Convoy M21H Flashlight Review
The Convoy M21H is a flashlight offering a Cree XHP70.3 HI emitter in 4000K among other emitters, and uses one 21700 cell. It also has USB-C charging! Read on!
Official Specs and Features
Here’s a link to the Convoy M21H flashlight product page at flashlightgo.com.
Versions
I see only one body but it’s available with various emitters. There’s Cree XHP70.2, Cree XHp70.3 HI R70, Cree XHp70.3 HI R9050, and GT FC40.
Price
The Convoy M21H flashlight is around $35 but will depend on which version you select exactly and if you go for a cell (and which cell) or not.
Short Review
This Convoy M21H flashlight is a fantastic way to get into this Cree XHP70.3 HI emitter in R9050 and 4000K. I love the output from this emitter and the TIR gives such an ideal beam profile. The cost is very reasonable, too! USB-C charging works just fine on this light too. It’s a great package.
Long Review
The Big Table
| Convoy M21H flashlight | |
|---|---|
| Emitter: | Cree XHP70.3 HI |
| Price in USD at publication time: | $35.99 |
| Cell: | 1×21700 |
| Runtime Graphs | |
| LVP? | Yes |
| Switch Type: | E-Switch |
| Quiescent Current (mA): | ? |
| On-Board Charging? | Yes |
| Charge Port Type: | USB-C |
| Charge Graph | |
| Power off Charge Port | with cell: all modes without cell or body: lowest 3 modes |
| Claimed Lumens (lm) | 3000 |
| Measured Lumens (at 30s) | 1609 (53.6% of claim)^ |
| Candela per Lumen | 11.55 |
| Claimed Throw (m) | – |
| Candela (Calculated) in cd (at 30s) | 935lux @ 4.92m = 22633cd |
| Throw (Calculated) (m) | 300.9 |
| Claimed CCT | 4000 |
| Measured CCT Range (K) | 3900-4100 Kelvin |
| Item provided for review by: | Flashlightgo.com |
| 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 M21H flashlight
- EVE 5000mAh 21700
- Lanyard
Package and Manual
The Convoy M21H flashlight doesn’t include a manual.
Build Quality and Disassembly
The tailcap here has a big beefy spring. The head side gets a fairly standard Convoy brass button for contact.
The cell tube is not reversible.
Size and Comps
Size: Head/body/tail diameter: 40mm/27mm/28.5mm
Length: 130.8mm
Product weight: 132g
If the flashlight will headstand, I’ll show it here (usually the third photo). If the flashlight will tailstand, I’ll also show that (usually in the fourth photo).
Here’s the test light with the venerable Convoy S2+. Mine’s a custom “baked” edition Nichia 219b triple. A very nice 18650 light.
Also above is the light beside my custom-engraved TorchLAB BOSS 35, an 18350 light. I reviewed the aluminum version of that light in both 35 and 70 formats. I also reviewed that specific edition, the “Oveready BOSS FT Collector Vintage Brass” 35. I love it!
Retention and Carry
As with many Convoy flashlights, a lanyard is included. It attaches through this hole in the tailcap.
That’s it. The tailcap doesn’t have a magnet and no pocket or belt clip is included.
Power and Runtime
The Convoy M21H flashlight is powered by a single lithium-ion cell. The cell tube is suited to a single 21700 cell. You can select a few different options. Below is an EVE 21700, the “50E.”
With the spring in the tailcap, you should have no issue running any type of 21700 cell. The cell is installed in the usual way: positive terminal toward the head.
Below you can see a few runtime graphs.
The output doesn’t hit even near the 3000 claim, but I can tell you that the beam and output it does have is fantastic! The CCT is great, the CRI is great, and the beam profile is great!
The switch has indicating features, and when the cell voltage is low the switch blinks red.
Charging
Built into the M21H is USB-C charging. There’s a charge port in the head, on the side opposite the switch.
The switch and charge port are a little bit too similar by feel for me, and I didn’t always differentiate between them by feel. However, the charge port cover does have a bump-out that is discernable once you know what you’re feeling for.
While charging, the switch is red. When charging is complete, the switch turns green.
Modes and Currents
| Mode | Mode Claimed Output (lm) | Claimed Runtime | Measured Lumens | Tailcap Amps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100% | 3000 | – | 1669 (0s) 1609 |
7.34 |
| 40% | – | – | 626 | 1.84 |
| 10% | – | – | 221 | 0.58 |
| 1% | – | – | 17 | 0.04 |
| Moonlight | – | – | 8 | 0.02 |
Pulse Width Modulation
None of the stepped output levels use PWM!
Here you can see a “baseline” – a chart with almost no light hitting the sensor. Then there’s the Ultrafire WF-602C flashlight, which has some of the worst PWM I’ve seen. It’s so bad that I used a post about it to explain PWM! Here are multiple timescales (10ms, 5ms, 2ms, 1ms, 0.5ms, 0.2ms) to make comparing this “worst” PWM light to the test light easier. That post also explains why I didn’t test the WF-602C at the usual 50us scale.
User Interface and Operation
A single e-switch controls all actions of the Convoy M21H flashlight.
Despite looking like other Convoy switches (like the Convoy M21E switch) from most angles, the switch is harder and proud. I’d say this one is better, too.
Here’s a user interface table! This user interface is just like the one seen on the Convoy M21E.
| State | Action | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Off | Click | On (Mode memory) |
| Off | Hold | Moonlight (0.2% output) |
| Any | Double click | Turbo (100%) |
| Any | Click 3x | Strobe |
| On | Click | Off |
| On | Hold | Ramp^ (in ramping mode), Mode advance (in Stepped mode) |
| Off | Click 4x | Tactical mode (Momentary 100% only) |
| Tactical mode | Click 4x | Quit tactical mode |
| Off | Click 5x | Voltage detection^^ |
| Off | Click 6x | Toggle between Ramping and Stepped output levels |
| Off | Click 10x | Toggle between locked and unlocked |
| Locked | Click | One blink to indicate locked status |
^Ramp will increase to the highest and blink then stop ramping. Another hold will cause the ramp to go down. You can perform this change of direction anywhere in the ramp.
^^Blinks ones then tens with a pause between. Such as blink blink blink (longer pause) blink blink blink would be 3.3V. This must be turned off – it doesn’t seem to go off after a certain number of blinks.
LED and Beam
In my review copy of the Convoy M21H is a Cree XHP70.3 HI emitter in 4000K.
The light uses a dimpled TIR. This gives a really great beam profile, too.
LED Color Report (CRI and CCT)
This Cree XHP70.3 HI emitter is absolutely gorgeous. The CRI is high (above 90) and the CCT stays right around the claimed 4000K. I do note upon removing the bezel and TIR that my light has developed a bit of a dark spot, but that mostly wiped off.
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)
I keep the test flashlight on the left and the BLF-348 reference flashlight on the right.
I compare everything to the KillzoneFlashlights.com 219b BLF-348 because it’s inexpensive and has the best tint!
Conclusion
What I like
- Emitter options
- Low cost
- USB-C charging
- Indicating switch
- Great beam profile (relatively tight hotspot, very throwy)
- Ramping is an option
- I appreciate moonlight on this light!
What I don’t like
- Only a lanyard for carry (and the lanyard, as always, is installed incorrectly)
- The ramping speed never suited me well
Notes
- This content originally appeared at zeroair.org. Please visit there for the best experience!
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