Convoy S2+ overview

[kiak]

The S2 + model of the Chinese brand Convoy is well-known to many people, but there is no proper presentation on the forum. I will try to address this, as good as I can.



The flashlight falls into the category of everyday carry, but has the ability to perform many other tasks. Its popularity is mainly due to the affordable price and numerous configuration and modification options. In the various Chinese online stores is in the range of 10 to 20 dollars.




I could say that the Convoy S2 + is a kind of platform and everyone can customize it according to specific needs.

By default it is equipped  with several types of diodes and drivers that allow a certain amount of current to pass through the emitter, as well as controlling the various lighting modes.

I will summarize the various options in a table below. With a choice of diode, driver and high-discharge battery, more than 1000 lumens can be achieved, which is quite impressive for the type of flashlight..

                         Color
Emitter            temperature   1050 mA   1400 mA   2100 mA   2800 mA
XP-L HI V2-1A  6500-7000      490 lm      623 lm      860 lm      1067 lm
XM-L2-U2-1A    6500-7000      450 lm      623 lm      860 lm      1067 lm
XM-L2-T6-3B    5000-6500      460 lm      582 lm      803 lm       996 lm
XM-L2 T6-4C    4300-4500      460 lm      582 lm      803 lm       996 lm
XM-L2 T5-5B    4000-4200      430 lm      540 lm      745 lm       925 lm
XM-L2 T4-7A    3000-3200      395 lm      499 lm      688 lm       853 lm
XM-L2 T4-7C    <3200            395 lm      499 lm      688 lm       853 lm

The Convoy S2 + works with a 18650 battery, but an 18350 adapter is available on the market. I still can not confirm it personally, but I assume that if you use such a battery, the weight will be significantly reduced, but it will also directly affect duration.



You can buy it in several colors. Available colors are black, gray, silver, red, blue, green, and desert. The control switch can be with a silicone cuff or metallic, the metal can also be in several colors, as well as backlighted. Some say the metal button compromises the water resistance of the flashlight.But I think that it looks better.

I ordered a plain, gray with silicon button. It arrived in a plain white box, and there was only a lanyard attached.. In addition, I ordered a clip, making it a bit more expensive. I chose a warm T6-4C diode and a driver that supplies 1400 mA current. Since my idea is mainly to use the minimal mode for dog walks in the evening, I want to have a good color rendering (I'm bad with eyes and cold diodes irritating me) and maximum duration . I had the idea of ​​attaching it to the Fenix headband and using it as a headlamp, but because of the larger diameter this can not happen without modifying the holder (I have not done it yet).





The dimensions of the flashlight are designed to fit well in the hand. The body is made of aircraft aluminum with a solid anodized finish. Its length is 118 mm and the diameter is 24 mm. The diameter of the reflector is 17.5 and its depth (estimated) is about 14mm. The body diameter does not change along the entire length of the flashlight, and this can also be taken as an advantage and as a drawback. Kurling is not aggressive, I'd even say it's pretty smooth. Sometimes, the flashlight slips from my hand and only the lanyard saves it from falling. The advantage of the uniform profile, however, is that it will be easily mounted as a bicycle light or as light for firearms. It's also very comfortable to wear in a pocket, and when pulling out the flashlight,, it does not catch anywhere.

 





The weight without a battery is 81 grams, and with a Samsung cell 2200 mAh - 127 grams.



The diode is well centered, and the reflector is an orange peel type, which provides a very floody and wide beam, with the center point smoothly overflowing to the periphery. The difference with Fenix PD35 is tangible (I can only compare it with). The safety glass is usually without an anti-reflective coating. However, if you decide that you need it, you can order extra. There is also a hidden phosphorescent O-ring between the glass and the housing.




There are also two larger rubber rings on both sides of the battery tube threads. I guess the water resistance will be good, but I did not try it.

The threads are long enough, with trapezoidal profile. Those on the side of the cap are anodized and if you unscrew the cap slightly you can mechanically lock it- the flashlight can not be activated accidentally.





The cap is designed so that the flashlight can stand. Also, as an extra option, a magnet can be placed around the button and thus greatly enhances the flashlight functionality. The cap profile is cut off, which means that pressing the button with the thumb is comfortable. I tried it with gloves as well - no problem.



