DEX FingerLight vs Torch Ring: An Honest Comparison

If you're shopping for a finger-mounted flashlight, two names come up: the DEX FingerLight and the Torch Ring by Runbell. We make one of them, so you should read this knowing that. We've kept this comparison to published, verifiable specs, and we call out where the Torch Ring genuinely wins.

Here's the full DEX FingerLight vs Torch Ring breakdown so you can pick the right light for how you'll actually use it.

Quick Verdict

Choose the Torch Ring if raw published brightness and a strobe mode for roadside running visibility are your priorities, and you'll keep it dry.

Choose the DEX FingerLight if you work or hunt in real weather (IPX7 submersible vs splash-resistant), want a light 5x lighter on your finger, need it to fit over gloves without fiddling with inserts, or care about a lifetime warranty. It also has a night-vision green mode the Torch Ring doesn't offer.

Spec-by-Spec Comparison

Torch Ring specs from run-bell.com, the company's Kickstarter FAQ, and 2020 press coverage, current as of July 2026. Where the company's own numbers conflict, we say so.

Waterproofing: The Biggest Real Difference

This is the clearest gap between the two lights. The DEX FingerLight is IPX7 rated, meaning it survives full submersion in a meter of water for 30 minutes. Rain, creek crossings, a drop in the fish bucket, a run through the wash: fine.

The Torch Ring is IPX4, which covers splashes. Runbell's own FAQ says it is "not made to be submersed in water." For running in light rain, that's fine. For hunting, fishing, HVAC condensate lines, and boat decks, it's the difference between a tool and a casualty.

Weight and Fit: 5x Lighter, No Inserts

The Torch Ring weighs 70 grams, about what a AA battery-powered mouse weighs, riding on one finger. Early press coverage drew comments about hand balance on long runs. The DEX FingerLight weighs about 14 grams, half an ounce, which is why people forget they're wearing it.

Fit works differently too. The Torch Ring ships one large ring with four silicone inserts you add or remove to change size, and you remove inserts to wear it over gloves. The DEX uses a patented adjustable Griptonite ring with 15+ positions that squeezes onto any finger or thumb, bare or gloved, no parts to lose in the dark.

Light Modes: Brightness vs Versatility

Credit where due: the Torch Ring publishes strong numbers, 350 lumens on high with a claimed 150-foot throw, and it has a strobe mode runners use for traffic visibility. If maximum published white-light output is your one criterion, the Torch Ring takes this row.

The DEX trades peak brightness for versatility: a Bright white mode for work, a Dim mode for close tasks that don't need to light up the county, and a Stealth Green mode the Torch Ring has no answer for. Green light is the mode hunters, anglers, and pilots reach for when they need to see without wrecking their night vision or drawing attention. Mode memory brings the light back on in the mode you last used, so you're never strobing white light at 5 a.m. in a treestand.

Battery and Charging

Another honest row for the Torch Ring: its 900mAh battery is much larger, and early press cited up to 5 hours on low. The DEX's smaller 120mAh cell is what makes it 5x lighter, and it runs 45 minutes on Bright, about 2.5 hours on Dim, and 2.25 hours on Stealth Green, with a full USB-C recharge in under 2 hours. For all-night single-charge runtime, advantage Torch Ring. For a light you top up like earbuds and never notice on your hand, advantage DEX.

Warranty and Price

Price won't make this decision for you: both lights sell in the same range. The support behind them differs. DEX carries a limited lifetime warranty plus a 30-day satisfaction guarantee. Runbell's published policy covers replacement of defective or damaged items, with 30-day returns on unused product and the buyer paying return shipping.

Which Should You Buy?

Buy the Torch Ring if: you're primarily a runner who wants maximum white brightness and a strobe, you'll keep it out of real water, and the extra 56 grams on your finger doesn't bother you.

Buy the DEX FingerLight if: your light gets wet, worn over gloves, or used around game and night vision. Hunters, anglers, pilots, HVAC techs, and mechanics fall on this side of the line, which is exactly who we built it for.

DEX vs Torch Ring Questions

Is the DEX FingerLight waterproof?

Yes. The DEX FingerLight is IPX7 rated, tested to survive submersion in 1 meter of water for 30 minutes. The Torch Ring is IPX4, which covers splashes only, and its maker states it is not made to be submerged.

Which is brighter, DEX or Torch Ring?

The Torch Ring publishes 350 lumens on high, and that published peak number is higher. The DEX offers Bright, Dim, and Stealth Green modes tuned for task light, close work, and night vision rather than maximum throw. For most hands-on work at arm's length, both produce more than enough light.

Does the Torch Ring fit over gloves?

Yes, by removing its silicone sizing inserts. The DEX FingerLight adjusts over gloves directly with its 15+ position ring, with no inserts to remove or lose.

Do either have a red or green night mode?

The DEX FingerLight has a dedicated Stealth Green mode for night vision and low-profile light. The Torch Ring's modes are white plus a strobe; it does not offer a colored night-vision mode.