Whats your favorite walking light as of today?
My favorite walking lights are Fireflies E04 Surge with quad FFL505A and X1L w/ FFL707A, replacing the Convoy GT-FC40 trio. Their discussion start HERE. Surprisingly not because of Firefly’s famous rosy tint (I love GT-FC40 4500k’s more neutral tint equally), but for other reasons. All of these are subjective, no right or wrong, just personal preference.
In order of importance: First, the Fireflies are brighter and throw further. Nothing complex about this, all else being equal, I like brightness. Second I much prefer Anduril, and love the latest Anduril with automatic battery indicator (I don’t tripple click anymore). Third, while acknowlidging that Fireflies are 2-3 times the cost: the premium quality and feel of the Fireflies. Holding and using them is fun, with some degree of pride of ownership. Next, the button travel and tactile feel of Fireflies are the best among all of my lights, and world apart from Convoy’s M21E and F (extremely short travel and feel, worst among the trio Convoy, Hank, & Firefly). Again subjective, no right or wrong.
No I’m not selling ANY of my Convoy with GT-FC40! I still love them, all 5: M21B, two M21F, two M21E. All with GT-FC40 4500k. I should note the tint lottery is real and a big problem with some Convoy’s GT-FC40. The latest one I bought, M21E’s with GT-FC40, has a horrible green tint. So bad as to be unrecognizeable as a GT-FC40 4500k.
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Some relevant numbers:
Convoy M21E 4500k
CCT 4395 Ra 98.2
x 0.3623 y 0.3520 Duv Turbo: –0.0030 cold, -0.0040 hot
Throw 324 m
Flux 2140 lm
Firefly E04 Surge FFL505A 4000k Rosy Tint Discussion start HERE
CCT 4200k Ra=97 R9=92
Duv Turbo = -0.0090
Output Turbo: 3240 lm w/ AM04 Battery, 3200 w/ Molicel P45B
Throw ANSI: 500 m
Firefly X1L Elite FFL707A 5000k Discussion start HERE
CCT 5400k Ra=98 R9=96 w/ Opple LM4
Duv Turbo = -0.0095
Output Turbo: 2860 lm Turbo w/ P45B, 2730 w/ AM04
Throw ANSI: 480 m
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OK I’m buying the Surge 
does it throw further than the X1L?
No, Surge does not throw further than X1L, at least not with the specific FFL LEDs I chose. The main distinction between my E04 Surge and X1L is one, the beam profile, two, the tint, and three, X1L is on sale for 30% off, quite a bargain. Oh and four, X1L has a large head than E04. Still small, but just a tad more cumbersome in pocket. These lights are different from each other, not one is “better” than the others.
Shape of beam:
E04 is multi-TIR, with beam profile similar to that of a reflector light: hotspot and reasonable spill. For a walk light, strictly personal preference, I like to have spill for near-field view (with light point straight ahead) so I like it. X1L is single TIR: classic TIR beam profile with prominent hotspot and very little spill.
Tint:
Despite of similar Duv numbers, FFL505A 4000k (in E04) is less rosy than FFL707A 4000k (in X1L). If you prefer a less rosy look, than FFL505A 4000k would be the best choice.
I prefer 4000-4500k range, but if you like 5000k LED, the FFL707A 5000k is far and away the best 5000k LED I’ve had. (My other ones: GT-FC40 5000k, Nichia 219c 5000k, Nichia 519a 5000k.) Beautiful tint, at this CCT looking more whitish as expected, with a rosy tint still, but not as prominent. Again all beautiful lights with beautiful LEDs, you can’t lose.
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I don’t know if Simon has changed but the clips I bought for my M21B here have Phillips head screws size M2x4.5mm that are too short for my M21F’s and M21E’s. I found M2x6mm and M2x8mm that work well in case you’re interested.
The kit is available from Amazon here. BTW personally I much prefer the look of the Allen head screws (vs Simon’s Phillips head).
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BTW here’s my collection of M21E’s, probably my most favorite Convoy host. I also have 2 M21F’s which are also good but E throws more, and I think the larger head might help with heat dissipation.
