Black Diamond Spot Headlamp Review (and Discount Sale)

A little more than a year ago, when I first reviewed the Black Diamond Spot headlamp, I called it the most affordable option for dedicated trail runners.

Shortly thereafter, I did a comparison review to Petzl’s equivalent lamp, the Tikka XP2. At that time, the XP2 was a stronger high-performance option, thanks to some additional features - such as a battery life indicator, red lamp option, and compatibility with rechargeable batteries - that weren’t available on the Spot, and a brighter lumen output (60 compared to 45). However, since the price point of the Spot was only $40 compared to the XP2’s $55, I concluded that the Spot was a decent value for basic features in a durable compact lamp.

2011 Black Diamond Spot headlamp

Since then, here’s what Black Diamond has done to the Spot lamp: they added a three-stage battery life indicator and a red bulb mode. They made the lamp compatible with rechargeable batteries. And they boosted the lumen output – not to 60, but to 75.

Sounds great, right? But even better is what they didn’t change. The lamp is just as compact as last year’s Spot, with an overall size and shape that are only slightly different than the previous version. And the retail price remains exactly the same.

(And if you keep reading, it’s even cheaper … but I’m getting ahead of myself a bit.)

2010 Spot on L, 2011 Spot on R

The new Spot operates much like the previous versions. It has separate bulbs that effectively function as flood lights or a spot beam. The flood setting uses two LEDs that shine at only 16 lumens, which isn’t very helpful on the trail, but it’s useful enough to find your way to the trailhead. The larger triple-power LED is the real powerhouse of the lamp, producing a strong beam that burns for 50 hours on the high setting. On previous versions of this lamp, I felt that the spotlight beam shone almost too narrowly to see the whole trail; on the new version, the beam is noticeably wider – which is great, since the flood setting isn’t a viable trail option. Both the flood and spot modes have two brightness settings that can extend the battery life to a maximum of 200 hours.

Smaller multi-function button on 2011 version at R

Despite the overall performance improvement, there are a couple of subtle changes on this upgraded version that don’t compare quite as favorably to the previous model. The new Spot weighs in at 90g (3.17 oz) with batteries, which is 5g heavier than the old version. Also, the single multi-use button on top of the casing is slightly smaller on the new Spot, which makes it somewhat more difficult to operate with gloved hands.

Finally, as you’d expect from a beam that burns 60% brighter than its predecessor but uses the same battery power, the life span of the batteries on the high setting is noticeably shorter – the old Spot lasted for 100 hours on high, while the new one lasts only 50. However, this drawback is more than offset by the fact that the new Spot is compatible with rechargeable batteries, so if you’re a responsible consumer, the shorter lifespan is a non-factor.

Here’s the bottom line with the Spot: at a price point of $40, it used to be the best value on the market for basic compact lighting needs. Now that it’s packed with improvements and retails for the exact same price, there’s no question that the Spot offers more bang for your buck than any other lamp on the market.

And here’s where the deal gets even better: one of my affiliates, Wilderness Running Company, has a full supply of the 2011 Black Diamond Spot, and offers them at a 10% discount if you use coupon code R&R10 at checkout. If you pick up something else cheap (like maybe the best socks in the world) and bring your total order to $50, you get free shipping on everything. My coupon code applies to your entire order – so go check out the Spot lamp from WRC, and feel free to take a look around the place while you’re there.

*Product provided by Black Diamond
**See other product reviews on sidebar at right. If you have a product you’d like reviewed, contact me at info@runningandrambling.com.

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Petzl CORE Rechargeable Battery Pack Review

Every now and then a product is developed that serves such a great purpose that you wish it would have been around years ago. Considering the hundreds of dark mornings I’ve ventured onto the trails, and the thousands of hours of headlamp battery life I’ve burned in the process, Petzl's CORE rechargeable battery pack is one of those products.

Petzl CORE pack and USB cable; all photos from Petzl website

Then again, I doubt that this pack could have been developed a few years ago, because the technology that’s involved is fairly cutting edge stuff. It also has smart features and design elements that make it versatile, durable, and very easy to use.

Lithium ion polymer battery pack

Most importantly of all, it’s green: Petzl’s CORE is a rechargeable battery pack that is compatible with the brand’s entire line of TIKKA 2 or ZIPKA 2 headlamps. It uses a lithium ion polymer battery that is guaranteed for 300 recharge cycles, thus sparing the consumption of at least 900 regular AAA batteries. And it’s not only eco-friendly, but wallet friendly as well, because it pretty much pays for itself after just a handful of recharge cycles.

