Lightweight Rechargeable Headlamps 2020 Review

Cameron M

Summit Camper
Rechargeable headlamps for off-trail travel.

Hello all, I have mostly been lurking the last year but would like to share this summary of lightweight rechargeable headlamps suitable for off-trail travel, or "torches" as some of you prefer call them. I submit here a summary only but have posted a full review of nine lights with extensive photographic studies on my non-commercial non-affiliate website:
https://www.trailnamebackstroke.com/rechargeable-headlamps-2020

Several new lightweight rechargeable headlamps appear on the market, and my headlamp needs are evolving, so it seems time to give rechargeables a closer look. For many years I have used the ultralight favorites Petzl e+LIGHT and then the Nitecore NU20, which are fine for trail hiking, but not powerful enough for off-trail. My criteria for choosing headlamps to review are personal and specific to strenuous off-trail travel where I need both a strong focussed beam for route finding and extended + 100 lumen performance to survive a bad situation. During my evaluation I premiate lighter size and weight; a regulated medium-power light output that maintains a consistent strength over many hours; a good route-finding beam strength; water resistance; light reflector qualities; and a subjective rating of use-enjoyment. Considerations less important for me include price and value; a battery indicator; a red-light feature; a close-flood feature; a flashing light; and the ability to swap batteries. In my website review I first give some quick opinions and then go into more detail with documentation that informs those opinions.

Some prefer rechargeable lights for saving money or creating less battery waste in the world. The ultralight argument for a rechargeable may include making good daily use of a solar charger, otherwise, like all expendables, the size of the battery is only weight-efficient if it matches your ultimate consumption. Now that I spend most of my time off-trail I largely avoid traveling at night, and so my main requirement is having a light that is strong enough and lasts long enough to get me out of a bad situation. The efficient use of a battery over several days by drawing it down carefully may not serve one well if an unexpected bad night occurs at the end of a trip. Therein lies possibly the best argument for a rechargeable: the ability to “top off” the light each day in preparation for the unexpected bad night. The Fenix HM50, similar to the small battery Zebralights, offers a different strategy; it is so lightweight that one could carry an extra battery in reserve, with the comfort of knowing that a certain number of hours of light are in reserve.

I learn many things during the review: manufacturer stated lumens and longevity ratings are often false or wildly misleading; less heavy lights are distinctly more comfortable to wear than even slightly heavier ones; reflector design varies a lot and is very important; some aspects of light perception are difficult to quantify, even with photography. I review nine lights, almost all of which are new models for this year, and I will keep three quite different lights for more field testing and personal use: the Petzl Actik 450, Black Diamond Revolt 350 and the Fenix HM50.

My favorite headlamp is the Petzl Actik 450. The Petzl is nice to hold, is among the smallest and lightest, and is the best-looking design (I am an architect, after all). Most importantly, my tests show a unique lens light pattern that provides a center hot spot, which I strongly prefer, combined with a very gentle outer perimeter drop-off. I like the preset lumen settings of 6, 100 and 450 lumens, and the 100 lumens “medium” setting probably only degrades to about 60-70 lumens over 7.5 hours, so its light regulation is excellent. I am concerned about the middling IPX4 water rating, but the light performed fine after a kitchen test of five minutes of intense dousing. This light can use both the supplied lithium battery as well as AAA batteries. A feature shared by most of the lights is the “long-hold” button to guard against accidental activation.

I am generally impressed by Fenix on many levels: the informative website, honest ratings, and the obvious careful thought that goes into their products. The Fenix HM50 is my favorite. It features a screw-end barrel design that can use either a rechargeable or a CR123 battery just like my favorite non-rechargeable Zebralight H32W. It has an impressive IPX8 water rating and maintains a strong regulated light at the 130 lumen “medium” light level for 5.5 hours. The 50R is the lightest and smallest headlamp of this review and works well with a DIY lightweight headband for a combined total weight of only 2.4 oz. The very low weight of this light also suggests a possible failsafe strategy of taking one additional .6 oz battery, a strategy I use with the Zebralight.

The new Black Diamond Revolt 350 appears after the start my review and I almost did not bother to test it as its top light level of 350 lumens seemed too low and it is also quite heavy at 2.7 oz for the bare light. It is indeed a brute, but if I had to grab a light to go on a rescue mission, I would want this one. The focussed beam projects more light at a distance than 350 lumens suggests and the medium setting of 190 lumens is powerful, well-regulated, long lasting. I like the typical Black Diamond feature of the push-button variable lumen settings. Unfortunately, the IPX4 water rating is only average, probably a function of its ability to swap-out AAA batteries. This light in particular has many mixed web reviews, probably because of confusion with the older, inferior model.

Full review:
https://www.trailnamebackstroke.com/rechargeable-headlamps-2020
 

dovidola

Thru Hiker
You might want to revisit the weights you quote in your section entitled "DIY Headlamp Straps" and add a decimal point here and there!
 

WilliamC

Thru Hiker
I saw your post over on BPL. Thanks for sharing it here.
The Fenix HM50R has caught my attention, especially since it is available here in Turkey.
 

dovidola

Thru Hiker
Most of it's a bit out of my technical grasp, but as a Fenix HM50R user it gives me a warm smug feeling. I've certainly enjoyed using mine, and it has a certain quality feel in the hand, unusual in a lightweight tool at this level. Unlike my previous Petzl items (although nothing wrong with them), the Fenix has made the crossover into my daily carry as a go-anywhere, take-anywhere flashlight, with or without headband. It's that good.
 
