Nitecore HC68 Review - Good for Trail Running?

The Nitecore HC68 is the brightest headlamp I've tested so far, with a maximum output of 2,000 lumens. But is it suitable for trail running?
Shop for the Nitecore HC68 here: geni.us/Vxze4l
0:00 - Introductions
1:30 - Features & Specifications
7:40 - Comfort & Fit
8:51 - Customization vs Ease of Use
13:27 - Build Quality
13:56 - Overall Value
14:14 - Final Thoughts & Use Cases
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#trailrunning #trailrunningheadlamp #headlampreview

[@Alexander.Grekhov]

Your reviews are great - always to the point, very practical! Keep it up!

[@ContentsMayDiffer]

I know a lot of active and reservist military people that use the HM65R. Speaking of complicated button combinations, I used to have a Black Diamond Storm 450 headlamp. The weight made it sag when running, and when I tried to adjust its position it would either go full blast, change colour or act up in some way. Flashing blue light is fun when running on gravel roads, but I ended up getting a Petzl Actik core instead and I have been really happy with it. The fun thing is that I bought them both in the same store and the guy there told me that he preferred the Petzl due to it being simple to operate. Should have listened to him the first time.

[@JeffPelletier]

It’s definitely the kind of thing you need to learn from experience! Sometimes less is more when it comes to features. I’m hoping to test out the Petzl Core as well one of these days..

[@djsharl1821]

I give the headlamp 10 out of 10 for everything

[@StreamCrossingRunner]

Love the format Jeff. I picked up the Felix HM65RT after watching your review from a while back and will stick with that after watching this video. I love the HR65RT with the caveat, as you mentioned that it tends bounce a little. I have taken to wearing a cap to help keep it from bouncing. I love the boa tightening/adjustment.

[@JeffPelletier]

Glad to hear it! You can probably skip next week’s review of the HM65RT 😉

[@stevenrobertson6656]

Best review I've seen on this headlamp ...subbed.

[@rsilvers129]

As for use cases for heavier powerful lights, it’s needed for mountain biking. The 900 lumens for 2.5 hours would cover most of the rides I used to do. They were usually over by 2 hours. I guess what bugs me is that it starts at 2000 lumens and then throttles down. It needs to start at 900 lumens and stay there. I don’t like how any of these lights adjust within a few minutes.

[@marie-clauderoy9464]

Merci Jeff pour la review, I have learned a few new things to look for when shopping for a headlamp.

[@Boudhewein]

Again a great indepth review. Really detailed and informative. Keep it up.

[@JeremyBenfield]

Great review! Thanks for the honesty!

[@philippwickey9484]

Found this super useful. I live in the PNW and have to run in the dark often. Looking forward to more reviews. Format is great, the only thing I would change (and I know, it's very nit-picky), is the rating system to a 1-10 scale, you can just get a little more precise with that method. Other than that, I am SO glad I found your site!

[@atleastIdietrying]

I use the petzl iko core with their rechargeable battery. It’s super light. But when I really run technical terrain and longer I use the kogalla rah together with it.

[@ghostbond1074]

One thing missed is the controls are really simple for making light out out lower. The "simpler" headlamps I've used make you cycle through every brighter mode to get back to the dim modes, it's time consuming and you blind the people around you. This one it's 1 button to go up, 1 button to go down.

[@rafaelhidalgo]

Insightful review Jeff, thanks!

[@veayoislost]

I use the Fenix HM65RT and found that a small strip of velcro (stitched in) on my running cap sticks to the band of the Fenix and eliminates movement.

[@JeffPelletier]

Great tip, thanks!

[@SeeChadRun]

You're my hero Jeff ;-) When it comes to dual LED headlamps, I really like my Silva Trail Runner Free (H or Ultra models). I love the combo of the flood and spot light on that headlamp. Nitecore makes some durable and high-value products/headlamps too. Great review Jeff!!!

[@EastofSublime]

I love Nitecore and I was tempted to buy this - but I'm so glad you explained the complex button patterns. It seems WAY too complicated for my needs. Very, very grateful for this!

Hi Jeff, you may wanna check out the Nitecore-UT05 Waistlight. Production should roll out soon. The crowdfunding campaign just ended about 6 weeks ago. You can attach it to e.g a running vest or hip belt with velcro and couple it to a powerbank. 400lumen double led mode runs about 6hrs with a 10000mah battery.