Although a few larger headlamps (such as my personal favorite, the Black Diamond Icon) have utilized rechargeable battery packs for a while now, in the realm of compact headlamps – which the vast majority of road and trail runners use because of their convenient size – there was a huge void in similar green technology. Yes, some compact lamps are compatible with rechargeable AAA batteries, but from my experience those batteries don’t burn nearly as brightly or as long as alkaline batteries. The CORE doesn’t remedy that situation to perfection – there’s still a bit of a brightness dropoff, as I’ll explain shortly – but it represents a huge step in the right direction.

Since the TIKKA XP2 is my compact lamp of choice (see my review), that’s the one I tested the CORE pack with most frequently. Here’s how it works: instead of opening the battery case as you normally do, you separate the headlamp into two separate pieces with a twisting motion. I was a bit apprehensive in doing this the first time, because it kind of feels like you’re breaking the thing completely apart. (The dude on the demonstration video embedded below makes this looks extremely easy, but I have to say that I still feel a bit of hesitance when twisting my casing open.) The CORE pack then snaps into place between the two pieces you’ve separated, and powers the lamp just as your alkaline batteries did. Headlamps with the CORE pack still maintain the specified water resistance of the standard casing.

CORE wedged between front and back of standard casing

Placing a new middle compartment between the original housing pieces makes the overall profile of the headlamp visibly thicker, but in practice it wasn’t extremely noticeable. The only times I noticed additional bouncing was when I really hammered the pace, particularly when running downhill – but for 95% of my mileage, it’s hard to tell a difference in bulk attached to your headband. That might be thanks to the overall weight of the CORE, which at 30g is nearly identical to the three alkaline batteries (typically 10g each) that you've replaced. Even better for me from a practical standpoint is that the lamp is still small enough to tuck into the pocket of my waist pack when I’m continuing my run after sunrise.

LED indicator circled in red

The CORE pack has an LED battery indicator to tell you precisely what percentage of charge remains: either greater than 75 %, 50-75%, 25-50%, or less than 25%. It recharges via a standard USB cable into your computer or any other power source with a USB port. If your wall outlet or car charger has a USB adaptor, you can charge the CORE there as well. Recharge time is approximately three hours from a fully drained start.

Cable port underneath protective cover

As mentioned earlier, the CORE is compatible with every model of Petzl’s TIKKA 2 and ZIPKA 2 series headlamps, but since all of those lamps have different light outputs, an ideal battery pack would be able to determine how much power is needed to produce the necessary brightness level for various lamps with maximal efficiency. That’s where the “smart” element comes into play, with the help of a free software package called Petzl OS.

After downloading OS onto your computer, you open the program and plug your CORE pack into the USB port. The program then asks what lamp you’re using the CORE with – you can use multiple profiles if you have more than one lamp – and what brightness settings you’d like to program into the pack. You can customize the brightness settings to whatever levels you want (within the range of the original lamp specs, obviously), and if you’re a visual person, the OS program features graphs to help demonstrate the brightness vs battery life relationship of various settings (the video below this post has a great demonstration of this).

OS interface

Unfortunately, what you can’t do is get the same lumen output or light distance with the CORE as you can with alkaline batteries. For example, a normal XP2 has a maximal output of 60 lumens on the high setting and shines a distance of 60m in spot mode, but the brightest burn you can get with the same lamp using a CORE pack is 50 lumens and 46m. In my opinion, this is the most significant drawback to the unit, because as a trail runner, brightness is king when it comes to the overall utility of any particular headlamp.

As recently as one year ago, the Tikka XP2 had a substantial brightness advantage over its main competitor, the Black Diamond Spot. Then BD went and raised their game significantly, packing 75 lumens into the updated Spot, and 100 lumens into a similarly-sized casing for a new model to be released very shortly. (And in case you’re wondering – yes, I have each of those, and I’ll be reviewing them soon.) I’m all for being eco-friendly when the performance dropoff is marginal, but stepping back from 60 to 50 lumens at the same time that I have an equal-sized lamp putting out 75 isn’t quite the tradeoff I was hoping for. I’ve found the brightness from the CORE plenty sufficient for neighborhood running, groomed trails, or fire roads – but if I’m venturing onto highly technical trails in the dark, I like a little more candle power to light my way.

Think green!

