Comparing headlamps: one bright, one clever, one efficient
A head torch lights your way in the dark and keeps your hands free. But our comparison of three models priced between 60 and 90 francs shows clear differences in brightness, operation and comfort.
I regularly need a headlamp for fishing, as some fish bite better at night. Others use them for walking at dusk or finding their way around dark sheds. The big advantage over conventional torches is that you have your hands free and the light where you’re looking.
For this comparison, I’ve chosen three of our bestsellers that really bring a lot of light into darkness. Headlamps are less about being seen than about being able to see. And although the Black Diamond, Petzl and Nitecore models are quite similar at first glance, my test revealed clear differences. I awarded a maximum of five points in each area. Read on for my verdict on which lamp is best for which type of user.
Price: no big differences
Black Diamond Storm 500-R: At the time of testing, Black Diamond’s most popular headlamp costs 60 francs.
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Petzl Swift RL: This is the best-selling lamp in our shop. The price was just under 76 francs in mid-February.
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Nitecore HC65 UHE: The Nitecore top model costs around 90 francs.
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Features: two out of three have a replaceable battery
Black Diamond Storm 500-R: To charge the battery, you need an outdated micro-USB cable. Shame. The case is waterproof to IP67 standard, so it can be submerged in water to a depth of one metre for up to 30 minutes.
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Petzl Swift RL: The proprietary battery is charged via USB-C and is replaceable. A replacement costs around 45 francs. The case is shockproof and can withstand falls of up to a metre. Petzl only adheres to the IP54 waterproofing standard. So, rain isn’t a problem, but the lamp shouldn’t be dropped into water. A small carrying bag’s also included.
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Nitecore HC65 UHE: The lamp comes in an elegant case, which also has room for the charging cable and the additional headband. The 4000 mAh battery can be removed and replaced – it’s also proprietary, so no others will work. You can buy a replacement or second battery for just under 40 francs. The lamp is charged with a modern USB-C connection. Thanks to IP68 certification, the case stays watertight even when submerged to 1.5 metres for a long time.
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User experience: two more buttons is better
Black Diamond Storm 500-R: The lamp has two buttons. I like that you can switch on the last light you used with a quick click on the big button. There are three LEDs: two white ones for precise or wide-ranging light and a coloured LED that can light up red, blue or green. You can also dim all of them and switch on a strobe function. I particularly like that if you tap the side with your finger, both white LEDs light up at full strength.
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Source: Lorenz Keller
Petzl Swift RL: The manufacturer relies on one button. This has an advantage, but unfortunately also some drawbacks. You can always find the right button when you want to control the lamp while you’re wearing it. But you have to use this one button to go through far too many functions by pressing it briefly, for a long time and repeatedly. You can activate a narrow or a wide beam of light, each in three different strengths. There’s also a red LED that can also flash. To learn all the functions, you need the instructions – and a good memory.
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Source: Lorenz Keller
Nitecore HC65 UHE:The Nitecore lamp has two control buttons. Unfortunately, a quick press isn’t enough to turn the lamp on – you have to press and hold or press it twice. Annoying if you need light quickly. In addition, the HC65 UHE doesn’t remember the last mode you used. Pressing and holding switches on the main light with eight LEDs at the lowest level. A double press activates weak light with two LEDs across a wider area. The red light’s available as a third option. The strength can be controlled in two or three levels, and the two red LEDs can also flash. In a practical addition, glaringly bright light with full power can be activated from any mode by pressing the button twice.
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Comfort: not all headbands are made equal
Black Diamond Storm 500-R: The lamp’s attached to your head with a simple, stretchy textile band. It’s relatively thin at 1.5 centimetres, and one of the two size adjustment clips presses directly on the scalp. At least it’s quick and easy to adjust and put on. And at 101 grammes, it’s lightweight. The lamp itself can be turned down considerably, but not up.
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Petzl Swift RL: Petzl Swift RL: Here too, the strap’s mostly only 1.5 centimetres wide, but it offers a more comfortable fit than the Black Diamond. The band’s padded on the temples and where the lamp is, and it’s doubled at the back of your head to make it more stable. Also, the size adjusters don’t press directly on the scalp – something the other two manufacturers are lagging behind on. It’s a comfortable weight at 100 grammes. The lamp allows for angles between vertically down and around 45 degrees up.
