I’ve actually tried quite a few flashlights in the last 30 days or so, and I figured, rather than do a bunch of individual review videos, I’d start with one tabletop-style session where I just talk through my impressions.

I’ll cover all the ones I tried, which ones ended up being my favorites, and how they compare to each other overall.

Firsts and New Brands

This round of reviews includes a bunch of firsts for me, which was kind of cool:

• Convoy Lights: I’d never tried any before, but I’ve got three of them here. I’d heard the name, but had never owned one myself.
• Skillhunt: Another brand I’ve heard mentioned a lot but never owned. I picked up the E2A—maybe not the biggest or mightiest entry, but worth discussing.
• Nichia 719A: This is my first light with the 719A emitter. I’ve had a bunch of 219s and 519s, but this was new territory.

I also picked up some lights with USB-C charging, some without, and a few dual-fuel options.

Convoy S21E vs Lumintop D2, Part 1

The S21E is fairly similar to the Lumintop D2 that I’ve had for several years. Both are 21700 lights, USB-C chargeable, Nichia emitters, and similar in size. The D2 is a little fatter, and even though its bezel is wider, they throw about the same.

That’s likely thanks to the 719A, which I’ll talk more about in a minute.

Convoy T4: A Dual-Fuel Standout

This is a 2xAA or 14500 dual-fuel light, and I find it really interesting. Most dual-AA lights I’ve seen (like the Nitecore MT2A Pro) use a proprietary lithium battery that’s the length of two AAs. While I’m usually not a fan of proprietary batteries, the saving grace here is that it can also run on regular AAs.

None of the other lights I’ve tried so far can use two 14500s—this one can, which gives you some extra flexibility.

Convoy S6: The Community Favorite (That I Didn’t Love)

This light is kind of a darling in flashlight circles. People like that it has no branding, is very pocketable, and throws well for a small light. I agree it throws well, but…

It’s not one of my favorites.

Here’s why:

• No external USB-C charging.
• No USB-C charging on the battery itself.
• It doesn’t do anything beam-wise that another light in my collection doesn’t do better (i.e. other lights throw similarly but have better flood)

Also worth noting: it has a hidden tail switch that’s great for preventing accidental activation. And the pocket clip from the Convoy S2+ fits if you screw it into the lanyard hole.

Unless you get this with an SFT40 emitter for true throw performance, I don’t see a compelling reason to choose this over the S21E or other lights.

Skillhunt E2A: A Mixed Bag

I like the dual-fuel aspect, and I love when a battery has built-in USB-C. It’s not my favorite method of charging, but it’s convenient for travel.

This one uses a TIR optic. Normally, I like TIR beams, but in this case, it has no spill—just a diffuse hot spot. That makes it less useful than other AA lights I’ve used.

Compared to the Lumintop Tool AA, which has a similar hot spot plus spill, I’d take the Tool every time for walking trails or general use.

That said, my 3-year-old son loves the E2A, so I’ll probably pass it on to him. It’s well-built, easy to use, and has three basic modes: low, medium, high.

AA Lights Comparison

I compared three main AA lights:

• Skillhunt E2A
• Lumintop Tool AA
• Nitecore MT1A

Each one has a distinct beam profile:

• Tool AA: Balanced beam with good hot spot and spill.
• MT1A: Best thrower of the group.
• E2A: Most diffused hot spot, but no spill.

If I were choosing a light to walk around with in the dark, I’d take the Tool AA or the MT1A.

The Winner: Convoy S21E with Nichia 719A

Easily my favorite of the bunch.

What I Love:

• The beam profile is nearly perfect. It’s the most throwy light I have in this size, and still provides ample spill around it. Also the high CRI in 4000K looks fantastic.
• Wide area illumination on high modes—lights up my whole backyard on higher modes
• Lightweight and compact for a 21700 light.
• USB-C charging on the outside.
• Tailstands easily.
• Great for reading to my son at night (warm 4000K beam).
• Ideal for camping, trails, or pocket EDC.

Compared to the Lumintop D2:

• Slightly lighter.
• Narrower bezel = less likely to get scratched or cause pocket damage.
• Better beam overall.
• Feels like an upgrade in every way.

It’s now one of my favorite lights in my whole collection and definitely the best Convoy I’ve tried so far.

Final Thoughts

A few key takeaways:

• Skillhunt E2A: Good build, interesting beam, but not my favorite.
• Convoy S6: Great thrower, but limited by no built-in charging or standout beam performance.
• Convoy T4: Heavy but durable. Nice to have dual-fuel flexibility.
• S21E: The all-around champ. Highly recommended.

If you’ve tried any of these lights with different emitters, especially more throwy ones like the SFT40, I’d love to hear how they compare.

Drop your questions or suggestions in the comments. Thanks for reading, and I’ll catch you in the next one!