Convoy T2 Flashlight Review

Convoy has released the Convoy T2 flashlight, which runs on a single AA cell and has a cool white Cree XP-G2 emitter. Read on for some testing!

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Official Specs and Features

Here’s a link to the Convoy T2 flashlight product page.

Versions

There’s just one body and package of this light, but it’s available with three different emitter options. They are: 4500K, 5500K, and 6500K (which is what I have here).

Price

Here’s a link to GearBest, where I got the light. They’re $13.51 there.

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Short Review

Overall, I like this light as a host, but the driver has PWM on the lower mode (possibly noticeable in the lower two modes). With an emitter swap and a driver replacement, this will be a great little (tiny version of the) S2+!

Long Review

The Big Table

Convoy T2
Emitter:	Cree XP-G2
Price in USD at publication time:	$13.51
Cell:	AA
Turbo Runtime	–
LVP?	Yes, with warning
Switch Type:	Mechanical
On-Board Charging?	No
Claimed Lumens (lm)	320
Measured Lumens (at 30s)	249 (77.8% of claim)^
Claimed Throw (m)	50
Candela (Calculated) in cd (at 30s)	134lux @ 4.783m = 3066cd
Throw (Calculated) (m)	110.7 (221.4% of claim)^
All my Convoy reviews!

^ Measurement disclaimer: Testing flashlights is my hobby. I use hobbyist-level equipment for testing, including some I made myself. Try not to get buried in the details of manufacturer specifications versus measurements recorded here; A certain amount of difference (say, 10 or 15%) is perfectly reasonable.

What’s Included

• Convoy T2
• Lanyard

Package and Manual

 

The package is just a cardboard box with a GearBest sticker. The light is held in place with some bubble wrap.

There is no manual.

Build Quality and Disassembly

For a $13 flashlight, this one is well built. The anodizing Convoy now seems to be better than in the past.

Again, the likeness of this light and the S2+ make this a must-have for just $13.

The head end of the cell tube is unanodized, and the tail end has anodized threads. This means the cell tube isn’t reversible.

Both the head and tail parts are held in place by brass retaining rings. There are springs on the head and tail, too. The tail springs are very thick and beefy, and the head springs are also beefy, but much smaller.

These are very nice parts for just an AA light, which will be low-wattage compared to a similar light using Li-Ion cells.

The bezel unscrews readily, too, allowing access to the emitter.

Size and Comps

Size: 21mm (diameter), 93.3mm (length)
Weight: 51g

And the most important comparison you’ll see here: the venerable Convoy S2+. Mine’s a custom “baked” edition Nichia 219b triple. A very nice 18650 light.

Such a cute little S2+!

And here’s the T2 compared to another random AA light – the ReyLight Pineapple. With a bit of custom patina.

Retention and Carry

The pocket clip included is a friction clip, just like on the S2+. It’ll fit on the head end or tail end, as there are rings on both ends of the cell to be just for that.

The pocket clip has a shoulder, but it is still not a deep carry clip.

Also included is the lanyard, which arrives already attached. The lanyard doesn’t have one of those little push-button things for adjusting the tightness on one’s wrist, but it’s a short lanyard anyway.

Power and Runtime

The T2 may be powered only by AA cells – alkaline (primary) or NiMH, both work. Lithium-ion cells are not supported! I tested the light using only a LADDA NiMH cell, AA-sized. The light isn’t a powerhouse of output, with high reaching around 260 lumens.

The light also does not have LVP, which isn’t as bad for NiMH cells as it would be for Li-Ion.

I did test the runtime of medium, but my computer couldn’t handle the gigantic spreadsheet. So let’s summarize it by saying: medium lasts for a long time. (I am adjusting my methods to better account for this eventuality, and also make runtime processing better; I hope not to have this problem in the future.)

This output is very conservative, to be honest. It’s another reason I’d consider this light more of an inexpensive host than anything. Replace the driver, push the light a little harder.

User Interface and Operation

The user interface is simple, too. It’s a tail switch – a reverse mechanical clicky.

Here’s a user interface table!

State	Action	Result
Off	Click	On (Mode Memory)
Off	Half Press	No Action
On	Half Press	Mode Advance (LMH)
On	Double Half Press	Strobe
Strobe	Half Press	Back to regular modes (it’s like, mode memory +2 or something weird but explainable^)

^ When going into strobe, you half press twice. The first half press advances the mode. When coming out of strobe, the single half press also advances the mode. So exiting strobe is mode memory +2 from where you started.

Modes and Currents

Mode	Mode Claimed Output (lm)	Claimed Runtime	Measured Lumens	Tailcap Amps
High	100%	–	249	1.50
Medium	10%	–	30	0.15
Low	1%	–	–	~

LED and Beam

The emitter of choice for these small Convoy lights is a Cree XP-G2, and in my case, the 6500K version. I don’t like such cool lights, but as I recommend a complete swap of the internals, it’s not a massive problem here (i.e., it’ll get changed anyway).

The reflector is lightly orange-peeled.

This setup makes a beam that has a hotspot with a corona that fades off pretty evenly, and a lot of spill.

Beamshots

These beamshots always have the following settings:  f8, ISO100, 0.3s shutter, and manual 5000K exposure. These photos are taken at floor level, and the beam hits the ceiling around 9 feet away.

Tint vs BLF-348 (KillzoneFlashlights.com 219b version) (affiliate link)

The 6500K version; you shouldn’t expect much!

Random Comparisons and Competitive Options

There are many AA lights. There are even many inexpensive AA lights. This Convoy strikes a good mix of viable host and looking-just-like-an-S2+ that makes it a need-to-own. I highly recommend it.

Conclusion

What I like

• Build quality is great (especially for a $13 light)
• Easy to modify – nothing is locked, everything just screws together
• Multiple temperatures (buy the warmer ones!
• It’s XP-G2 and not XP-G3
• Looks like a mini S2+!

What I don’t like

• PWM very noticeable
• No Li-ion support
• User interface is too simplistic
• No LVP

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Notes

• This light was provided by GearBest for review. I was not paid to write this review.
• This content originally appeared at zeroair.org. Please visit there for the best experience!
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