Black Diamond Spot 400-R Headlamp Assessment

Circumstances of Assessment

I’ve used the Black Diamond Spot headlamp for practically all of my backpacking profession, though I’ve discovered a few of its options irritating (prefer it getting by chance turned on in my backpack, draining the battery utterly and leaving me with out mild at some crucial second). Additionally, I used to be by no means in a position to keep in mind which buttons to press to get the sunshine I desired on that headlamp.

So it’s been a delight to check an up to date model of this superior workhorse of a headlamp. 

Not solely can the Spot 400-R be powered by both disposable or rechargeable batteries, however its dual-button system is ridiculously straightforward to make use of and the digital lock means I’ll by no means get benighted and not using a supply of illumination. 

I took the Spot 400-R with me on the Pyrenean Haute Route this summer season. I’m not usually an evening hiker, so used the headlamp just for night pee runs and within the one refuge I stayed in throughout a thunderstorm. 

The sunshine is straightforward to make use of, is vivid sufficient to seek out your approach round in a pitch-dark forest, and holds its cost effectively. It’s so mild and compact that it matches simply in my backpack’s mind for simple entry.

Black Diamond Spot 400-R Rechargeable Headlamp Options

Black Diamond Spot 400-R Options

• Rechargeable 
• 400 lumens 
• “Repreve” fiber headband
• Waterproof to 1 meter for half-hour
• Full power in proximity and distance modes, dimming, strobe, crimson night-vision, and digital lock mode settings, plus “PowerTap” know-how
• Battery meter
• Brightness reminiscence
• Multifaceted optical effectivity lens know-how
• Digital lock

Brightness

This Spot has been up to date with a extra environment friendly lens that not solely gives brighter mild with extra peak depth but in addition saves battery life. It has one highly effective beam, with 400 lumens, and when set to excessive, reaches 100 meters — a giant enchancment from the older fashions. 

The sunshine is targeted and intense sufficient to disclose each rock and root on the path, however you received’t make many mates within the shelter in case you depart that white beam on. However get this: the simply switched-on crimson evening imaginative and prescient has each dimming and strobe modes and prompts with out biking by way of the white mode. Your sheltermates will recognize it!

Settings

Settings embrace full power in proximity and distance modes, dimming, strobe, crimson night-vision, and digital lock mode. The 2-button setup is an enormous enchancment from previous Spot headlamps, the place I felt as if I wanted to memorize an array of button pushing and holding to vary from white to crimson mild. The lock function, too, is a godsend after burning by way of my older Spots, which all the time appeared to be by chance turned on by some errant merchandise in my pack. 

Brightness Reminiscence

One other neat addition is “brightness reminiscence,” which lets you flip off the headlamp and return to the identical mode you left. Black Diamond has additionally added a nifty function known as “Energy Faucet,” which lets you rapidly transition from any setting to full, instantly and with solely a light-weight faucet. That rustle within the brush you heard and need to try is only a mild faucet away. 

IPX Ranking

IP stands for “Ingress Safety” and signifies how effectively a product protects towards mud and water, which may clearly impede its performance. IP67 signifies the headlamp is “waterproof” however just for quick intervals in water underneath stress, particularly one meter (three toes) for half-hour. The upshot is the sunshine can get moist and soiled earlier than it stops working.

Battery Life

The Spot Headlamp is powered by a 1500 mAh Li-ion rechargeable battery that lasts for round 4 hours set on excessive with double that at decrease settings. I discovered it charged quick — underneath two hours — by way of a micro-USB port (twine included), and the cost lasted even longer than I’d anticipated. The six-setting, three-LED battery meter reveals the proportion of energy left. Since I not often use my mild to hike and just for transient intervals at evening, I didn’t recharge it for a stable month! 

Consolation

The adjustable headband is constructed from gentle Repreve, a recycled and sustainable efficiency fiber that makes you be ok with saving the planet by inches and is wicking, waterproof, and odor-resistant besides.

Black Diamond Spot 400-R Execs

Ultralight

At three ounces, this headlamp is common in weight. You can go lighter however may surrender some consolation. The scarf is skinny and folds across the lamp to suit into your palm. 

Quick Charging Time

Below two hours is fairly candy. I’ve all the time been nervous about including extra gadgets to be charged on high of my PLB and cellphone, however this mild held its cost, and I’d belief it for an evening hike. I additionally really feel like I’m doing one thing for the setting if you determine the lifetime of a chargeable is equal to one thing like 900 batteries!

Multifunctional

The Spot gives proximity and distance lenses, dimming, and most significantly, crimson night-vision modes. I’ve by no means had to make use of the strobe, but it surely’s there ought to I want it. 

Waterproof

Unto each thru-hike, just a little rain – or extra probably numerous rain – should fall. You’ll by no means, ever maintain your headlamp dry or freed from mud, so greatest that the compartments are tightly sealed. 

Worth

The Spot is about 25 % inexpensive than different headlamps in its class.  

Black Diamond Spot 400-R Cons

Weight: Three ounces is affordable for many hikers, however you will discover one thing considerably lighter that can nonetheless meet your wants in case you’re an ultralight fanatic.

Micro-USB: As increasingly more electronics transfer towards USB-C ports, hikers dream of the day after they can simply carry one sort of charging twine to energy up all their electronics. Alas, the 400-R nonetheless makes use of a micro-USB port.

Onerous to open battery case (non-rechargeable Spot solely): Extra on this under, however opening the battery case on the non-rechargeable Spot is de facto troublesome because of the arduous plastic, and I sometimes needed to pry it open with my spoon.

Black Diamond Spot vs. Black Diamond Spot 400-R

Black Diamond Spot At a Look

MSRP: $49.95
Weight: 88 grams/3.1 ounces (with batteries)
IPX Ranking: IP8
Battery: Twin Gasoline know-how: BD rechargeable battery pack (offered individually) or three AAA batteries (included)

Black Diamond additionally despatched me the non-rechargeable model of the Spot headlamp so I may instantly evaluate them.

The variations in specs between the 2 headlamps are negligible. The 400-R weighs solely barely much less and is USB-rechargeable reasonably than utilizing disposable batteries. It actually comes all the way down to choice. 

I do need to level out right here that the older Spot was practically inconceivable to open to insert batteries. I used my titanium spoon to pry it aside. The up to date design is much less complicated, however alas, my spoon continues to get a exercise since my nails are nothing towards the arduous plastic! 

Most notably, the non-rechargeable Spot is inexpensive than the 400-R.

Conclusion

There’s a cause that the Black Diamond Spot headlamps are so well-regarded. They’re straightforward to make use of, multifunctional, light-weight, waterproof, and a workhorse. In the long term, the rechargeable Spot 400-R will most likely prevent cash since you’ll not want to purchase or eliminate batteries. Whichever energy supply you select, the intense mild will maintain you protected in your subsequent out of doors journey.

Store the Black Diamond Spot 400-R Rechargeable Headlamp

Store the Black Diamond Spot 400 (Non-Rechargeable)

Comparable Headlamps

Petzl Actik CORE

Nitecore NU25

Biolite 800 Professional

The Black Diamond Spot and Spot 400-R Rechargeable Headlamp had been donated for function of assessment