Aside from the highly demanding lighting needs I just described, the Petzl CORE pack is truly a wonderful option for anyone who uses the company’s line of compact headlamps. It has outstanding versatility and customization, and from a social responsibility standpoint, it’s an absolute home run. Hopefully future models will have a bit more muscle to burn a little brighter, but in the meantime, the current version fills a much-needed void in the greening of compact headlamps.

The Petzl CORE pack retails for $40 from TravelCountry.com, where you can also buy the TIKKA XP2 headlamp for $55.


"CORE Rechargeable Battery" by Petzl (click to play):



* Product provided by Petzl
** See other product reviews on sidebar at right. If you have a product you’d like reviewed, contact me at info@runningandrambling,com.

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Princeton Tec Remix Headlamp Review

Princeton Tec is an equal-opportunity illuminator: for more than three decades, they’ve produced a huge variety of lighting systems for cycling, SCUBA, climbing and camping, as well as industrial and military applications. Or, according to their website: We've consulted great athletes, scaled mountains, traversed the poles, touched the ocean floors and rolled two wheels on every continent. By comparison, your routine morning trail run shouldn’t pose that much of a challenge, right?


Despite all this, the company lacked what I consider an essential accessory for early morning trail outings: a compact lamp that’s light enough to wear for hours, bright enough to take on single track trails in the dark, and small enough to fit in your pocket. It’s the category where Black Diamond’s Spot and Petzl’s Tikka XP2 really (pardon the pun) shine, and Princeton Tec lagged behind with the Fuel lamp, which fell short of the brightness and battery life of its competitors.

The Remix is an enormous step forward in both those regards, and makes Princeton Tec a legitimate player in the compact lamp category. Basically, they’ve taken the 3-LED Fuel design and supercharged it with an additional Maxbright LED bulb and extended battery life, while keeping the dimensions the same and adding only a fraction of increased weight.

Princeton Tec Remix

Additionally, the Remix offers some unique features that aren’t typically seen in compact trail headlamps. Its water-resistant casing has a single-arm bracket, which allows rotation through an expansive 120-degree range of motion. The 5mm LED bulbs are white on the standard Remix, but available in red (for night vision) or green (for reading topo maps) versions with the Remix Pro. The 3 AAA battery compartment is very easily accessed by a built-in opening tool on the headband.

Power output for the Maxbright bulb is quite impressive at 70 lumens, and each bulb type has a high and low setting. On high, the Maxbright bulb shoots 45m with a burn time of 28 hours, while the 5mm LEDs have a range of 30m for 61 hours. Functionally, the 5mm LEDs serve as a flood mode, while the Maxbright is more of a spot application. Extended battery life is up to 200 hours with the 5mm LEDs on the low setting. The Remix is compatible with rechargeable batteries as well as standard alkalines.


Three 5mm LEDs; 1Maxbright LED, single on/off button on top

Above the casing is a single large button that is used for on/off and for switching from the 5mm LEDs to the Maxbright. The button is large enough to be used with gloves, but I found it a little overly sensitive to mild pressure, as it accidentally turned on in my pocket a couple of times after I had stowed it away for the morning. One of these times, I didn’t notice until much later, unknowingly draining my battery life while I was oblivious.

Those episodes also highlighted (another pun – sorry about that) one other drawback to the Remix, in that there’s no battery life indicator to tell you when you’re running low. There’s also no strobe function, but for trail running applications that’s pretty much a non-factor.

Overall weight of the Remix is 83g (2.9 oz), and the sleek design sits very comfortably on my forehead even for a couple of hours. Its MSRP is officially $40, although both the company website (link above) and Amazon.com list it at $45. Either way, it's a fairly affordable option for a convenient and compact headlamp.

But how does it compare to the other compact lamps I’ve reviewed? I’ve got that taken care of for you as well. Click here for my comparison review of the Tikka XP2 and the Black Diamond Spot, and compare the specs with this review.


*Product provided by Princeton Tec
**See other product reviews on sidebar at right. If you have a product you’d like reviewed, contact me at info@runningandrambling.com

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Comparison Review: Petzl MYO RXP and Black Diamond Icon

Before today’s post, a couple of reminders about recent posts: the sweet Black Diamond Icon sale at Wilderness Running Company – free rechargeable battery pack with discounted purchase of the lamp – expires on Friday 12/18. Also, you’ve got until 7PM Thursday 12/17 to comment on this post for a CLIF goodie box drawing. Get a move on, people.

