Black Diamond Spot 400-R vs. Nitecore NU25 UL: Which Headlamp Should You Buy?

Both of these made our best headlamps list, for different reasons. Read together, the picks answer a question the roundup format doesn't: which one should you actually buy?

The quick answer

• Buy the Spot 400-R if you want one headlamp for everything — camp, trail, AAA backup in a pinch — and don't think about grams.
• Buy the NU25 UL if you're counting ounces on a known trail and can live with a thinner headband and a shorter high-output runtime.

A

Black Diamond Spot 400-R

$70

Best for: Rechargeable simplicity for weekend trips, car camping, and everyday carry.

Check price at REI· $70

Also at Amazon ($70)

B

Nitecore NU25 UL

$50

Best for: Counting grams on a known trail.

Check price at Amazon· $50

Head to head

Weight

Black Diamond Spot 400-R2.6 ozNitecore NU25 UL1.04 oz

Max output

Black Diamond Spot 400-R400 lumensNitecore NU25 UL400 lumens

Runtime (usable setting)

Black Diamond Spot 400-R~6 hrNitecore NU25 UL~4 hr

Battery

Black Diamond Spot 400-RRechargeable, AAA-compatibleNitecore NU25 ULRechargeable (USB-C)

Red light mode

Black Diamond Spot 400-RYesNitecore NU25 ULYes

Waterproof rating

Black Diamond Spot 400-RIPX8Nitecore NU25 ULIP66

Price

Black Diamond Spot 400-R$70Nitecore NU25 UL$50

Spec	Black Diamond Spot 400-R	Nitecore NU25 UL
Weight	2.6 oz	1.04 oz
Max output	400 lumens	400 lumens
Runtime (usable setting)	~6 hr	~4 hr
Battery	Rechargeable, AAA-compatible	Rechargeable (USB-C)
Red light mode	Yes	Yes
Waterproof rating	IPX8	IP66
Price	$70	$50

The case for the Spot 400-R

It is the headlamp we hand to someone who wants exactly one and doesn't want to think about it again. Four hundred lumens is enough for trail navigation at night, the single-button interface has no menu to get lost in, and it takes AAA batteries when the rechargeable cell runs dry on night four of a trip. None of that is exciting. All of it matters at 11 p.m. with cold hands.

The case for the NU25 UL

An ounce and change with the strap, and the difference shows up on a scale, not in daily use — until you're counting every gram in an ultralight kit. The band is thinner and the buttons smaller, which is the trade for the weight. Runtime at full output is shorter, so it rewards someone who already knows the trail rather than someone navigating blind.

Our take

Most readers should buy the Spot 400-R. It is more forgiving of imperfect use, more repairable in the field via AAA cells, and the extra ounce and a half will not be the thing that slows you down. The NU25 UL earns its spot in a genuinely weight-obsessed kit — thru-hikers, fastpackers, anyone shaving ounces from every stuff sack — where an ounce and a half is real currency.