Lightweight Rechargeable Headlamps 2020 Review
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 this review I first give some quick opinions and then go into more detail with documentation that informs those opinions.
I learn many things during this 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.
Rechargeable headlamps for off-trail travel.
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.
Table of reviewed rechargeable headlamps
Size and shape comparison
Best rechargeable headlamps
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 Fenix 18R is very similar in form and performance to the Petzl and I would be pleased to carry it. Differences include the more convincing water rating of IP66 and a wider beam. The main light settings are 30, 130, 500 lumens, and a 4 lumen close-flood. The 18R I tested has a warm light that some may prefer, but there is also a similar 18RW model that has a colder white light, and is apparently brighter and lasts longer.
This chart is provided by Fenix for the 18R light. It demonstrates impressive light regulation. I find it interesting to learn that with the 18R, if one wants to maintain a consistent 100 lumen “medium” light level for 8 hours, it is best to start with the 500 lumen “high” setting rather than the 130 lumen “medium” and let it drop over several hours into a 70 lumen intensity that it maintains for several hours more. The medium setting lasts longer but drops to an unacceptably low 40 lumens after only 3 hours. This chart is consistent with the evidence in the time-lapse studies shown later in this review. The Fenix 26R is very similar to the 18R in most respects, but small differences suggest that it might be a slightly older model. Both have internal batteries that cannot be swapped out, which is probably why they are able to achieve the exemplary IP66 water rating.
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 180 lumens is powerful, well-regulated, long lasting. The preset settings are 6, 180 and 350, and I like the typical Black Diamond feature of the push-button variable lumen settings. The “Powertap” feature is difficult to use. My tests are with the included lithium battery, and the website claims 25% increased power with Alkalines. 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.
The Nitecore NU32 has impossibly great specs that prove too good to be true. The bare light is heavy at 2.6 oz, and the light regulation is not great. The 550 lumen spot is very impressive at first, and the 190 lumen medium power is bright until after 3 hours where it appears to drop fast to something closer to 60 lumens. It has a large battery so I do not understand its poor performance. Its water rating is slightly better at IP67, due to the sealed battery. The size of the beam and its relative sharpness of its penumbra bothers my eyes, more on that later.
The Coast FL78R is unusual with its very fine- quality adjustable lens that transforms the light from an intense spot to a very evenly-lit flood, but it is very bulky and a bit heavy. Lumen settings are 530, 255 and 65 lumens, for both the flood and spot. The focussed beam beat all headlamps for distance intensity. The lightbeam has a sharply defined outline that feels like a theatrical spotlight. The light regulation is decent and the medium setting longevity is good. I would definitely prefer the spot of this light for construction work.
I do not like the UST Brila 580 light at all. The adjustable lens is poorly designed and displays noticeable disturbing lens artifacts all through its flood-to-spot range. For longevity I tested the Brila at the 270 lumens setting, expecting that it might degrade and last with some decent light power, but it still could only go 4.5 hours.
The Princeton Tec Axis disappoints in almost every way. The bulk of the light cantilevers too much off the forehead, lessening comfort. The touted feature of the turning dial is flimsy and confusing, with no obvious detents. I cannot make the “dual-spot” feature work, so my evaluation may not be completely fair, but then again, in a difficult situation I don’t want to be fiddling with a light, I just want it to perform easily. In all forms, flood and spot, high and low, the light intensity feels insipid, and it did not pass the distance test. The medium spot lumen intensity only lasts 5 hours. The manufacturer website is very uninformative, lacking lumen and battery information. The beam is non-symmetrical and ugly. Did I say that I did not like this headlamp?
Headlamp beam and appearance photos
NOTE: the exposures for each headlamp were altered to best demonstrate the visual features most apparent to my eye, so they are not consistent across the photos. It is also true that some subtleties are still missed; in some photos the penumbra looks softer or harder than how it appears to the eye, and the relative degree of “hotness” of the center beam is hard to discern when it overwhelms the photograph. The scale for each photo is nearly the same, so each photo may be judged as an accurate indication of the beam characteristics relative to the others.
The center light of the Petzl delivers light power where I want it, and the edges feather out even more smoothly than is apparent in the photo.
The photo is misleading and the ring artifacts are less apparent to the eye. The spot area is indeed large.
The beam of the Fenix HM50 is nearly perfect for my preferences; hot in the middle with a narrow outer diameter. However, I do not care for the sharpness of the outer circle, and I will mitigate that with a DIY fix. I like relatively narrow beams like this.
Similar to the Fenix HM50.
This light combines a hot spot with a semi-floody outer circle. In practice I do prefer a hot center as it is where I focus my attention.
The Nitecore beam-spread is similar to the Fenix lights, but with an even colder color temperature.
This spot is super bright and carries far. Its size is similar to the Revolt, but it lacks the softening of an outer circle.
