In my opinion the convoy S2+ is the best budget flashlight for most of my uses. That being said it’s not something I would give to a friend for a gift as they don’t want to mess with chargers. What would be a good alternative that has usb charging? I’m leaning towards the new s21e with the 21700 cell and usb charging built in but I’m also wondering if Sofirn is worth trying. Im a convoy fanboy so I prefer to stick with them if I can.
Budget?
The S21E is an option. I had it on my list for me. The UI needs some work IMO, but it is probably an ok light otherwise.
Personally I prefer the UI on the Manker MC01. Similar money and a very nice pocket EDC torch. Think this would be my pick and recommendation.
The only other option would be to look at a battery with an inbuilt UBS socket and charging. That way any light should be easy to recharge.
How much do you like your friend?
The Acebeam E70 is really nice and I think would make a great gift. Its got some mass to it.
Its a “21700” and it has a USB C port right on the battery. I use quotes on the 21700 because its actually taller than a real 21700 due to the USB circuitry I guess, but yeah. Cant use a “real” 21700 in it anyway.
oh yeah and dead simple operation
2C for on.
2C again for Turbo
1H for up or down brightness
3C for defense strobe
1C for off.
I have it in brass and as I have stated its a really good light. If you go with it in Al its decently cheaper.
well it’s for my gf so quite a bit lol, i just want something she doesn’t have to fuss with for night walks. I would give my S2 but charging is the issue
under 50 prefer, why do you not like the ui? is it one that involves tons of half clicks to pick a setting?
Zeroair has a nice table describing the UI HERE
It is not bad and easy to learn. Though, some people have a few niggles with it. For the non-perfectionist/flashlight fanatic, it is a decent UI.
More complex than a straight 3 or 4 mode light, but more flexible.
Nothing majorly wrong on the Convoy. I’ve tried an M21F recently. Switch is a bit heavy but low profile. The ramping is a bit funky, very sluggish to react. Then suddenly rips from one end of the scale to the other in a blink of an eye. There is a moonlight, but when you use it you can’t then use any other output. Has mode memory that you can’t turn off, so makes for a box of mysteries each time you turn it on, unless you memorised the mode you used last.
I would not hesitate to give an S2+ to someone with protected batteries and a charger.
Check the On The Road M9 flashlight.
Besides having a configurable UI (3 group modes), it has USB charging (a ring under which you find the USB-C port). Sturdy light, well made. It takes 18650, though, not 21700s.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001781594050.html
My review in case you have some questions: “REVIEW”: On The Road M9 – 1x18650 – 1100 lumens – USB-C Charging – 3 UI Groups
The Sofirn SC32 is kind of a winner. $30’ish of a wildly good flashlight. LINK
The Manker Drumstick was referring to is equally great. That built in cell is a pain in the arse to replace though.
Well if that is the case, she might find the E70 to be too big or heavy. At least my wife does. My wife however DOES love the little Lumintop AA Tool. Of course 14500 are advisable even if only for the environment, but she could power it with (as the name kinda suggests) an AA.
You can learn more about it here:
TOOL AA 2.0 - Lumintop and then buy it from amazon or whatever.
Those things still run super hot with no thermal regulation? If so I wouldn’t give it to someone who isn’t prepared for it. Been a while since I bought a S2+. Hoping those problems are fixed. As well as a few other 7135 driver problems they used to have in the past. All of the older ones I have will burn your hand off if not tended to, protected cell or not.
What? Burning S2+? What did you do, put an SFN43 in them?
Most of the current S2+s have thermal regulation with the 17mm Driver for SST40 ,12groups , max current output 5000mA, Temperature protection management inside driver.
It states:
I wish it would actually get a little hotter.
Neither one has ever been super popular but Simon does have the BD03 and S9 models which both have usb charging….still micro usb unless he’s upgraded those at some point. Both have a few emitter options but older basic drivers. If she likes the look and wants to stick with something slim and tubey like the S2+ then I’ll bet Simon would be willing to swap to a different emitter and/or driver if you asked him, probably for a small fee. The BD03 is a pretty unique light.
The Sofirn SC31 Pro and Wurkkos FC11 are both nice and available in colors…side switches, Anduril firmware which you can muggle down almost however you want to (stepped modes, number of steps, brightness level of each step, or ramping that you can set high and low levels), and both with usb C charging. Emitter choices are ok but nothing nice like the 519A which Simon has a lot of.
The little WildTrail WT3M is still available from them on aliexpress but last I looked only silver. It’s a super compact triple with 21700 and Anduril, usb C. The head is a bit wider but it’s a very pocketable light with great output. I don’t think there are any left on amazon but you could search the model number only and maybe it’ll pop up.
The Wurkkos TS21 or TS22 maybe worth a look, too, 21700 Anduril. 21700 is necessarily a little fatter but the cells sure give better performance and longer run time on most lights/modes.
I think an S21E with a 4500K 519B LED would be a great gift!
And if you want a smaller flashlight, the S9 with a 4500K 219B LED would be equally as great. I gave an S9 to a friend last year, but went with a XM-L2 for more lumens.
Both you never need to remove the battery to charge them and have low voltage and temperature control protection.
I think the ramping firmware is good and intuitive, but you could also switch it to a simple 4 mode flashlight.
I’m a Convoy fanboy too!
give him the s2+ in group 5 (1-20-100) simple ui, without memory if you want and that’s it. not so much nonsense of clicks.
I’ve wanted to try that Convoy, S21e you said? But I am already rocking a Sofirn IF25A and a couple of SC31Pro’s for pocket lights with on board charging and they are great.
Take a S2+ from 4 or so years ago. Crank that baby up to 100%. Your cell will make the brightness drop before any type of thermal regulation. Two and a half amps through a thin tube light is going to get hot, fast. XPL or any type of Nichia will get that light smoking. If you doubt it then you haven’t done it.
I wouldn’t give that type of light to a newcomer. That’s just me though. I’ve been wrong before so I’m likely to be wrong again.
djozz’s interesting test from several years ago: 7135x8 on a 30Q left to fend for itself……yeeowch. (temp graph at the end)