Convoy S2 + has springs both from the side of the head and from the cap. There is no problem with the use of protected batteries or those with a flat positive contact. However, there is some limitation - the maximum battery length is 67 mm. Also the springs help to compensate any vibrations if the flashlight is used for bicycle front light.

Two types of clips are sold - one that I have attaches to the body. It's deep pocket carry. There is another option that is fitted with screws and nuts in the belt holes. I liked the first one, because it can be quickly removed if it is not used.

The flashlight is controlled by the "reverse click" button of the cap. The interface works in the following way - fully pressing and releasing turns the flashlight on and off. Pressing slightly changes the modes.

The driver has two groups with 3 and 5 modes, respectively. The difference is that the second group adds strobe and SOS. In order to change the groups, you have to be on the lowest mode. After about 5 seconds. the flashlight flashes. Right at this point, you must turn off and on to toggle the groups. It's a little annoying if the flashlight is only used at th low mode, but you can get used to it.

At the lowest mode, it lights at about 5%, the middle is 40%, the maximum, the strobe and the SOS are at 100%. On my flashlight they are 29 lm, 233 lm and 582 lm.

The low mode gives me about 30 meters of good illumination. I didn’t measure the other two modes but it easily reaches more than 100 meters.
.
I have not tested the duration of the different modes for different modes, but I have been using it for at least 2 hours a day for quite a week, often changing the modes to compare it to Fenix.

What I like about Convoy S2 +:
   - the wide variety of options;
   - compact physical dimensions;
   - comparatively low weight;
   - the ability to stand upright;
   - beam width;
   - the color of the diode;
   - the price!

What I do not like:
   - may slip out of the hand, especially when using ordinary gloves;
   - there is no possibility of instant on;
   - in a "straight grip" it is impossible to change the modes with one hand;
   - it is not possible to immediately turn on strobe or maximum regime;
   - flashes to change groups when running low mode;

As a conclusion I can say that despite the listed cons, Convoy S2 + is a very good budget flashlight and I can honestly recommend it. It is hardly possible for this price range to find another brand or model that offers such diversity.

[Blackbeard]

great review and pics. is that the one you have to half press tail switch twice to change modes? I thought mine was defective at first.

[kiak]

Yes, If you keep some mode for longer, you have to pres twice to change, something that I missed to mention in the review. I also forgot to write, that there is PWM. The frequency, however, is high enough and I was not able to see any flickers.

[an0nemus]

Wow. Thank you for this post! For a moment there I thought I was in a BudgetLightForum tab


Convoy S2 is very popular in my country and it give a high value for money. I just bought an Astrolux S1 (looks identical to the S2), but I must say I'm really satisfied with my Convoy C8 (sold as Thorfire C8 in the US, I think)

[Poncho65]

Very nice review kiak Very thorough and well put together

[kiak]

Thanks to all of you! Reviews writing is quite new to me, but with time I hope to get better.
I'm waiting for few more lights to arrive, so I'll sit and write more.

[kiak]

Yesterday I was able to compare few Convoys with different emitters. The red one is with XM-L2-U2-1A, and the silver one with XP-L HI V2-1A. Both of them have 2800mA drivers.




Several differences are noticeable on the visual comparison. First, that matters only if you are planing to use the flashlight as a gift, is that they came in more luxurious boxes. The silver is equipped also with pocket clip.
The buttons are metal, but unfortunately I didn’t make a picture. On the red one, the button is gray, and on the silver one - black. The other main differences are, that the silver one has AR coated glass, smooth reflector, and at the end I noticed that the clip can also be put on the head. On the other models that is not possible.


We waited for the dark to make some outside pictures. I want to say, that the conditions were not perfect - there was a full moon and clear sky. The spot was not so good, the time was limited, and it was quite cold. It was the first time for me to make such photos, so please, don’t judge me so hard!
All shots were taken with the same camera settings and are in consequence with flashlights modes:
XM-L2 T6-4C
Low:

Medium:

Hi:


XM-L2-U2-1A
Low:

Medium:

Hi:


XP-L HI V2-1A
Low:

Medium:

Hi:


Just for reference I made some shots of Fenix PD35’s modes:

Lowest Low:

Low:

Medium:

Hi:

Turbo:


At the end, as a result of all that testing, shooting and playing is that my wife liked the silver one a lot, and making the things easier for the upcoming gift shopping! And ours flashlight collection will grow with one more light!