The flood setting is very even, like a stage spotlight. The optics on this light are in a different class than the others.
The disturbing ring distortions are as apparent to the eye as they are in a photograph.
The Princeton light beam is yellowish, underpowered and goofy looking. In practice the arrangement of spot with outer circle works fine.
Distance perception at high-lumens
Each headlamp is aimed at the upper fork of the tree while in a high-power spot setting. The light spilling on the ground is of no importance for this test.
All lights except for the Princton Tec Axis and Fenix HL26R are satisfactory in this situation. The Brila 580 and the Coast FL78R show how effective a dialable-focus spot can be. Despite its low rating of 350 lumens, the spotlight of the Revolt is able to light the tree a bit better than the Petzl Actik rated at 450 lumens. I include my Zebralight H600 which is a 18650-battery type light to compare what a 1000 lumen monster can do. It is not quite as hot in the center as the Brila and the Coast, but it sure puts out a lot of light.
Time-lapse studies
In the following time-lapse studies, every two-seconds represents one hour. The Petzl is used in all three studies as a control constant. This test demonstrates relative constant illumination known as “regulation” over time as well as the duration. Photography can be misleading; the exposure I choose shows the hot center beams well but tends to obscure the subtle fuzzy penumbras that are more present in some lights than others. The flickering with some lights is a surprise and I believe it shows PWM (pulse width modulation), which is a tricky way to regulate the perception of the LED light source. PWM flickering when well done should not be apparent to the eye. To learn more about PWM: https://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?316080-PWM-What-is-it-How-does-it-work-and-how-to-detect-it
DIY headlamp straps
No ultralight hiker should accept the heavy manufacturer headbands that typically weigh .8-.9 oz (the headband for the Fenix 18R is notable for only weighing .6 oz). These DIY headbands should work for all of the lighter headlamps in this review.
This first DIY lightweight elastic headband design is robust, has two settings for both head and waist, and weighs .4 oz.
This second DIY design weighs under .2 oz. and is also capable of fitting both head and waist. Despite its appearance, it is comfortable with the lightweight headlamps in this review. These DIY materials may be obtained from a few vendors including www.litesmith.com who also sells the well-known thru-hiker Nitecore NU25 pre-fitted with this headband design.
The barrel of the Fenix HM50 calls for a different DIY solution. Options include a DIY headband with a Zebralight clip, or somehow attaching to a random backing item with a UL headband. Both options weigh .4 oz, leading to an impressive total Fenix HM50 weight of 2.2 oz.
The penumbra problem
The Nightcore NU20 is a wonderful rechargeable for trail use where I first noticed a light beam characteristic that bothers my eyes. I attribute this to some combination of the sharpness of the projected circle combined with the exact diameter of the circle. I have never read of this problem. I think it may be partially explained by the diameter of the circle landing over/near the blind spot of the eye? The best way I can describe the sensation of using this light is that it feels a bit like looking though a bottle; rather than feeling like I am looking at a spot in front of me, I feel like my vision is trapped inside of the light, and it is gripping at the edges of my peripheral vision in an unpleasant manner. Now that I am more aware of this problem, I notice variations of it with several lights.
A piece of scotch tape cut in place works amazingly well to soften the outer penumbra of the projected light. This method should work with all lights. Hopefully, few people experience this same problem with their eyes. This is why I prefer the carefully designed beam of the Petzl- hot in the center with a very soft edge fade-out.
Rechargeable headlamps review final observations
I have been able to use all three of my favorite lights this summer and I do have a few new observations. The Revolt is distinctly less comfortable carry in the pocket and to wear because of its extra size and weight. In high mode the Revolt runs a bit hot on the forehead, which is not something one would expect from an “efficient” light. The Fenix also becomes hot in the high mode, but it is held away from the forehead enough to not be noticed. All rechargeables do not seem to hold their charge for long, so one must take care to top-off before a trip. I continue to appreciate the light weight of the Petzl Actik and the Fenix 50, and they continue to perform well.
The author has no commercial interest in these lights, all were purchased or borrowed, and there are no affiliate links.
Informative articles
Why Headlamp Claims Are Deceptive:
https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/expert-advice/why-headlamp-claims-are-deceptive
Backpackers Guide to Headlamps- good general overview of headlamp considerations:
https://backpackers.com/outdoor-guides/backpackers-guide-to-headlamps
Pulse Width Modulation:
Fenix HL26R review:
http://ohlakewalker.blogspot.com/2017/05/the-fenix-hl26r-review-of-light-i-call.html
Headlamp discussion and overview:
https://www.99boulders.com/best-backpacking-headlamps
Review of Fenix HM50R:
http://budgetlightforum.com/node/55714
Typical good GearLab discussion of many mostly small lights: