Black Diamond Storm 500-R Headlamp - Black

This is an amazing headlamp, feature packed and with great battery life. But the PowerTap feature is too sensitive and easy to activate by mistake.The light is very bright. In fact I rarely use it at full brightness as it is too bright for me. I can't say exactly how long the battery lasts, but I used it for several days in various settings and there was plenty of charge left.I am impressed by how many features this headlamp supports. The manual uses illustrations and is sometimes confusing, so here are my simplified instructions and some features I discovered that are not in the manual.The headlamp has 3 LEDs: spot, flood and color. The color LED supports red, green or blue. All the LEDs and all the colors support adjustable brightness, strobe (blinking) or ... MoreThis is an amazing headlamp, feature packed and with great battery life. But the PowerTap feature is too sensitive and easy to activate by mistake.The light is very bright. In fact I rarely use it at full brightness as it is too bright for me. I can't say exactly how long the battery lasts, but I used it for several days in various settings and there was plenty of charge left.I am impressed by how many features this headlamp supports. The manual uses illustrations and is sometimes confusing, so here are my simplified instructions and some features I discovered that are not in the manual.The headlamp has 3 LEDs: spot, flood and color. The color LED supports red, green or blue. All the LEDs and all the colors support adjustable brightness, strobe (blinking) or SOS. The strobe and SOS modes also have adjustable brightness.1. The big button controls the amount of light.Single press to turn on or off. The lamp remembers and turns on to your last settings.Long press to control the brightness. While pressed, the current LED with gradually go to min (it will blink to let you know it is at min), then gradually go to max (will blink again to let you know), then back to min etc. Release the button to stay at your desired brightness.Double press for strobe (blinking) mode.2. The small button controls the type of light.Single press to cycle between spot, flood and color.Long press in color mode to change the color. Long press in other modes or even from the off state to switch to color mode.Long press the small and big buttons together to lock and unlock. If the blue LED is blinking when pressing a button, this means the device is locked.3. Powertap (touch the surface on the right side)In continuous lighting mode, it changes from current to max brightness and back.In blinking mode, it changes from strobe to SOS and back.Some things not mentioned or not clear from the manual:- You can use strobe and SOS modes with every LED and every color. The manual only shows red SOS, but you can use the spot LED for SOS, which is more conspicuous.- You can control the brightness of every mode, even the strobe and SOS modes. Long press the big button while in these modes.- Long press the small button when off to switch on straight to color mode regardless of which mode you were using last. Useful if you don't want to mess with your night vision and you were using a white LED before, or you just don't remember what was your last setting.The one thing that I found annoying is the extreme sensitivity of the PowerTap feature. Any touch anywhere close to the right side activates it. It would activate very often whenever I would try to adjust some setting, producing a super bright light, which is annoying when my eyes were used to a lower brightness. I had to train myself to use my left hand to press any buttons and avoid touching the right side.Except for this last thing, the headlamp is great and I would give it 5 stars. But the extreme PowerTap sensitivity is so annoying that brings the rating down from perfect to four stars.

