[Review] Convoy S12 - the best Convoy's flashlight?

Red version build

The best version?? I could say it YES

I own XT21X which used 21700 and now barely used them, since S12 came by, I like much of the tint, yet compact lighter and brighter. I loved it.

Nice build :+1:
SO much red light, I used to like red light because of night vision, but itā€™s too uncomfortable for me now.

Thanks. I agree, white light is way more comfortable. RED looks like 0 CRI with black pools. Sometimes scary :open_mouth: but has advantages too.
Why do you write ā€œnowā€? Has there happened anything making red light less comfortable for you than it used to be before?

Hmm let me thinkā€¦ Previously I was fascinated about red light - itā€™s very good for night vision, so good for sky watching. But now Iā€™m not as fascinated in sky and stars and flares as before, so Iā€™m not using it. It would be still nice to have a red light in my headlamp, but 30lm red light is for just illuminating things near me, not for walking - I canā€™t find practical use for red light now.

Isnā€™t it uncomfortable for eyes to walk with your red light for e.g 20 min?

It is. After a while I feel like on a different planet but maybe it just requires getting used to it. And it looks much better in accompany of other light, moon light or dusk/sunrise. In complete darkness it feels like getting inside Diablo 3 :smiling_imp:

It is said that red light helps to fall asleepā€¦so be careful when walking with that much of red light, because you can suddenly fall on the ground and fall asleep. :open_mouth:

Got myself a S12 SST-20 4000K.

Almost perfect. Almost the best convoy light.
Wonderfull shape, design, haptics, optics, beam, tint, 21700, mode spacing, temperature control.

but:

UI just middle age. Massive downgrade from biscotti UI.

Wanted to see it with my own eyes,
but the light will end up unused because i very much dislike unpredictable start mode.

I personally like this UI - it is simple, 4 modes and thatā€™s it. We have Andurils and other complicated UIs, but here is simple UI for non flashaholics too. And Convoy seems (for me) to start making flashlights like for some kind of apocalypse - very thick walls and glass, simple UI. M3 is a great example - so heavy and sturdy.

And mode memory? It is like bicycle gears - you have to think ahead to lower the gear before stopping, if you donā€™t, itā€™s very hard to move. And somehow no one is complaining and saying ā€œmake auto first gear function when stoppingā€

Hi Mocarny,

first of all: thank you very much for this review. i realy enjoyed it.
second: i have not bought the light because of this particular review, zero complain or offense
i just put my ā€œi donā€™t like the UIā€ post here because the title of your post ā€œinspiredā€ me to do so

Agree on the Convoy is a great brand and builds great lights.

Agree on the Anduril versus ā€œeasy to use UIā€. For most of my lights i prefer an easy UI

But this (S12 and other recent Convoys) UI isnā€™t easy for me.

4 modes: great
Simple UI: great
I also like the stock Mode Spacing

But i like to configure (once) Mode Memory +Off+/On and Mode Sequence +Down+/Up to my taste.
Biscotti also allows choosing from different Mode Groups. Not a must for me, but i prefer even 3 Modes over 4 Modes

What i donā€™t like is starting somewhere in the Mode Sequence were i ended up last time (and i donā€™t remember) or accidentally ended up (some seconds/minutes before)

It makes me advance all modes until i am sure i am in Turbo or High (and this is what i very much dislike)

1. Turbo because i want Max Output: Now
2. High because i like to use it longer but at max sustainable Output

Thank you :slight_smile:

I agree. It would be nice to have ability to turn mode memory on and off. I like mode memory, so itā€™s ok for me, but I understand there are lots of people that donā€™t like it.

Maybe something will change in the futureā€¦ My personal best would be: one group 4 modes with memory on, and after e.g 5 clicks, other modes group, 3 modes with memory off.

How does the LVP work? Does it shut down or just give you a single ā€œblipā€? If itā€™s a single ā€œblipā€ does it repeat? Iā€™m always afraid Iā€™ll miss those blips.

Unsure about every mode, but I had it on mode 3 (30% I think?) a few nights ago; it flashes once every 5 seconds or so. At least thatā€™s what it felt like :slight_smile:

Confirmed, on every mode it flashes once every 5s for some time, then it shuts down. So even if you somehow miss that annoying blinks, donā€™t worry - it will turn off anyway. Atā€¦2.9V? Or something like that.

Itā€™s too bad all the reviews of ultra-warm lights have usage pics from urban/forest areas. The 2700k s12 is my new favorite non-headlamp light for rocky/sandy desert and canyon hiking.

I donā€™t have 2700K version. But canyonā€¦ You may see some light canyons in my future thrower reviews :wink:

Dude, am I the only one who see there added led option on Convoy S12:

LH351D 5000K
LH351D 5700K

WOW! Amazingā€¦

Ordered this with LH351D 5000K some ten days ago. Hope itā€™ll be good.

Youā€™re not, I have already ordered it :wink:

I will update you with my experiences

I did swapped last week 219C with 351D 5000K and i gotta say that i got pronounced circled hotspot.

Tiny as hell and almost the same intensity spill where used to be three petels from three reflectors.

Wasnā€™t impressed so i swapped back 219C.

Canā€™t tell if itā€™s just my crapy swap or smaller dome emitters are better in these tiny redlectors...

Curiois what others will say ā€¢ā€¢ā€¢ā€¢ā€¢ā€¢ā€¢ :~}