Black Diamond Spot 350 Headlamp Outdoor Head Torch

Product Information

When turned on, the brightness of the rechargeable battery and AAA batteries is the same. However, with the rechargeable battery, the brightness is generally constant during the burn time. This is a perk compared to standard batteries, where the brightness gradually decreases as the batteries are drained. The Spot is one of our favorite lights, but it is not without some shortcomings, which we'll cover below. Lower cost competing lights have also improved significantly over the past few years, and the Spot now faces strong competition from lower cost lights like the Petzl Tikkina, which offers strong performance at a 33% lower cost, and is one of the other lights we recommend considering before buying the Spot (the other being the BD Storm). Below we'll take you through the Spot's performance, with ample comparison and contrast to other top contenders worth consideration. Trail Finding A headlamp with a red light or dimming feature helps preserve your night vision. This is particularly useful for stargazing, wildlife observation, or maintaining your awareness of your surroundings without blinding yourself or others with a bright white light. Plus, many folks find it is easier to fall asleep at night if they've been using a red light instead of a bright white one. Extended adventures

Always refer to the user manual that comes with your headlamp for specific care and maintenance instructions provided by the manufacturer. Properly store and dispose of batteries The slender headband is wide enough to remain comfortable for hours, and the battery compartment opens easily with the flip of a small lever, requiring no tools. Adjust the brightness level of your headlamp to match the situation. For tasks that require more precision, use a higher brightness setting. When navigating open trails or paths, use a lower setting to conserve battery and avoid blinding others. Respect no-light zones

Performance Comparison

Most headlamps come with dimming or red light modes. These are ideal for situations where you want to minimize the disturbance to others while maintaining visibility. Use a red light when reading in a shared tent or camping area. Signal your presence We’ve found that the headlamp that throws light the farthest distance isn’t always the best for every activity. For example, Gadget Review estimates the distance needed for casual hiking to be 150 feet, where trail running is 30 feet, hunting is 350 feet, and caving/mountaineering is 400 feet. (We were skeptical of the 30 feet, but after interviewing several trail runners, most said having a very bright light immediately in front of them for foot placement choices was more important than distance). This one seems obvious, but when talking to others or passing by fellow outdoor enthusiasts, avoid shining your headlamp directly into their eyes. It can be temporarily blinding and disrupt their night vision. Use dimming or red light mode when appropriate Most headlamps are designed to work in cold conditions, but extremely low temperatures can affect battery performance. Keeping spare batteries warm and close to your body can help maintain their capacity in the cold. Can I use my headlamp in rainy or wet conditions?

Still, our one issue with the Nitecore NU 25 is battery life. When using the max light output of 360 lumens, it only lasts 0.5 hour–which is the lowest time of the headlamps we tested. However, in low light mode, it runs for 160 hours, which is better than some other rechargeable headlamps, like the BioLite 330. Still, it’s lower but in the general ballpark of AAA battery headlamps like the Spot 400. For many headlamps there are also special rechargeable batteries from the manufacturer to use the lamps longer. However, normal rechargeable batteries can also be used. The Petzl Actik Core has 2 hours of battery life at max power (450 lumens), 8 hours at standard power (100 lumens), and 130 hours at low power (6 lumens). Remove the batteries before long-term storage. Moisture and sweat can cause battery corrosion and ruin your headlamp (we speak from experience!) For those who enjoy nighttime adventures like night hiking or wildlife photography, a headlamp is arguably the most important gear item.BD’s PowerTap technology—found in other BD headlamps—allows you to simply tap the right side of the casing to cycle between max brightness and whatever dimmed level you previously set. The brightness memory technology means the Spot350 turns on in the mode and brightness level you last turned it off. The advantage of flashlights over headlamps is that they allow you to focus your beam better. Some runners, for example, prefer a flashlight to a headlamp because they can precisely focus their beam directly in front of them on the trail.