As for today’s review, it’s another Petzl-versus-Black Diamond comparison like the one I did for the Tikka XP2 and Spot headlamps – and it’s another incentive to check out FeedTheHabit.com. This time, the comparison is between two external battery pack headlamps, the Black Diamond Icon and the Petzl MYO RXP. I’ve already posted an Icon review here, and a MYO RXP review on Feed The Habit. So let’s follow the same procedure as last time:

1) Go read my Petzl MYO RXP headlamp review on FeedTheHabit.com, then…
2) Return here to read the comparison between the MYO RXP and the Icon.

See you when you get back.

**

Hello again! As was the case with the smaller headlamps, both Petzl and Black Diamond perform very well overall, and have areas of relative strength. Here’s how they measure up:

Weight (with batteries):
Icon: 187g/6.6oz
RXP: 175g/6.2oz
Advantage: RXP. Additionally, its external battery pack is more streamlined, and the whole unit just feels a bit less bulky than the Icon. I wouldn’t say the Icon is uncomfortable, just that the RXP has a better overall feel.

Bulb Type:
Icon: separate LEDs for spot and flood modes
RXP: single high-power LED
Advantage: RXP, but only if the Icon's “you have to power off when switching from spot to flood mode” issue annoys you like it does me. Petzl’s single bulb allows you to switch from flood to spot modes by flipping a diffuser lid up or down. The Black Diamond setup isn’t really a performance issue, just a pet peeve.

Brightness:
Icon: 100 lumens
RXP: 140 lumens
Advantage: RXP. Petzl clearly enjoys a huge advantage in overall candle power, and even has a boost mode that can briefly shine at 160 lumens. Overall brightness is one of the RXP’s strengths, as well as …

Brightness levels:
Icon: 6 (3 in spot mode, 3 in flood mode)
RXP: 10, plus boost mode
Advantage: RXP again, which can go both brighter and dimmer than the Icon – which really only has 3 functional degrees of brightness, despite what the specs say - or burn at several different levels in between. Throw in the fact that brightness levels are customizable, and this category isn’t much of a contest.

(And again, it seems like Petzl is kicking Black Diamond’s butt to this point. As you’d suspect, things get a bit more complicated as we continue …


Maximum beam distance (spot mode, high setting):
Icon: 100m
RXP: 77m
Advantage: Icon. I’ve joked with training partners that my Icon can double as a star pointer, because its spot beam penetrates so sharply and prominently over such a long distance. Black Diamond’s entry has lower candle power, but shoots its beam farther. However, since I typically use the flood setting for trail running, this is more of a cool trick than practical application for me.


Battery type and lifespan:
Icon: 3AA, 80 hour lifespan on high setting. Compatible with rechargeable batteries as well as the NRG rechargeable battery pack sold separately.
RXP: 3AA, 50 hour lifespan. Compatible with rechargeable batteries.
Advantage: Icon, and it’s a much bigger advantage than the numbers reflect at first glance; this is where the Icon starts making up a lot of ground in a hurry.

Remember how much brighter the Petzl burns? Well, all that candle power is a complete battery killer. The 2 highest settings are unregulated and only burn for about an hour at full strength. The highest regulated settings burn for 10 hours before shifting to a much dimmer reserve mode for the remainder of the battery life. So while the Icon can’t approach the top end brightness of the RXP, it can maintain a higher level for a much longer period of time.

While it’s great that both lamps use rechargeable batteries, Black Diamond scores a bonus point here for the NRG rechargeable battery pack, which can be recharged without removing the pack from the casing. It’s a separate cost, but the total cost of lamp plus battery pack is still less than the RXP. Speaking of which …


Price:
Icon: $65
RXP: $99
Advantage: Icon. Just as the Black Diamond’s Spot is the most affordable option for basic road and trail use, the Icon gives you the most bang for your buck in this category. Even if you shell out 30 bucks for the rechargeable pack, you’re still coming out ahead.

(This is even more reason to promote Wilderness Running Company’s extreme discount offer this week: Buy an Icon for $54 - $60 list price minus 10% with my R&R10 coupon code - and they throw in the NRG pack at no charge. Believe me, you’ll probably never see a better deal on this lamp.)

As usual, the final decision on which one is best will vary based on your preference. The Icon gives you very strong performance for a price that’s impossible to beat. If you'd like something more lightweight and versatile, with significantly more brightness and a wide range of customized settings for variable conditions, the RXP is an ideal choice.


*Petzl MYO RXP provided by Petzl America
**See other product reviews on sidebar at right. If you have a product you’d like reviewed, contact me at info@runningandrambling.com.

