Armytek Wizard C2 Pro Max Warm Headlamp Review
The Armytek Wizard C2 Pro Max Warm headlamp has a Cree XHP70.2 emitter, solid user interface, and built-in proprietary magnetic charging. Read on for testing!
Official Specs and Features
Here’s a link to the Armytek Wizard C2 Pro Max Warm headlamp product page.
Versions
Armytek has many versions of this general headlamp. Of this specific iteration, there’s this warm version and a higher output, cooler white version.
Price
The Armytek Wizard C2 Pro Max Warm headlamp sells for $115.
What’s Included
- Armytek Wizard C2 Pro Max Warm headlamp
- Armytek 21700
- Pocket clip
- Headband
- Charging connector
- Nylon pouch
- 18650 adapter
- Spare o-rings (2)
- Manual
Package and Manual
Build Quality and Disassembly
Armytek has a distinct build style. The anodizing is very matte, nearly chalkboard-like. The build quality is great, though.
The Armytek Wizard C2 Pro Max Warm headlamp has a similar design to other Armytek headlamps, such as the Elf series. The head has a couple of cooling fins in the “neck” area.
Threads on the tailcap end are unanodized. There’s a big beefy spring, too. The magnet in this tailcap isn’t meant to be removed, as it plays a role in connecting to the charging base.
Inside the cell tube is another spring.
Size and Comps
ead diameter: 34.4 mm
Body diameter: 23.6 mm
Length: 121.5 mm
Weight (without battery): 79 g
If the flashlight can headstand, I’ll show it here. If it can tailstand, I’ll also show that here!
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 go straight to GadgetConnections.com to buy your Convoy S2+ now!
Also in the photo above, my Standard Reference Material (SRM) flashlight is the Hanko Machine Works Trident, an 18350 light. While I have not reviewed or tested the Gunner Grip version seen here, I have tested a Hanko Machine Works Trident Total Tesseract in brass. I love the Trident, and it’s a striking contrast to the inexpensive Convoy S2+, another great SRM.
Retention and Carry
Seen in the photo below is the very thick steel pocket clip. It’s a very nice reversible clip. It has a big mouth. The clip doesn’t allow super deep carry, leaving about 1cm out of the pocket.
The headband is a quality piece. There’s an over-the-top part to it, and the light can click in and out readily.
These prongs click around the Armytek Wizard C2 Pro Max Warm headlamp in the same place you’d connect the pocket clip.
Here you can see the top band – it’s not (really) removable.
When the Armytek Wizard C2 Pro Max Warm headlamp is clicked in, there’s a band that secures the light further.
Armytek includes a nylon pouch, as well.
The light really shouln’t be used while in this holster (but it probably could be.)
Power and Runtime
The Armytek Wizard C2 Pro Max Warm headlamp runs on one lithium-ion cell. Armytek includes a flat-top 5000mAh 21700.
The cell goes into this light in the usual way – positive end toward the head.
Armytek also includes a little adapter for using the Wizard C2 Pro Max Warm headlamp with an 18650 cell.
Output on the highest Turbo is stated as 3720. I measured a bit below that, but output is still extraordinary, and holds out for around a minute. That’s very solid output! Once the light steps down, output is very flat. There’s no fade to black.
The temperature lines in these charts are included as general context, not precise measurements. The values represent the range (min to max) during testing, but should not be taken as exact readings. Temperature sensors are attached however feasible and not always on the bezel or hottest spot (assuming that can even be clearly defined). Even with ideal placement, too many variables affect temperature to definitively state a specific max value.
Charging
The Armytek Wizard C2 Pro Max Warm headlamp offers a proprietary magnetic charging connector. The cell can be charged in a bay charger, too, of course.
The charger is proprietary magnetic on one end, and USB-A on the other.
The light can’t be used while on the charger! No surprise, since you have to unscrew the tailcap by 1/4 turn for charging.
Charging looks fine, and takes around 5 hours to charge this 5000mAh cell. Five hours makes good sense mathematically, since the charge rate is around 1A. The cell could handle more, but this rate should give it a nice, long lifespan.
Modes and Currents
| Mode | Mode Claimed Output (lm) | Claimed Runtime | Measured Lumens | Tailcap Amps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turbo2 | 3720-840 | 50s+3h15m | 3063 (0s) 3021 (30s) |
9.08 |
| Turbo1 | 1210-840 | 12m+3h20m | 1050 (0s) 1043 (30s) |
2.15 |
| Main3 | 420 | 7h | 374 | 0.71 |
| Main2 | 140 | 21h | 135 | 0.25 |
| Main1 | 42 | 64h | 54 | 0.10 |
| Firefly2 | 6.5 | 10d | 4.3 | 25.9mA |
| Firefly1 | 0.5 | 62d | 0.05 | 9.6mA |
Pulse Width Modulation
None of the modes use PWM! Yay!
