Nitecore UT05 Waist Light Review

Nitecore has released the UT05 waist light, a velcro-backed, 4000K light handy for running and hiking, providing a 160° light output.

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Official Specs and Features

Here’s a link to the Nitecore UT05 Waist Light product page.

Versions

There’s only one version.

Price

As seen in this post, the Nitecore UT05 waist light is $35.95.  You should plan to add some sort of battery pack though and can add one at NitecoreStore.com for $60. Here’s a Shareasale link to the Nitecore UT05 waist light.

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Short Review

The Nitecore UT05 waist light is an interesting little light. I don’t think there’s much (if anything) like it on the market. Running off USB power seems like a good choice but at the end of the day, it’s not really an inexpensive setup if you buy Nitecore’s suggested NB10000. (Sidenote here about the Nitecore NB10000 – I do love that powerbank!) Carrying the UT05 with that powerbank could be a bit cumbersome. I’d rather see the waist light with a single 18650 for power and an additional USB power option.

Long Review

What’s Included

• Nitecore UT05 waist light
• Lanyard
• Velcro strops
• Manual

Note that this testing is based on what I received. I didn’t receive a battery and so I won’t be doing any runtime tests. I also didn’t receive the optional BLT10 Running Belt and so I can’t really show any in-action photos, either. But I’ll report the CRI and CCT and some other small facts, so maybe the post will be helpful anyway.

Package and Manual

You should take off the protective covers from these COB emitters!

Build Quality and Disassembly

What you see above is one piece, and the UT05 doesn’t disassemble any smaller than that. Wouldn’t it be fun if those little LED modules each had USB-C and could be daisy-chained!?

The LED is a COB-style emitter.  I believe that the housing on this light is metal, but it’s hard to say.

The package feels pretty robust.

These two modules are separated by around four inches (or 6″, depending on who you ask) of cable.

Size and Comps

Nitecore list sizes for the UT05 parts individually, as follows.

73 x 18 x 8.3mm (Part without button)

87.4 x 18 x 8.3mm (Part with button)

Total length: 750mm

The overall weight they list as 40.4g.

Retention and Carry

As this is primarily and only a waist light, that’s the only way to really carry the Nitecore UT05 waist light. It attaches to something (ideally the BLT10 Running Belt) by this hook and loop closure. Both parts of the UT05 have the hook side – the hard scratchy side.

I think that ‘hard side’ means the UT05 will connect to most things like bags which also utilize the Velcro connectors. This should increase the utility of the UT05 and make it useful for the back of a bike bag or something like that.

Also included is this little lanyard.

The lanyard seems to attach very specifically to this one spot near the USB plug. Nitecore calls this the “USB cable fastener.” The manual doesn’t seem to cover much past that.

I would recommend buying the BLT10 running belt. It looks to add around $15 to the price. Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be a way to add this item without also adding the NB10000. As I said, I like the NB10000, but the cost of adding it isn’t insignificant!

Power and Runtime

Power is provided to the Nitecore UT05 waist light by a (“some”) USB source.

I tested with some random USB source – in fact, I used my NB10000, which I have from review and love.

Modes and Currents

Mode	Mode Claimed Output (lm)	Claimed Runtime	Measured Lumens	Amps (from USB source)
High	400	5h30m	333	1.05
Low	200	13h	176	0.47

Pulse Width Modulation

Nitecore advertises this as a non-PWM light, and that seems to be true. This sawtooth isn’t PWM, and I can’t see it during use.

For reference, here’s a baseline shot, with all the room lights off and almost nothing hitting the sensor.  Also, here’s the light with the worst PWM I could find.  I’m adding multiple timescales, so it’ll be easier to compare to the test light.  Unfortunately, the PWM on this light is so bad that it doesn’t even work with my normal scale, with is 50 microseconds (50us).  10ms.  5ms.  2ms.  1ms.  0.5ms.  0.2ms.  In a display faster than 0.2ms or so, the on/off cycle is more than one screen, so it’d just (very incorrectly) look like a flat line.  I wrote more about this Ultrafire WF-602C flashlight and explained a little about PWM too.

User Interface and Operation

There’s a single e-switch for controlling the Nitecore UT05 waist light. This switch controls both modules – they are not controlled individually.

Here’s a UI table!

State	Action	Result
Off	Click	No Action
Off	Hold	On (Low)
On	Hold	Off
On	Click	Mode Cycle (Low, High)

LED and Beam

Nitecore describes both of these as high CRI 4000K COB emitters.

The output is very floody!  Nitecore says it’s 160° broad.

LED Color Report (CRI and CCT)

Nitecore has been accurate with the claims about CRI and CCT. The CRI is indeed high – above 90 on both output levels. The CCT is also great, at around 3950 for each mode.  This output should provide great casts and shadow while running or hiking!

Conclusion

What I like

• COB is High CRI
• COB is 4000K
• User interface is easy
• Powered by USB

What I don’t like

• Powered only by USB
• No way to attach without a separate purchase

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Notes

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