I have a bit of a fetish for flashlights and have way too many. For hiking, the NU25 is just about perfect and all of the rave reviews are well founded, it really is a great lamp. Swap the stock strap for an ultralight cord with lock and it’s even better. I don’t see a need to change for quite a long time to come.
Great review, man! I own Petzl Actic Core 450 and i love the option of putting 3xAAA when rechargable runs out. Just in case. However, its not waterproof (only IPX4), a bit pricy and heavier - 82 g with strap. How long does it take you to fully charge your Nitecore NU25?
🎶Gear, glorious gear🎶...I've been hearing good things about these sexy little beasts from other sources in the backpacking brethren. I may have to have me one of these bad boys, so I can retire my Petzl E-lite & use my Actik Core as a winter head torch. Neat review, muchas gracias... ATB fella 🤙
Petzl hydrid are the way to go. Lithium battery is removable and standard batteries can be used. The led in the Nitecore and others will far outlast the lithium battery which I believe is not replacement.
I’ve been looking at the Petzl hybrid as well- seems handy to have the option of real batteries or rechargeable. I’m trying to work out prices, I think something like Petzl Tikka plus the rechargeable battery pack is a bit more expensive than Nitecore but possibly worth it for flexibility. Has anyone tried both?
The Bindi only has 2 hours battery life and 35meter throw on the 200 lumen setting, while the NU25 have 5 hours and 61meter throw on 190 lumen. So the Nitecore is WAY better...
One feature I've really appreciated of my old headlamps is that you cycle through the intensity and then when you find the right one and use it for a bit, then another button press just turns it off. Does this headlamp do the same thing?
I got the NU32 today, and i am very impressed that its giving 17hours of 190 lumen in such a small and relatively lightweight package..! After seeing how bright the 33 lumen setting is, i realize that the NU25 would have been "good enough", but i prefer a somewhat brighter light, and the 5 hours of 190 lumen you get with the NU25 would be a bit limiting for the times when i feel "extra sporty"... With the NU32, i can use the 190 lumen setting as much as i want, and if i really wanted to, i could easily go for a WEEK with the 33 lumen (50 hours runtime) setting without charging, lol! Granted, this is complete overkill, but the NU25 was just a tad too weak to be fully satisfying 😏
In open spaces, you need more than 190 Lumens & the NU25 can do that & if you have a power bank, you can connect it to the NU25 & run it for more than a day at 400 Lumens. Plus the NU25 weighs half as much as the NU32 - you can barely feel anything with the NU25.
@@SodiumSyndicate Lumen is the overall light produced, but depending on the lens, it can be spread out in a wide cone (common in headlights) or a more focused beam (most flashlights). Lights with a wider cone will need more lumen (and battery power) to produce the same candela/brightness. For open areas you probably want a good throw, and the 400 lumen setting on the Nitecore NU25 only has 64 meter throw and 1029 candela VS the 190 lumen setting on the NU32 has 77 meter throw and 1480 candela. The 550 lumen setting has 125 meter throw and 3900 candela. The small Nitecore MT1A (single AA battery flashlight, and the official NATO backup flashlight) has a 115 meter throw and 3350 candela with the 180 lumen setting, 77 meter throw and 1500 candela on 55 lumen, 55 meter throw and 755 candela on 22 lumen, and 33 meter throw and 280 candela on the 5 lumen setting. The 60 lumen "spotlight" setting on the NU25 is 12 times more lumen than the lowest 5 lumen on the MT1A, but only have 31 meter throw and 253 candela..! The 5 lumen setting on this flashlight last for 60 hours, 22 lumen last for 18 hours, 55 lumen last for 5hour and 30 min, and the 180 lumen last for 1 hour and 30 minutes. I highly recommend this as an EDC flashlight, as well as a backup in case the headlight dies, or if you need a better throw to find trail markers 👍 Btw... The NU32 is plenty light enough for my needs, so the short battery life on the NU25 doesnt seem like a good tradeoff to me. The 60 lumen has a reasonably good battery life, but leaves a little to be desired when it comes to brightness, and the 200 lumen only have 4 hours and 15 minutes battery life, which is a bit limiting if i want to night hike, and having a charger cable connected seems annoying...
@@EspenFrafalne The way I have done night hikes & walks in open spaces & narrow areas. In open spaces, you want wide light because you want to be able to see to your sides as well, real well in fact, or else you never know what is lurking on the sides - snakes, critters etc. Sure you want to see far in open spaces as well - no doubt, so a dedicated spot is useful not to see continuously but every now & then to know where you are headed. A narrow beam in open spaces would mean you have to continuously keep seeing to the sides to make sure there's nothing unwanted to the sides. In narrow trails with bushes, trees etc on the sides, you need less light on the sides (or it may glare) & more throw in the front to light up the narrow pathway more.
