The bin is not specified by ThorFire but I found the XHP70's tint to be fairly typical. The hotspot and corona are on the warm side of neutral and slightly yellow while the spill is cooler with a hint of blue. Approximate temperatures were 4300K in the hotspot and 5200K in the spill (tested on Medium).
Here is the S70S alongside a couple other XHP70 lights. The Olight is a tad warmer, but the tint is more consistent and pleasant than the Nitecore.
L to R: Olight R50vnPro modified with neutral XHP70, ThorFire S70S, Nitecore TM03.
To demonstrate the overall color balance, here is the S70S surrounded by lights with emitters of various tints and temperatures.
L to R: Convoy S2+ with cool XM-L U2 1B, ThorFire S70S with XHP-70, Lumintop Tool with warm 219B, BLF348 with neutral 219B.
Output
ThorFire rates the S70S at 3960 lumens on Turbo with their own brand 5000mAh 26650 cells.
Using Acebeam ARC26650NP 5000mAh protected 26650 cells, I tested 3578 lumens at turn-on and 3465 lumens at 30 seconds with ambient temperature of 75F (24C).
Output then dropped ever so slightly before rebounding to as high as 3527 lumens at 2.5 minutes. At 5 minutes, a timed stepdown reduces output to about 2300 lumens. Output then dropped in a linear manner to about 1600 lumens at 35 minutes – when another stepdown to 670 lumens occurred. The S70S eventually reaches 10% of initial output at 6 hours and 30 minutes – well after ThorFire's 55 minute specification.
High is rated by ThorFire at 1800 lumens. I measured a notably higher 2423 lumens at 30 seconds. Output dropped in a linear manner to 1750 lumens at 30 minutes – when a timed stepdown reduced output to about 700 lumens. It then reduced very gradually until 10% output was reached at 7:01 – again in excess of ThorFire's 3:45 rating.
Medium is rated at 320 lumens. Testing showed a much higher output at 926 lumens at 30 seconds. The output curve was similar to the higher modes after the stepdowns – and hit 10% output at 8:36. This is short of ThorFire's 18 hour rating.
Low is rated at 65 lumens. I tested it at, again, a much higher output of 2.91 lumens. Runtime was tested at 31:48 – well shy of ThorFire's 72 hour rating.
Ultralow (moon light) mode is rated at 1 lumen by ThorFire. I tested a spot-on 1.1 lumens. Runtime is rated by ThorFire at 480 hours (20 days) but was not tested. That said, I expect it to be much longer than that given the low amperage consumed (see Amperage section below for numbers).
All outputs:
All runtimes tested:
Amperage Draw
As measured with fully charged cells:
- Turbo: 5.53A
- High: 2.63A
- Med: 0.91A
- Low: 0.26A
- Ultralow: 5.7mA
- Standby: 4.3mA
- Off: 0.0
Throw
With the same Acebeam batteries, I tested throw distance at 3.21 meters and the resulting candela was 60,078 at 30 seconds - equivalent to 490 meters of throw.
ThorFire rates the TD26 at 680 meters of throw and 87,000 Cd, but these two numbers don't match. 87,000 Cd is 590 meters of throw, not 680. To achieve 680 meters, almost 116,000 Cd is required.
Measured output was 12.5% under specification; if the measured throw was adjusted the same amount in reverse, it would nearly align with 590 meters – so I believe this was the intended specification.
PWM
Very high frequency PWM appears to be present on Low and Medium modes, based on a camera's CMOS sensor. I was unable to see it visually in normal use or using the "mirror test" so it should not trouble users. Other modes showed no signs of PWM.
Parasitic Drain
The TD26 uses a mechanical tail switch so no parasitic drain is possible. Those who are concerned about accidental tail switch activation can unscrew the tail cap by a quarter turn to lock the light out.
Low Voltage Battery Protection
The cells' own low-voltage protection was not tripped on any tests. Termination voltage (after the cells had time to rest) was between 2.96 and 3.19 V on all tests with the average being 3.09V. These are good termination voltages; the S70S can safely be used with unprotected cells if desired.
Outdoor Beamshots
All photos taken with a Canon SD4000IS camera. 1/10" exposure, ISO1600, Daylight white balance, F2.0.
Approximate distances: White deck railing @ 15 ft., white fence in distance @ 75 ft., center of boat @ 100 ft.
Control shot:
Low:
Med:
High:
Turbo:
Interface
The interface is a simple and easy to learn.
From off:
- Press the tail switch to activate Standby mode (side switch will glow)
From standby:
- Long press the side switch to enter Ultralow (moon light) mode
- Short press to return to Standby
- Short press the side switch to return to the last mode used (mode memory)
- Double press the side switch to activate Strobe
- Short press to return to Standby
- Press the tail switch to turn Off
From on:
- Short press the side switch to cycle to a higher mode (L->M->H->T->L…)
- Double press to activate Strobe
- Short press to resume the last used normal mode
- Long press the side switch to return to Standby
- Press the tail switch to turn Off.
All normal modes are memorized. Strobe is not memorized.
Problems
No problems were experienced with the S70S flashlight while testing.
The inside of the lens could have arrived cleaner, but this is a minor cosmetic issue and was easily corrected since the bezel is easily unscrewed providing access to the lens.
Note: The purple tint of the anti-reflective lens coating is visible in the picture above.
Commentary
I'll get right to it… The S70S my favorite ThorFire flashlight and ranks highly amongst all the flashlights I have owned or tested.
Yes, the outputs as tested don't align with ThorFire's specifications. Yes, the step from ultralow to low mode is too big. But these are the only real complaints I could find with the S70S.
It's just a really solid light with a high output single emitter, good heat management, long runtimes, mode memory, and a useful balance of throw and flood. The illuminated side switch is incredibly handy for finding the light in a dark campsite or worksite.
The biggest competitor for the S70S is the Convoy L6 – a highly regarded light itself. They are both of similar size and use 26650s and XHP70 emitters. The Convoy offers emitter choice,but the ThorFire has a standby mode and illuminated side switch, a removable cigar ring, a shoulder strap, time-based temperature management, includes more spare parts, and is a bit cheaper.
The ThorFire S70S is a great single emitter, high-output light. The outputs don't match specifications, but the S70S has many great features that make it an excellent value.
Lux Meter: Dr. Meter LX1330B
Integrating "sphere": Homebuilt tube-style device calibrated on other known lights and test results. Numbers should be considered relative to each other and my other review figures but accuracy is in no way certified or guaranteed.
Camera: Canon SD4000IS
Multimeter: Craftsman 82170
