Nitecore NU32 Headlamp Review

The Nitecore NU32 headlamp has a few emitters, including a Cree XP-G3, a high CRI secondary, and red, too! Read on for testing.

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Official Specs and Features

Here’s a link to the Nitecore NU32 Headlamp product page.

Versions

Just one version of this NU32.

Price and Coupon

The regular price for this light is around $40 at the time I’m writing this, but you can buy it on Amazon (referral link).

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Short Review

This is a good little headlamp in the “hiker format,” if I can call it that. The addition of High CRI is a nice thing, and the internal cell (while not always my favorite feature) is satisfactory here.

Long Review

The Big Table

Nitecore NU32
Emitter:	Cree XP-G3 (Secondary Red and White)
Price in USD at publication time:	$40.00 on Amazon (referral link)
Cell:	Internal
Runtime
LVP?	Yes
Switch Type:	E-Switch
Quiescent Current (A):	–
On-Board Charging?	Yes
Chargetime
Power off Charge Port with no Cell?	Yes
Claimed Lumens (lm)	550
Measured Lumens (at 30s)	626 (113.8% of claim)^
Claimed Throw (m)	125
Candela (Calculated) in cd (at 30s)	230lux @ 4.184m = 4026cd
Throw (Calculated) (m)	126.9 (101.5% 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 NU32 headlamp
• Charge cable (USB to micro-USB)
• Headband
• Manual and paperwork

Package and Manual

The usual Nitecore colors, but this time the product is visible through the front.

The manual is a normal Nitecore manual. Here’s a PDF version of the manual.

Build Quality and Disassembly

Since this light has its own built-in cell, there are no opening parts except the charge port. The charge port has a secure cover, so overall this is a well-built light.

It’s a little bigger than other similar lights that might use AAA, for example.

The headband strap is not removable and can tilt to around 60 degrees or so. Getting the headband on and off the connector is easy.

Size and Comps

Officially:
63mm x 43.5mm x 31.5mm, and 99.5g with headband. (76.4g without headband.)

I measure the package at 100g, and 78g without the headband.

Here’s the test light with the venerable Convoy S2+. Mine’s a custom “baked” edition Nichia 219b triple. A very nice 18650 light.

Retention and Carry

The only way to really use this light is as a dedicated headlamp. It’s possible to remove it from the headband, but since it’s really only usable that way, why bother? The headband is only around the head, not over. But at only ~77g, the light doesn’t bounce and holds steady.

Also, most importantly, the headband is comfortable. The back of the bracket doesn’t have any padding, but it has a good contour and no sharp bits.

Power and Runtime

Power is provided by an internal cell of 1800mAh capacity. It’s more than likely a lipo pouch, but I didn’t pop the light open to find out. The two halves of the light are permanently connected (probably “ultrasonically welded”).

As such, the battery isn’t replaceable.

Here’s a runtime on Turbo. Turbo is timed to step down at 30s, and it does so at exactly 30s. So the 30s reading of output (626 lumens) is just a little misleading since the light immediately goes to around 200 lumens. There begins a steady decline for the next few hours.

Notably, there’s a built-in battery check function: When off, hold the “R” button for 1s and the switch LED will blink to represent the remaining power.

Three flashes: power is above 50%
Two flashes: power is below 50%
One flash: power is below 10%

Charging

Charging the NU32 is performed by connecting the light to USB power over the USB to micro-USB cable, which is included. There’s a nice velcro loop, too.

Here’s a chargetime. This shows that the claimed 1.8Ah is a very low estimate. I measure almost 2Ah, and that’s from a 5V recording.

User Interface and Operation

There are two buttons on the NU32. They’re side by side, and on the top of the device (when being worn on your head). One is labeled “R” and primarily concerns the Red output. The other is labeled with a Power symbol. They’re rubber-covered, clicky, but still quiet.

Here’s a user interface table!

State	Action	Result
Off	Click Power Button (PB)	Low
On	Click PB	Mode advance (LMH)^
On	Hold PB	Turbo (30s, then High)
Off	Hold PB	Secondary, High CRI emitters
On (Any white)	Click PB	Off
Off	Click R Button (RB)	Red Steady
Red Steady	Click RB	Red Advance (Beacon, Off)^
Off	Hold RB	Battery Check
Off	Hold PB >3s	SOS (main emitter)
SOS	Click PB	Beacon (main emitter)
Off	Hold both	Lockout
Lockout	Hold both	Unlock

The red secondary and the main emitter may run concurrently, but the red and High CRI will not operate simultaneously.

^ The red button will turn off the red without going through the beacon if Red Steady has been on for a number of seconds. Same for the main white emitter – after 3 seconds of no action, the next click of the PB will turn the white emitter off.

Modes and Currents

Mode	Mode Claimed Output (lm)	Claimed Runtime	Measured Lumens
Turbo	550	1h (after 30s Turbo)	626
High	190	17h	225
Mid	33	50h	40
Ultralow	1	330h	–
High CRI	19	25h	–
Red	9	38h	–

LED and Beam

The main emitter is a Cree XP-G3. The reflector is smooth, broad, and very shallow. This gives the beam as one would expect – floody but with a spot of high artifact (from the XP-G3). This center emitter has throw that will be useful for trail finding, making it good for night running and the like.

The next emitters are the High CRI secondary emitters. In my testing, I found these to be plenty bright for walking around in pitch dark. The mode is not adjustable, so there’s no super low option here. Nitecore states that the CRI of these is ≥90 CRI.

The other secondary emitters are red, and they’re very red. They can be used at the same time as the XP-G3, but not at the same time as the High CRI. These also do not have mode options, except On or Beacon (no levels).

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

vs XP-G3:

Vs High CRI:

vs Red:

Random Comparisons and Competitive Options

Here’s a relevantly filtered page on parametrek.com. The only other High CRI competitor to this light is another Nitecore, the NU30. I haven’t handled that one, but it looks to be practically the same light, but with Cree XP-G2. It has a lower output and lower throw. Pick between these two based on your need for output vs tint. Need more output: NU32. Need better tint: NU30.

Conclusion

What I like

• Nice package of a light. It’s well-built and solid
• High CRI secondary
• Battery check
• Comfortable headband and wearing

What I don’t like

• No levels on either secondary
• Built-in battery can’t be changed

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Notes

• This light was provided by Nitecore for review. I was not paid to write this review.
• This content originally appeared at zeroair.org. Please visit there for the best experience!
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