@@SodiumSyndicate Flashlights are usually not so focused they are not good for hiking though. With a longer throw, you should see potential dangers before you get so close to it that you need a wide spread to notice it. The MT1A has a relatively focused center hotspot, and more diffused light cone that spreads out a little wider than 45 degrees (>22,5 degrees on each side of the center). The bright center gives a reasonable view distance, and below the center hotspot, the cone will hit the ground closer to me, where it is still reasonably bright because the lumens have not traveled far enough to spread out so wide that it becomes too dim and useless. IMO, a wide spread is better for work lights, or inside a tent. Ideally you want a good throw + spread + power efficiency, but you cant have all 3. You can however buy "diffuser caps" for the MT1A (and some other Nitecore flashlights) that diffuse the light very nicely if you want to use it in a tent. I really like power efficiency, so battery banks last longer on weekend trips, and some good solar panel becomes a valid choice for longer trips. The MT1A is the most power efficient good lightsource that i am aware of, and the Garmin eTrex 32x is MUCH more power efficient than using a phone for navigation, and the relatively small screen - without touch functionality - makes it substantially more power efficient than most other handheld GPS devices. Some cameras are also MUCH more power efficient than others, but i dont remember which models. Most flashlights and headlights focus on higher lumen (high battery drain) settings, but the MT1A has the best focus on low lumen settings that i have seen so far (and i have been looking), with its 5, 22, and 55 lumen settings. The 22 lumen setting is 755 candela and last for 18 hours, vs the 200 lumen spotlight setting on the NU25 is 862 candela (just 14% brighter), and last for 4 hours and 15 minutes (only 24% of the time). A wide spread is still a luxury though, so if power efficiency and throw is not a priority, then the NU25 is probably a good choice.
@@EspenFrafalne Look, your idea of long throw to see danger from far works when the danger is stationary - like a pit or edge of a cliff etc. With a moving target, you will have to keep scanning your head to track an animal afar. Even if you are being attacked or tracked, the animal (or human) tries to keep changing position & having a wide beam enables you to be aware of its movement without losing track as you would with a narrow long beam without much spill on the side. I would rather have full illumination in a 50m semi circle in front of me, than a narrow beam spot shining 100 meters while my sides are dark. You got it right that wide spread + throw + efficiency is a luxury. So, take a look at Nitecore NU43. It has a 3400mAh 18650 inbuilt battery. It can shine : 1400 Lumens at 130m for 30 seconds 600 Lumens at 77m for 10 hours (yes hrs) 300 Lumens at 53m for 15 hours 100 Lumens at 30m for 29 hours Forget the 100 lumens mode unless you are in bushes. 600 lumens at 77m gives you the same range as the 190 lumens at 77m in the NU32 but with 3 times the lumens & wide soft beam. 10 hours is almost a whole night. Even 300 Lumens at 53m is quite good & at 15 hours it exceeds an entire night, almost matching the 17 hours for the 190 Lumens (77m) in the NU32 but 30% less range but much wider soft beam. Plus it has a USB-C port with a rotating cover & can be charged in 1.5hrs or run continually on a power bank.
Any advice for a head torch WITH batteries, rather than a rechargeable one?? I’m going away for a week and won’t have any way of getting charge back into one like this but it’s a struggle to find popular ones that take double or tripe As anymore
does it charge and work when walking at the same time while plugged into an external battery brick? I watched some other video where chap was saying it doesn't.
![[[OFFICIAL MV]] เอิ้นขวัญให้อ้าย- อ๊ะอาย สกุณาพร | ค่ายเพลงเป็นหนึ่ง](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/83x6L3X3qh0/mqdefault.jpg)
Just got this light for my birthday! This review is stellar man! Great job!
Looks like a really good headlamp! Thanks for sharing
I have a bit of a fetish for flashlights and have way too many. For hiking, the NU25 is just about perfect and all of the rave reviews are well founded, it really is a great lamp. Swap the stock strap for an ultralight cord with lock and it’s even better. I don’t see a need to change for quite a long time to come.
Awesome review! You made me buy this one. Keep on the good work
Looks class .this is something I have been looking for . great video well done 👍
Excellent review! Just ordered one.
Finally a proper review!!! Thank you!!!
Nice review dude. Definitely going to get me one of these.
