Help recommend a reliable best of breed everyman light

I’ve got an S2 and XinTD from a few years back and it’s time to add a few more. I spent some time last night trying to update myself on current best offerings and wound up with an BLF A6 XPL and an Atrolux S41 in my cart. Emisar D4’s are OOS (not sure the ETA). Same goes for Neutral White Nitecore P10GT. If I don’t use them on peak power, are they still practical, well built reliable lights ? Any reason I’d be better off save the few $ difference than I would with an S2+ ? Is the BLF A6 still best of breed two years later or is there a current favorite ?

Is the NCR 18650B a similarly practical battery choice for these two ?

Welcome to BLF!

order one by one not more at the same time. You’ll get more fun out of them (receive two and you’ll like one more. Order one and it can get all the attention :wink: )

I would use a higher current battery with those lights.
As to D4 - it’s worth every penny. I too bought S2+ recently, but after playing with D4, I don’t think I’ll ever use that S2+ again….because D4 highlighted how bad S2+ UI is:

  • strobe getting on the way
  • no way to get to the lowest level without destroying night vision with high
  • the low level is (by far) too bright
  • no way to tell on which level the light is without cycling through all modes
  • no battery voltage readout

Thanks Agro, which battery would you get ? Any idea when D4’s are back in stock ?

NCR18650GA.

I agree that the D4 is the light to buy at the moment (intl.outdoor.com still has them in stock), the over-the-top output on high is just a bonus on a furthermore well-build and very convenient flashlight. It has some nice led-choices as well.

Another safe and more budget bet is the new Convoy S2+ ‘desert tan’ from Simon’s aliexpress Convoy store. It is the old S2+ with everything upgraded: AR-coated lens, smooth reflector, XP-L Hi led (several tint options), a DTP copper ledboard, great new user interface (biscotti), and of course a wonderfully coloured anodisation. I think the quality is better than the BLF A6, but the output is a bit less (though well regulated).

Where you located? I ask because if USA and you are looking at Mtn Elec. you can get an email notification of the arrival of the next batch of D4.
Definitely wait for the D4 if you desire a high powered Quad. And some Samsung 30Q batts. 30Q can be used in anything else too.
There is a good deal on an A6 with a 30Q for about $21.

Yes, get the S2+ Desert Tan directly from Simon Who IS Convoy Direct. Link to his AliExpress Store.
Convoy flashlight Store
Send Simon a message with the special order as “djozz” described above. He will make it to order.

The above ‘desert tan’ specs are not even special order, those are the stock specs. :slight_smile:

Take any battery recommended here:
http://www.mtnelectronics.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=855
Though I would add 35E and VTC5A to the list.

@ben2e

I second the recommendation for the S2+. The newer versions (which are currently the silver and the tan versions) have AR coated glass, smooth reflector (although this may or may not be to your preference over OP) and, most importantly, the new driver/firmware which has none of the problems you pointed, and you can ask for Simon to send your light with the new driver even for the previous colors that are not marked as having the new features. You might also be able to ask him to send you any of the older colors with a xp-l emiter, AR coated glass and smooth reflector, I don’t know, but it wouldn’t hurt asking before placing your order.

Anyway, I have a few S2+ and love them.

I can’t say about the D4 because outside the US I’d be paying a lot for shipping, and Convoy has free worldwide shipping

S2+ with the new Biscotti UI solves most of those concerns. You can request it on any S2+ model if you order it through AE, and it is standard on the Desert Tan purchased through AE.

How is the S2+ vs the BLF A6 XPL ?

Get it from the maker and you’ll have it shipped freely, worldwide.

I only don’t jump into the S2+ bandwagon because of battery size constraints - the internal dimensions don’t lend themselves to using rebranded protected batteries comfortably, so if like me, you only have those, you need to buy new ones or go through a tight squeeze every time you swap them out.

I’ve been quite happy with the regular S2’s beam pattern, though it may be a little tight to some. The M1 is also a good pick if you don’t mind the crenellated bezel and the sharp-ish fins on the head.

Really, any Convoy torch is a good pick if you mind their specific drawbacks and more importantly, have them running a firmware that isn’t the old 3/5 one.

I have old-style red and new-style desert tan S2+ lights. Both accept my Fenix NCR18650BE (protected) and EagTac NCR18650GA (protected) cells without problems.

Having said that, those particular cells are shorter and slimmer than many of the no-name protected rewraps out there, so careful cell selection may be important if you want to use protected cells in your S2+.

Exactly.

Oh, I had somehow the notion that mtn electronics was the official seller, thanks for the tip

My protected Keeppowers fit nicely in the regular tube, but the short tube is a bit tighter, and my Keeppower 18350 will eventually scratch the adhesive label off

So if the choice is the most reliable I will go with thrunite: Neutron 2C V3 - ThruNite Official Store

Thorfire vg15 seems great too

Hey Persechini, good to see another brazilian here