Black Diamond Spot Headlamp Initial Report

Andrew Henrichs

November 3, 2005

Biographical Information

Name:  Andrew Henrichs
Age:  24
Gender:  Male
Height:  6’ 2” (1.88 m)
Weight:  190 lb (86.2 kg)

Email address:  a_henrichs@yahoo.com           
City, State, Country:  Glenwood Springs, Colorado, USA

Backpacking Background

   Most of my backpacking has been in the mountains of Colorado and Wyoming, as well as the desert in the southwestern US.  I’ve gone winter camping several times, but I still prefer backpacking in the warmer months.  Most of my trips are 2-3 days, but I have taken several trips of 5-6 days.  This past summer, I was fortunate enough to have thru-hiked the 476 mile Colorado Trail over 35 days.  Recently, I have been leaning towards the lightweight side of the spectrum. 

Product Information

Manufacturer:  Black Diamond (www.bdel.com)

Year of Manufacturer:  2005

Listed Weight (without batteries):  1.8 oz (50 g)

Listed Weight (with batteries):  3.0 oz (85 g)

Weight as Delivered (without batteries):  1.75 oz (49.6 g)

Weight as Delivered (with batteries):  3.25 oz  (92.1 g)

Bulb Types:  One-1 Watt HyperBright LED, Three SuperBright LEDs

MSRP:  $42.95 US

Packaging

  The plastic package the Spot arrived in appeared to be one of those impossible-to-open packages.  Upon further inspection, there was a small, perforated pull-tab on the back of the package.  One quick pull and I easily accessed the headlamp, headband, directions, and the three AAA batteries required to operate the headlamp. 

  The directions are written in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, and Japanese.  The directions include instructions on how to install the batteries, general use, attaching and adjusting the headband, adjusting the angle of the beam, troubleshooting, conditions of use, care and cleaning, spare parts, warnings, and the limited warranty.  The directions are well-written and easy to understand.  If the written directions aren’t clear, the Black Diamond website offers short movies which describe battery installation, the 1 Watt HyperBright and the SuperBright LEDs, the tiltable head, the removable band, and the compact size.  As a bonus, the movies are set to a pretty rockin’ soundtrack.

Product Description

  I received the titanium headlamp; it also comes in pearl.  The body of the headlamp is two shades of titanium.  On the front of the headlamp, the HyperBright LED is on top, with the three SuperBright LEDs situated around the lower 1/3 of the HyperBright in a semicircle.  “Black Diamond” is printed in black lettering around the upper 1/3 of the HyperBright LED in a semicircle.  The on/off button is located just above the HyperBright LED and is imprinted with a Black Diamond logo.  The back of the headlamp housing is also the battery compartment.  The pivot with which the beam angle is adjusted is located at the bottom rear of the headlamp.  The attachment point for the headlamp is the plastic adjustor, which attaches at the pivot point.  The headband is easily removable and has a sliding tab for size adjustment.  The headband has a titanium colored background, red trim on the top and bottom, and a pattern of red and darker titanium coloring around the outside.  “Black Diamond” and the Black Diamond logo is printed in white on both sides of the headband.  The headband circumference adjusts from 14 in (36 cm) to 26 in (66 cm).

  The Black Diamond Spot is rated to IPX 4.  According to the directions, this means the Spot will “continue to function when subjected to water spray at any angle.  This does not include salt spray or high-alkalinity fluids.”  According to the Black Diamond website, the Spot has a functional burn time of 65 hours with the SuperBright LEDs and 20 hours with the Hyperbright LED.  The illumination with fresh batteries is 49 ft (15 m) with Superbright LEDs and 131 ft (40 m) with the Hyperbright LED.

Product Use

  Fully pressing the on/off button once turns on the Hyperbright LED.  Fully pressing it again turns it off.  Fully pressing it a third time turns on the SuperBright LEDs.  A fourth full press turns the headlamp off again.  Partially pressing the on/off button while either of the LED types is on accesses the sub-modes.  The first partial depression turns on the middle setting.  This setting offers approximately 70% (HyperBright LED) or 80% (SuperBright LEDs) of the full brightness.  Partially depressing the button a second time activates the economy setting, which offers either 50% (HyperBright LED) or 66% (SuperBright LEDs) of the full brightness.  A third partial depression of the button activates the strobe setting.  A fourth partial depression returns the headlamp to full brightness.  A full depression of the on/off button while in one of the sub-modes turns off the headlamp. 

  The headlamp pivots 90º, easily allowing me to aim the light where it is needed.  Best of all, the headlamp appears to stay in place when it is pivoted.  When the headband is removed, the Spot can be attached to harnesses, packs, and belts.  I’ll have to see how useful I find this feature.

  I haven’t had a lot of time to test the Spot, but I like what I’ve seen so far.  I was a little skeptical of the battery installation.  It involved pivoting the housing beyond 90º.  I was worried that I might break the headband attachment, but it and the pivot point proved remarkably durable.  After installing the batteries, I took it into a dark room and switched it on.  The room lit up, and I smiled.  The on/off button is exposed, but requires enough force to depress that I don’t foresee a problem with it turning on while in my pack.

Test Plan

 While I will pack the Black Diamond Spot Headlamp on every hike I take, regardless of length (it is one of the 10 essentials), it will primarily be used during early morning mountaineering approaches and night skiing trips up and down the local ski hill.  Skiing down the hill at 8:00 pm on a moonless night is nerve wracking.  I’m anxious to see how well the Spot illuminates obstacles, including rocks, stumps, and trees in my path.  I will also use it during many other activities, including hiking, backpacking, ice climbing, rock climbing, backcountry skiing, and snowshoeing trips.  I always pack a nice, light headlamp on my more ambitious rock and ice climbing trips in case I get caught in the dark.  Will this headlamp produce enough light to allow me to see my anchors and perform my ropework efficiently, allowing my partner and me to get to the ground safely?  If my partner’s headlamp dies, will the Spot provide enough light for both of us?

The aspects that I will be paying particular attention to include:

1.  Brightness – I’m anxious to try the HyperBright LED further.  Do the added reflectors seem to make a significant difference?  The 40 m (131 ft) light distance is pretty impressive.  Is that an accurate number?  Will I be able to use the lowest of the three settings and see well for most of my activities?

2.  Fit/Comfort – Right out of the box, the headlamp is very comfortable.  How does it headband feel after extended use?  Are there any pressure points?  Does it stretch out after repeated use? 

3.  Battery use – Does the highest setting suck the juice out of batteries?  How long will the lamp last on the highest HyperBright setting?  The manufacturer claims a 120 hour burn time on the lowest setting.  At what point does the light become functionally useless? 

4.  Durability – How tough is the casing of the headlamp.  I’ve had casings crack while in my pack.  While the pivoting mechanism on the headlamp seems sturdy so far, how long will it remain that way?  Will the tiltable housing hold its position after repeated use, or will it loosen up?  If it does loosen up, can it be tightened?

5.  Waterproofness – How accurate is the IPX 4 rating?  Will this headlamp resist precipitation in the form of snow, rain, and sleet?