Armytek Elf C2 Max USB-C Headlamp Review
Armytek Elf C2 Max#
- Specifications
- Introduction
- Torch in use
- Build quality
- LED, bezel, lens, reflector and beam
- Size and comparison
- User interface
- Batteries and charging
- Performance
- Beamshots
- Thermal Images
- Conclusion
- Price
- Product page
Specifications#
| Brand/model | Armytek Elf C2 Max |
|---|---|
| LED | White |
| Maximum lumens | 4,500 lm |
| Maximum throw | 150 m |
| Battery | 1*21700, 1*18650 |
| Onboard charging | Yes (USB-C) |
| Material | Aluminium |
| Modes | 5 |
| Blinkies | Beacon, Strobe |
| Reflector | TIR |
| Waterproof | IP68 |
| Review date | March 2026 |
Introduction#
The Armytek Elf C2 Max is a 21700-sized headlamp with USB-C charging.
It has a powerful magnet in the tailcap.
No more magnetic charging!
You can always get the Armytek Wizard C2 Pro Max LR Warm if you prefer magnetic charging.
I have reviewed multiple headlamps and hunting torches from Armytek.
Armytek provided this torch for review. I have not been paid for this review nor have I held back my opinions of this torch.
Packaging#
The headlamp comes in a black and bronze box with Armytek branding. There are specifications on the box instead of in the printed user manual.
The following was included in the box:
- Armytek Elf C2 Max.
- Holster.
- Protected Armytek 3.6V Li-ion 21700 5000mAh cell.
- 18650 adapter.
- USB-A to USB-C charging cable.
- Pocket clip.
- Two spare o-rings.
- User manual.
User Manual#
Battery Warning Card#
Torch in use#
The headband feels comfortable and secure on my head.
It feels a little top heavy so the top strap is a must. The top strap can be removed if you want to fit this on a helmet.
There is an extra inch or two of room left for the headband to be adjusted on my head.
The included one-way pocket clip fits snugly on the tube.
The headlamp can tailstand.
The bracket on the headband is made of a stiff plastic. It feels comfortable with the headband threaded behind it.
The headlamp snaps into place when pushed into the bracket and a large o-ring can be stretched over the headlamp to keep it even more secure.
The bracket allows the headlamp to be rotated.
Build quality#
The Armytek Elf C2 Max is made of aluminium and it has a matte black anodised finish.
The USB-C cover feels like it could break over time. It takes a bit of effort to insert the cover into the USB-C port after charging the headlamp.
There is no magnetic charging but the magnet in the tailcap is very strong!
The anodised threads came well lubricated. There are two o-rings for better water resistance.
The spring near the head of the torch is a bit small. That said, a short unprotected flat top Molicel P42A 21700 4200mAh cell fits ok. Longer protected 21700 cells also fit.
The quality of the holster is pretty good.
The sides have elastic to keep the headlamp secure.
There is a wide loop to thread a belt or a strap through. And there is a small d-ring to clip or tie the holster up to something.
LED, bezel, lens, reflector and beam#
The Armytek Elf C2 Max has a Cool White LED.
A press-fit bezel is pressed down against an o-ring, a tempered glass lens, another o-ring and a TIR optic.
The packaging shows how the optical components are assembled in the head.
CCT, CRI, and duv#
I have taken Correlated Colour Temperature (CCT) and Colour Rendering Index (CRI, RA of R1-R8) measurements with the torch positioned two metres away from an Opple Light Master Pro III (G3) for Main1, Main2, Main3 and Turbo.
The CCT is around 5820K, the CRI is around 66 and the Delta u, v is positive (green) on lower modes and closer to pure white on Turbo.
