I like the clip as-is. So far, I’ve never had any retention issues. I find the carry depth (at least on this light) to be right on. I don’t really see a need to shorten it.
Not sure what you are meaning with:
“Bring the clip curve where it holds onto pants, hat, etc. about 1mm deeper for just a bit more tension”. If this is referencing the width of the gap at the top of the clip (as shown in the pic below), which actually hangs onto the pocket, I find the existing gap works perfectly, for my normal everyday-wear. (Wrangler denim blue jeans)
My only issue with the clip is this point:
…which always snags on the edge of my pocket when I’m putting the light away.
1+ And I prefer not to get a worn pocket edge from the wear and tear.
Some clips use a small ramp.
But I think I’ve also seen this style.
Anyone have actual pictures of this style?
I think this is much better. Fabric can sometimes snag under the ramp of the other style.
The 2nd image shows how the initial bend is set back a little to account for the thickness of the metal. Using small semi-circle cuts to create the set back.
It seems a consensus in the responses so far that the length of the clip is not an issue. I don’t see it as an issue myself, it’s just something that was brought up by a handful of people. It could have to do with people mounting it on the body tube as opposed to the tail cap. Personally, I don’t get that as it negates the whole idea of deep-carry which is why I started this in the first place but to each his/her own. I heard arguments about the clip scratching the body as you unthread the tail cap which make sense. That said, I’ve had these clips on the tail cap of four lights since they were released and I was one of the first to receive them. That would be the BLF A6 and Convoy S2+. One of each in both short and long form for 4 lights in total. None of these have a single scratch on the bodies from taking the tail cap on and off with clip attached to the tail so I’m pretty much ruling out that argument unless someone comes forth with evidence to the contrary. In my experience the body scratch concern is a non-issue. I do see scratches over time where the snap-on clip attaches but it is minimal and in my opinion worth the convenience of having a removable clip. I also like the length for clipping to a belt but I don’t really trust any removable clip except inside a pocket. About the tension…here again, I agree with you. One of my five had weak tension and quick gentle bend by hand resolved it and it has not moved since my “bend-mod” unlike my A6 clips which were poorly shaped to start and snapped like twigs when I attempted to tweak them.
I’m certainly glad to hear that you’re happy with the clip and the carry depth. :+1: You wouldn’t object to it sitting 3mm deeper into your pocket though would you? Still short of the tail as to not interfere with tail-standing. This little bit of extra pocket depth was actually intended to be in the initial release but it went full production before my last edits hit Simon’s build source and by that point I had made so many changes that I was not about to complain. Shortening was just a thought and not high on my list.
The reason you’re not sure what I meant by “Bring the clip curve where it holds onto pants, hat, etc. about 1mm deeper for just a bit more tension” is because I did a poor job of describing what I meant. I think I knew that as I was typing it but I was in a hurry. I was referring to the point that actually acts as the clip, as circled below.
I agree on the snag point. It’s the one flaw in this design. Actually I think “flaw” is too harsh a term as this is IMHO a great clip considering the price. Let’s call it “an opportunity for improvement”. :person_facepalming: :laughing:
I also have no issue with this clip with any pants I’m wearing. The reason I want to widen that gap a bit is because it won’t slip over the brim of an average baseball hat. We’re putting a groove near the head of the S2+ just like the tail for the reverse clip mount (headlamp-on-the-fly) position. This will be particularly useful for the short 18350 version of the S2. Tip of the hat to the VOB group buy for a particularly awesome S2 shorty with the new XP-G3 and a handful of sweet upgrades. :+1: I love seeing BLF members taking Convoy lights to higher levels.
To Halo’s point I don’t care too much for the tongue-ramp approach as was used by Manker. It’s not bad really but I’d like to see something better here. Perhaps something along the lines of the drawings there though I’m not sure if metal thickness is going to be an issue. That looks like a sharp bend though it’s just a pencil drawing and he did ask for a better example so if anyone has one please post a picture and thank you Halo for posting ideas for improvement. :+1:
I agree on all j-dub’s points as long as the light can still tailstand. Also into reduced length. Perhaps a shorter one for 18350 designs? And yes, it needs a ramp.
