Convoy S2+ MAO Flashlight Review
The Convoy S2+ MAO flashlight is a familiar package. A great 18650 light (18350 available!) with many emitter options (Cree XP-L HI here!). Look at that MAO!!
Official Specs and Features
Here’s a link to the Convoy S2+ MAO flashlight product page.
Versions
An “old version” of the Convoy S2+ exists. It has different threads from this current revision. Of the current revision (with better threads!) there are a ton of colors and emitters. There are even metal variants, including this Convoy S2+ MAO flashlight in aluminum, brass, and copper. All sorts of emitter options are available, too!
There are a few driver options, too! This test covers specifically the “7135*8 12 groups” driver.
Price
I paid $20.46 for the Convoy S2+ MAO flashlight. Price can fluctuate a bit but it’ll be around $20. You should add a 18650 to the order. Grab the 18350 tube, too!
What’s Included
- Convoy S2+ MAO flashlight
- Lanyard
- EVE 18650 (additional purchase)
Package and Manual
There is no manual.
Build Quality and Disassembly
Convoy is very highly regarded by flashlight enthusiasts for having great build quality and low prices. This Convoy S2+ MAO flashlight is no exception. I bought this version specifically to see the MAO (micro-arc oxidation). I like it! It’s well done. I guess MAO can be a sort of fragile finish and this MAO doesn’t feel different from other MAOs. So you can expect it to show marks and possibly be scratched. Now you know!
Yes, I’ve tested the Convoy S2+ before (a few times, actually) and even once in an orange color. Recently I tested a personal favorite: brass! But if nothing else, maybe you’ll be interested in some photos of the MAO, and also this older (personal favorite) Cree XP-L HI emitter.
This Convoy S2+ MAO flashlight has the standard Convoy diamond pattern of knurling.
Both head and tail come off the light. The tail parts are held in place by a brass retaining ring.
Both head and tail have big ol’ beefy springs.
The cell tube is fully removable. The head end (left) has unanodized threads. The tail end has MAO threads. This cell tube is reversible.
Normally I remove the tailcap for cell swaps. On this MAO, though, the finish makes the tailcap absolutely chirpy. So removing the head is the way to go. That’s really only marginally better as far as “nails on a chalkboard go” but the coated tail threads are [shudder].
Size and Comps
Length: 118.9mm
Width: 24.1mm
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+. The version below is a custom laser-engraved Convoy S2+ host by GadgetConnections.com. I did a full post on an engraved orange host right here! Or just go straight to GadgetConnections.com to buy your Convoy S2+ now!
Also above is the light beside a 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
There are three main ways to carry the S2+. The first is a pocket clip, which requires a separate purchase. I happened to have a few on hand. You should be sure to buy one (or a few) with the light! Unlike me, because I failed to do so with this purchase. Since MAO is as fragile as it is, I did not actually install the clip on this light.
Two clip types are available. There’s a friction fit clip, as seen above. This can fit in a few places on the tail end of the light. All provide “fairly deep” carry. There’s also a screw-in pocket clip, which I do not prefer. That clip attaches through the lanyard holes on one side of the tailcap.
Included with this purchase is a lanyard. The lanyard fits through the same two holes on the tailcap where the clip can be installed. Note that the holes are only on one side of the tail, so the lanyard and screw clip can’t be used together unless actually attaching the lanyard to the clip. I don’t know if the clip will withstand that type of use, though (it’s fairly thin).
This lanyard is the “simple” variety, and that’s fine. I never use lanyards anyway!
Power and Runtime
The Convoy S2+ is powered by a single lithium-ion cell. The default tube supports a single 18650 cell. The accessory tube supports a single 18350 cell. The long tube is not suitable for two 18350 cells!
The cell goes into the light in the normal direction – positive end toward the head.
Here are a number of runtimes for the 18650 setup. The light does have low voltage protection. This performance is very typical of the Convoy S2+ 12-mode driver. It does look like the low voltage warning has changed here – now it’s after the final stepdown. In previous (or “different”) iterations, the light will blink in the main mode (for example at 150 lumens) instead of only blinking after that stepdown to 20 lumens.
One thing to note in the test above and also the last runtime below – that’s a synthetic runtime test!
By user request, I have added a different scale for time, in a manner of speaking. My graphing process is not conducive to changing “Time in Minutes” to “hours” or even “days.” Could I? Sure, sure. But everything works better if I keep it this way. So the concession is that I’ve thrown in hours and days as a separate item. I like it fine, and it definitely provides usable data.
This last test is one I’ve never tested before – it’s the “1%” output level. There’s no claim made so nothing to compare this to, and this is a synthetic runtime. The “cell” does have the same capacity as was used in the real runtimes above, so that’s comparable. One difference in the synthetic runtime tests you can notice is that it doesn’t pick up (graphically) the warning. From experience (sitting over the light), that warning does exist and works as it should. The “final voltage” is a new addition to this synthetic runtime test, too. I’m still fleshing out interest in this specific part of runtime testing, so please let me know in the comments what you think!