Black Diamond's Storm 500-R is a new product for them and the first in the Storm series to come equipped with an embedded rechargeable battery; I received mine in exchange for testing and an honest review. I've used a variety of a Black Diamond LED headlights for more than a decade and so am familiar with the evolving Storm series as well as the Revolt rechargeables for comparison.Since I already have a Black Diamond Storm 450 that takes user-replaceable batteries -- and I usually run rechargeable Eneloops -- I decided a good test would be to compare the new light to the one I already have for a head-to-head comparison. How better to do this than taking both lights for a week-long trip exploring the rock caves, ice caves and tension fractures of Central Oregon? ... MoreBlack Diamond's Storm 500-R is a new product for them and the first in the Storm series to come equipped with an embedded rechargeable battery; I received mine in exchange for testing and an honest review. I've used a variety of a Black Diamond LED headlights for more than a decade and so am familiar with the evolving Storm series as well as the Revolt rechargeables for comparison.Since I already have a Black Diamond Storm 450 that takes user-replaceable batteries -- and I usually run rechargeable Eneloops -- I decided a good test would be to compare the new light to the one I already have for a head-to-head comparison. How better to do this than taking both lights for a week-long trip exploring the rock caves, ice caves and tension fractures of Central Oregon? (pics).The Storm R is nearly identical in size to the Storm 450 and differs mostly in the front face contour and the complete lack of a case-opening hatch and latch on the back...because the battery is not replaceable. I found this also makes for a very waterproof unit and confirmed the specs in testing during periods of hard rain and submersion -- when I accidentally dropped it into a seep pool at the side of a cave wall.Cold tolerance was good and I had no problems using the light in extended sub-freezing temperatures. In comparision to the Storm 450 running four well-used standard AAA Eneloops rated at 750mAh each, the brand-new 500-R with its claimed 2400mAh battery had longer life overall and extended range at both ends of the seamlessly adjustable lighting -- it could run dimmer and brighter than the 450's range, especially when "boosted" with the "Look! There's a bear!" side-tap setting that engages all lighting modes at maximum at once (a second tap returns the light output to your preset preference). Of course, the brigthest setting makes for the shortest battery life and can actually be sort of blinding for dark-adapted eyes but is ideal for casting a long cone of light far down the trail to quicky check for twists and turns and trail intersections or signage.In comparision to the very clean spot beam of the Storm 450, I was disappointed to find the 500-R had a slight but still very noticeable darker region in the center, creating a sort of halo lighting effect. On the other hand, my Storm 450 suffers from a slight mosquitolike whine in operation while the Storm 500-R was completely silent. The Storm 500-R has a headband woven to taper on each side of the light mount and I did not like this as much or find it to be a stable as the constant-width band on the Storm 450; it tended to want to roll a bit more or slip when worn on a hat and tightening added a little more pressure than I'd have liked. It wasn't a big deal but I think I'll swap in a spare elastic band when the original begins to show more wear.The 500-R and 450 have the same easily accessible beams -- white spot, white flood, red flood, blue flood, and green flood. The red was free of aritifacts and was ideal for extended reading in an otherwise dark tent. All are dimmable through their range and the light holds the desired brigthness after switching off and then back on. Each color LED can also blink in periodic or SOS modes. A very easily operated switch-lock prevents accidental operation in the pack. My 500-R was supplied in a dark charcoal color that looked very good on the head...but was terribly difficult to find in a dark pack or at night after I laid it down. I'd recommend purchasing a brighter red or orange light and band color that allows it to stand out more easily amongst other things or on the forest floor. I usually store my headlights 'round my neck for easy use but was concerned about snags in tight passages at early dusk so took it off then.One 500-R feature I really liked was the USB cover. A small item to be sure, but the maker used a swivel hinge on a pin rather than flexible plastic, ensuring a long life. It sealed well and was easy to open. Another new feature was the friction hinge to set light angle. Unlike the six "click" positions on the 450, the 500-R allows infinite adjustment. Even better, it uses two screws and it appears they can be tightened to compensate for eventual wear. Another improvement over the 450 is the raised power button on the 500-R; it is so much easier to actuate when wearing gloves. The charging interface is micro-USB rather than the more modern USB-C. This did not bother me as the majority of my outdoor electronics also use micro-USB at the device end. Four blue charge-status lights show briefly on the underside of the light when it is first turned on and again briefly after it is turned off. I did not find they glared in my eyes and allowed me to pull the lamp briefly away from my head on the elastic strap so I could check charge status without having to remove the light completely -- handy!Because I have been in the field using the light for most of the test period rather than home near my test equipment, I can't verify the claimed burn times except to say they seem reasonably close to claims in practice when the light is used intermittently and through a range of brightness. My mate and I used the two Storms about equally and I did find the embedded BD