Black Diamond

Spot 400-R

£55 70g dimming, distance & proximity modes, red LED, lock, weight

limited pivot

Power: 6-400 lumens

LEDs: two white, one red

Batteries: 1500mAh lithium-ion rechargeable

Modes: dimming, strobe, proximity, power tap

Distance (metres): 100 max, 60 medium, 12 low

Burn hours: 4 max, 8 medium, 225 low blackdiamondequipment.com

The Spot 400-R has three LEDs and two switches: not quite as simple as the Astro 300-R. But it’s much better specified yet easy to use. The two white LEDs are for ‘distance’ and ‘proximity’. The first has a narrower spot beam: good when walking. The second is a flood beam that lights a wide area evenly: good in camp. There’s a red LED too.

The large switch operates dimming in all three modes and turns the headlamp on in the same mode it was in when switched off. The small switch changes modes. For the strobe the large switch is pressed twice.

The Spot is powerful. The distance light is great on tricky terrain on half brightness. Of the three this is the most generally useful lamp for year-round illumination.