This post is sort of a companion to my last one, where I compared a whole bunch of new Convoy lights I’ve tried recently. But today, we’re going to narrow the focus. This one is all about the Convoy S21E.
If you caught the previous article, you already know that this quickly became one of my favorite flashlights in my collection. And out of the four new Convoy lights I tested, it was hands down my favorite.
First Impressions and Setup
This was actually my very first Convoy light—what an introduction to the brand. I picked it up with the Nichia 719A emitter, which was also a first for me.
Before I bought it, I read quite a bit about how the 719A compares to the 219 and 519 Nichias. A lot of what I saw suggested that the 719A was noticeably more “throwy,” and that’s definitely been my experience.
Pair that emitter with the bezel design on the S21E, and what you get—at least in my opinion—is just about the perfect beam profile for a light this size.
Pocketability and Real-World Use
I’ve owned bigger throwers, like the Sofirn C8L, and they’re great in niche scenarios—camping, long-distance spotting, that kind of thing. But they’re bulky. You’re not going to just toss them in a pocket and head out.
The S21E, though? Totally pocketable. You can throw it in a coat pocket, a backpack, or even your jeans. It’s the kind of light you’ll actually carry, which makes it useful. As they say with cameras: “The best camera is the one you have with you.” Same goes for flashlights.
This used to be my go-to pocket thrower (referring to the Lumintop D2), and while it still holds up well, I find the S21E throws just as far, has a slightly larger hot spot—which I actually find more useful—and offers much better spill.
Beam Performance and Design
The beam from the S21E is incredibly balanced.
- It’s the throwiest light I have in this size.
- The spill is wide and bright enough for trail walking, general outdoor use, or lighting up an entire backyard.
I’ve got about an acre of property, and on its higher modes, this light easily covers that space. In fact, it’s become my go-to for just about everything.
Both the S21E and the D2 have USB-C charging, similar size and weight, and both use 21700 batteries. But for my needs, the S21E wins across the board.
It’s more pocketable, has five brightness modes (plus Moonlight and strobe), and hits 1000 lumens even with the warm Nichia emitter. I got mine in 4000K, and the warm beam is perfect for nighttime use—especially when reading bedtime stories to my son.
Build and Features
There’s a lot to love here.
The S21E includes Moonlight mode, which you can access by holding the button while turning it on. Triple-clicking gets you to strobe. Strobe isn’t a must-have for me, but it’s nice when it’s there.
The tail-stand capability is something I didn’t care about much in the past, but now I use it all the time—like in my office at night, where I want dim ambient light without overhead glare. I’ll tail-stand the S21E on low mode and get just enough illumination.
Locking out the light to avoid accidental activation is also simple. It barely takes a twist—less than a quarter turn—and you’re locked out. Twist it back just a bit, and you’re ready to go.
Comparing It to the Convoy S6
Let’s circle back to the Convoy S6, which I briefly mentioned in my last video.
This one gets talked about a lot in flashlight forums, mostly because it’s affordable, well-built, and unbranded. From pictures, I expected it to be thinner and more pocket-friendly. In reality, it’s not much slimmer than the S21E, and they weigh about the same.
The problem is: you’re losing a lot of features with the S6.
There’s no external USB-C charging. It doesn’t come with a pocket clip. The one I have on mine is a workaround using an S2+ clip I screwed on.
And unless you’re carrying a bunch of extra 18650 batteries, it’s not an ideal field light. If it dies, you’re done — unless you’ve packed spares and a charger. By contrast, the S21E charges anywhere via USB-C.
In hindsight, I should’ve bought the S6 with an SFT40 emitter, which would’ve given it a more distinct role as a compact thrower. But I got it with a Nichia 519A, thinking the deep bezel would balance out the floody beam.
And while it throws okay, it doesn’t throw any better than the S21E — and it has way less spill. Unless you need a very narrow, focused beam with little surrounding light, there’s really no advantage here.
Why the S21E Is My Daily Pick
Even after trying multiple lights since, the S21E continues to be the one I reach for most often. It just strikes the perfect balance of beam quality, brightness, usability, and form factor.
Sure, it’s bulkier than an AA pocket light, and it’ll fill your pants pocket — so don’t expect to carry it alongside a knife or phone without noticing. But if it’s your main pocket item or you’re wearing a jacket, it’s great.
The warm 4000K beam is easy on the eyes, the UI is intuitive, and the build feels solid. The only gripe I have is that if you’re in Moonlight mode, you can’t cycle to other modes by holding the button—you have to turn it off first. It’s a small quirk, but worth mentioning.
Brian Watkins has worked as a copywriter, SEO strategist, and photographer since 2007. He’s helped numerous businesses level up their revenue through stronger copy, and is also a YouTuber. Blending creative and technical disciplines has been a passion since he was a teenager, growing up in a home with two IT tech parents while he practiced creative writing and camera work.