Can't see anything there that really wows, especially at that weight and that price! For burn time, flexibility and price, I still think it's mighty hard to go past the HM65R-T. I love mine.
HM65R-T is actually a very good general purpose headtorch. But.. Big limitation is the only one battery at the front. Running few hours in the night you either have to run on 400 or less lumens like half blind which is really not acceptable for many runners when racing in challanging terain (Alps and long technical descents) or you would be changing the battery like crazy every hour. I think the system with extension cable and battery in the backback is the best for ultra running. I use Lucifer M6 with extension cable and 46Wh battery pack in my running vest (8hours @850 lumens)
You have had a very different experience to me. I've never done an all night race on technical paths that needed more than one battery change. I hate separate battery packs, especially moving at speed.
I’ve used the HM65RT at 400 lumens for my night sections during mountain and forest races in some serious rainy and foggy conditions and never once had to change batteries, absolutely astonishing performance if you ask me. The fellow runners I spent most of the night section during my last race with actually called me “bright headlamp guy” because the fenix’s lamp was above and beyond any other headlamp.
@@Mari0Stip yep, same here. I get the feeling that some people have never actually used the HM65R-T and just throw shade to promote their favourite brand. I find it a really good torch. I had a night race last weekend where i soon accumulated some new friends because I was lighting the trail for others. 😁
The HM65R-T is a great headlamp. But I don’t love the design for running. Having all the weight on the front just doesn’t agree with my head-size/shape. Having the battery pack on the back is to me, a much more comfortable design for long running in complex terrain. I have relegated my HT65R-T to my gravel bike helmet for nighttime gravel riding and it performs wonderfully in that context. I have started to use the Black Diamond Distance 1500 and I think it’s great. It is lots of light, it has an RGB LED on the front for when you need less light, and I love the red strobe LED on the battery pack. Nice case, removable top strap, and a reasonable price of $225CDN. I am very happy with mine and would recommend it as an alternative for those looking at bright LED headlamps.
Informative video. Atm on the search for a headlamp myself for both running and mountain biking, this one was in my close consideration but I think I will go with the "lupine piko". It got better specs with less weight and even better systems for changing it from strap to helmet I think. It´s more expensive though. "Lupine" headlamps in general could be an interesting thing to look into in the channel.
You should give the Lumonite Compass a try. Really worth. Did a 100 mile race with it in Sweden last week. During the 18 hours of darkness I only needed 1 1/2 batteries of type 18650. And was running with plenty of light. Most of the runners used the same model. Very popular here. It replaced my Fenix…
Great review Loyd. I have had my bright as day 800 since the beginning of the year and I love it. Sounds like you have found the same issues as me. Not deal breakers but just little tweaks.
Don't run enough in the dark to warrant spending this much but did order the Nitecore after your review, got it for £48 and winging its way over from China as we speak!
Slightly off the subject, got my 1st ultra in couple of weeks, watched your video early in the year on hurtwood so gona give it a go 😬 are you doing it this year?
For all nighters during an Ultra or serious mountaineering adventures I get this light. But its just to heavy/over build for any normal nighttime running.
Burn times are even too poor for all nighters. 8 hours on 200 lumens is too short and dim. I need at least 500 lumens for running in technical terrain.
I kept expecting that you can replace the actual 18650 battery in the battery case, but that doesn't seem to be so. You need to spend $80 (or whatever currency) to get an 18650 or two inside a new case? That's a deal breaker for me. I currently have an Altraspire 600 and a Fenix 65RT and use either/both depending on the situation. And since they both use the same 18650 battery, having a couple of spares in my vest or drop bag covers both lights. And it's easy and cheap to have spares.
Yeah, I'm also very curious about the battery of this headlamp. Can we open the case and replace the battery inside? If so, do you know if we can use a generic battery (not from the manufacturer) Or do we need to buy a new case+battery from the manufacturer? With some mountain 100milers potentially taking 2 nights for back packers and races asking for 2 headtorches with spare batteries, headtorches can, very easily, be a 400/500 pounds investment.
Not sure I'd be keen on all the wires, would look like you've been assimilated by the Borg 😅maybe a good shout for next years Halloween special though!
My head torch of choice is the brilliant Fenix HM65R-T. Its super bright, has a long burn time and it’s comfortable to wear. There’s a full review of it on the channel along with lots of other head torch related content 👍
@@Run4Adventure thanks Loyd, I'd looked at that one, wasn't sure on the standard HM65R or going for the HM65R-T, I was thinking about the fitting and how secure they were. The R-T just being a headband, would it slip, whereas the R has the over the top band. Too many choices 😂
I’ve never had any slipping issues with my HM65R-T but I do always wear a buff or beanie hat when I run with a head torch. If you’re worried about it the top strap on the HM65 would stop that from happening 👍
It looks like a really quality lamp with some good solutions. But for that prize i want more lumens. I need more than 800 lm for when im running the long night orienteering runs.
If you need more lumens, I recommend you the Lucifer M6+. The lamp is of the same size but featuring 1900 lumens! Originally developed by orienteering enthusiasts. I have been having the previous iteration M6 for 7 years, aluminum body, no failure, no problem, running 6-7 days a week, all seasons, racing ultra trail.
They claim it has 800 REAL lumens... Most brands play with the lumens because the ANSI standard allows it :( I have a Fenix HM65R-T (I like it) and theoratically it's 1500 lumen for 4h but in the reality it's about 400 (!) lumen for 2.5h...
Yeah nope. Hoping I'm wrong, as on face value this just looks like an AliExpress type of headlamp they have sourced and branded and perhaps tweaked slightly. These basically all look like bicycle lights of the above mentioned type. Seems to lack any of the finesse from more tailormade headlamp brands.
I really don't think that's the case! Moonlight have been making high end mountaineering headtorches for years. They're quite new to trail running, I'm not sure Kilian and Zac Miller would run with torches from AliExpress 🤔 Also the build quality is brillant of the Moonlight headtorch is brilliant so I really don't think you can compare it to AliExpress! 👍
Nice review, shame about the head torch.. if it’s hard to explain, it’ll be too hard to use when you’re tired on a windy wet trail. Shame, if a trail/mountain runner was truly involved, I don’t think this would be the setup.
I actually had a lot of issues with the IKO Core, the bulbs kept blowing. The weight of it is impressive but the battery life isn't great for longer runs 👍
I am very happy with my Petzl Iko core. The Moonlight seems very heavy and when running for just 1h in the morning I will never take a vest with me to store the battery.
NAO RL has only one lens. It will not have the view angle and lenght as when you combine two lenses at one body. The similar construction problem applies to body chasis. NAO RL does not have Aluminium body with integrated pasive cooler, so it will definitely overheat when running on max power, faster in summer but everytime. NAO RL will react to overheat by decreasing the power and transitioning to less lumens.
@@grunnergname3813 LOL, what are you smoking? The NAO RL has a focused high power LED in the center surrounded by a bunch of flood LEDs. I have this headlamp and never once has it 'overheated'. 1500 lumens is a hell of a lot. The reactive lighting a feature to adapt the lighting to the scene and save power, not to stop 'overheating'. Do you even own this headlamp? Sounds like you are just making shit up, because you are a shill.
They claim it has 800 REAL lumens... Most brands play with the lumens because the ANSI standard allows it :( I have a Fenix HM65R-T (I like it) and theoratically it's 1500 lumen for 4h but in the reality it's about 400 (!) lumen for 2.5h... I had a Swift RL and Petzl also has this issue.
