Black Diamond Spotlite Headlamp 160 Lumen (New 2019)

I own 5 headlamps, from no-name generics to name brands. Each has its place. The heavy no-names are great to throw in a car/truck glove box or trunk for changing tires, bringing in groceries late at night, or setting up camp. They're cheap and bulletproof but heavy - not ideal for backpacking or trail running.That's where this one comes in. It's more expensive than the generic options but is the lightest option I've found so far. With batteries, my next-favorite Energizer Vision HD+ weighs 2.7oz. The Spot Lite 160 is only 1.9oz, and you can get that down to 1.7oz if you use lithium batteries (which I do). It's so light you can barely tell you're wearing it. Perfect for backpacking!The only thing I don't like is the buttons. It's a little clumsy to turn on, especially with gloves.

I have used the Storm model for a few years and I am very happy with it but this spot model is great! I have beat the crap out of them and If your cost and weight minded like me but still want a quality headlamp then try the spot. I am buying another one after this review to keep in my minimalist bug out bag. The other will stay in my car or very close as I do use them almost daily. I will also use the second one to bring on trail runs or when I run early in the morning. I am very pleased and if anyone is even reading this then you are overthinking it. It is a great weight/cost headlamp. You will not be disappointed.

I cannot recommend this headlamp primarily due to the poor construction of the electronics running the LED. I purchased four of these and two of them behave erratically; sometimes the LED shuts off without warning, sometimes it flickers like there is a loose wiring connection, sometimes it will only turn on after three or four attempts, and other times the buttons simply don't function properly. This is obviously a quality-control issue as two of the four headlamps that I purchased work fine, and the behavior is the same on the bad units regardless of the set of batteries that I use.Other negatives: Black Diamond failed to design a rubber gasket into the battery compartment so water easily enters (and then the batteries must be removed and the headlamp allowed to dry), and the battery compartment door latch is poorly designed.

I use this at the telescope, and this is one of the best headlamps I have found so far.Pros:o The separate button to switch between red/white is an excellent designo Red light is about the right brightness and has a wide, consistent beamo White light is bright for when you need it to beCons:o The main power button can be difficult to feel and I often fumble trying to press it while wearingo The strap tends to slip so I end up with it sliding down into my eyes until I spend some time tightening it again

Your browser does not support HTML5 video.  I️ loved this headlamp for a while until a few months later it just stopped working. As shown in the video as soon at it gets tapped it just shuts off. This was after new battery’s just got replaced. I️ never abused the headlamp out of no where it just stopped working. Very unhappy

Bottom line: lightweight, simple, bright, but the waterproof rating is completely dishonest, and it stopped working after about 3 months.I bought this primarily for pre-dawn running. I have another BD headlamp - it's fantastic but heavier than I wanted for running. So was looking for something lightweight of similar quality. This looked like a great option and for the first 2 months I was thinking I'd be writing a 4- or 5-star review titled "best headlamp for runners." Unfortunately I soon discovered that, though I hadn't run in heavy rain, it was getting water in the battery compartment from drizzle and even from sweat and/or condensation on my head and hat on cold/dry days. I dried it off and cleaned off the battery corrosion, but it just doesn't work anymore. It won't stay on while running...constantly turning off and sometimes won't even turn back on. Seems others have a had a similar problem (turns off with any jarring) so it may have been the moisture, or it may be a bad switch or something else. Not the Black Diamond quality I'm used to. I'd recommend looking for something else.

Small, bright, 2 (not 3) AAAs. BD quality. Comfy strap. Best headlamp I've ever used and I've used a ton. Excellent. Will be buying more for the truck, the go-bag, the ruck... very pleased.

This basic version offered by Black Diamond cost about $9 more than my budget Energizer headlamp but I can see why. Although both are basic headlamps, the Black Diamond 160 is lighter, more compact, and better built, particularly the battery housing (the Energizer battery housing is cheaply made and I feel like it's going to break every time I change the batteries).

I've used a lot of headlamps over the years, including many that have separate switches for red and white light. Even so, I've all too often pushed the wrong button and ruined my dark adaption.Additionally, all the lights have been way too bright. So the ability to dim the lights is an important feature. However, whilst there are many good torches that dim right down, there seem to be few such headlamps, that I prefer when observing alone.The best I've found are some of the 2019 Black Diamonds. Confusingly, although the model name (but not the number) remains the same, many have been totally redesigned for 2019 with two buttons instead of just one.One of the great things about them is that only the larger button turns the headlamp on; the smaller button just changes from red to white, but nothing happens when you press it if the headlamp is off.Additionally, they remember the last setting you used before turning off. For instance, if you finished with the red light at its dimmest setting, that's what you get when you turn it back on.Set up like this it means that it's impossible to turn anything on at the start but the dimmest red light - whatever button you push.Not all the 2019 Black Diamond two button range are suitable for us though. Some of them have battery check LEDs that light up when you first switch on. The problem is they're bright blue! Also note that the poorly-named Astro model doesn't have a red light.I've bought two models, the Cosmo 225 and the Spot Lite 160, that use 3AAA and 2AAA batteries respectively. The numbers represent the max. brightness in lumens.Surprisingly, the red light on the Cosmo 225 goes dimmer than that on the Spot Lite 160, although this may just be a sample variation. The former is also on special offer at the moment because a new model, the Cosmo 250 has just been launched, that seems to be identical but has a higher output. I haven't tested this.So for the first time I'm satisfied with a headlamp for astronomy and can thoroughly recommend the Black Diamond Spot Lite 160 and, possibly better still, theCosmo 225.Either of these should also be suitable for my fishing and camping as they have a waterproof rating of IPX8. This means that they can work for at least 30 minutes submerged to a depth of 1.1 metres (3 1/2 feet). However do note the battery compartment itself isn't waterproof and will need drying out.To sum up, I've looked for years for a suitable headlamp for astronomy - at last I found it!

Black diamond make the best head torches on the market, without a doubt. They are so well made and designed, with excellent features, long battery life, good water resistance, and very bright LEDs. I would recommend anyone buy this head torch, if it’s for working under the car, out on dark walks or for rock climbing. I have a big collection of the black diamond head torches and I am shocked to see the wide range of styles and features each one possesses. They’re an incredible lifelong investment into making sure you can always see what’s ahead.

I cannot justify expensive lamps through lack of use. But this price point is perfect. This lamp is very easy to use, and offers a good performance. I like the red LED lots. The lowest brightness is still plenty bright enough for what I need, which also means long battery life. I am very pleased with this lamp for my motorcycle camping - it lights up paths really well on the campsite, also for cooking and reading. Very pleased.

Of all the head torches I have used, this has to be the best.Simple to use/operate. Comfortable to wear for a long time.you can adjust the brightness, there is a red diode as well as white.Can clip it onto a belt or waistband if you need to, for like when running at night.On max brightness, it can light up a path for about 150, nearly 200 meters.Comes with 2 AAA batteries as well.

Great head torch for reasonable price. Exactly what I needed and can see no difference to more costly options from high street camping stores. Really happy! I recommend