Got bored and took some beamshots, a couple of Convoy S2+s and a Wurkkos FC11C, all with TIR optics.

Stumbled upon a cave in Zakopane and took some beans for ya'll.

It get's very hot..

I was sent a NEXTORCH hiStar headlamp to test out, and overall, it is a solid and very well-made headlamp.

It comes with a headband that supports NVG mounts, PASGT helmets and hard hats, and it even worked on my baseball cap. In the box you also get a USB-A to USB-C cable, one USB-C rechargeable 18650 battery, and a tube for running two CR123A batteries.

NEXTORCH claims this headlamp outputs 2,300 lumens on Turbo. I don't have the equipment to accurately measure total lumen output, so I can't verify that figure, although visually it is certainly quite bright!

Build Quality

First of all, I would like to start with the build quality.

The headlamp weighs around 180 g / 6.35 oz. It doesn't weigh a ton, but it's definitely not a lightweight headlamp either. That said, it feels extremely solid and very well made. In fact, I'd say it's probably the best-built headlamp in my collection.

One thing I immediately noticed was the rotary head switch. It has quite a heavy action but somehow feels soft and cushioned at the same time. It clicks firmly into each position with a really satisfying feel. That extra bit of cushioning makes it stand out compared with the other headlamps I own.

There is also a separate rotary control with infinitely variable brightness. This has a similarly substantial and cushioned feel. Turning it while the headlamp is switched off also activates the battery-level indicator, which uses four blue LEDs.

Another nice feature is the heatsink grooves on the rear, which should help with heat dissipation.

You can also unclip the light from its headband and place it on a table, then angle it however you like. Once angled, the light stays in that position surprisingly well. I went for a run wearing it and didn't have it change position once.

Comfort and Mounting

Because of this particular version's mounting system, I think it's especially well suited to helmets and hard hats. It also worked fine on my baseball cap, although the weight is noticeable at the front.

There is also a regular headband version available for people who don't need the helmet-specific setup.

The headlamp is somewhat front-heavy. It's not super lightweight, but considering how solidly it's constructed, that's understandable.

It carries an IP67 rating, meaning it is dust-tight and rated for temporary immersion in up to 1 metre of water for 30 minutes. It's also rated for 1-metre impact resistance.

U.T.B. Thermal Management

One of the more interesting things about the hiStar is NEXTORCH's U.T.B. (Ultra Thermal Buffer) technology.

NEXTORCH describes U.T.B. as its thermal-management system using phase-change material to help absorb and manage heat.

From my understanding, the phase-change material acts as a temporary thermal buffer as the headlamp heats up, rather than the light relying solely on conventional heat transfer to the body and heatsink.

The idea is to help balance sustained output and operating temperature without requiring a much larger light.

I was interested to see how this translated into real-world performance, which is one reason I carried out runtime and temperature testing.

My Testing

For my measurements I used an Opple Light Master IV.

This isn't professional laboratory equipment and my lux readings shouldn't be treated as absolute lumen measurements, but they are useful for showing how the headlamp's output behaves over time.

Before each test, the battery was fully charged, and the headlamp was allowed to cool back down before starting the next test.

After my one-hour runtime test, the battery indicator was still showing three blue LEDs, which is roughly 75% according to the indicator.

I've included my runtime graphs and readings so you can see the output behaviour for yourself.

Beam

The beam itself is nice and well balanced.

With the spotlight on, you can clearly see the defined spot, but once the flood is added, the two blend together quite nicely.

The headlamp also includes two dedicated red LEDs, which are useful when you want some light without using the much brighter white LEDs and can help preserve your night vision.

There is also a red SOS flashing function for emergency signalling.

The colour temperature of the white LEDs is on the cooler side at around 6000K+ according to my measurements.

Personally, I think it works well for this type of light. It feels crisp and alert at night without looking excessively blue or purple like some cool-white lights can.

Battery Compatibility – One Negative

One negative I found was with 18650 battery compatibility.

I tried fitting one of my own standard 18650 cells without built-in USB charging. It physically fitted and I could screw the battery compartment closed, but the light wouldn't turn on because the battery didn't appear to make electrical contact.

I'm not sure whether the hiStar requires a longer/protected or button-top 18650, or whether some sort of spacer would be needed. I didn't want to start stretching the spring or modifying anything just to make another battery work.

The supplied USB-C rechargeable 18650 works perfectly, but it's worth knowing that you shouldn't assume every standard 18650 in your collection will work with the hiStar.

You can, however, use the included tube with two CR123A batteries, which gives you another power option.

Warranty

Something else I found interesting is NEXTORCH's warranty.

NEXTORCH currently offers a 10-year warranty against defects in materials and workmanship, with 2 years of coverage for the rechargeable battery.

Older NEXTORCH documentation listed 5 years for the light and 1 year for rechargeable batteries, so the current warranty has increased quite substantially.

Of course, the 10-year warranty doesn't mean they'll replace a light that has been accidentally damaged, abused or simply worn out through normal use. It's primarily protection against manufacturing and material defects.

Overall

Overall, I think the NEXTORCH hiStar is a very well-made headlamp.

The build quality is probably what impressed me most. The switches and controls feel excellent, the adjustment mechanism holds its position well, and the whole thing feels like it has been designed to take some abuse.

I can definitely see it being particularly well suited to tactical use, helmets, hard hats and other demanding environments, while still being perfectly usable as a normal everyday headlamp.

And unlike some of my lighter headlamps, this is one I wouldn't be particularly worried about accidentally dropping on the floor. It genuinely feels like it would be up to the task.

Disclosure: NEXTORCH provided this headlamp to me free of charge for testing and review. I wasn't paid for the review, and the opinions and test results above are my own.

For anyone interested, here's the regular/non-helmet version: Link

I am wondering if I can get some advice what folder to pick that will go well with my plain edge XL Holdout which I really like given it's quite practical.

But who cares about practicality😁 I was originally interested in the Talon 2 but the more I look at these, the more I can't decide. Any help is appreciated.

No added sugar but we added E955 instead.. 👍

Spyderco UKPK with CPM MagnaCut. Finally got the courage to use it instead of just letting it look pretty. It didn't disappoint and is still very sharp. I accidentally stabbed myself in the finger with the pointy tip quite bad 😅

Hey,

I was wondering what the biggest UK legal EDC knife is?

I'm looking for something that uses pretty much the full 3-inch blade (or as close as possible), isn't too thin, and has a nice wide blade. Safety features are a bonus too.

(For anyone outside the UK, you can generally carry a non-locking folding pocket knife with a cutting edge of 3 inches (7.62 cm) or less without needing a specific reason. Locking knives and fixed blades are different and usually require a good reason to carry in public.)

The picture I added is from the Heinnie Haynes website featuring the CJRB Bowie Pyrite.

What would you recommend?