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Winter Safety; Lighting Up the Sky

“I just want to be where you are tonight -
I run in the dark looking for some light –
And how will we know if we just don't try –
We won't ever know -

Let me light up the sky, light it up for you.”
- Yellowcard, “Light Up the Sky” (video after post)


In case you haven’t noticed, it’s getting darker out there. Early sunsets and late sunrises are conspiring to steal precious hours of daylight from either side of our workdays, leaving us no choice but to venture into the dark if we want to sustain our outdoor activity fix.

I never really considered myself a dedicated runner until the first year that I ran consistently through the winter. For many years I was a spring-to-fall runner, hanging up my shoes as the days got shorter and the weather turned colder, too lazy or too poor (probably both) to invest in clothing or equipment that would make winter workouts a bit easier to bear. Of course, winter running isn’t just about having the right gear - there are other factors to consider as well, some of which are the topic of this week’s Monterey Herald column which follows below.

Also, an announcement on the subject of winter gear: from time to time, readers have asked me for lighting recommendations - either the merits of flashlights vs headlamps, or specific brands and models for various situations. I’m happy to report that I’ve had some opportunities to test several lamps this fall – and beginning in December, I’ll roll out reviews of each of them here. Think of it as my way of helping you light up the sky for some dark winter workouts.

**

Running Life 11/19/09 “Be Careful Out There”

This is the time of year when many of us start doing it in the dark. (Running, that is … what else did you think we meant?)

It’s also an important time for a refresher on running safety, so we can all be careful out there. Running in the dark requires some equipment, some advance planning, and vigilance.

Clothes and equipment: Wear light colored clothing, with reflective striping or accents wherever possible. Put some on your dog as well, if you run with one. Many runners wear flashing LED lights on their backsides – they’re inexpensive and easy to find at running stores or on-line. Use a headlamp to help you see the road and to alert oncoming cars to your presence. If you wear a thick hat to keep your head warm, make sure you don’t pull it too far over your ears or eyes. You still need to hear and remain alert.

Routes: Run on roads that are familiar, and preferably well lit. Stay on the left side of the road to face oncoming traffic. Always assume that the driver doesn’t see you, or even worse, is out to get you - because some day, he actually might be. Be wary of sideview mirrors that stick out from trucks, and give them a wide berth. Above all, don’t be afraid to step off the road and stop; your time doesn’t matter as much as your life.

Most critically of all – NEVER assume that a car sees you, or that the driver will do the right thing and avoid you. Some drivers feel like they own the entire road – and all it takes is one arrogant jerk to end your running career for good.

Form: Running in the dark naturally makes you more adept at “high stepping” to avoid small bumps. If you typically shuffle with your feet low to the ground, a few stumbles will quickly teach you to raise your feet a bit higher with each stride. Doing so is actually good for your overall form as well.

Partners: Find a friend or group to run with, for added security in numbers – an issue of increased importance for women. Each person takes responsibility for his (or her) own well-being, but also looks out for those around him. For example, don’t hesitate to yell a warning when you notice a car coming or see a hole in the road.

A recent running magazine study found that more runners are hit by cars when they run abreast of each other than when single file. We call this a “Well, DUH” kind of study … but just because the point is obvious doesn’t make it less important. If you’re running with a large group, the person out farthest into the traffic lane is in the most danger. So whenever a car approaches, cut the chit chat and quickly go single file.

Headphones and iPods: In a word: NO. Don’t use them in the dark. Sure, music is cool, but being safe is even cooler. In the darkness, you rely on your sense of hearing more than anything to keep you safe. You have to be hyper-alert to noises around you – especially in the era of whisper-quiet hybrid cars that can inadvertently sneak up on you.

Above all, don’t get complacent. These rules are simple, but they should be adhered to every single day that you venture into the dark. Be careful out there, and run safely all the way to springtime.

**

Yellowcard was a band that I pretty much fell in love with on my first listen; a multicultural pop-punk band with melodic hooks, uplifting lyrics, and – most interesting of all, to me – a violin player who wasn’t used simply as a gimmick, but actually contributed to the band’s unique style. I embedded the official music video for this song on my sidebar a couple of years ago, but for today, I’m going with a live version: the quality isn’t outstanding, but it displays the band’s energy and cohesion pretty nicely, in my opinion.

One strange thing about this video, however … only about 3 people in the audience seem to even notice there’s a band playing. Canadians aren’t really that clueless about modern rock music, are they?


Yellowcard, "Light Up the Sky" (click to play):

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