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Source: Lorenz Keller
Nitecore HC65 UHE: At 153 grammes, this lamp’s significantly heavier than the others. This is due to its high-quality aluminium housing and large battery. The stretchy headband’s just over three centimetres wide, but here too there’s a buckle on the inside and it presses lightly on your head. The manufacturer also supplies another band that secures the lamp over your head. This provides even more support – but it isn’t absolutely necessary for normal movements. Being able to rotate 180 degrees is practical, enabling you to shine the light on the ground, on trees and at the sky.
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Source: Lorenz Keller
Battery life: over 24 hours of light
I did two tests on the running time: one at maximum power and one at medium brightness, which is identical for all models. This is probably a realistic scenario for everyday use.
Black Diamond Storm 500-R: The small lamp surprises with six hours of runtime on the highest setting. It only gets slightly warm. At medium brightness, it lasts an impressive 14 hours.
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Petzl Swift RL: It takes around three hours to lose full power. The case heats up quite a bit. In the endurance test, the Petzl is the first to give in: after eight hours, the power drops to the lowest level and only gives off a dim light.
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Nitecore HC65 UHE: The Nitecore delivers full power for five hours, but it gets almost uncomfortably hot at room temperature towards the end. It lasts a sensational 28 hours at medium brightness – the record in this test.
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Source: Lorenz Keller
Brightness part 1: one lamp is clearly the brightest
The manufacturers specify the luminous intensity of their lamps in lumens. This value describes how much light the lamp emits. I also measured the illumination level in lux with a sensor on the highest level at a distance of around one metre.
Black Diamond Storm 500-R: According to the manufacturer, the headlamp emits 500 lumens. I measured 17,500 lux – the worst score in my test.
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Petzl Swift RL: Petzl specifies a luminosity of 1,100 lumens for the Swift RL. I measured 20,300 lux with the sensor. That’s better than the cheapest model, but not as bright as I’d have expected.
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Nitecore HC65 UHE: Based on the specifications, this lamp has the highest luminosity with 2,000 lumens. And my measurements back this up: the Nitecore head lamp shines much more brightly than its two competitors. I measured 50,000 lux, pushing the sensor to its limits.
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Brightness part 2: how does the light look in practice?
Finally, I used the three test products to illuminate a completely dark area. The trees in the background are around 60 metres away, and light fog makes illumination difficult. I set all three headlamps to full brightness.
Source: Lorenz Keller
Black Diamond Storm 500-R: Everything’s easy to see, but the light beam’s relatively narrow.
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Source: Lorenz Keller
Petzl Swift RL: The trees are illuminated much more brightly and you can see a larger area.
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Source: Lorenz Keller
Nitecore HC65 UHE: It almost looks like daylight on the group of trees – every last detail is illuminated. The light beam is even wider and covers an area at least 25 metres wide. 🔦🔦🔦🔦🔦
Verdict: a clear winner in terms of the scores, but no clear decision
At first glance, the Nitecore lamp clearly wins with 31 points, followed by the Petzl (25 points) and Black Diamond (24 points). This result also matches their prices: the most expensive model performs the best, while the cheapest comes in third place.
But the results of my comparison aren’t that simple. There are good reasons why all three test candidates are capable of lighting up your life.
Black Diamond Storm 500-R: It’s inexpensive and has a long battery life. If you can live with the moderate light intensity, it’s a good option. It’s also the easiest to adjust.
Petzl Swift RL: The Petzl is the good Swiss compromise – probably why it’s the best-selling model in our shop. Medium-bright light, mid-range features, mid-range price. You have to make compromises in terms of battery life, but it’s incredibly comfortable.
Nitecore HC65 UHE: The largest, most expensive and heaviest headlamp scores highly for its light intensity and battery life. Neither of the others shine as brightly or last as long. If you’re looking for power, you’re in the right place – and you’re guaranteed to find your way even on the darkest of nights.
Which headlamp do you use and what experiences have you had with it? Let me know in the comments!
Header image: Lorenz Keller
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Lorenz Keller
Senior Editor
Lorenz.Keller@digitecgalaxus.chGadgets are my passion - whether you need them for the home office, for the household, for sport and pleasure or for the smart home. Or, of course, for the big hobby next to the family, namely fishing.