rechargeable battery in the 500-R lasted longer than the 4 standard Eneloops in the 450, but here arises a caution: The 450 has user-replaceable batteries and can use a variety from carbon-zinc to alkaline, rechargeables to lithium (my choice for longest battery life and best cold weather performance) while the 500-R depends entirely on its embedded battery...and the charge it contains. Black Diamond's ad copy says it is intended "...for [the] user [who] has access to a power source and values the ability to go out on their mission with a fully charged battery". This is surely true. It is not the only light I would take if seeing or navigating in the dark would exceed the stated battery life or if it were critical to avoid getting lost at night in unfamiliar country. For those occasions I would take a second light source and make sure the 500-R was fully charged before hitting the trail. With the Storm 450, I can get by simply taking a spare set of batteries to double runtime. During my test period I carried a USB powerbank and used this to recharge the 500-R...except for two occasions, one where I used a Samsung USB cellphone mains charger and on another where I used a Samsung USB 12-volt auto adapter. Unfortunately, I did note how long it took to charge from flat in each case, but it certainly required longer than 2 hours to reach a full charge. Of course, I charged the 500-R for 24 hours before my first use.The 500-R does offer a "reserve mode" of 15-20 hours at the end of the (approximately) medium and high settings where the light output drops to about .25lux at 4m. This is still a usable amount of light for closeup activities like checking a map and such, but for trail use it is effectively the same as bright full moonlight in my estimation. The lowest setting has no reserve because at the lowest, it is claimed to be only 6 lumen (lux and lumens are different measures!). Keep in mind that lowest setting is where the maximum 350hr burntime is claimed and it is unclear whether "Low" was measured using the spot LED or a white or colored flood.It is very hard to determine actual battery life in field use because headlights are often used intermittently (allowing for some battery recovery) and at different brightnesses. In the case of the Storm 500-R, it is a rechargeable light that is surely bright and versatile "enough" to be fully useful in any variety of circumstances...but one that has a finite battery life that cannot be renewed away from an external power source and will be out of commission while it is charging. For that reason I would consider it essential to have an emergency backup light source in case you accidentally exceed its limits and have no means to recharge it. For my use as a camp light for bicycle touring (my bikes have dynohubs and USB chargers and I also carry a solar panel), it would be ideal for summerlong use. As a sole light source for caving, no.The embedded battery is surely versatile and will save greatly on financial and environmental costs during its lifetime...but it appears the entire unit must be discarded (or perhaps recycled?) when it is exhausted. Black Diamond warrants the light against defects for 3 years from purchase to the original buyer, so I would assume a usable service life at least that long, depending on battery wear.Overall, after extended field testing and against Black Diamond's own Storm 450, I'd say the 500-R is a versatile, fully functional top-tier LED headlight that is hard to match, so long as its limitation (embedded rechargeable battery) is respected. I certainly feel confident in it and it has earned a place in every future outdoor adventure. Even if I don't anticipate darkness, I'll feel better knowing I have it with me "just in case" I get caught out.

As a headlamp goes it does the job as any headlamp would do. I am very particular about features. This headlamp has bright illumination on high setting and shines for a pretty good distance (I'd say 50 feet easily), the low setting is bright too. If you hold the ON button it slowly dims until it gets to the dimmest limit then slowly brightens to the specified brightness you desire. I have had some experiences where I turn it on and the headlamp goes from bright to dim or dim to bright by itself, not sure if that's a motion sensor or what due to I'm usually close to something when that happens.I haven't tested the battery to say how long it lasts on different settings until it dies but charged it once and its been fully charged (indicated by the 3 blue lights) for ... MoreAs a headlamp goes it does the job as any headlamp would do. I am very particular about features. This headlamp has bright illumination on high setting and shines for a pretty good distance (I'd say 50 feet easily), the low setting is bright too. If you hold the ON button it slowly dims until it gets to the dimmest limit then slowly brightens to the specified brightness you desire. I have had some experiences where I turn it on and the headlamp goes from bright to dim or dim to bright by itself, not sure if that's a motion sensor or what due to I'm usually close to something when that happens.I haven't tested the battery to say how long it lasts on different settings until it dies but charged it once and its been fully charged (indicated by the 3 blue lights) for a few weeks now. I use it on high a few times a day (but only for about 5-10 minutes at a time, cooking on the grill at night or looking in the attic, under sinks etc). Just normal use. Can't wait til I hike with it.Someone complained its not mini-c usb compliant and to me its not a big deal, the charging cable that came with mine was very short (about 6 inches) so if that's not long enough for your needs grab a longer one, I'm sure the short cable is to help reduce weight for hiking.It's built solid and I haven't had any problems other than the price seems WAY too high for a simple headlamp but I know I'm paying $50 for the 'brand' and only $25 for the headlamp.