[@vgbudau]

Really useful; thanks!👍

[@AnilSingh-rn3kx]

Love nitecore products ❤❤

[@grennangoeshiking]

Are you doing any more of these? Possibly some of the smaller ones? Like maybe whats the best back up or short distance headlamp. These are great informational videos. Thanks

[@markdean1768]

Video format-I skipped to the final chapter for the Use Cases shortly into this video as it's the use cases in gear reviews that hook my attention (the power of BLUF). Comparisons/ summaries with similar products-having one or two strongly suited placed in the group-offset my desire to click out when it begins to sound like a featured product isn't well suited for a specific sport. I did appreciate your thoroughness in this... presentation, format, film category(?). Otherwise, please don't change up your running & outdoors videos. Yours, Flora Beverley's, and Göran Winblad's styles are winners in that you all cut to the chase, slice in scenic shots and shots of the trail conditions, and incorporate good music sound mixing.

[@matthewdorton3521]

Great video, enjoy the format. Have you tried/plan to test any lynx OGT products? Would love to hear your thoughts.

[@philippwickey9484]

Thanks!

[@maximelegendre8974]

The Black Diamond Icon 700 doesn't seem to be very popular for trail running. Yet it seems to be an excellent headlamp. Is it because of the weight?

[@JeffPelletier]

Yea, at 300 grams it’s much too heavy in my opinion for trail running. It’s got a lot of features that you’d never use.

[@UltraDad]

HM65RT all the way. My head hurts with all of the beam combinations and how they are activated. During a 100 miler I can barely remember to eat and drink…much less fiddle with a complicated system. I bought my Fenix after you reviewed it and LOVE IT! I do think the Fenix should have included a red light though.

[@JeffPelletier]

Exactly how I feel! Glad the Fenix is working out for you 👊

[@facesmelt9903]

Fenix now has the HM70R, which includes a few red light settings

[@ianwilliamrobertson]

we'll have to test this one against mine :-)

[@rsilvers129]

Looks like the BioLite HeadLamp 750 has a 500 lumen, 2 hour, constant mode that stays at 500 lumens from start to finish. Unfortunately it's not the default setting so you need to hold down the button for 5 seconds to activate it.

[@OliverHinz]

Hey, did you check the UT32 anytime?

[@jmpersic]

So, this video is very good and your review quality is fantastic. If there is one thing I'm missing though it's the experience of swapping batteries. I'm really curious how this works, and what the interaction is with the charging port. I have an older version of this headlamp and the battery compartment is fussy. Would be great to see if they improved upon it.

[@JeffPelletier]

Interesting question! The charging port seems to be completely independent of the battery compartment and there's no interaction with it. Swapping batteries is just a matter of unscrewing the one end, while the charging port is accessed by unscrewing the other end. So perhaps this has been improved as you say?

[@jmpersic]

@@JeffPelletier Perhaps! Is there a pin that must be aligned on the battery compartment screw-cap? This exists on my model, and it's hard to align in the dark.

[@robbiterry38]

i l0ve this lamp..

[@Maxwaehrens]

Almost a 16 minute video, and we see no demo of the lamp out in the wild on a dark night? I hope you will do a comparison video at some point, showing the difference on all the headlamps which you have tested, and of course ensuring camera exposure is not automatically adjusting

[@JeffPelletier]

I can definitely try to do that in the future. I’ve always had difficulty trying to ‘show’ a headlamp beam on camera as the exposure is relative and something I need to determine in-camera.

[@jasonhawen3272]

Have you tried Ledlenser? Very good

[@JeffPelletier]

Not yet, is there a model you’d recommend? Maybe the H5R Core?

[@jasonhawen3272]

@@JeffPelletier I have the neo10r which has be great for 100 milers. Super comfortable and easy to use.

[@ghostbond1074]

This one weighs 4.18oz...their newer HC65 is only slightly less bright but weighs 2.31 oz - almost 50% less.

[@sdqsdq6274]

lol why they send this and not the ut27

[@csn583]

This UI is inexcusable these days. Totally avoidable.

[@MehrdadRajabi]

too long for a headlamp!