The beam produced is very floody. It has a smooth hot spot.
| Mode | CCT (K) | CRI (Ra) | x | y | Duv |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main1 | 5730 | 67.7 | 0.3270 | 0.3504 | 0.0071 |
| Main2 | 5647 | 64.5 | 0.3289 | 0.3539 | 0.0080 |
| Main3 | 5827 | 65.6 | 0.3249 | 0.3466 | 0.0062 |
| Turbo | 6078 | 67.3 | 0.3202 | 0.3364 | 0.0033 |
Calculate Duv from CIE 1931 xy coordinates
Dimensions and size comparison#
Dimensions#
I took the following measurements using a digital caliper.
| Measurement | Unit (mm) |
|---|---|
| Length | 121.57 |
| Head width | 30.7 |
| Head depth | 25.48 |
| Tube diameter | 23.57 |
| Tail diameter | 27.52 |
Weight#
I took the following measurements using a digital scale.
| Weight | Unit (g) |
|---|---|
| Torch | 80.82 |
| Battery | 73.23 |
| Headband | 57.0 |
| Torch with battery | 154.05 |
| Torch with battery and headband | 211.05 |
The 211 gram weight of this 21700-sized headlamp is noticeable on my head.
On the other hand, the slightly smaller 18650-sized Armytek Wizard C2 WG feels ok at 163.54 grams with the headband and battery.
Size comparison with its competition#
Armytek Elf C2 Max, Armytek Wizard C2 Pro Max LR Warm
Armytek Wizard C2 WG, Armytek Wizard C2 WR
User interface#
The torch is controlled by an electronic side switch.
There are multiple modes:
- Firefly mode
- Main modes (Main1, Main2, Main3)
- Turbo mode
- Strobe modes (Beacon, Strobe)
| State | Action | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Off | Click | On (mode memory) |
| Off | Press and hold | On (Firefly) |
| On | Click | Off |
| On | Press and hold | Cycle (Main1, Main2, Main3) |
| Firefly | Press and hold | Cycle (Main1, Main2, Main3) |
| Firefly, Main1, Main2, Main3 | Two clicks | Turbo |
| Turbo | Two clicks | Last used mode (Main1 if Beacon or Strobe) |
| Any | Four clicks | Strobe |
| Strobe | Press and hold | Cycle (Beacon, Strobe) |
The torch can be locked out by unscrewing the tailcap 1/4 turn.
Lamp mode with pass-through charging#
There is a Lamp mode where you can run the headlamp from a USB-C power supply with or without a battery.
You could use a powerbank with an efficient 5V/2A output to keep this headlamp powered while camping long after the 21700 cell has gone flat. You would not need to waste energy charging the 21700 cell if you unscrew the tailcap 1/4 turn to disconnect the battery.
This mode is limited to: Firefly, Main1, Main2 and Main3
If you start charging a battery in the headlamp with a USB-C cable and then turn the light on, the battery will continue to charge. Armytek recommend using at least a 5V/2A power supply when using Lamp mode while charging the battery, and 5V/1A when using Lamp mode without a battery.
If the USB-C power supply cannot supply enough current, the output will be reduced and the torch will switch to a lower mode automatically.
Mode memory#
There is mode memory.
The torch will use the last used mode when powered by a battery.
In “Lamp mode”, if the last used mode was Turbo, Beacon or Strobe then the torch will change to Main1.
Multicolour indication#
There is a multicolour indicator under the yellow button cover. The indicator is used for the battery level and the temperature.
I did not find much information about this feature in the user manual. I have compiled this information by playing around with the headlamp to see what it does and by reading through user manuals for other Armytek Elf torches. There may be some additional modes that I have not mentioned.
| Indicator | State |
|---|---|
| Green flashes once every 4 seconds | Battery level ≥ 25% |
| Orange flashes once every 2 seconds | 10 ≥ Battery level < 25% |
| Red flashes once every second | Battery level < 10% |
| Orange flashes 3 times every 2 seconds | Warning temperature level |
| Red flashes 3 times every second | Critical temperature level |
It looks like the indicator has two modes:
- The indicator is switched on in any state.
- The indicator is switched off.
To change the multicolour indicator mode:
- Unscrew the tailcap 1/4 turn while the torch is off.
- Press and hold the button.
- Tighten the tailcap.
- Immediately uncrew the tailcap 1/4 turn when a red indicator light turns on.
- Release the button.
- Tighten the tailcap.