Click here to 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 e-switch on the head of this light. It’s an indicating switch, with the possibility to show red, orange, and green. It’s a very clicky switch, but not too loud. And unlike many switches of this variety, the rubber boot is quite thick and feels like it’s going to last and last.
Here’s a user interface table! I honestly found the user interface fairly tricky at first, and my learning it was aided by having a way to measure lumens (to see which mode I’d landed in). But it’s not actually complicated once you understand it!
There are two mode groups. The light ships in General Type, which seems to offer nearly everything of Advanced Type except for two Turbos. Second to that, General can use either turbo, which is set by Advanced Type. Unless you really really have to have double click for Turbo, you’ll probably want to enable Advanced Type, just to have access to all 7 steady modes at all times.
| State | Action | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Off – tailcap 1/4 unscrewed | Hold switch, tighten tailcap | Switch between General and Advanced Type user interface |
| Off (General Type) | Click | On – mode memory |
| Off (General Type) | Hold | Cycle through firefly modes (2), then directly into main modes (3), and loops back to Main1 |
| Off (General Type) | Double click | Turbo (1 or 2, whichever was last used in Advance Type) |
| Off (Advanced Type) | Click | On – mode memory |
| Off (Advanced Type) | Hold | Cycle through firefly modes (2), then directly into main modes (3), then to Turbo1 |
| On (either Type) | Click | Off |
| On (Advanced Type) | Hold | Mode advance in the current section (Firefly OR Main OR Turbo OR Strobe) |
| Any (Advanced Type) | 2 clicks | Section 2 (Main group) |
| Main (Advanced Type) | 2 clicks | Section 1 (Firefly group) |
| Any (Advanced Type) | 3 clicks | Section 3 (Turbo group) |
| Any (Advanced Type) | 4 clicks | Section 4 (Strobe group) |
| Off – tailcap 1/4 unscrewed | Hold switch, tighten then loosen tailcap | Advances multicolor indicator switch options |
LED and Beam
The emitter of choice on the Armytek Wizard C2 Pro Max Warm headlamp is a Cree XHP70.2. This emitter is behind a dimpled optic (with the dimples on the inside – the outside is flat). The beam is really quite floody. Great for a headlamp!
This is the warm option.
LED Color Report (CRI and CCT)
CCT comes in under 4000K, which is great! The light still has very high output, making it an impressive entry into the Wizard lineup. The CRI is low.
CCT (Correlated Color Temperature) refers to the measurement of the color appearance of light, expressed in Kelvins (K), which indicates whether the light is warm (yellowish) or cool (bluish). A lower CCT (below 3000K) is considered warm light, while a higher CCT (above 5000K) gives cooler, bluish light.
CRI (Color Rendering Index) is a measure of how accurately a light source renders colors in comparison to natural sunlight. Scored on a scale from 0 to 100, higher CRI values indicate that colors appear more true to life and vibrant, similar to how they would look under the sun.
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. 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
The Armytek Wizard C2 Pro Max Warm headlamp is a great headlamp. While the user interface might take some getting used to, I love that it offers access to all seven steady modes. It’s also nice that in the default mode, you can essentially “disable” the highest of turbos, and not worry much about someone being able to hurt themselves with your light. I don’t love the proprietary magnetic charging, but at least the included cell can be charged in a bay charger if you wish. The price is a bit high compared to other capable headlamps, but this is still a great light!
The Big Table
| Armytek Wizard C2 Pro Max Warm headlamp | |
|---|---|
| Emitter: | Cree XHP70.2 (Warm) |
| Price in USD at publication time: | $115.00 |
| Cell: | 1×21700 |
| Runtime Graphs | |
| LVP? | Yes |
| Switch Type: | E-Switch |
| Quiescent Current (mA): | ? |
| On-Board Charging? | Yes |
| Charge Port Type: | Proprietary magnetic |
| Charge Graph | |
| Power off Charge Port | No |
| Claimed Lumens (lm) | 3720 |
| Measured Lumens (at 30s) | 3021 (81.2% of claim)^ |
| Candela per Lumen | 1.5 |
| Claimed Throw (m) | 113 |
| Candela (Calculated) in cd (at 30s) | 223lux @ 4.881m = 5313cd |
| Throw (Calculated) (m) | 145.8 (129% of claim)^ |
| Claimed CCT | – |
| Measured CCT Range (K) | 3800-4000 Kelvin |
| Item provided for review by: | Armytek |
| All my Armytek 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
- Uses standard 21700 cell
- Includes adapter
- Fantastic output
- Warm white
- Neat user interface
- Seven output levels
What I don’t like
- Low CRI
- Doesn’t quite hit output claim (probably “good enough” though)
- Charger is proprietary magnetic
Notes
- This content originally appeared at zeroair.org. Please visit there for the best experience!
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