Head lamp shootout: Black Diamond Storm 500-R vs. Nitecore UL25UL vs. Silva Terra Scout H review

Lights please! We compare 3 popular head lamps, from Black Diamond's flagship Storm 500-R to Nitecore's ultralight favorite. We talk about light output, battery, comfort, weight and much, much more.
0:00 - Intro
0:24 - Light output
1:36 - Battery and autonomy
2:45 - Comfort
4:13 - User interface
6:42 - Weather resistance
7:23 - Weight
7:55 - Features
9:40 - Price
9:49 - Conclusion
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Current prices (affiliate links)
- Black Diamond Storm 500-R: amzn.to/47mJ5yq
- Silva Terra Scout H: amzn.to/47mJ918
- Nitecore NU25UL: amzn.to/3YuseWr
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Filmed with (affiliate links)
- Sony A7IV: amzn.to/329AyCi
- Sony 24mm f1.4 GM: amzn.to/3Yfsl82

[@trwent]

What were the Black Diamond people drinking when they decided to go with micro usb over usb c ?

[@alabastardmasterson]

It's ridiculous. Even the new models are still micros

[@WeileWorld]

Black Diamond Deploy 350 got USB-C.

[@elliottschofield4291]

Great review. USB micro killed the Black diamond for me. Bummer because it would have been my pick otherwise.

[@masoukamil]

I had an older Spot version (2018) which had only one button on top and now I have the new version with two buttons on top. Even though it might sound simpler to have just one button I actually prefer the new version with the two buttons and find it more intuitive. It's simple really: one button changes the mode function, the other on and off or dimm when holding. It's not complicated at all. The side button is a feature of black diamond for instant max power output if you need it without going through the dimming process. It's quite easy to use

[@neemancallender9092]

Ultra low output is one of the major functions I look for Most of my flashlight usage is inside my tent The firefly setting gives me plenty of light to read a book and increases the burn time by 50 to 100 hours

[@BelgianHikers]

Absolutely, dim is the new black!

[@levosgiendesforets]

Nice review, nice choices, i didn't watch this format somewhere else. TKS

[@skargr9519]

You can access the red light when the black diamond is off by continuing pressing the small mode button

[@BelgianHikers]

Goes to show he real valuable information is always in the comments. Thanks!

[@Yusuf-pz9km]

great video!!

[@69newportking]

I have the black dimond and its not that hard to figure out the controls

[@leonpalnau6839]

Black Diamond should have got +10 for the touch feature that took 12 seconds to learn from the manual. Being able to toggle between a dimming level that I set and full brightness w/spot turned out to be a godsend in actual practice when a hike took longer than expected and we spent a couple hours trying to find camp in the dark. "Is that it? (Tap) Nope. (Tap)". The battery on any sane brightness level just wrecks the competition as well. You only tested max "turbo" runtime. 3 days of use with 4-6 hours of hiking in the dark only took it down 1 bar. It could easily last weeks of normal use around camp before needing a charge.

[@trsdvg]

hi. black diamond can easy turn on red light mode if headlamp steel off - just press and hold mode button

[@BelgianHikers]

Thanks for the tip!

[@levosgiendesforets]

I like the armytech one (small)

[@chris-topher]

Too funny about micro USB dislike. I carry 2 other older devices that both have micro USB charge ports. I was super happy that the BD design team was momentarily asleep at the wheel!

[@BelgianHikers]

Haha, I’m glad they managed to make someone happy.

[@TennesseeSlim]

You should read the manual if your willing to spend $75. They are the best features I know of.

[@BelgianHikers]

I've read it, but that doesn't mean I'll remember every button press combination when I need it next winter. And no one I handed it to figured it out on their own. I'm not knocking the features, just the UI. If it's intuitive to you then great! Lots of people downvoting the video because they love Black Diamond, so they obviously make good stuff 😄

[@JoachimGeeraert]

Only -1 for micro-usb?? Lack of type-c = DNQ in 2023.

[@BelgianHikers]

Well they got -2, but I agree they got off easily. Just didn’t want to go full nerd on a hiking channel 😅