Now this is a headlamp.
The HM65R-T is an updated version of the best selling HM65R headlamp from Fenix
with improved performance and a new patented headband fit system
but in a slightly lighter weight package
designed specifically for trail running
hence the T in the name.
It's got a maximum output of up to 1,500 lumens
and retails for $100 US.
You might remember this from my video on how to choose a headlamp for trail running
and you've likely seen me wearing this in a few of my videos over the past year.
I won't bury the lead here
that's because it's become my favourite new headlamp for my longer races and adventures.
But it's also got a couple of drawbacks that I'll talk about in this video.
This is my second in a series of reviews I have planned
in my search for the perfect set of headlamps.
I'll include a link below to my first review on the high powered Nitecore HC68
which I'll be making a few comparisons to within this video.
I say that I'm searching for a set of headlamps,
because I don't believe that the perfect all around headlamp really exists.
Instead, I think certain headlamps are better for certain use cases.
And the HM65R-T has become my favourite for some but not all situations.
I've divided this video into chapters,
starting with an overview of all of the headlamp's features and specifications.
I'll then rate it based on a series of criteria,
including fit & comfort,
build quality,
customization vs ease of use,
and overall value compared to other headlamps in this price range.
And lastly, I'll give you my final thoughts and suggested use cases for this headlamp.
The usual disclaimers apply.
Fenix did send me this headlamp to review which I've been allowed to keep,
but I was not paid and they had no input into what I'll be saying in this video.
I do though make a small commission from the affiliate links below
in case you decide to buy the headlamp
which won't cost you anything extra but does help out the channel.
So let's start with what's in the box.
The headlamp comes with a UBC-C charging cable,
a spare o-ring, the instructions,
and a 3,500 mAh 18650 lithium-ion rechargeable battery.
This is the same battery as the Nitecore HC68 featured in my previous review.
The headlamp weighs 140 gram with the battery and strap which is fairly heavy,
but 27 grams lighter than the Nitecore HC68,
despite its very similar form factor.
The main difference though is that it only has a single strap
instead of an over the head strap to help with the weight.
And while I love the design of this rotary clasp,
this lack of headstrap is in my opinion this headlamp's biggest drawback.
I'll talk more about this in the chapter on fit and comfort.
As usual, it has two different beam patterns.
For the spotlight, it uses a Luminus SST-40 W LED
which is the same high powered bulb as the two used in the Nitecore HC68.
This is capable of giving you up to 1,300 lumens on High mode for up to 4 hours.
For the floodlight, it uses a slightly warmer, neutral white LED from Cree
which is capable of up to 400 lumens for up to 12 hours.
When combined, you can get an incredible 1,500 lumens for a much shorter period of time,
which is a blinding amount of light but could be useful in a pinch.
I should also point out here though as I did in my previous review
that you're going to always want always want to take these output ratings with a grain
of salt
because while most headlamps will start at their rated output level for a given mode,
they will slowly start to dim after 30 minutes or so as heat builds,
as you can see in this chart that came with this headlamp.
This one is designed to step down once it reaches 65 degrees celcius
and again once it reaches a certain voltage level.
So these measurements are typically really a measurement of the peak output
with a fully charged battery and under ideal conditions.
That's going to be the case for any headlamp really
but it's just something to keep in mind.
What really excites me about this headlamp though isn't those topline ratings
but how long it can last at a more reasonable output level.
With the spotlight on medium mode,
you'll get up to 400 lumens for up to 12 hours.
400 lumens is really the sweet spot in my opinion.
It's about as bright as I find that I really need even on technical trails,
and the fact that it can last for up to 12 hours
means that it will last through an entire night or more.
And that's just perfect for something like a 100 miler,
where I can pop a fresh battery in,
carry a spare just in case,
and just set it and forget it.
There's also a great medium mode for the floodlight
of up to 70 lumens for up to 36 hours,
which could be easily combined with the medium spotlight mode
for a bit of peripheral illumination without too much of a drag on the battery.
This chart from Fenix also shows the ratings in candelas
which is actually a more effective way to compare headlamps in my opinion
and it's something I'll explain further in a future video.
One thing that this headlamp is missing is a red light mode.
In fact, it really doesn't have any bells or whistles to speak of.
But that's also what makes it great
which I'll talk more about in the section on customization vs ease of use.
What it does have is a locking function.
You just need to hold down both buttons until the flood light flashes to show you that it's
locked,
and repeat this to unlock it.
A locking functions is a must have in my opinion for trail running headlamps.
Yes, you could put the battery in backwards or remove it completely,
but this can be cumbersome to do in the dark.
You charge the headlamp with this rear USB-C fast charging port.
I mentioned in my last review how I'm a huge fan of USB-C charging
especially for these higher capacity batteries.
But like the Nitecore,
the USB-C cable that this headlamp comes with is actually USB-C to USB-A
meaning you'll be limited to USB-A speeds,
unless you have your own USB-C to USB-C cable and compatible USB-C charger.
The headlamp is rated IP68
which means it will be protected from dust and dirt
and is waterproof and submersible up to 2 metres.
And it's rated for up to 2 metres of impact resistance,
something I've already put to test a couple of times.
