If the Fenix HM75R stands out for any single motive, it might be its crimson gentle setting. Highly effective sufficient to see objects clearly out to 52 ft and extremely adjustable, that is the crimson gentle mode I’ve been craving.
However calling out one single function on the HM75R does it a disservice. Whereas many good headlamps are in the marketplace, few stand out from the group. The Fenix HM75R is a giant, burly beast of a headlamp that can outshine most others and accomplish that with an exquisite interface, plus some cool bonus options that make it one in all a form.
Briefly: The Fenix HM75R sits other than the group with a really highly effective crimson gentle, a highlight and floodlight in two shade temperatures, and a battery extender that may even cost a cellphone. It’s top-of-the-line highly effective headlamps I’ve used and is balanced, snug, and straightforward to regulate. On the draw back, it’s heavy and costly.
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Lumen output
1,600 -
Rechargeable
Sure, USB-C -
Burn time
234 hrs. (low white); 365 hs. (crimson) -
Weight
11.32 oz. -
Crimson gentle
Sure, variable -
Waterproof ranking
IP68 (2m submersible)
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Glorious crimson gentle -
Two white gentle colours -
Lengthy vary highlight -
Battery extender can energy different electronics -
Very lengthy runtime
Fenix HM75R Assessment
There are plenty of nice headlamps. And as one in all GearJunkie’s major headlamp testers, I’ve seen or used most of them. However once in a while, one can actually stand out from the group. And that was the case with the Fenix HM75R.
It’s a beast of a light-weight that casts a robust beam. I’ve been testing it because it launched in early April. For individuals who don’t thoughts a heavier headlamp (it weighs 11.32 ounces with the battery extender connected), it offers a few of the finest lighting I’ve skilled.
Let’s begin the dialog with its two white gentle modes, spot and flood. The very first thing I’d be aware is that these two lighting modes are very totally different from each other.
Past the normal distinction within the quantity of focus, every lighting mode has a considerably totally different shade temperature. The highlight has a brilliant white 6,500K highlight mode. It really works nice to light up objects at a protracted distance as much as 223 m.
The floodlight, by comparability, is a a lot hotter white gentle at 4,000K. This gentle has extra yellow and crimson hues, and thus offers a way more nice and correct shade rendering, which means it’ll reveal colours extra naturally.
It’s good for nearer work, and whereas I haven’t hunted with this gentle simply but, it must be incredible for blood trailing. This gentle kicks out as much as 400 lumens and offers a pleasant brilliant pool of sunshine at a better vary.
Subsequent, let’s take a look at the unimaginable crimson gentle mode. To me, it is a standout function, as I exploit crimson an incredible deal within the outdoor. That’s as a result of it helps preserve night time imaginative and prescient and lets you see pure lighting like stars and moonlight. It’s nice for searching, crusing, mountaineering, and round camp.
However most headlamps have very weak crimson lights which are good just for 5 to possibly 10 ft. Not this one! The HM75R’s whopper of a crimson gentle kicks out as much as 120 lumens of crimson gentle, sufficient to see about 50 ft. It’s one of the best crimson gentle I’ve utilized in a headlamp.
All these lighting modes have very aggressive runtimes, thanks partly to the intense battery capability packed into the headlamp and the battery extender. You may anticipate about 18 hours of sunshine working at medium highlight of 350 lumens. Like virtually all headlamps, the regulated energy will ultimately dwindle, however not for almost 12 hours. Fenix offers the runtime examples beneath.
Fenix HM75R Consumer Interface
The consumer interface is about so simple as they get. A dial on the proper facet of the headlamp twists by way of three modes: crimson, highlight, and floodlight. In every mode, scroll by way of low, medium, excessive, and turbo by urgent a button on the top of the dial. That’s it!
It doesn’t get a lot easier. This interface is useable with gloves, a nod to the famous industrial capabilities of this headlamp. If you happen to’re retaining monitor, the HM75R is IP68-rated, which means it’s absolutely submersible to 2 m for half-hour. For many headlamps, that’s all you’ll ever want. It has a tricky magnesium physique drop-tested to 2 m.
Battery Extender Pack: A Main Bonus
General, I believe it is a nice headlamp. However I’m breaking out the “battery extender” function as a separate aspect of this assessment. That’s as a result of the headlamp works high-quality with out the extender connected. It’s solely elective.
Second, the battery extender additionally works as a standalone battery pack with a USB-C output that may energy cellphones or no matter you want.
The battery extender attaches to the again of the headlamp strap. Sitting reverse the principle headlamp, the extender balances the system properly, though it does add 4.41 ounces to the 6.95-ounce headlamp, leading to a system that weighs greater than 11 ounces (a full 11.36 ounces on my scale).
Is all this weight helpful for you? It comes right down to the consumer. To me, having a headlamp with an astoundingly lengthy runtime is superior. And with the HM75R, you may anticipate 350 lumens for greater than 18 hours straight.
I wouldn’t depend on the battery extender as my major additional energy supply within the wild, however charging different units out of your headlamp in an emergency is a good additional utility.
Sure, the HM75R is heavy. And sure, it’s fairly costly, ringing in at $170. There are plenty of nice headlamps in the marketplace that can serve you higher if you happen to don’t want the facility, longevity, or vary of lights of this industrial beast.
For some, these downsides can, and must be, deal breakers. The burden will likely be vital in your head and get tiresome after just a few hours. And it’d sound like nitpicking, however an additional strap excessive of your head will virtually definitely mess up your hair. This one is finest worn with a hat or helmet.
However, for many who want highly effective spotlights, eye-pleasing floodlights, and a really helpful, brilliant crimson gentle, the HM75R is one of the best heavy-duty headlamp I’ve examined. I can’t wait to get it within the mountains for testing in the course of the lengthy fall nights of searching season.
