Finding my perfect headlamp

---

https://youtu.be/W3cZPH1X0AU

Specs(that I find important) for my selection:

All headlamps must have:

• USB-C charging.
• waterproof (ip68)
• User replaceable li-ion battery. 18650 or maybe 21700.
• RED LIGHT
• High CRI led. Dosn't have to be the main powerful one.
• No PWM flicker
• Over 1000 lumen output ( or close enough )
• Single unit design ( no separate battery )

Short conclusions about each model:

The less I write the less I have to complain about. Except for the last one; it contains some praise.

Fenix hm70r:

For me this is almost the perfect headlamp. Sometimes I wonder why I didn't buy the thing. But then I realised that the red light was only 5lm. And it weighs a bit over 200g and I'm over having that amount of weight on my head ( already have a cheaper 21700 battery headlamp ).

Nitecore hc68:

This almost has every thing I could ever want. Except for a high CRI light. I'm too fussy to be happy with anything

Nitecore hc65 v2:

Almost bought this one. But I wanted a brighter hight CRI light. This one is only 35 lm.

Fenix HM60R:

This is another really good light I could have bought. But the red light is only 5lm. It has this weird accelerometer thing that changes the brightness according to how fast you are walking or something. Which I didn't want and couldn't be bothered with. And the final nail-in-the-coffin for not buying it was that the CYANSKY HS6R exists. Which does almost everything that it does but slightly better.

ACEBEAM H30:

I have never been so amazed by the specifications of a product only then to be terribly disappointed by the implementation. This thing does weight just over 190 grams but the thing looked so amazing that I was willing to overlook that.

But then I realised that the user experience really fell short:

• No usb-c to usb-c charging. So only type A to C cable. In a few years this may start to become a problem as usb-c to usb-c cables start to become really common everywhere. A dull torch is much better than a torch that is difficult to charge.
• I don't like the look of the visible electronics under the plastic when you are charging the thing. I also don't like how the end cap is unattached when charging. I'll lose that real quick; goodbye water-proofing.
• No instant access to the red light. But there is instant access to the flashing SOS red light. Because they think that would be more useful? This makes no sense. Unless you are marketing it to people who are always getting lost. If you need this torch you need help.
• The powerbank feature is great to have on a 21700 battery headlamp. Unless you need a special cable to use that? Which I think you do. I hate having a feature that you can't use unless you have a unique easy to lose attachment.

I also wanted the CRI light to be a bit brighter. The amazingly bright 50lm red light is NOT adjustable. 50 lm only. Might be too bright in some scenarios.

Then I realised that the only reason I wanted this thing was to show off 4000 lm at camp-sites etc. And my ego wasn't worth the inconveniences of owning it.

CYANSKY HS6R:

I bought this one. So here is a short review + a few things that I didn't include in the video above:

The interface:

It is as simple as it can be while still being good. Only three rules to remember.

1. Hold to turn on and off
2. It remembers the last mode you used the next time you turned it on.
3. Click to cycle though the modes.

That's it. No short cuts. No triple clicking and then holding your tongue in the right position to activate some strobe disco non-sense. A simple system which is hard to forget. The only thing I don't like about it is that you have to cycle through from medium to turbo to get back to low again. But it is only a minor annoyance.

An issue I didn't mention in the video:

The interface has no lockout function. I didn't think this would ever be a problem because it takes almost 2 seconds to turn it on by holding down one of buttons. Except I put my lamp in my pocket and then leaned over on my desk. Managed to press the auxiliary button (it's quite exposed on the top and doesn't take much pressure) for long enough in my pocket to turn it on, then I pressed the button a few more times in my pocket which put the flood light into high mode. I don't know for how long it was on for in there. But when I took it out it was almost too hot to touch. And the powerful flood light also burnt a small hole in my nylon jacket.

So a lockout function would have been nice.

Construction:

A+ amazing. Yet it still feels somewhat light.... lol. The metal headband 'buckle' is also surprisingly comfortable even without the extra foam padding they supplied. If you enjoy jogging though you may want to add that foam insert, as you will need to tighten that single headband to a point where it might become notable after an hour of use, otherwise it will slowly work it's way down your forehead, fall off your brow, then the metal holder/buckle thing will hit the top of your nose. Not a comfortable experience.

But besides that rare occurrence because I didn't tighten the band enough. Very comfortable for a single band. Probably because the band is extra wide. I mentioned in the video that I was tempted to add a over-the-head band to the torch. But after some more use I don't think it really needs it. The only thing I really wish was added to the head band was some silicone grip strips on the inside. Many of the other torches in this list had them to stop any slippage. Then I could jump around and swing through the trees with confidence.

In short I'm very happy with the Cyansky.

Below is random notes about each torch ( which was mostly put in the terrible table above):

Fenix hm70r:

Price is a bit over $150

• LED: Luminus SST40 white light,  Cree XP-G2 HE (80 CRI Minimum) HE neutral white LED and two 2835 red light LEDs   
• Power Source:  1 x 5000mAh rechargeable 21700 battery (included)
• Peak Beam Intensity: 8667cd
• Peak Beam Distance: 186 metres
• Turbo: 1,600 lumens - 2 hours*
• High: 500 lumens - 6 hours
• Medium: 150 lumens - 30 hours
• Low: 30 lumens - 100 hours

Cons:

• A bit heavy. Due to 21700 battery. But also has extra battery life then too.
• No moonlight mode. 30 Lumen lowest.
• Only 5 lm for RED
• Fenix says not to use unprotected cells. They want button top too. blah blah. Fenix says not to use unprotected cells. They want button top too. blah blah. Fenix says not to use unprotected cells. They want button top too. blah blah.

Nitecore hc68:

Really good and powerful with two identical LEDS that have spot and flood. Could I put up with the lower CRI though?

