Nitecore HC65 Headlamp Review

The Nitecore HC65 is a multi-emitter headlamp that runs on a single 18650 and has a single e-switch for operation. Read on for testing!

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Official Specs and Features

Here’s a link to the Nitecore HC65 Headlamp product page.

Versions

Really just one version, but NitecoreStore sells a few accessory options with the HC65.

Price

The price of this one is $74.95.  This is available on Amazon! (referral link)

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Short Review

While this isn’t my favorite format (emitter in the center of the body on an 18650 headlamp) I have to admit I like this one a bit.  The NW is good, and a red is a nice bonus.

Long Review

The Big Table

Nitecore HC65
Emitter:	Cree XM-L2
Price in USD at publication time:	$74.95, and available on amazon.
Cell:	1×18650
Turbo Runtime
LVP?	No
Switch Type:	E-Switch
Quiescent Current (A):	0.00003
On-Board Charging?	Yes
Chargetime
Power off Charge Port with no Cell?	?
Claimed Lumens (lm)	1000
Claimed Throw (m)	110
Candela (Calculated) in cd (at 30s)	344lux @ 3.382m = 3935cd
Throw (Calculated) (m)	125.5 (114.1% of claim)^
All my Nitecore reviews!

^ Measurement disclaimer: Testing flashlights is my hobby. I use hobbyist-level equipment for testing, including some I made myself. Try not to get buried in the details of manufacturer specifications versus measurements recorded here; A certain amount of difference (say, 10 or 15%) is perfectly reasonable.

What’s Included

• Nitecore HC65 Headlamp
• Nitecore HL1834 3400mAh 18650
• Headstrap
• Charge cable
• Spare o-rings (4, 3 types)
• Manual and paperwork

Package and Manual

The package is the usual black and yellow Nitecore package.  Usual specs and features on the box.  A bit of a large box for such a small light, but there’s a lot of stuff in there.

 

 

Here’s a pdf of the manual.  Nitecore is consistent with its manuals, and this is no exception.  It’s a nice manual with a good description of the UI, specs, features, modes, and runtimes.

Build Quality and Disassembly

Nitecore has another high quality build on their roster now.  I’m satisfied with the moving parts, and the emitter parts don’t give me any concerns either.

The emitters (4) are housed in a plate of sorts, held on to the cell tube by four hex screws.  Unfortunately, my set is missing the one hex that’s the right size for this, so I wasn’t able to take it apart.  However, it is just regular hex screws, so accessing the internals of this plate should be fairly straightforward.

More on the switch later, but for now note that the tailcap is threaded onto the body (head and tail in fact) with small triangular threads, which are well lubed.  The threading is the same, but the parts are different.  (So the caps are reversible but the light won’t be functional or water-resistant that way.)

The tail end of the light is the end without the switch.  The positive terminal of the cell goes toward the “head” of the light which is the end with the switch.  Internally these are different, too.  The head end has a brass button, and the tail end has a gold-plated spring.  The head/switch end’s cap does come off but unscrewing but the light isn’t “open” then, only the micro-USB port is exposed (and the switch may be maintained).

Size

Officially  82.7mm x 33.3mm x 26.7mm

One of the things I normally don’t care for about these style lights (emitters on the tube) is that they always feel bigger than they should be.  This one really doesn’t.

Retention

Of course, this is a headlamp, and so the primary means of carrying this light will be the headstrap.  This is a stretchy cloth band, which has an easily removable center (over-head) band.  These bands just slip into their connection place.  It’s a comfortable headband, but I’m not sure it’s quite tight enough for running and the like.  However, for camping, or just general use, it’ll be great.  The plastic piece that holds the light to the band is nicely contoured for the forehead.

The light slips in and out of the plastic piece easily, with just two silicone loops on each end of the light.  This is primarily how I use the light, even though it’s not ideal as a pocket light.

There’s nothing else:  No pocket clip, no magnet, no pouch.