Great review, man! I own Petzl Actic Core 450 and i love the option of putting 3xAAA when rechargable runs out. Just in case. However, its not waterproof (only IPX4), a bit pricy and heavier - 82 g with strap. How long does it take you to fully charge your Nitecore NU25?
2.5 hours best lamp I’ve owned by far
Had one for a while, epic so bright and light 👍
🎶Gear, glorious gear🎶...I've been hearing good things about these sexy little beasts from other sources in the backpacking brethren. I may have to have me one of these bad boys, so I can retire my Petzl E-lite & use my Actik Core as a winter head torch. Neat review, muchas gracias... ATB fella 🤙
Thanks very much Dermot! I think I need to get my hands on a Petzl lamp as well and try. You to mate all the best.
Petzl hydrid are the way to go. Lithium battery is removable and standard batteries can be used. The led in the Nitecore and others will far outlast the lithium battery which I believe is not replacement.
I’ve been looking at the Petzl hybrid as well- seems handy to have the option of real batteries or rechargeable. I’m trying to work out prices, I think something like Petzl Tikka plus the rechargeable battery pack is a bit more expensive than Nitecore but possibly worth it for flexibility. Has anyone tried both?
@@allisonruthdunne255 i have the petzl zipka and absolutely love it!
But they are not very dustproof or waterproof... like at all..😔 Thats a big no go for me. Black Diamond products has all that though.
Nice review good Sir. Have been using the petzl bindi for about 3y and do believe the nitecore slightly outperforms it!
Thanks dude. Haha glad you liked that. It’s a good lamp. Only thing is the battery isn’t replaceable. Apart from that, best headlamp. Happy trails!!
The Bindi only has 2 hours battery life and 35meter throw on the 200 lumen setting, while the NU25 have 5 hours and 61meter throw on 190 lumen. So the Nitecore is WAY better...
Hi great review what level lumen wise did use mainly on the 10 day hike. ?
I will be happy when the next gen stuff starts coming out with USB C charge ports, so I don't have to carry multiple charge cables anymore.
Cords already exist that take care of that problem.
One feature I've really appreciated of my old headlamps is that you cycle through the intensity and then when you find the right one and use it for a bit, then another button press just turns it off. Does this headlamp do the same thing?
Late answer, but yes; it turns off with 1 click, in the way that you describe.
Yes
I got the NU32 today, and i am very impressed that its giving 17hours of 190 lumen in such a small and relatively lightweight package..! After seeing how bright the 33 lumen setting is, i realize that the NU25 would have been "good enough", but i prefer a somewhat brighter light, and the 5 hours of 190 lumen you get with the NU25 would be a bit limiting for the times when i feel "extra sporty"... With the NU32, i can use the 190 lumen setting as much as i want, and if i really wanted to, i could easily go for a WEEK with the 33 lumen (50 hours runtime) setting without charging, lol! Granted, this is complete overkill, but the NU25 was just a tad too weak to be fully satisfying 😏
In open spaces, you need more than 190 Lumens & the NU25 can do that & if you have a power bank, you can connect it to the NU25 & run it for more than a day at 400 Lumens. Plus the NU25 weighs half as much as the NU32 - you can barely feel anything with the NU25.
@@SodiumSyndicate Lumen is the overall light produced, but depending on the lens, it can be spread out in a wide cone (common in headlights) or a more focused beam (most flashlights). Lights with a wider cone will need more lumen (and battery power) to produce the same candela/brightness. For open areas you probably want a good throw, and the 400 lumen setting on the Nitecore NU25 only has 64 meter throw and 1029 candela VS the 190 lumen setting on the NU32 has 77 meter throw and 1480 candela. The 550 lumen setting has 125 meter throw and 3900 candela.
The small Nitecore MT1A (single AA battery flashlight, and the official NATO backup flashlight) has a 115 meter throw and 3350 candela with the 180 lumen setting, 77 meter throw and 1500 candela on 55 lumen, 55 meter throw and 755 candela on 22 lumen, and 33 meter throw and 280 candela on the 5 lumen setting. The 60 lumen "spotlight" setting on the NU25 is 12 times more lumen than the lowest 5 lumen on the MT1A, but only have 31 meter throw and 253 candela..! The 5 lumen setting on this flashlight last for 60 hours, 22 lumen last for 18 hours, 55 lumen last for 5hour and 30 min, and the 180 lumen last for 1 hour and 30 minutes. I highly recommend this as an EDC flashlight, as well as a backup in case the headlight dies, or if you need a better throw to find trail markers 👍
Btw... The NU32 is plenty light enough for my needs, so the short battery life on the NU25 doesnt seem like a good tradeoff to me. The 60 lumen has a reasonably good battery life, but leaves a little to be desired when it comes to brightness, and the 200 lumen only have 4 hours and 15 minutes battery life, which is a bit limiting if i want to night hike, and having a charger cable connected seems annoying...
