Nitecore NU25 Ultralight 400 Lumen Rechargeable Headlamp – Reviewed & Tested

The Nitecore NU25 Ultralight Headlamp is tiny, powerful, and ready to light up your next adventure. Explorer Joanna took it out bush to see if it lived up to the promises on the packaging.

The NU25 Ultralight 400 Lumens Rechargeable Headlamp from Nitecore is a rechargeable and lightweight headlamp. It’s the upgraded, ultralight version and weighs an incredible 45g! It has loads of functionality and is very affordable.

I used the NightCore NU25 whilst camping at Girraween and Mt Kosciuszko National Parks over a two-week period. It was used for spotlighting native animals in trees, as well as the mandatory mozzie check in the tent before going to sleep and on early foggy mornings.

Why am I the right person to do this review?

I’ve been camping for over 25 years and multi-day hiking for over three years. In that time, I’ve used some pretty rubbish torches, with my most recent headlamp failure on the Jatbula Trail.

I’ve been secretly lusting over a new head torch for a while, but with so many headlamp options on the market, it can feel overwhelming. I’m keen to test the Nitecore headlamp and to put it through its paces.

All smiles on the Jatbula trail…until my headlamp failed two minutes into a pre-sunrise early start | @jessleenehme

Quick Specifications

Lumens: 400 lumens
Max Distance: 64m
Light modes: Mix, high, mid-low, Spotlight, floodlight, red light, SOS, beacon
Power: Built-in 650mAh Li-ion, USB-C rechargeable battery
Waterproof: IP66 weatherproof and dustproof
Weight: 45g
RRP: $94.95

Performance

For an ultralight headlamp, this unit certainly is a hardcore performer. The brightness of the headlamp was unbelievable. On the medium setting, I had over four hours of usable light. On the high setting, I had more than 2.5 hours.

I was impressed with the headlamps’ overall light quality and illumination capacity. The different levels of brightness and light modes make this headlamp a winner.

I also liked how I could tilt and move the direction of the headlamp beam to help me focus on a particular area.

Battery Life

As for its battery life, this really depends on the light modes and the level of brightness that you choose. In high mode, you can expect around 2 hours and 40 minutes. When in low mode, the battery life extends to a whopping 10 hours and 25 minutes.

The headlamp has a nifty locking feature too. It’s activated by pressing two buttons down at the same time, whereby the light flashes three times and locks the headlamp. This stops the headlamp from being accidentally turned on whilst hiking.

It also has a battery power indicator on top of the headlamp, which illuminates to let you know how much battery is left. This was a genius idea and perfect for multi-day hikes when I was trying to conserve battery power.

In terms of powering up the headlamp itself, it has USB-C charging capability and recharges from 0% to 100% in under an hour and a half. That’s quick!

A perfect torch for those longer multi-day hikes

Durability

The Nitcore UL headlamp is made from a lightweight polycarbonate material and is equipped with hollow brackets. It stays on your noggin using a slimline headband that features reflective and glow-in-the-dark capabilities.

This was incredibly impressive, especially for the middle-of-the-night toilet breaks. It made getting up in the dark so much quicker, as it was easy to find.

Storage

It’s small enough to easily fit in your pocket. It’s also drop-proof from one metre and waterproof as well, so you don’t need to quickly stash it if it starts to rain or worry too much about occasional knocks and scrapes.

Comfort

I was initially put off by the cord-style straps, but after a while, I didn’t notice them. Every now and then the headlamp felt tighter than it did before. Was this the band itself getting tighter with my movement or body heat? Hard to tell. Fortunately, It’s easily adjustable with a clip that can lock in the length of the cord, so this wasn’t a big issue.

It also has a piece of foam at the back of the headlamp that can be moved to where it’s needed. The foam keeps the plastic off your forehead adding to the overall comfort. Compared to other headlamps I’ve tried this seemed incredibly lightweight and comfortable to wear.

If you’ve got a ponytail the dual strap sits snugly on either side, further anchoring it in place

Design

The Nitecore UL25 utilises a two-button design, which takes a few uses to get used to. There’s a larger button on the headlamp that you hold down for a few seconds to turn it on and off. To change the light strength from high, medium, and low, press the button one, two, or three times.

When the smaller button on the left is pressed, it toggles between various light modes; flood, spot, spot and flood combined, and red light mode. It also offers a strobe light feature which is activated by double-tapping the mode button.

The lock function is activated by pressing down both buttons simultaneously. It takes a little bit of time to get used to and I didn’t try this on whilst wearing gloves, so it could prove tricky when hiking in colder weather.

Did I mention the strap is reflective and almost glows in the dark?

Sustainability

The built-in 650mAh Li-ion battery can reduce the discard of 900+ AAA batteries over a battery life cycle, which is a win for the bank balance and the environment.

The Nitecore website doesn’t mention sustainability at all which is a bit lacking and not the standard that’s commonplace among outdoor products these days. There is a ‘social responsibility‘ page but it only features an article from 2015 so it’s not remotely current.

Price

Within the ultralight hiking community, every gram you save is worth money. Given the Nitecore NU25 ultralight headlamp retails for under $100 and performs a range of useful features reliably, I feel it’s worth every cent.

Final Thoughts

There’s nothing worse than running out of light whilst camping or hiking. For a few multi-day hikes I’ve taken a supermarket-brand headlamp with me, only to forget the batteries or have themes go flat and to be walking around in the dark. Not a particularly pleasant experience, especially when you’re up early before sunrise to beat the heat on a long day’s hike!

What impressed me about the NU25 UL 400 Lumens Ultralight Rechargeable Headlamp was how easy it is to recharge and find in the dark, and the diverse range of features (the red light feature particularly!) and great illumination capacity. This little headlamp packs a mighty punch and would be an excellent addition to any hikers’ kit.

We definitely need more than one to share!

FAQs Nitecore NU25 Ultralight Headlamp

How long does the Nitecore NU25 UL battery last?

The battery life depends on brightness settings. On high mode, you get around 2 hours and 40 minutes, while low mode stretches to an impressive 10 hours and 25 minutes. Perfect for multi-day hikes if you use it wisely.

How fast does the NU25 UL recharge?

It takes just under 1.5 hours to go from empty to full using the USB-C charging port. That’s quick enough to top up during dinner before it starts to get dark.

Is the Nitecore NU25 UL comfortable to wear for long hikes?

Yep! At just 45g, it’s ultralight, and the slim cord-style headband keeps weight down. Some might find it a little snug, but the adjustable clip helps fine-tune the fit.

Can you use the NU25 UL in wet conditions?

Absolutely! It’s rated IP66, which means it’s dustproof and can handle heavy rain. Just don’t go scuba diving with it.

What’s the difference between the NU25 UL and the NU25 V2?

The NU25 UL is lighter (45g vs. 56g) and has a thinner, minimalist headband. The NU25 V2 has a thicker band for extra comfort but weighs more. Otherwise, both have the same light output and features.

Does the NU25 UL have a lock mode?

Yep, and it’s a lifesaver. Hold both buttons down to activate lock mode and prevent accidental battery drain while it’s in your pack. No more wasted juice!

What’s the benefit of the dual beam system?

The NU25 UL combines a spotlight for long-distance vision and a floodlight for close-up tasks. Whether you’re dodging roots on a night hike or setting up camp, you’ve got the best of both worlds.

How does the Nitecore NU25 UL compare to traditional battery-powered headlamps?

With a built-in rechargeable battery, you’re saved from constantly buying AAAs (saving 900+ over its lifespan!). Plus, USB-C charging is way more convenient for hikers carrying power banks.

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