Modes and Currents
| Mode | Mode Claimed Output (lm) | Claimed Runtime | Measured Lumens | Tailcap Amps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100% | – | – | 845 (0s) 813 (30s) |
2.69 |
| 35% | – | – | 296 (0s) 293 (30s) |
0.90 |
| 10% | – | – | 105 | 0.30 |
| 1% | – | – | 33 | 0.09 |
| 0.1% | – | – | 1.9 | [low] |
Pulse Width Modulation
One fly in the ointment with this hardware setup is that it does use PWM. Despite what looks to be quite slow PWM on the lowest mode, I don’t notice it by eye. And if I don’t, you almost certainly will not, too.
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
There’s a single switch on the Convoy S2+ MAO flashlight. This is a reverse mechanical clicky. A reverse clicky has the benefit of allowing mode changes while the light is on. But this also means that the switch does nothing until it is on – no momentary action whatsoever. This is the 12-mode group user interface, but a four-mode group is also available.
You may recall that I prefer metal switches on my S2+ lights. That’s still true! This one is fine and a nice implementation, but metal switches do suit me better. I’ll add that despite this cover being translucent, this is not the lighted switch that Convoy offers. You could add that, though!
The action on these metal switches is fantastic. It’s like clicking a good Bic Clic Stic pen – just a rewarding action.
This driver is known as “Biscotti” and has a bunch of mode groups. Actually, this is reportedly not true Biscotti – that’s why I called it “Fauxcotti.” It’s nearly the same though. Mode memory can be turned on or off (yay!), and programming is easy! But there are simply too many possibilities for me to list the UI in a table as I usually do. Here is Simon’s flow chart for the UI.
Here’s the official guide for the Biscotti firmware:
From the mode group selection above, the light ships in mode group 1. You’ll want to switch it to mode group 2 quickly of course. And I always turn off memory if possible (and it’s possible here!). I made a first pass at my flow chart, which you can see below.
It really seems like time for me to update this chart. Still functional, though!
LED and Beam
This copy of the Convoy S2+ has a Cree XP-L HI emitter. For a very long time, the Cree XP-L HI emitter was a personal favorite. It still is. I am not making the claim that this is the best emitter, but I still love it.
This Convoy S2+ MAO flashlight has an smooth reflector and a glow gasket, too.
LED Color Report (CRI and CCT)
Despite there being much newer and factually and arguably better emitters, I will still maintain that the Cree XP-L HI is “good enough.” The CRI is middle-of-the-road (80+) and the claimed CCT is fine for most uses. Actual CCT is fine too, at around 4300K – this is a good (like the CRI) middle-of-the-road CCT. R9 is fairly low and Duv is positive though, which really does help explain the beam in the photo above.
I will say that despite this emitter being labeled 5000K, it comes in a bit cool for that rating. Duv is either right at BBL (or below, which I prefer), but on 100%, the CCT is all the way up in the 5600K range.
Beamshots
These beamshots are always with 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. These photos are taken around 18 inches from the door.
I compare everything to the KillzoneFlashlights.com 219b BLF-348 because it’s inexpensive and has the best tint!
Summary and Conclusion
You should all know I love an S2+. I can safely say it’s one of my favorite flashlights – even though I think it’s taken me a very long time (and many purchases) to actually realize that. It’s so good for so many things. I love the MAO finish of this Convoy S2+ MAO flashlight and I still think the Cree XP-L HI emitter is worth considering.
Go buy this Convoy S2+ MAO flashlight! Buy the 18350 tube too!
The Big Table
| Convoy S2+ MAO flashlight | |
|---|---|
| Emitter: | Cree XP-L HI |
| Price in USD at publication time: | $21.00 |
| Cell: | 1×18650 |
| Runtime Graphs | |
| LVP? | Yes |
| Switch Type: | Mechanical |
| On-Board Charging? | No |
| Claimed Lumens (lm) | – |
| Measured Lumens (at 30s) | 813 |
| Candela per Lumen | 15.26 |
| Claimed Throw (m) | – |
| Candela (Calculated) in cd (at 30s) | 348lux @ 5.815m = 11767cd |
| Throw (Calculated) (m) | 217.0 |
| Claimed CCT | 4000 |
| Measured CCT Range (K) | 4100-4400 Kelvin |
| Item provided for review by: | Me |
| 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 I like
- The MAO finish is pretty (can be chalk-boardy though!)
- Familiar user interface
- Great build quality, and certainly at the price
- 18350 cell tube option
- Cell adds only ~$3 ish
What I don’t like
- Pocket clip isn’t included (or at least pushed – I always need a reminder to grab one!)
- MAO finish is chirpy as everything.
Notes
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