Black Diamond Icon Headlamp

Comments about Black Diamond Icon Headlamp:

This is a really good light.

The AA battery pack is really a plus for me, I'm trying hard to limit my gear to AA or 123A batteries.

The battery pack has a screw closure, and the screw is captive, so you can't loose it. The screw does not require tools to open as long as you don't over-tighten it.

Having the battery pack on the head also allows you to put it under your hat to keep the batteries warm.

Switch and screws are on the bottom when you're wearing it, which minimizes water intrusion in the rain.

The optional NIMH battery pack could be improved. The charger does not allow 12V or improvised power, and the NIMH cells, while giving long runtime, do not perform well in low temperatures (below 0C). Nicad or Li-Polymer would be a good improvement.

The battery status light is nice, but it's located on the battery pack, so it's impossible to see while you're wearing the light.

A short blink once a second while off, would help in locating the light in the dark. This could be an optional feature.


Overall, I'm very pleased.

Comments about Black Diamond Icon Headlamp:

I use this a lot on the low intensity LEDs and the 50 meters of light suggested by the manufacturer is pretty accurate. I've found it to provide enough light for anything 150ft and in.

Also what hasn't been highlighted in other reviews is how well is stays put on your head. Once I adjusted the bands to correct sizing, it found the light didn't shift on my head or ride up/loosen. Even putting this outside of a beanie doesn't cause it to pull the beanie up.

The battery pack sits nice and flush against the back of my head, and with a beanie you can't really tell it is there.

Maybe standard on headlamps, but another feature I haven't seen mentioned is the adjustable angle of the light. It has a ratchet hinge on the bottom that allows you to leave the lamp flat against your head, or you can tilt it to a downward angle for closer proximity lighting.

Also, the battery pack is relatively small - really just large enough to hold 3 AAs. This makes storing it handy. It fits, along with a bunch of other stuff, in my jacket's cargo pocket, and it fits easily in my jacket's built in goggle pocket. So, if you want to keep it on you, but not wear it - say heading out on a trail around sunset - it can be stored easily without needing to be put into a backpack.

Comments about Black Diamond Icon Headlamp:

I have been a serious caver since long before the advent of LED lighting systems. Their introduction has changed the expectations of what a lighting system can do. I regularly go on expeditions of 7 days underground, so any system that reduces the battery weight I need to carry for a trip is a definite win. Before LED systems I would carry literally pounds of C cells on a trip.

I bought the first commercially available 'serious' LED headlamp consisting of 24 ultra brigh LEDs in 1999 for $300. This was a wonderful light, but suffered from weight (over a pound) and battery availability (3V lithium D cell), but was great because one battery would last an entire expedition. Since then I have upgraded twice--first to the Black Diamond Zenix IQ, which is a good light, and most recently to the Icon. I decided to upgrade to the Icon while purchasing some gear before a recent expedition so I could get a lighter backup light instead of my original 1 pound system. I found the Icon and after some quick comparisons with the printed information against the Zenix IQ, I figured I would give it a try and use the Zenix IQ as a backup. According to the marketing, the Icon was supposed to be brigher and have longer battery life than the Zenix IQ.

From previous expeditions I knew that the Zenix would go through 2 Duracell AAs in about a day and a half, so I brought 2 AAs per day on this trip just in case I would need to use the Zenix for the entire time and still have backups. It turns out that I used the Icon the entire time. It was definitely brighter than the Zenix. At no point did I feel I needed something brighter. What amazed me, though, was the fact that it was my only light for all work outside of camp for a trip of 168 hours underground, and I did the entire expedition on my original set of batteries! Sure, I noticed it was a little dimmer on the last day, and I could have changed batteries then, but the light was still bright enough to exit the cave comfortably and safely and see almost as well as on my way in. I just wanted to see if they would make it for the entire trip.

Now I know that if I bring the Icon with 3 new Duracell AAs loaded and 3 in the pack and I should be good with backups for an entire week underground! Good job Black Diamond, and I can't wait to see what is next.

