STORM 400 HEADLAMP

Product Information

Often, headlamps with the most beam distance require more juice from batteries. Most headlamp companies will tell you lumens and distance in their specs. However, brand-reported numbers may be faulty. See our graph representing distance for more information on distance thrown. BATTERY LIFE — ANSI FL1 STANDARD A headlamp with a red light or dimming feature helps preserve your night vision. This is particularly useful for stargazing, wildlife observation, or maintaining your awareness of your surroundings without blinding yourself or others with a bright white light. Plus, many folks find it is easier to fall asleep at night if they've been using a red light instead of a bright white one. Extended adventures

The Storm 400 is a time-tested, dependable headlamp made for hikers and campers who sometimes need to battle heavy rain, wind, sand, mud and snow. If you’re heading into a cave, doing some canyoneering or crossing rivers, you’ll want a headlamp that can handle being submersed for awhile. If you are hiking or camping in some dusty, windy weather you will love that this headlamp is fully dust tight. I used the Storm 400 for the last pitches of the day, the hikes out, and late-night Jetboil cookups. While climbing and hiking, I used it in the highest setting, which was plenty bright. Hand- and footholds were all clearly visible, making night feel like day. In fact, I only remembered the late hour when I rounded a lip and realized, given the angle and the position of the headlamp, that it was going to be impossible to direct the beam around the corner. The advantage of flashlights over headlamps is that they allow you to focus your beam better. Some runners, for example, prefer a flashlight to a headlamp because they can precisely focus their beam directly in front of them on the trail. A torch worth having on the hill should be at least splash proof, but the fully waterproof Storm 500-R goes a lot further. With an IP67 rating, it'll survive submersion to 1m for up to 30 minutes - which should be enough even for Eryri (Snowdonia) in December.Most of the headlamps we recommend offer focused and directional lighting, which is handy for illuminating specific areas or objects like your cook pot or where you think that mouse hiding under your tent may be. You can adjust the angle and intensity of the light to suit your needs, whether you're examining gear, reading, or navigating uneven terrain. Improved night vision Still, our one issue with the Nitecore NU 25 is battery life. When using the max light output of 360 lumens, it only lasts 0.5 hour–which is the lowest time of the headlamps we tested. However, in low light mode, it runs for 160 hours, which is better than some other rechargeable headlamps, like the BioLite 330. Still, it’s lower but in the general ballpark of AAA battery headlamps like the Spot 400. For minimalists and true ounce-counters, our favorite ultralight headlamp of 2023 is the Nitecore NU25 400 UL. At just 1.6 ounces, the Nitecore secures via a streamlined elastic headband, is surprisingly bright with a 400-lumen max output, and is rechargeable via micro USB. We’ve also found it incredibly easy to operate (cryptic toggling between modes is a common issue with headlamps), with one button for the white beam and one for red, and the battery seemingly lasts forever. All told, as a high-powered emergency light or for those trying to keep their load as light as possible, the NU25 UL is a bright and relatively cheap option.

We’ve found that the headlamp that throws light the farthest distance isn’t always the best for every activity. For example, Gadget Review estimates the distance needed for casual hiking to be 150 feet, where trail running is 30 feet, hunting is 350 feet, and caving/mountaineering is 400 feet. (We were skeptical of the 30 feet, but after interviewing several trail runners, most said having a very bright light immediately in front of them for foot placement choices was more important than distance). The Spot 400-R features an integrated 1500 mAh Li-ion battery. As a more compact unit with a smaller capacity battery it can't out-compete the Storm 500-R for burn time; but size isn't everything, and it does quite a lot with what it's got. The first of the two white LEDs is the main distance beam. This is your spotlight beam which produces a tighter beam pattern. It has the largest lens on the headlamp and is positioned right in the center. The advertised range of this LED is 100 meters or 328 feet but it will depend on the weather conditions. This is what you will use while on the trails or trying to see what’s in front of you. The distance of the beam is notably further than most of the rivals. The biggest complaint people have over this headlamp is the operation. Compared to other headlamps with simple on/off switches, this one is fairly complex. It does take some time to get used to this. Also, as mentioned before, it isn’t rechargeable and has some issues with battery replacement. If your headlamp comes with spare bulbs, O-rings, or other accessories, store them in a place where you'll actually remember them! Consider putting a note for what they are. If you end up losing them or throwing them out, many manufacturers will replace them for free or a small fee.

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You can dim all the lenses at will by holding down the main button. The PowerTap Technology on the side of the headlamp’s housing allows you to easily toggle between full and dim power with the tap of a finger—so easy you can do it mid-route. At the lowest setting, it will last an average of 200 hours. Taking good care of your headlamp not only extends its lifespan but also ensures that it functions reliably when you need it the most. Here are some essential tips for proper headlamp maintenance: Keep it clean Most headlamps come with dimming or red light modes. These are ideal for situations where you want to minimize the disturbance to others while maintaining visibility. Use a red light when reading in a shared tent or camping area. Signal your presence For rechargeable headlamps, follow the manufacturer's guidelines for charging. Overcharging or letting the battery drain completely can affect battery life. Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members!

If you are looking for cheaper headlamps, you have so many options. If you want the brightest one, then be prepared to pay a little more money for something else. If you want something even more comfortable than this, then there are alternatives. And finally, if you prefer a rechargeable headlamp, this one isn’t for you. Treeline writer Kate Hoch has used its predecessor, the BioLite 750, for the past year climbing and mountaineering in the Cascades and Pacific Northwest, including Mt. Shasta. For these kinds of trips, being able to see farther out is essential for smart route-finding decisions. In addition, many ultramarathoners enjoy trail running with a brighter headlamp, especially when they are likely to hallucinate or become sleep-deprived enough to see things in the dark. The inbuilt battery on the Storm 500-R charges via a micro USB, taking 3 hours for a full charge from empty (and with clear and useful charge level indicator lights). The newer fitting for a lot of devices is USB-C, and I've no doubt torch manufacturers will catch up at some stage. A recent forum thread suggests that the main advantage of USB-C may be that it's less easy to damage than the little pin of a micro USB. I don't think I've ever managed to break a micro USB input, and as I have plenty of old micro USB cables, and nothing that yet takes the new style, it's not presently an issue for me if this input is looking dated. The Revolt 350 comes with a rechargeable battery and accepts AAA batteries as well. It is similar to the Storm 400, but is only IPX4 rated and maxes out at 350 lumens. It has a slightly higher runtime at low and slightly lower runtime at high. It doesn’t have the blue or green LEDs.

Our Thoughts

Like the BioLite 330, the 800 has a four-point tilt. We found this tilt useful for angling the headlamp, but some media reviewers found it a fault. Headlamps make you visible to others when you're out after dark. This can be beneficial if your group is separated or for safety when encountering others. This is useful whether you're hiking, running, cycling, or camping. This visibility enhances your safety, reducing the risk of accidents and ensures others can see you in low-light conditions. Precise illumination If your headlamp uses replaceable batteries, follow the manufacturer's recommendations for replacement intervals.