@@EspenFrafalne The way I have done night hikes & walks in open spaces & narrow areas.
In open spaces, you want wide light because you want to be able to see to your sides as well, real well in fact, or else you never know what is lurking on the sides - snakes, critters etc. Sure you want to see far in open spaces as well - no doubt, so a dedicated spot is useful not to see continuously but every now & then to know where you are headed.
A narrow beam in open spaces would mean you have to continuously keep seeing to the sides to make sure there's nothing unwanted to the sides.
In narrow trails with bushes, trees etc on the sides, you need less light on the sides (or it may glare) & more throw in the front to light up the narrow pathway more.
@@SodiumSyndicate Flashlights are usually not so focused they are not good for hiking though. With a longer throw, you should see potential dangers before you get so close to it that you need a wide spread to notice it.
The MT1A has a relatively focused center hotspot, and more diffused light cone that spreads out a little wider than 45 degrees (>22,5 degrees on each side of the center). The bright center gives a reasonable view distance, and below the center hotspot, the cone will hit the ground closer to me, where it is still reasonably bright because the lumens have not traveled far enough to spread out so wide that it becomes too dim and useless.
IMO, a wide spread is better for work lights, or inside a tent. Ideally you want a good throw + spread + power efficiency, but you cant have all 3. You can however buy "diffuser caps" for the MT1A (and some other Nitecore flashlights) that diffuse the light very nicely if you want to use it in a tent.
I really like power efficiency, so battery banks last longer on weekend trips, and some good solar panel becomes a valid choice for longer trips. The MT1A is the most power efficient good lightsource that i am aware of, and the Garmin eTrex 32x is MUCH more power efficient than using a phone for navigation, and the relatively small screen - without touch functionality - makes it substantially more power efficient than most other handheld GPS devices. Some cameras are also MUCH more power efficient than others, but i dont remember which models.
Most flashlights and headlights focus on higher lumen (high battery drain) settings, but the MT1A has the best focus on low lumen settings that i have seen so far (and i have been looking), with its 5, 22, and 55 lumen settings. The 22 lumen setting is 755 candela and last for 18 hours, vs the 200 lumen spotlight setting on the NU25 is 862 candela (just 14% brighter), and last for 4 hours and 15 minutes (only 24% of the time).
A wide spread is still a luxury though, so if power efficiency and throw is not a priority, then the NU25 is probably a good choice.
@@EspenFrafalne Look, your idea of long throw to see danger from far works when the danger is stationary - like a pit or edge of a cliff etc.
With a moving target, you will have to keep scanning your head to track an animal afar.
Even if you are being attacked or tracked, the animal (or human) tries to keep changing position & having a wide beam enables you to be aware of its movement without losing track as you would with a narrow long beam without much spill on the side.
I would rather have full illumination in a 50m semi circle in front of me, than a narrow beam spot shining 100 meters while my sides are dark.
You got it right that wide spread + throw + efficiency is a luxury. So, take a look at Nitecore NU43.
It has a 3400mAh 18650 inbuilt battery.
It can shine :
1400 Lumens at 130m for 30 seconds
600 Lumens at 77m for 10 hours (yes hrs)
300 Lumens at 53m for 15 hours
100 Lumens at 30m for 29 hours
Forget the 100 lumens mode unless you are in bushes. 600 lumens at 77m gives you the same range as the 190 lumens at 77m in the NU32 but with 3 times the lumens & wide soft beam. 10 hours is almost a whole night.
Even 300 Lumens at 53m is quite good & at 15 hours it exceeds an entire night, almost matching the 17 hours for the 190 Lumens (77m) in the NU32 but 30% less range but much wider soft beam.
Plus it has a USB-C port with a rotating cover & can be charged in 1.5hrs or run continually on a power bank.
New version or old version?
Any advice for a head torch WITH batteries, rather than a rechargeable one?? I’m going away for a week and won’t have any way of getting charge back into one like this but it’s a struggle to find popular ones that take double or tripe As anymore
I had a Black Diamond Ion which took 2 AAAs. Was pretty good. 👍
Does it come with a headband ?
I thought the NU25 was 360 lumens.
does it charge and work when walking at the same time while plugged into an external battery brick? I watched some other video where chap was saying it doesn't.
yes it charge,
Shame it looks so cheap.
Lmao not even that is completely subjective