I tend to forget that I'm wearing a headlamp when I pull off my buff or hat at the end
of a run,
and at least twice I dropped this headlamp
from a height of about 6 feet directly on to the pavement,
and while it scratched the paint in a couple of spots,
the headlamp is otherwise completely intact.
So now let's talk more about my experience in using this headlamp over the past year,
starting with comfort and fit.
This is the one area where the headlamp fails in my opinion which I alluded to before.
The strap uses a patented rotary clasp
which you might recognize from things like cycling shoes.
This makes it really quick and easy to adjust and even faster to release.
And these cords seem to be really strong.
I've stretched this out to the max on my ski helmet without any problems.
The strap itself is also really comfortable,
but unfortunately I do find that the headlamp bounces a fair bit
and can slip down over time so I do need to occasionally adjust it,
especially when I'm running really hard.
It's much less of a problem if I'm wearing this over a buff which I tend to do anyway,
but wearing it directly on my forehead it pretty much out of the question.
At 140 grams, it's definitely on the heavier side for trail running headlamps,
especially given that all the weight is up front
as opposed to having a separate battery in the rear.
Compare this to the Nitecore HC68 which is 167 grams
but which has an over the head strap that basically eliminates any movement.
As I concluded in that video,
I think that over a certain weight,
maybe around 120 grams or so,
a headlamp just need to have this extra strap,
at least as an option.
This is actually one of the main differences between the HM65R-T and the original HM65R,
so I'm tempted to recommend that if you're worried about this and particularly if you
have a smaller head,
to consider picking up the HM65R instead for this reason.
This really is the only area that I'd like to see improvements on this headlamp
so hopefully they'll consider adding this as an optional removable strap in the future.
So with that in mind, I give this headlamp a 3/5 for comfort and fit.
They're definitely on to something with the design of the rotary clasp,
and for some people it may not bounce or move at all,
especially when doing more hiking than hard downhill running.
But there's room for improvement.
But where it suffers a bit in comfort and fit,
this headlamp definitely excels in terms of ease of use.
There really only are two buttons on this headlamp,
one for the spot and one for the flood,
and the bulbs are controlled completely independently of each other.
Hold one to turn either bulb on,
and press it again to cycle from low to high and back.
At anytime, do the same with the other if you want to use both.
The only button combination that you need to remember
is to hold both buttons down to lock or unlock it.
That's it.
I know this might sound silly,
but I just can never seem to remember complicated button combinations for the various headlamps
I use.
Because while I might use this for my all night runs,
I have a different headlamp I tend to use for shorter evening runs, and another I carry
as a backup.
Not to mention the fact that I'm often testing new headlamps.
And I'm occasionally using a headlamp after being awake or moving for 24 hours or more
when my brain isn't exactly functioning at full capacity.
I just firmly believe that the buttons and functionality of a headlamp
should be as a simple and intuitive as possible
even at the detriment of features and customization options.
With these two buttons you can combine the flood and spot in any way
and it's very easy to tell which of the 3 modes you're on for each.
Combining the two bulbs to varying degrees is about as much customization as I really
need for trail running.
Another huge plus for this headlamp is the battery indicator which again is really intuitive.
There's no number of flashes that you need to remember,
it just shows you how charged it is based on how many of these little blue lights light
up.
Simple but highly effective.
So 5/5 for customization vs easy of use,
because of how dead simple this headlamp is to operate.
Other manufacturers should take note.
I already mentioned the build quality and how well it has stood up to my clumsiness
after having dropped it multiple times on the cement.
So 5/5 for build quality as well.
And overall, I give it 5/5 for value.
It's about as bright and long-lasting of a headlamp as I think I'll ever need at just
$100 US.
Assume though that you're going to need a second battery,
even just to carry as a backup,
so that'll run you another $30 or so.
In fact, I've bought myself two spares
so that I could use it for multiday races and adventures,
and I went for these slightly more expensive batteries from Fenix
which have built-in micro-USB charging ports
which allows me to charge multiple batteries at once
without having to charge them within the headlamp itself.
You can also get a highspeed single or dual cell charger
if you'd prefer to use the regular batteries.
So let's wrap this up by talking use cases.
This headlamp has become the one I tend to reach for
anytime I need something really bright that can last reliably for more than just a few
hours,
and it's now my default for any races lasting an entire night like 100 milers.
That 400 lumens for 12 hours is hard to beat.
Compare this to the Nitecore HC68 I reviewed in my last video,
which can only sustain 250 lumens for up to 6 hours.
Given the weight and fit of this headlamp though,
it's not one I typically use for shorter evening runs of say 90 minutes or even up to 2-3 hours.
So if you tend not to run for more than a couple of hours in the dark
or just need something for emergencies,
then this headlamp is definitely going to be overkill.
Without a red light it's also not great for camping and other lower output activities.
But if you're a 100 mile runners looking for a dependable headlamp that can last through
the night
to pair with one or two smaller headlamps for other uses,
then look no further.
This is definitely the best headlamp, so far at least,
that I've found for that purpose.
I'd love to hear what you think based on what you heard about this headlamp,
is it one you might consider so tell me in the comments below.
I've got more headlamp reviews in the works,
including some smaller headlamps that are more appropriate for other use cases,
so stay tuned for that as well.
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