Black Diamond Spot 400 Headlamp Review

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a backpacker is reading a map while bundled up seated at the door of his tent
The headlamp that you won’t leave the house without. – photo credit: casey handley (cleverhiker.com)

Bottom line

The Black Diamond Spot 400 consistently tops our gear guide, and for good reason. We’re always impressed by how the Spot 400 packs versatility, comfort, quality, and functionality into such a small forehead light. And get this—the Spot 400 is affordable. The one downside is that it’s not rechargeable. However, if that’s a deal breaker for you, there’s a rechargeable version, the Black Diamond Spot 400-R. You can even purchase a rechargeable battery pack separately for the Spot 400.

The Spot 400 offers all the features you’d expect, including spot, red light, a peripheral function, and a PowerTap area on the side that lets you instantly switch to the brightest setting with a tap of your finger.

While we appreciate the overall versatility of the Spot 400, we found ourselves wishing for more illumination for specialized activities like night skiing, rock climbing, caving, or mountaineering. That said, we think this is a great option for the everyday outdoor enthusiast. For other tested and reviewed headlamps, see our best headlamps gear guide.

Quick Specs

Black Diamond Spot 400

Best Value Headlamp

Price: $50

Measured Weight: 2.7 oz.

Max Lumens/Beam Distance: 400 lm./328 ft. (100 m.)

Burn Time Low/High: 200 hrs./2.5 hrs

Pros

  • Excellent value
  • Long burn time
  • Nice features
  • Waterproof
  • Well balanced and comfortable

Cons

  • Harsh light in spot mode
  • Not the most intuitive controls
the black diamond spot 400 is a rechargeable headlamp placed on a rock near broken top in oregon on a sunny day
black Diamond has a great team of athletes, testers, and designers to quite literally think of everything for this headlamp. – photo credit: heather eldridge (cleverhiker.com)

Illumination & Light Quality

When set to spot mode, particularly at or near the brightest setting, the beam of the Black Diamond Spot 400 can be laser beam harsh. While this wasn’t an issue in other settings, those with light sensitivity should be cautious and consider dimming the brightness to protect their eyes. Dimming the light, however, means sacrificing some of its intensity. For most users, this trade-off is manageable, but it’s something to keep in mind. The concentrated beam is effective for focused tasks but can be uncomfortable during prolonged use at maximum brightness. It’s worth adjusting the settings to find a balance between brightness and comfort to avoid eye strain. Overall, while the Spot 400 delivers powerful illumination, users should be mindful of its impact on eye comfort, especially in spot mode.

The image shows a red and black Black Diamond Spot 400 headlamp sitting on the forest floor. The light is on.
The Black Diamond Spot 400 features a spot light, flood light, and red light. – photo credit: heather eldridge (cleverhiker.com)

Burn Time

The Black Diamond Spot series earns high praise for its impressive burn time. With a claimed runtime of 2.5 hours on high, 5 hours on medium, and 200 hours on low, it delivers excellent performance for its price point. In our testing, the burn times were close to what’s advertised, though individual battery life will vary depending on the combination of features being used. Overall, we were very pleased with the battery performance, especially considering that constantly replacing batteries can get costly. This reliable battery life adds substantial value to the already affordable Spot series headlamps.

The image shows a Spot 400 in the hand of a camper. The camper is on a beach, the sun is setting, and the side battery life indicator is featured in the photo.
The battery life indicator is an excellent feature of the Spot 400. – photo credit: heather eldridge (cleverhiker.com)

Weight

The Black Diamond Spot 400 weighs 2.7 ounces, just one-tenth of an ounce more than its rechargeable counterpart, the Spot 400-R. While we hesitate to classify the Spot series as ultralight, they come very close. The Spot 400 weighs less than most of the headlamps we tested this year, and thanks to its low-bulk, slim-profile design, it feels as light as an ultralight model in use, while offering the added comfort of a more traditional strap. This low weight makes the Spot 400 an excellent choice for all-day use across a wide range of activities, including running, climbing, backpacking, and even casual nighttime walks or camping trips.

The image shows a runner wearing the Spot 400 set against the sun setting over the ocean.
The Spot 400 doesn’t flop around even while out on evening runs. – photo credit: heather eldridge (cleverhiker.com)

Comfort

Overall, we found the Black Diamond Spot 400 to be comfortable and well-balanced across all its uses. It isn’t overly front-heavy, which can be an issue when moving quickly on the trail. This balance is key because constantly adjusting a headlamp while trying to enjoy the outdoors dims down the moment.