Power

The HC65 is powered by a single 18650.  It’s also possible to use the light with 2-up cells:  Cr123 and RCR123a.  I tested the light with this option and the output wasn’t actually different (no greater output than with a single 18650).

A cell is included – it’s the Nitecore NL1834, which is a 3400mAh 18650.  It seems like a high-quality cell.  It’s a protected button top.  The HC65 should work with any type of 18650, though.

Here’s a runtime on Turbo.  The runtime estimate on Turbo is 1h, and the HC65 does output light for that long.  Turbo maintains >90% output for around 10 minutes, which is not too shabby.

Charging

The light also has onboard charging, facilitated by a micro-USB port in the head.  The headcap must be fully removed in order to use this port.  When closed, there’s an o-ring that should seal the port nicely.  Actually, two, because there’s one on the switch, too.

The charging isn’t the fastest charging, but it’s solid, at around 0.5A.  And it’s a good li-ion charge curve, too.  The cell tests to around 3200mAh.  This chargetime is approximately in line with the specification Nitecore states (7h).

There’s also a built-in battery check option.  When a cell is inserted and the parts are snugged down, the blue emitter will blink for the Ones and Tenths of voltage.  So 4 blinks, pause 1 blink, is 4.1V.  It will indicate the series voltage when 2-up cells are used, too.

User Interface and Operation

There’s just one switch on the HC65.  I don’t think it’s all that different from many reverse clicky switches, but Nitecore describes it as a “camera shutter” style switch.  It has a rubber cover and some nice knurling.

To be sure, this user interface is basically one you’ll just have to memorize (or flubb your way through).

Here’s a user interface table!

State	Action	Result
Off	Half Click	Turn on/off blue beacon
Off	Half hold	NW emitter on/off
Off	Full click	Main emitter on (memory)
Off	Full hold	Red emitter on
Red	Half click	Red mode cycle (Caution>Solid)
Red	Full click	Off
On	Full click	Off
Off	Full double click	Turbo
On	Half hold >0.6s	Turbo
Any	Full hold	Strobe

This might be construed as a difficult UI, but that’s one price you pay for having so many emitters and options in a light.

Modes

Mode	Mode Claimed Output (lm)	Claimed Runtime	Mode Measured Lux	Tailcap Amps
Turbo	1000	1h	21400	2.80
High	550	2h 45m	13740	1.06
Mid	280	4h45m	6440	0.52
Low	80	16h	1760	0.12
Ultralow	1	800h	28	–
Auxiliary White	26	25h	–	0.08
Red	11	32h	–	0.09

LED and Beam

The main emitter here is a Cree XM-L2 and is coolish.  The secondary emitter is a high CRI (≥90) NW emitter, and there’s a red emitter also.  The 4th emitter I mentioned above is the blue, which is used as a beacon, and for cell voltage indication.

The main emitter is at the base of a very short, very broad smooth reflector.  The beam afforded by this setup is a quickly broadening beam, with a fair amount of spill.

The other two emitters are behind a dimpled lens and are fully flood.

Beamshots

These beamshots always have the following settings:  f8, ISO100, 0.3s shutter, and manual 5000K exposure. These photos are taken at floor level, and the beam hits the ceiling around 9 feet away.

Tint vs BLF-348 (KillzoneFlashlights.com 219b version) (affiliate link)

I keep the test flashlight on the left and the BLF-348 reference flashlight on the right.

First the main emitter:

Then the NW emitter (left):

Random Comparisons and Competitive Options

Here’s a relevantly filtered page on parametrek.com.   Nitecore makes some of their own competition for this light.  But as this is the most current option, there’s not much point mentioning those.  Thrunite makes a few lights like this, as does Fenix.

The HC65 is quite compelling, as it has multiple emitters and reliable onboard charging.

Conclusion

What I like

• Three emitters
• On-board charging is good
• Forehead piece is comfortable

What I don’t like

• Main emitter could be warmer, even if not as warm as the high CRI emitter.
• I’d like the blue emitter to be utilized more (or make it green and put it in the main mode group switch options?)
• user interface is a little complex, but not necessarily complicated.

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Notes

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