Test/Review of Sony US18650VTC6 3000mAh (Green)

I could but I'm not certain how much safer would really be. Given the rated temperatures on the cells, I would definitely exceed the ratings on the eneloops but I would not exceed the rating for the vtc6 or the Samsung 25s /25r, I would probably not exceed the rating for my lg cell (70°c). I had a bit of a fish around for data on eneloops behaviour at elevated temperature but couldn't find anything. Lions however I found this paper which shows thermal runway onset temperature for various charge states, cells that are not overcharged all went into thermal runway over 140°c which leads me to believe the data sheet. Unfortunately they didn't actually state which cell they tested.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/279069810_Thermal_runaway_of_commercial_18650_Li-ion_batteries_with_LFP_and_NCA_catho