Strobe#
Strobe1 is a Beacon mode. Strobe2 is a Strobe mode.
Strobe has a constant frequency.
Beacon, Strobe
I measured Strobe with a Zoyi ZT-703S oscilloscope.
Low voltage protection#
There is low voltage protection built into the torch.
I tested low voltage protection by connecting the head of the torch to a bench power supply and then by lowering the voltage from 4.2V to 0V.
The output drops to Firefly mode when the voltage reaches 2.80V.
The light turns off around 2.66V.
Pulse Width Modulation#
I did not notice any visible PWM (flickering).
Main1, Main2, Main3, Turbo
I measured the PWM of the light with a Zoyi ZT-703S oscilloscope.
What I like about the UI#
- Simple to use.
- I like how Strobe is not in the main group.
- Shortcut to Firefly from off.
- Shortcut to Turbo from off.
- Shortcut to Strobe from off.
What could be improved#
- The shortcut for Strobe could be three clicks instead of four or more clicks to keep things simpler.
Batteries and charging#
Battery#
The torch supports a 21700 cell or an 18650 cell (with an adapter). Armytek recommends using a cell capable of 15A.
A protected Armytek 3.6V Li-ion 21700 5000mAh cell was included inside the torch. It arrived with a voltage of 3.48V.
I measured a capacity of 5,099 mAh for the Armytek 21700 5000mAh cell using a Gyrfalcon S8000 by discharging it from 4.20V to 2.50V at a rate of 0.5A. Low voltage protection kicks in just below 2.50V.
| Cell | Top | Compatible? |
|---|---|---|
| Armytek 21700 3.6V Li-ion 5000mAh | Flat | Yes |
| Molicel P42A 21700 4200mAh | Flat | Yes |
| NEXTORCH 21700 3.7V Li-ion 5000mAh USB-C | Button | Yes |
| Wuben ABD4800 21700 3.6V Li-ion 4800mAh | Button | Yes |
| XTAR 21700 3.7V Li-ion 5000mAh | Button | Yes |
Short flat top 21700 cells and long protected 21700 cells with built-in USB-C charging work.
Charging#
The headlamp has USB-C charging.
Power supply: PinePower Desktop USB-C
USB Meter: ChargerLAB Power-Z KM003C
Room temperature: 23 C
It took 2 hours 58 minutes for the torch to charge the included 21700 cell from 2.91V to 4.17V at a rate of 5V/2.4A.
The charging indicator behind the button is red while charging and it becomes green when charging is complete. If the light is blinking red then charging has not started and there is an issue.
Performance#
Specifications from the box:
| ANSI/PLATO FL1 2019 | Turbo | Main3 | Main2 | Main1 | Firefly | Strobe2 | Strobe1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Output (lumens) | 4,500 | 840 | 330 | 110 | 1 | 4,500 | 330 |
| Runtime | 2h 35min | 3h | 8h | 27h | 30 days | 12h 30min | 40h |
| Beam Distance (metres) | 150 | ||||||
| Beam Intensity (cd) |
Turbo drops to 1,275 lumens after 1 minute.
Strobe2 drops to 1,275 lumens after 3 minutes.
I used the included cell to perform the following tests.
Lumen measurements#
I measured the current at turn on with a bench power supply for Main1, Main2 and Main3 and I used a Zoyi ZT-QS7 clamp meter for Turbo.
| Mode | Amps at start | Specs | Lumens @turn on | Lumens @30 sec | Lumens @10 min |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main1 | 0.13 A | 110 | 93 | 92 | 90 |
| Main2 | 0.43 A | 330 | 285 | 280 | 278 |
| Main3 | 1.25 A | 840 | 711 | 696 | 682 |
| Turbo | 11.00 A | 4,500 | 3,580 | 3,727 | 1,019 |
Firefly is too low for my DIY lumen tube to detect. It is less than 1 lumen.
Runtime graphs#
I used my own DIY lumen tube with a TSL2591 sensor and forked bmengineer’s project RuTiTe to record runtimes.
Note: Lumen measurements may be off by 10% with my DIY lumen tube.
