Light recommendation - 18650 with USB charging

Would appreciate your help finding a light that meets some specific criteria……I have found lots of lights which are close, but none which meet them all. Perhaps I will need to pick the one which is closest……but for now, still looking for 100%…

I am looking for a light which will live in my backpack (I don’t want to carry a dedicated battery charger), and want to be able to charge with a USB power supply.

  • USB charging in flashlight with standard plug. Probably USB micro or USB-C. I don’t want to have to carry around a proprietary cord or charger. USB-C that can charge with PD would be awesome….but not required.
  • 18650 battery. I am standardized on that battery type…and might want to charge additional 18650’s with this light. I don’t want to rely on a battery with built-in charging plug.
  • Size/weight/illumination similar to Convoy S2+. That is my go-to light now. I like how it lights up and easily fits in a pocket.
  • Tail switch. I like a tail switch for on/off. I would be perfectly happy with a tail switch and a mode-switching side switch.
  • Instant high/turbo access. When I turn it on, I want high or turbo immediately. Doing this with memory mode is fine.
  • Neutral to cool white. I like that tint.
  • Durability/reliability. I want something that works…unlikely to flake out or break while I am traveling. IPx7 or IPx8 waterproof. I have had excellent luck with Convoy S2+ and C8….that level of reliability has been great.
  • Price. Hoping to find the neighborhood of $50 or less.

Any recommendations?

the sofirn sc31 seems pretty close, side switch rather than tail switch though

Wowtac A7 has tail and side switch, can do momentary or instant turbo if left on that memory mode. Worth checking out

Wowtac A7 NW $30 on Amazon 100% of your requirements. It’s got a pretty tight hotspot with enough spill for anything you really need it for though. Comes with 2600mah button top but will work with flat top. Most of the YouTube videos are of the CW because it took them a long time to bring out the NW

Thanks for the quick replies!

I have definitely seen the Sofrin SC31 (in particular the SC31b)….it was the lack of tail switch that kept it from being 100%. But I sure like the price and quality seems to be really nice. That “breathing LED locator” might be useful in a dark tent!

I had not seen the Wowtac A7, thanks for pointing that out! Need to think through a couple of the quirks that the reviews mention.

Most lights with tailswitch only, need weird gyrations to charge, specifically turning the light on to charge.

Tailswitches are mechanical lockouts, like unscrewing the cap, so need to be reconnected (ie, turned on) to complete the circuit, whether lighting or charging.

Even I forget to do that when I get a weirdo light like that.