Nitecore has a new ultralight headlamp, with high output, high CRI, and red all built in! It’s smaller than the previous iteration of this light, so would likely be great for long runs and the like.

Official Specs and Features

Here’s a link to the official product page.

Versions

There’s only one version of the NU10.

Price

The NU17 is going for $24.95.

Short Review

This is a nice little very lightweight headlamp. I like the High CRI option and that the red has multiple modes. The band is slimmer and nice. Overall it’s a nice little light.

Long Review

The Big Table

* Measurement disclaimer: I am an amateur flashlight reviewer. I don’t have $10,000 or even $1,000 worth of testing equipment. I test output and such in PVC tubes!! Please consider claims within 10% of what I measure to be perfectly reasonable (accurate, even).

What’s Included

Nitecore NU17 Headlamp

Heandband

Charge cable (USB to micro-USB)

Manual

Package and Manual

This is a sort of blister pack for the NU17, and I don’t really like it. I had to cut it open and basically destroy the package. I don’t enjoy that.

The manual is typical Nitecore.

Build Quality and Disassembly

The housing here is plastic, and the battery is built in. It’s a dedicated headlamp, in case you wondered – you won’t be using this as a handheld light.

The bit that connects to the headstrap is non-removable.

The hinge cover serves to shield the buttons, too. I’m not sure if I’d call this good or bad, but it could be a useful feature to prevent accidental activation.

Size and Comps

Officially: L-2.09″xW-1.19″xH-1.08″ and 47g.

Retention and Carry

As stated, this is a headlamp and won’t be useful in other ways. The headband that’s included is slimmer than most current generation headbands. There are a few triangles of reflective material.

On the flip side (the inside, that is) there’s a grippy band of silicone that also serves to direct sweat away from one’s eyes.

Power and Runtime

The battery used in the NU17 is built in, non-removable, and non-replaceable. I performed two runtimes – first the highest mode of the main emitter:

Secondly is the highest (also onlyiest) mode of the High CRI emitters. I didn’t cool this one, and the highest temp was only 33 degrees C. Not too hot, and cool enough to be worn indefinitely.

The light does eventually shut off fully, but since the battery is built in, I can’t really check the voltage.

With the built-in cell comes built-in charging. This is by a micro-USB port.

Nitecore includes a cable fit for charging.

Charging looks pretty normal, aside from that little blip around 30 minutes. Can’t really explain it but it’s also not really a problem.

The charging indicator LED is behind the main emitter (it’s not the two reds on the sides). During charge, this indicator lights red. When charge is complete, the indicator is green.

PWM

There is no PWM on any output.

Main emitter:

High CRI:

Red:

For reference, here’s a baseline shot, with all the room lights off and almost nothing hitting the sensor. And here’s the worst PWM light I have ever owned. Also one of the very first lights I ordered directly from China!

User Interface and Operation

There are two buttons on the NU17. They’re side by side, and share a rubber cover. These switches are on top of the headlamp. One’s labeled with a power logo, and one’s labeled “R” for red.

The UI is fairly simple.

Here’s a UI table!

State Action Result Off Click Power Main Low Off Hold Power High Cri On Off Click R Red Low On >3s Click Any Off On Hold R Off On White <3s Click Power Mode advance LMH,Off On Red <3s Click R Red advance (Low, High, Red slow strobe) On Hold Power 1s High Any Hold Power >3s SOS (First mode of Special Group) Special Group Click Power Special Advance (SOS, Beacon) Off Hold R Battery Indicator*

* Battery level is indicated by the charging indicator LED – the red emitter behind the main emitter.

Three flashes: Battery >50%

Two flashes: Battery <50%

One flash: Battery <10%

LED and Beam

There are three types of emitters here. One in the center is a Cree XP-G2. The High CRI is next, beside the center emitter. Nitecore doesn’t seem to state what emitter this is. Same for the red.

These beamshots are always with the following settings: f8, ISO100, 0.3s shutter, and manual 5000K exposure.

Tint vs BLF-348 (Killzone 219b version)

I compare everything to the Killzone 219b BLF-348, because it’s inexpensive and has the best tint!

Conclusion

What I like

Very light headlamp.

Reasonable throw out of the main emitter.

High CRI is a good temperature, too

Red secondary having two modes is a good feature – particularly because the low is very low.

What I don’t like

Built in battery, but it’s really expected in this class of light.

Notes

This light was provided by Nitecore for review. I was not paid to write this review.

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