The room temperature was approximately 23 C.
Runtime#
Here is a summary of the runtime results:
| Mode | User manual | Runtime | Turn off | Final voltage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turbo | 2h 35min | 2h 37min 55s | 4h 6min 22s+ | 2.79 |
| Main3 | 3h | 5h 10min 27s | 5h 10min 27s+ | 2.81 |
| Main2 | 8h | 10h 37min 18s | 10h 37min 18s+ | 2.73 |
| Main1 | 27h | 29h 29min 58s | 36h+ | 2.81 |
| Firefly | 30 days | 10min+ | 10min+ |
“Runtime” is the time until the output reduces to 10% of the output at 30 seconds (as per the ANSI/PLATO FL1 2019 Standard).
“Turn off” is the time until my DIY lumen tube no longer detects more than one lumen.
“+” indicates that the light remained on after recording had stopped.
The runtimes are better than expected and the output is well regulated.
Throw#
I took lux measurements with a UNI-T UT383BT at 30 seconds. Turbo was measured at five metres.
| Mode | Specs (cd) | Specs (m) | Candela measured (cd) | Distance (m) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turbo | 150 | 6,075 | 155 |
Beamshots#
I went to a local park and I aimed the torch at a tree 70 metres away while using Turbo.
Beamshots were taken using a Sony RX100M2 using 3.2", f3.2, ISO 100, 5000K WB.
Armytek Elf C2 Max (Turbo)#
Armytek Wizard C2 Pro Max LR Warm (Turbo2)#
Armytek Wizard C2 WG (Turbo)#
Armytek Wizard C2 WR (Turbo)#
Armytek Wizard C2 Pro Nichia (Turbo)#
Sofirn HS21 Spotlight (Turbo)#
Sofirn HS21 Floodlight (Turbo)#
Cyansky HS6R Spot (High)#
Cyansky HS6R Flood (High)#
Thermal Images#
I used a Thermal Master P3 to take thermal images of the torch while using Turbo. Get 10% off the Thermal Master P3 with code Mcmahon10
Room temperature: 23 C
| Time (mm:ss) | Max Temperature |
|---|---|
| 00:00 | 25.6 C |
| 01:00 | 51.4 C |
| 02:00 | 48.9 C |
| 03:00 | 46.4 C |
| 04:00 | 45.6 C |
| 05:00 | 45.6 C |
The temperature peaked at 51.4 C within the first minute and then it started to cool down.
Most of the heat is contained within the head.
Here is a rear view of the torch:
Conclusion#
The Armytek Elf C2 Max is the bigger brother to the Armytek Wizard C2 Pro Max range of headlamps.
The 21700 battery provides a bigger capacity and better runtimes. This is great for camping over multiples days.
If the battery goes flat, you can power the headlamp via USB-C with a powerbank.
The user interface is simple enough. Armytek have been make small adjustments here and there to perfect it. There are shortcuts to Firefly, Turbo and Strobe from off.
The wide beam is why I like Armytek headlamps with a TIR optic. It is nice to see a glass lens being used to protect the TIR optic!
My only complaint about this headlamp would be the low CRI of 67 and the cool white colour temperature. I don’t mind cool white for easier identification of animals at night. But it would be great to see an option with a warm colour temperature and a 90 CRI. It is a personal preference.
If you are not a fan of magnetic charging, then this USB-C headlamp is worth checking out.
If you are looking for a headlamp to fish with at night then I would recommend either an Armytek Wizard C2 WR with a warm white light and a red light, or an Armytek Wizard C2 WG with a warm white light and a green light.
Pros:#
- USB-C charging!
- Runtimes are better than expected.
- Output is well regulated.
- Good beam distance.
- Floody beam.
- Comfortable headband.
- Lamp mode (run it off a powerbank or a USB-C power supply).
- Glass lens protects the TIR optic.
Cons:#
- Lumen output is lower than expected.
- Low CRI.
- USB-C cover might break over time (mine is ok so far).
Price#
The Armytek Elf C2 Max PCB White is US$105 at armytek.com