I say give the snag a smooth ramp and change the material to raw or blasted finish, 0.045” (1.143mm) Ti-6Al-4V titanium (or whatever the Chinese equivalent may be). Give the “U” bend a 2.4mm bend radius. A 2.4mm bend radius will give 4.8mm gap which will fit snug on a cap brim.
I would like it to be deeper carry, so from roughly 15mm to about 23mm would be nice.
Yes, slightly thicker to accommodate thicker pants, smoother transition around where it mounts to the light, and a slightly longer and shallower angle on the entrance ramp.
As for how to smooth the transition I’m also not sure, I agree with J-Dub the Manker ramp is not great but it is better than nothing and if that ramp is longer it could more easily be tweaked just slightly so there is no way even thin fabric will get caught under the ramp like can happen on the Manker ones. I actually made a plastic ramp for my convoy ones with marginal success (3D printer is not quite that good) and it fell out at some point anyway.
The most important change to me though is the entrance ramp that J-Dub circled in his second pic. I wish that ramp on the end was a much shallower angle and in turn was longer to maintain the same intake thickness. This helps a lot on more flexible fabrics that want to just crumple instead of slide under the clip. This is something I like about the Manker design.
I’ve always found mine to be too flexible.
I really like the relative stiffness of Olight clips and would love to buy some for a lower price from Simon…
The overall geometry of actual Convoy slip is good to me, maybe a little ramp before the snag could be more practical but *thicker *material is, IMHO, what would make it perfect
I want to point out that manker isn’t the one who designed that clip y’all are talking about. They just messed it up. If it’s done right it’s really good. The manker clips are good if their tweaked a little bit. A clip like the original A6 built with thicker titanium (.045” has perfect stiffness and spring back) and bent correctly, I think would satisfy most people.
If you’re worried about scratching the anodizing when unscrewing the battery tube,
slip a bit of paper under the contact point before you start turning the tailcap.
No problem.
(write your name and address and “REWARD FOR RETURN” on the piece of paper, and slip it into the battery tube while you have it open — if someone finds your flashlight, they might get in touch)
I find if you just pinch the back of the clip to the endcap while unscrewing you can lift the tip up enough to not rub on the body.
I actually like a relatively light clip tension but I think most people like them stiff. As long as there is a way to bend the clip in one way or another to adjust it thicker metal wouldn’t be a bad thing.
As to that little right angle that interferes when slipping the clip over the edge of a pocket, you should compare the OrcaTorch T11, which has a smooth transition there that avoids the problem completely:
Also how about bringing the end of the entrance ramp up a bit. Up to the level of the rest of the clip.
And adding a small straight section at the tip. Say 3mm. I can do a drawing.
Thanks hank. That’s about what I had in my head for that little ramp area which is now a snag point on the Convoy clip. That picture helps. I think that’s essentially what Halo was getting at too. My concern with that type of design is the thinner band we have to work with as the attachment point. You need to add a little rounded relief into the metal at the “T”. You can see right where they did that with the Orca clip and it looks spot on but the Orca clip looks like it has around 4-5mm to work with where we have 2.5mm. That doesn’t leave enough metal for us to add that necessary “U” notch in the metal at the proper point that eliminates or drastically reduces the stress-fracture point. Another thing I considerred is just widening the clip groove in the S2+ and eventually the rest of the S series so that we can design a truly proper clip. That however doesn’t do anything for all of the lights that we already have. I appreciate all the input everyone has given here. More thinking to do…
Just found this thread and I have a question. Will this clip fit any of the SolarForce hosts sold by MTN Elec.? I’ve been looking for a good deep carry clip for my L2T/P lights. Thanks.
:+1: You wouldn’t object to it sitting 3mm deeper into your pocket though would you? Still short of the tail as to not interfere with tail-standing. This little bit of extra pocket depth was actually intended to be in the initial release but it went full production before my last edits hit Simon’s build source and by that point I had made so many changes that I was not about to complain. 
Shortening was just a thought and not high on my list.
The width of the clip-on band is so narrow.