Has this cool feature where you can smoothly transition between the flood and the spot.

Plus two red leds.

Throw of 202m

Max Output 2000 Lumens

Max Beam Distance 202 m

Max Beam Intensity 10300 cd

Max Runtime 800 h 0 m / 33.33 d

LED 2 x Luminus SST-40-W LEDs

Battery 1 × 18650, 2 × CR123, 2 × RCR123

Special Modes Location Beacon, SOS, Red Caution Light

Beam color White light, Red Light

Length 91.5 mm / 3.60 in

Head Size 26.5 mm / 1.04 in

Weight 118.5 g / 4.18 oz

Cons:

• CRI is below 70 on every LED (uses 2 x Luminus SST-40-W LEDs)
• quite expensive. often near $170

Nitecore hc65 v2:

About $160

Max Output 1750 lumens

Max Beam Distance 165 m

Max Runtime 800 h

LED Luminus SST-40-W LED which is about CRI/Ra: between 63.0-63.2

Beam color White light, High CRI, Red Light (11 LM, and low of 3 LM)

Hi CRI light: around 4200K , CRI/Ra: around 82.3 , 35 lumans which is not much.

"Nitecore says that it doesn’t work with flat tops, but I tried a flat top Sanyo cell, and it works just fine." Nitecore HC65 v2 review | Headlamp with 1,750 lumens and many features | 1Lumen.com

Cons:

• Can't be used while charging. If that's a problem at all?
• low CRI lm

CYANSKY HS6R:

"only" $89. Compared to the prices of some of the others that is quite cheap. Not the brightest though and it doesn't quite reach the claimed lumen output.

• Brightness: 1400 lumens (according to one review it's more like just under 1000)
• Maximum Runtime: 120 Hour
• Beam Throw: 170 Meters
• Strobe: Yes
• waterproof: IP68
• Working Temperature: -22℉ - 122℉
• 1*LUMINUS SST 40 LED for main white spotlight (CRI > 65CRI)
• 1* LUMINUS SST 20 LED for auxiliary flood light ( most likely SST-20-WxH of 2700 – 4000 K White, CRI > 95)
• 1*Everlight 2835 red led with a lifespan of 50,000 hours
• LIke about 16 lm for RED (maybe. All other figures they claim are lower)

Cons:

• Rubber flap charging cover (not metal screw)
• A standard flat top 18650 will not work due to the length and the interference bars (Although some say it can with mod. )

Fenix HM60R:

Luminus SST40

Cree XP-G2 neutral white

Max lumens: 1200

lowest: 30

• Utilises a Luminus SST40 white light LED and a Cree XP-G2 neutral white LED
• The high CRI is about 350 LM
• Runs off an 18650 Li-ion battery and compatible with 2 x CR123A batteries
• Offers spotlight, floodlight and red light
• Stride frequency sensor to change brightness along with your speed
• Hidden waterproof USB-C charging port
• Large all-in-one side switch
• Made of quality PC and aluminium
• 2m impact resistance
• IP68 dustproof and waterproof rating
• has a locking function.

Max beam distance: 116m

Cons:

• Dosn't take all 18650 batteries according to one reviewer.
• Need protected cells with button top or something like that.
• Turbo is 1200 lm and high is 350 lm.
• The lowest while light is 30 lm which runs for 54 hours
• Red light is only 5 lm runtime of 100 hours
• "Frequency Sensing" feature, which ramps the brightness up or down based on wearer cadence(?

Rejected:

Jetbeam HR30 Headlamp:

• Max Output: 950LM
• Max Beam Distance: 120m
• Max Beam Intensity: 3600cd
• Max Run Time: 100h
• LED: SST40 N5
• Reflector: OP
• Battery: 118650 Li-ion/ 2CR123A/2*20700
• Special Modes: Strobe
• Length: 87mm
• Head Size: 46mm
• Weight: 105g(Exclude Battery)
• USB type C fast charging
• Max output of 950 lumens and throw distance of 120 meters
• Luminus SST40 N5 LED with a lifespan of 50,000 hours
• Battery: 118650/120700 (unprotected)
• Weight: 105g (excluding battery)

Cons:

• The red lights are only 1 LM ! !!!! pathetic !
• No shortcut to ECO !!!

# Wurkkos HD15R:

Very cheap! like $40

Specifications
1、Emitter: 1x LH351D 5.000K 90CRI + 1x Luminus SST20 DR-B120-V660
2、Beam Degree:white 105°   red125°
3、Operating voltage: 2.7V – 4.2V
4、Battery options: 1x 18650 or 1x 18650 lithium-ion battery
5、Dimension: 110mm (length) x 27.4mm (head diameter)
6、Weight: 72g / 0.15lb (without battery)
7、Flashlight body: Aerospace grade 6061 grade aluminum alloy, CNC manufactured to hard-anodized to military grade specification type III, anti-abrasive finish to get solid built body, anti-crash geometry and better heat exchange.
8、Water resistance i.a.w. IP-68 (up to 2m / 6.56 ft. under water)
9、Reverse polarity protection to protect against improper battery installation.
10、Advanced Temperature Regulation (ATR) technology: ATR automatically reduces the brightness level when the driver temperature reaches 60°C to prevent overheating
11、Low voltage warning

HAS A VERY POWERFUL RED LIGHT!

Cons:

• Very floody light.
• High setting is 400lm and turbo dosn't last with crazy power temp regulation.
• There is very fast PWM on every mode.

Also consideer this tiny thing that takes a smaller battery:

Fenix HM50R V2

Wuben H1 (budget)- rejected!!!!:

CONS:

• HAS MICRO-USB AHHHH!
• A bit of saw tooth temp regulation.
• cheaply made.