The 2 newest members are:
M21E with Cree XHP70.3 HI R70 4000k: My two previous XHP70.x lights are nauseatingly green so imagine my shock when I got this light which has a beautiful tint and a hotspot that is actually slightly rosy at Turbo (Duv approx -0.0010 with amateur equipment). I would recommend current @Simon_Mao 's batch of this LED extremely highly. It’s a fantastic walk light and gift light for muggles, good enough for not-too-nutty tint-snobs IMHO.
M21E with SFT-25R 5000k: This thrower is the equivalent of what they call “silent assassin” in action movies. Small, unassuming, extremely low cost of 30 bucks, but has similar 1 kilommeter throw to my Wurkkos TS30S that’s armed with industry throw-standard LED SBT90.2. The hotspot is smaller than SBT90.2 as expected, but CCT is warmer and tint less green, overall much more pleasant and desirable than SBT90.2 to my eyes.
Otherwise, hotspot is again similar to my other good throwers: large center circle, no donut hole, surrounded by a thin white ring. Beyond the hotspot, the surrounding area is ringy, again similar to my other super throwers with large reflectors. Basically the corona is nothing to write home about and thankfully not really seen in real life use because it is much dimmer than hotspot. Having said that, if you are the type who likes to white-wall throwers and driven crazy by rings or imperfections around the hotspot, I would pass on this light. No problem whatsoever for me and it is one of my most favorite throwers because of the unicorn warm & non-greenish beam but YMMV.
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Nice!
I have two M21E’s, and they’re my best EDCs.
My favorite between the two is the one with the LHP531 emitter. 
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Ah why do you have to do this to me :-). I’m holding out for LHP73B but wonder if @Simon_Mao will ever pair it with M21E.
Which CCT do you have for LHP531 and is it green? Thanks.
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4000K, and I don’t see any green when I go white wall hunting. 
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Thanks. Very tempted to get this one to compare to my M21E with Cree XHP70.3 HI R70 4000k.
Should be very interesting - both seem similar. My XHP70.3 R70 is not green either, actually has beautiful rosiness in the hotspot (not the spill). Per Koef’s review I think both needs low 20’s watts to reach 3000 lm (anyone pls correct as needed).
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LHP531 is slightly less efficient than XHP70.3, it’s about on par with XHP50. Also XHP70 is driven slightly harder in M21E.
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Based on my experience, the LHP531 throws further than the XHP70.3.
(Someone, please correct me if I’m wrong.)
I thought that the LHP531 had more output than the XHP70.3, but based on an internet search, I’m wrong about that.
I don’t have a flashlight with the XHP50.
Yes, LHP531 has slightly smaller LES and less light “bleed” so it makes sense it throws better. It produces about 3500lm at 10A, about as much as XHP50 at 5A, XHP70.3 scores 400lm extra. Not much of a difference but still a difference.
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Oh I see thanks, for M21E are these numbers correct?
6V 5A boost for XHP70.3 HI = 30 watts
3V 8A buck for LHP531 = 24 watts
Also, LHP73B uses 3V 20A driver in M21B, and M21E doesn’t have such a driver. So that’s why we don’t see this LED offered in M21E? Not yet anyway? (Available M21E drivers at Convoy web site here.)
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Yes, that is all correct.
Considering the drive power and emitter efficacy, I would expect the XHP70.3 Hi to match or out-throw the LHP531 in the M21E.
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Yup, that’s what it looks like. I still wouldn’t outrule LHP531, slightly tighter beam, nice tint and buck driver that should be pretty efficient - there is a potential for a really nice walking light.
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Thanks. I have LHP531 on my radar. Just waiting for a moment of weakness lol.
It should be a fun comparison to XHP70.3 in same M21E host.
To add to the confusion - think about XHP50.3 HI R70 4000K in the M21E as well (you can ask Simon to swap from the SFT70). It should be bright, throw better than LHP531 and if the tint may not be as clean and pale as LHP, I noticed it boosts colors way more despite both being low CRI.
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I already asked Simon and he said no (maybe because I said that I preferred a smooth reflector.)
(I no longer prefer smooth reflectors for emitters that are not uniform.)