Comments about Black Diamond Icon Headlamp:

I often use this light for both backpacking and caving. It is great for backpacking, but fails to stretch around my helmet for caving. The coil on the power cord has come loose from the battery pack after only caving once in a mild cave with it. I have only had the light for 2 months:( It would make a great light for light use. It is bright and the battery lasts a long time.

Comments about Black Diamond Icon Headlamp:

Bought this to put over my large-size Bell Metro bicycle helmet. REI quotes that the headlamp will fit up to a 36-in. circumference, it fits fine. Works great as a headlight, you can point the beam by moving your head. On high, the spot beam covers about 2/3 of the lane width perhaps 50-70 yards ahead, plenty bright to see the road surface at 14 mph and avoid potholes or debris. Combines well with blinking LED lights that make me visible to cars. Multiuse and not expensive. Would not fit on all helmets. These new high-power LED lights are impressive new technology.

Comments about Black Diamond Icon Headlamp:

This is an awesome headlamp; it has a blinding 3-watt LED which is good for looking far off or spotting something, and 4 wide angle Super-bright LEDs which are very good for proximity lighting. I like the way you can switch brightness settings by half-pushing the button, and lighting modes by full-pushing the button located on the bottom of the LED assembly, so rain is not an issue. I also like the battery-depletion signal light on the battery box. Over all, This is probably the only headlamp I will ever need to buy.

Comments about Black Diamond Icon Headlamp:

Fits well, stable, well built, and easy to use. With two light modes available (spot and flood), this is a versatile lamp. I like the adjustable light levels... great for varying conditions, and extended battery life. Also, the adjustable beam angle is a nice feature.

A note about the memory mode… the headlamp remembers the last beam type used – flood or spot – as opposed to remembering the last brightness level used (there are three brightness levels for each beam type).

I’ve been considering a headlamp purchase for some time now; this one fits the bill nicely. I am looking forward to using it often.

Comments about Black Diamond Icon Headlamp:

Used it several times on Colorado 14ers in the morning and was always the one with the brightest light on the trail. This headlamp can easily change the intensity of the light by pressing the switch only half-way. Looks very durable, and even though the batteries are on the back of the headlamp, they actually support your head and you don't even know it is there. It was definitelly worth the money.

Comments about Black Diamond Icon Headlamp:

I recently purchased the Icon for a camping trip with my girlfriend and it did a great job. This lamp is incredibly bright. Black Diamond lists a beam distance of about 300', which seemed accurate to me after we went on a 2 mile night hike in the middle of the night with no moonlight. My girlfriend also brought along her headlamp, but the Icon was bright enough for the both of us and she usually turned hers off to save her batteries. I had no problem adjusting the settings with large button on the bottom in my bulky winter gloves, either.

There are a couple of cons to consider with the Icon: First, it could actually be TOO bright in some instances. For example, the lowest setting in the "flood" mode is probably just as bright (or brighter) than the high setting in the "spot" mode for other headlamps. When you wake up in the middle of the night to shuffle around in your gear, such a bright light is a bit jarring to eyes that aren't ready for it. Second, and along the same lines, it would be nice to have a red option for map reading or other quick tasks where you want to preserve your night vision. Third, since the Icon is so powerful, it needs three AA batteries. I used Lithium Ion batteries, which are a bit lighter, and the battery back is nicely situated in the back of the strap, but I could see some thinking it was a bit heavy as compared to other headlamps. Finally, although the Icon remembers what mode you are in (flood vs. spot), it doesn't remember what setting in that mode you are in. Accordingly, if you have it set to the lowest spot mode when you turn it off, when you turn it back on you will be in the HIGHEST setting in spot mode. These points are all fairly minor, however, so I've still given a rating of 5 stars.

I would absolutely buy this headlamp again. Well worth the price.

Comments about Black Diamond Icon Headlamp:

Great light. Puts out a lot of light in both spot and flood modes. It feels a little heavy in your hand compared to an Apex pro, but on your head it is not noticeable.