I saw your post over on BPL. Thanks for sharing it here.
The Fenix HM50R has caught my attention, especially since it is available here in Turkey.
This Fenix HM50 has popped up in my reading. Seems simple and elegant and would also suit for cold weather with a CR123A battery. Did you get one William? Any thoughts if you did? I can get one for about 45 pounds and seems a good deal given it's features.
 
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WilliamC

Thru Hiker
This Fenix HM50 has popped up in my reading. Seems simple and elegant and would also suit for cold weather with a CR123A battery. Did you get one William? Any thoughts if you did? I can get one for about 45 pounds and seems a good deal given it's features.
No, I never got one. We don't really need another torch and the price was a little steep at the time. Looking at it again now, I see that the fall in the value of the Lira means that it's now the equivalent of £36 so I may need to reconsider.
 

Nigelp

Thru Hiker
In temperatures below zero I have had the NiMh batteries fail and then needing to go on the charger to revive them. I now carry a CR123 battery as a spare.
 
No, I never got one. We don't really need another torch and the price was a little steep at the time. Looking at it again now, I see that the fall in the value of the Lira means that it's now the equivalent of £36 so I may need to reconsider.
Just snagged the last local one for a the equiv of 36 price from a Fenix shop. Advertised for 50. Don't ask, don't get.:biggrin:




Oh and another NU25

 
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EM-Chiseller

Thru Hiker
Just snagged the last local one for a the equiv of 36 price from a Fenix shop. Advertised for 50. Don't ask, don't get.:biggrin:




Oh and another NU25


Oh and a Montbell UL trek brolly-128 gms.
I like the function of being able to run the fenix on medium whilst charging, but reckon the NU25 will be better overall. I'm tempted to buy a second, especially as the red light is good enough for hiking most trails. Far better than its bigger brother the NU32.
 

dovidola

Thru Hiker
I have both the Fenix (HM50R) and the Nitecore (NU25), both purchased on this site's recommendation. Can't really fault either, but the Nitecore's lower weight means it's usually the one which ends up in the backpack, whereas the Fenix has become a daily carried companion because it's just such a lovely piece of kit.
 

Ed the Ted

Ultralighter
Any thoughts on the petzl in comparison to these lights? I'm tempted by its size, having red light and being able to recharge from power bank. Sadly I think fenix isn't available here :(
 
Any thoughts on the petzl in comparison to these lights? I'm tempted by its size, having red light and being able to recharge from power bank. Sadly I think fenix isn't available here :(
Teddy, mine above are quite different lights but both are rechargeable from a power bank, neither takes more than 2 hours and both can be used whilst charging on Medium level-I just checked the Fenix. Plug them in and keep walking/reading. The Fenix battery is removeable, is rechargeable in the torch, plus, it will also use a very long life CR123 battery/the NU25 is Fixed battery. Fenix much, much longer duration than the NU25. I don't think if you want a red light X 2 levels (I don't), plus long runtime on very useable white light levels (I do), at 30 odd grams, you can beat the NU25 -but you'll have to make a DIY bungy headband. There are heaps of comparisons on the interwebs on the NU25 vs Petzl Bindi. Plus there are other Petzls, just depends what you are after.
Here's one very good review
 
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Back in Pack

Section Hiker
Any thoughts on the petzl in comparison to these lights? I'm tempted by its size, having red light and being able to recharge from power bank. Sadly I think fenix isn't available here :(

This is interesting analysis. I prefer rechargeable lights (even in winter) and the lighter the better.

I have both a Petzl Bindi (35g / 200lm) and Actik (75g / 450lm). Both are excellent. In particular, I like the reserve feature on Petzl lamps.

90% of the time I use the bindi - hiking and camp. I generally find that I just do not need that bright a light. I carry spare battery(s) to recharge my electronics every couple of days.

However for more uncertain routes I do use the bigger light. I was planning to do some ski-touring this year (before getting injured) and then some more remote backpacking, so I was going to swap the Actik out for a much higher performance light: Petzl Swift RL which is 900lm, rechargeable and only weighs 100g. (Only 25g more than the Actik).

I guess it depends on your use case. But in reality these are all excellent lights - I do not think you can go wrong with the Nitecore, Felix or Petzl, so some of it comes down to brand preference and availability
 
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Ed the Ted

Ultralighter
Teddy, mine above are quite different lights but both are rechargeable from a power bank, neither takes more than 2 hours and both can be used whilst charging on Medium level-I just checked the Fenix. Plug them in and keep walking/reading. The Fenix battery is removeable, is rechargeable in the torch, plus, it will also use a very long life CR123 battery/the NU25 is Fixed battery. Fenix much, much longer duration than the NU25. I don't think if you want a red light X 2 levels (I don't), plus long runtime on very useable white light levels (I do), at 30 odd grams, you can beat the NU25 -but you'll have to make a DIY bungy headband. There are heaps of comparisons on the interwebs on the NU25 vs Petzl Bindi. Plus there are other Petzls, just depends what you are after.
Here's one very good review

Looks good, I'll have to see if I can find nitecore here too, though I'm not hopeful. Petzl and black diamond are all that I've found having looked not that hard.
 
The Fenix. The centre beam Spot is wider than the NU25 on the 'High' setting so although not quite as high 'lumens' as the comparable 'High' level on NU25, but, it's equal in visibilty to my eyes, for running over dodgy bush terrain in pitch black. Very comfy on the scone when running. The BD Revolt this replaces bounced around all over the shop.
The wee battery. 16 gms of raw power. It's tiny.
20210512_164040.jpg
 
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EM-Chiseller

Thru Hiker
In some instances for me, the fenix could be a good thing. I could use the batteries from my steripen in an emergency/get out of mountain gaol type situation.

Something for me to have a think about before I replace my current steripen with the rechargeable model.
 
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