Comparing headlamps: one bright, one clever, one efficient

Lorenz Keller

14.2.2025

Translation: Megan Cornish

A head torch lights your way in the dark and keeps your hands free. But our comparison of three models priced between 60 and 90 francs shows clear differences in brightness, operation and comfort.

I regularly need a headlamp for fishing, as some fish bite better at night. Others use them for walking at dusk or finding their way around dark sheds. The big advantage over conventional torches is that you have your hands free and the light where you’re looking.

For this comparison, I’ve chosen three of our bestsellers that really bring a lot of light into darkness. Headlamps are less about being seen than about being able to see. And although the Black Diamond, Petzl and Nitecore models are quite similar at first glance, my test revealed clear differences. I awarded a maximum of five points in each area. Read on for my verdict on which lamp is best for which type of user.

Price: no big differences

Black Diamond Storm 500-R: At the time of testing, Black Diamond’s most popular headlamp costs 60 francs.
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Petzl Swift RL: This is the best-selling lamp in our shop. The price was just under 76 francs in mid-February.
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Nitecore HC65 UHE: The Nitecore top model costs around 90 francs.
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Features: two out of three have a replaceable battery

Black Diamond Storm 500-R: To charge the battery, you need an outdated micro-USB cable. Shame. The case is waterproof to IP67 standard, so it can be submerged in water to a depth of one metre for up to 30 minutes.
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Petzl Swift RL: The proprietary battery is charged via USB-C and is replaceable. A replacement costs around 45 francs. The case is shockproof and can withstand falls of up to a metre. Petzl only adheres to the IP54 waterproofing standard. So, rain isn’t a problem, but the lamp shouldn’t be dropped into water. A small carrying bag’s also included.
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User experience: two more buttons is better

Comfort: not all headbands are made equal

Black Diamond Storm 500-R: The lamp’s attached to your head with a simple, stretchy textile band. It’s relatively thin at 1.5 centimetres, and one of the two size adjustment clips presses directly on the scalp. At least it’s quick and easy to adjust and put on. And at 101 grammes, it’s lightweight. The lamp itself can be turned down considerably, but not up.
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Battery life: over 24 hours of light

I did two tests on the running time: one at maximum power and one at medium brightness, which is identical for all models. This is probably a realistic scenario for everyday use.

Black Diamond Storm 500-R: The small lamp surprises with six hours of runtime on the highest setting. It only gets slightly warm. At medium brightness, it lasts an impressive 14 hours.
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Petzl Swift RL: It takes around three hours to lose full power. The case heats up quite a bit. In the endurance test, the Petzl is the first to give in: after eight hours, the power drops to the lowest level and only gives off a dim light.
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Nitecore HC65 UHE: The Nitecore delivers full power for five hours, but it gets almost uncomfortably hot at room temperature towards the end. It lasts a sensational 28 hours at medium brightness – the record in this test.
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Brightness part 1: one lamp is clearly the brightest

The manufacturers specify the luminous intensity of their lamps in lumens. This value describes how much light the lamp emits. I also measured the illumination level in lux with a sensor on the highest level at a distance of around one metre.

Black Diamond Storm 500-R: According to the manufacturer, the headlamp emits 500 lumens. I measured 17,500 lux – the worst score in my test.
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Petzl Swift RL: Petzl specifies a luminosity of 1,100 lumens for the Swift RL. I measured 20,300 lux with the sensor. That’s better than the cheapest model, but not as bright as I’d have expected.
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Nitecore HC65 UHE: Based on the specifications, this lamp has the highest luminosity with 2,000 lumens. And my measurements back this up: the Nitecore head lamp shines much more brightly than its two competitors. I measured 50,000 lux, pushing the sensor to its limits.
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Brightness part 2: how does the light look in practice?

Finally, I used the three test products to illuminate a completely dark area. The trees in the background are around 60 metres away, and light fog makes illumination difficult. I set all three headlamps to full brightness.

Black Diamond Storm 500-R: Everything’s easy to see, but the light beam’s relatively narrow.
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Petzl Swift RL: The trees are illuminated much more brightly and you can see a larger area.
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Nitecore HC65 UHE: It almost looks like daylight on the group of trees – every last detail is illuminated. The light beam is even wider and covers an area at least 25 metres wide. 🔦🔦🔦🔦🔦

Verdict: a clear winner in terms of the scores, but no clear decision

At first glance, the Nitecore lamp clearly wins with 31 points, followed by the Petzl (25 points) and Black Diamond (24 points). This result also matches their prices: the most expensive model performs the best, while the cheapest comes in third place.

But the results of my comparison aren’t that simple. There are good reasons why all three test candidates are capable of lighting up your life.

Black Diamond Storm 500-R: It’s inexpensive and has a long battery life. If you can live with the moderate light intensity, it’s a good option. It’s also the easiest to adjust.

Petzl Swift RL: The Petzl is the good Swiss compromise – probably why it’s the best-selling model in our shop. Medium-bright light, mid-range features, mid-range price. You have to make compromises in terms of battery life, but it’s incredibly comfortable.

Nitecore HC65 UHE: The largest, most expensive and heaviest headlamp scores highly for its light intensity and battery life. Neither of the others shine as brightly or last as long. If you’re looking for power, you’re in the right place – and you’re guaranteed to find your way even on the darkest of nights.

Which headlamp do you use and what experiences have you had with it? Let me know in the comments!

Lorenz Keller

Senior Editor

Lorenz.Keller@digitecgalaxus.ch

Gadgets are my passion - whether you need them for the home office, for the household, for sport and pleasure or for the smart home. Or, of course, for the big hobby next to the family, namely fishing.

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