
$39.95
Item qualifies for annual
REI Member Refund (typically 10%)
Please note: Black Diamond products can only be shipped to the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
Imported.
Item 771451
Specification | Description |
| Bulb type | LED |
| Bulb detail | 1 1-watt LED / 3 5mm LEDs |
| Weight with batteries | 3 ounces |
| Dimensions | 2.27 x 1.69 x 1.4 inches |
| Light output | 60 lumens |
| Maximum beam distance | High: 70 / low: 10 meters |
| Brightness levels | 6 |
| Beam type | Flood / spot |
| Strobes | 2 |
| Regulated output | No |
| Battery life at 70 degrees | High: 100 / low: 200 hours |
| Batteries | 3 AAA |
| Material | Plastic |
| Rechargeable | No |
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviewsPros
Cons
Best Uses
Reviewed by 36 customers
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Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Black Diamond Spot LED Headlamp:
Excellent light for the size of the unit. It's amazingly bright for a 3AAA light with a 1 watt LED. I purchased it to replace my 10 year old Petzl dinosaur with an incandescent bulb. The spot is very light, stows away easily in a pocket, has proven rain/snow proof, and all around is as good as advertised. My only hesitations are the longterm durability of the beam adjustment hinge mechanism, and the plastic's resistance to cracking while changing the batteries.
Changing the batteries seems to place a lot of strain on the plastics. The beam adjusts vertically on plastic notches, and it seems they'll wear down over time.
I purchased a Petzl Tikka XP for my girlfriend, and a Spot for myself -- both have 1 watt LED bulbs and run on 3 AAA batteries. The Spot is considerably brighter; on medium it's as bright as the Tikka on high. Only when you press the "boost" button on the Tikka is it as bright as the Spot, but you have to keep that button held down and it cuts out after 20 seconds. (advantage Spot) The Tikka relies on one 1 watt LED for all settings; the Spot has a 1 watt for "spot" lighting and 3 small LEDs for wide beam; seems smart to have backup bulbs in the backcountry. (advantage Spot) The Spot's 15 bucks cheaper. (advantage Spot) The Petzl appears of slightly higher build quality. (advantage Tikka)
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Comments about Black Diamond Spot LED Headlamp:
This is a follow-up to my earlier review. After reading the review from "Dream Big", I contacted Black Diamond about the cracked part. BD quickly mailed me a replacement. They have redesigned the part; the new version is significantly thicker and should be much sturdier. Kudos to Black Diamond for their prompt customer service and for improving the design. I would recommend this headlamp without reservations.
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Comments about Black Diamond Spot LED Headlamp:
It's nice to be able to switch between the wide-area LED's and the spot beam. The spot beam is really bright. However, both of the adjustment tabs (which control the tilt) broke off, and both of the plastic rings mounting rings (where the light pivots) have cracked. Now the light just flops forward. The damage occurred during routine use.
Pros
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Comments about Black Diamond Spot LED Headlamp:
I used the Spot on multi-day treks through mountain trails and overnight camps and really liked its brightness and lightweight. But after a couple of trips, I think, I started to notice cracks on the casing, right on the side opposite the switch. The plastic eventually chipped away and I'm wondering if I can just seal it with tape. I may have squished it inside my pack or handled it roughly but still, I expected something better from a field gear. I found opening the battery compartment cumbersome at first but got used to it eventually. I would have given the Spot 5 starts if not for its durability.
Pros
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Comments about Black Diamond Spot LED Headlamp:
Lots of folks beefin' over this headlight & durability. I have used it nightly for the last month w/ no problems of any kind. When it's not in use, I keep it in a small camera case for crush protection. No cracks or chips. However, I suppose this light could be damaged by a hard fall or a hiking boot with 280 pounds of outdoorsman above it. It is, after all, made of plastic. I'm no engineer, but a more durable material would add cost and/or weight, causing complaints about cost and/or weight. I'm thinking that with a little care, this light will hold up well. That said, it is VERY bright & performs well in rain & cold. It's not heavy on my noggin & has a decent battery life with no accidental switching on in the backpack. The power/dimmer button IS difficult to press with gloves at first, after a few uses I was able to find the button easily & get the sweet spot w/ no problem-o. A great product that does well exactly what I want it to do - illuminate my path.
Pros
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Comments about Black Diamond Spot LED Headlamp:
This is a pretty good light unless you plan to use it regularly, or in a critical situation (like on a dark trail at night). I've used mine almost every day beyond outdoor activities and it's great for outside, for working on the car, working on a PC, reading at night, etc.I've had to replace this light twice at REI, and ALL THREE lights exhibit the same two problems: 1) Eventually the light will occasionally dim out, even with new batteries. Lightly tapping the case while it's on might bring it back to full life temporarily. The first unit I replaced eventually died completely.2) The two little tabs that lock the light's pivot angle WILL eventually break off, making the light flop around. This is really irritating, and if you're on a hike at night you could end up using this light as a hand-held flashlight.Overall I like this light. I don't expect "things" like this to last forever, but three bad units in less than two years isn't acceptable. The obvious design flaw of the pivot-lock will keep me from spending another [$] on one, for myself or anyone else.
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Comments about Black Diamond Spot LED Headlamp:
Head lights like this, have begun to create limited uses for flashlights while hiking/camping. I will still bring a 6v lithium incandescent flashlight for emergency uses. But this item, with the LED's and spot function, having the different power settings, and tilting assembly, is the cat's meow for 95% of my lighting needs.
I do have to state, that LED's are cheap items, and with a plastic housing, I believe that these items...all of these types of lights, are overpriced for the material and workmanship involved.
That said,they are an item of great convenience to the hiker/backpacker.
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Comments about Black Diamond Spot LED Headlamp:
I've had this nearly 3 years. I own several other headlamps and this is my preferred one. It stays in the car where I can always find it. When I switch vehicles I grab this and my Oakleys. I was looking for a bright, but lightweight headlamp for x-c skiing and a salesman suggested this one. No more headlamp headaches. Unlike other reviews, I've had no durability issues.
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Comments about Black Diamond Spot LED Headlamp:
I finally used this thing as a helmet-light and it worked great - albeit combined w/ a cheap bar-mounted light. The only thing I have to gripe about is that the 'spot' (pun intended, I guess) was a pretty tight beam, and it'd be so nice to be able to have it AND the floods on at the same time. It would also be nice to be able to adjust the spread of the beam, but it would also be nice to make $100K/yr w/o working. Anyway, this thing is awesome, and for the price it is definitely the best value out there which is why I'm still giving it 5 stars. It ratcheted into place and never moved, even though I was on a hard-tail going through some really rough stuff. I had to tape it down to the helmet with the way I had it rigged, but next time I'll try zip-ties (which may negate even needing to put the band through the helmet at all).
Pros
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Best Uses
Comments about Black Diamond Spot LED Headlamp:
I was b/w the EOS and the Spot, and all the specs pointed toward the Spot: Brighter, lighter, and the ability to use the flood leds which the EOS doesn't have. The only other led headlamps I've owned were Energizer brands which still work great. However, I wanted a brighter one that could also be mounted on a bike helmet for night-rides. This one fits that bill since you can remove the strap from the light, although I haven't gotten around to using it as such but have confidence that it will work great combined w/ a bar-light. Oh, I do want to mention that the intensity adjusting is difficult as you have to half-press the button. This would probably be impossible w/ gloves on, but if you're gentle it's not a problem.
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