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Today, BioLite introduced three new rechargeable headlamps to their lineup. You may recall we took a look at one of these last year (the BioLite Headlamp 330; you can see that here) and came away impressed with it, primarily for how the heavy battery pack was moved to the back of the headband, allowing the light to remain stable even as you’re active. Well, the new models build on that, and bring some great new changes.
The closest analog to that earlier review would be the BioLite Headlamp 325, which outputs 325 lumens (rather than the 330). What’s particularly interesting here is that there is no battery pack in the back – it’s all built into the light. It’s necessarily a smaller battery, but you can still get up to 40 hours of runtime on low. And without that battery in the back, this will work quite well for wearing a headlamp while you’re laying down, say, while reading a book or crawling under the sink to work on something.
In terms of format (battery in the back), you might argue that the new BioLite Headlamp 425 is truly the closest analog. It’s got the battery pack in the back, so you’ve got a much longer run time, even with the higher lumens output. Along with the variety of light output options up front, you’re also getting a red light in the back (either strobe or flood) which would be excellent for use during a wintertime run (either in the early morning or the evening). Also a great plus here? This is the only one of the three new headlamps that rely on the USB-C connector to charge, which is becoming more and more universal.
On the other hand, if you really want to go all-out, there’s the BioLite Headlamp 800 Pro. This one has the largest battery we’ve seen in a BioLite headlamp, as well as the longest runtime available. We’re guessing that large battery also enables a new feature – constant output. As they point out, headlamps will often dim down over time, which saves battery life (as well as your eyes). With this headlamp, you can choose to keep things steady. Perhaps not something you’ll want all the time, but it’s good to have the choice.
Whichever of the new BioLite Headlamps you choose, they’ll stay snug on your head, and light up the path in front of you. The 325 comes in a $49.95, the 425 goes for $59.95, and then the 800 Pro commands a pricetag of $99.95. You can check out all the specs down below, as well as at their site. Oh, and keep your eyes peeled, as we’re working on a review of the 325. bioliteenergy.com
Tech Specs from BioLite
HeadLamp 325
- MSRP– $49.95
- Lumens – 325
- Lumens/Dollar – 6.51
- Weight – 50g
- Weather Resistance – IPX4
- Beam Distance – 75m
- Charging Port – Micro USB
- Rechargeable Battery Size – 700 mAh
- Run Time (Low) – 40h / Run Time (High) – 5h
- Light Modes – White Spot, White Strobe, Red Flood, Red Strobe
- Colorways – Midnight Gray , Ocean Teal, Ember Yellow
- 3D SlimFit Construction – By integrating electronics directly into the band, BioLite creates a flush low-profile front with no bounce, with a moisture-wicking band that keeps you cool and dry.
HeadLamp 425
- MSRP – $59.95
- Lumens – 425
- Lumens/Dollar – 7.09
- Weight – 78g
- Weather Resistance – IPX4
- Beam Distance – 85m
- Charging Port – USB-C
- Rechargeable Battery Size – 1000 mAh
- Run Time (Low) – 60h / Run Time (High) – 3.5h
- Reserve Mode – 1h
- Temperature Use Rating – (-20C to 60C)
- Light Modes – White Spot, White Strobe, Red Flood, Red Strobe, Spot+Flood, Rear Red Flood, Rear Red Strobe
- Colorways – Midnight Gray , Ocean Teal, Ember Yellow
- Run Forever Mode – Extend runtimes indefinitely. This feature allows you to use your headlamps, while simultaneously powering it with an external power bank.
- 3D SlimFit Construction – By integrating electronics directly into the band, BioLite creates a flush low-profile front with no bounce. The rear power unit distributes weight and keeps pressure off your forehead while moisture-wicking band keeps you cool and dry.
HeadLamp 800 PRO
- MSRP – $99.95
- Lumens – 800
- Weight – 150g
- Lumens/Dollar – 8.00
- Reserve Mode – 8h
- Weather Resistance – IPX4
- Beam Distance – 135m
- Charging Port – Micro-USB
- Rechargeable Battery Size – 3000 mAh
- Run Time (Low) – 150h / Run Time (High) – 7h
- Constant Run Time (Low) – 150h / Constant Run
- Temperature Use Rating – (-20C to 50C)
- ChromaReal – CRI90
- Light Modes – White Spot, White Strobe, Red Flood, Red Strobe, Spot+Flood, Rear Red Flood, Rear Red Strobe, 30 sec Burst
- Colorways – Midnight Gray
- 3D SlimFitConstruction – By integrating electronics directly into the band, BioLite creates a flush low-profile front with no bounce. The rear power unit distributes weight and keeps pressure off your forehead while moisture-wicking band keeps you cool and dry.
- PRO Features
- Run Forever Mode – Extend runtimes indefinitely. This feature allows you to use your headlamps, while simultaneously powering it with an external power bank.
- Pass Through PLUS Charging – Allows users to circumvent the battery pack and stay powered via an external battery pack close to body heat at extremely cold temperatures.
- Run Forever Cable – The included 3ft Run Forever cable enables you to connect to an external power bank that you can tuck easily into a vest, pack, or belt. A cable-management clip makes sure everything stays close to the body for fluid movement. Supports Run Forever Mode and Pass-Thru PLUS charging.
- Constant Mode – Most headlamps auto-regulate lumens to conserve battery life, dimming over time as your eye adjusts to darkness. While this can be efficient in a lot of cases, it shouldn’t be the only mode available for dealing with technical terrain or pitch darkness. Constant Mode puts users in complete control of their lumens, enabling them to set a steady level of brightness that will not dim.