The soft strap is thin, yet still provides a secure fit without feeling bulky. Compared to some of the thicker straps on other models we tested, the Spot 400’s strap strikes a nice middle ground—it’s thinner without sacrificing comfort or stability. Although it’s not as minimal as the cord-style straps found on more specialized ultralight headlamps, it offers a good combination of support and lightweight design. We found it suitable for extended wear, whether on a long hike or simply hanging around camp. The comfort level makes the Spot 400 a reliable choice for those seeking a headlamp they can wear for hours without discomfort.

The Spot gives you more control over the brightness of your light than the Actik Core does. – photo credit: casey handle (cleverhiker.com)

Ease of Use

The Black Diamond Spot 400 controls are a bit more complex compared to some other headlamps we’ve tested. While not overly difficult, the design requires a bit of learning to master fully. Unlike more intuitive models, the Spot 400’s control scheme involves a two-button setup that can take some getting used to. We found ourselves needing two or three outings to become proficient with the controls. The larger button manages power and brightness adjustments, while the smaller button cycles through LED modes.

The PowerTap area on the side is a useful feature for quickly accessing the brightest setting, but it can be overly sensitive. We accidentally activated the highest brightness more than once. Despite these quirks, the learning curve is manageable with a bit of practice. In addition, we found the strap easily adjustable on the fly, even when wearing a pair of lightweight gloves. Adjustability is a bit more difficult when wearing bulky winter-weight gloves. 

The Spot has a locking feature that prevents it from accidentally turning on when not in use. – photo credit: heather eldridge (cleverhiker.com)

Features

The most unique feature offered by the Spot 400 is Black Diamond’s implementation of their PowerTap technology. This allows you to tap on the right-hand side of the headlamp to instantly switch to its brightest setting without pressing any buttons. This can be especially useful when hiking at night in bear country and you need to quickly illuminate your surroundings.

As mentioned earlier, thanks to Black Diamond’s dual-fuel design, this headlamp can be powered by both single-use batteries and a rechargeable battery pack sold separately. The settings include everything you would want: a spot mode, a low-distance peripheral mode, a strobe function, a lock mode, and a dimmable red light function. We appreciate the brightness memory feature, which retains your preferred setting even after turning the light off and back on. Lastly, the battery meter is handy, helping you track how much battery life remains.

The image shows the Black Diamond Spot 400 sitting on a beach with it's floodlight illuminated. There is water in the background.
The flood light feature of the Spot 400 is very helpful when walking around camp. – photo credit: heather eldridge (cleverhiker.com)

Should You Buy the Black Diamond Spot 400?

The value offered by the Black Diamond Spot 400 is what truly makes this headlamp shine—pun intended. With a justifiable price tag, you get an exceptional and surprisingly great deal. Black Diamond has been in the game for a long time, and their products are typically rock solid. The Spot 400 impresses with its versatility, brightness, and range of features, all at an affordable price point. While it’s not rechargeable, there’s value in that as well. In situations where charging isn’t an option, being able to carry spare batteries can be more practical. For most casual outdoor enthusiasts, the Spot 400 delivers everything you need in a reliable, feature-packed headlamp without breaking the bank.

We think it’s an excellent choice for night hiking, camping, and backpacking. However, if you’re planning more specialized endeavors like night skiing or mountaineering, you’ll likely need something brighter. Additionally, since this is a non-rechargeable headlamp, those planning extended expeditions might want to consider a rechargeable option.

a backpacker at night with their hand on the headlamp to change the light setting
The beam setting on the Spot makes it appear brighter than some headlamps with higher lumens. – photo credit: casey handley (cleverhiker.com)

What Other Headlamps Should You Consider?

If you like the Spot 400, you should also check out the models below and take a look at our guide to the best backpacking headlamps:

Black Diamond Spot 400-R Review: The Spot 400-R is the same exact headlamp as the Spot 400 but in a rechargeable package.

Nitecore NU25 UL Review: If you need a more budget-friendly option that’s still rechargeable, the NU25 UL is definitely worth checking out due to its generous amount of features and durability in an even more affordable package.

a backpacker walking their dog on a leash on a backpacking trip
The Spot gives you full control over the brightness of your headlamp so you can optimize light output with battery life. – photo credit: casey handley (cleverhiker.com)