Overview
Sometimes you just need a super bright light. For those times, little
else matters. It doesn't matter if the light is heavy, or if the
batteries don't last very long. In those contexts, all you want is
massive illumination. When an overabundance of light is what you want,
the Fenix HP25 should be on your short list. In our review, it is the
brightest by a huge margin. It throws a beam almost 160 meters. The next
strongest light, one of our Editors' Choice lights, the Coast HL7,
casts usable illumination 131 meters. The Fenix is 22% stronger than
the next nearest competitor. No other product in our test, in no other
category, owns such a decisive margin of superiority. With this sort of
domination, we can nitpick other details, but it still remains that the
Fenix is an ultra bright product.
Our trail finding scores were the result of head-to-head, on-trail usage. We handed headlamps out to several testers and asked "which one makes it easier to find your way?" What we found could be almost directly correlated to a combination of beam strength and the evenness of that beam. The best lights in this category are strong, but also spread that light out in a usable fashion. The most usable light is a little brighter in the center, and evenly gradates towards the user's periphery. While the Fenix HP25 is the brightest in our test, by far, the light quality is a little rough. We tempered our trail finding scores to account for the bright and dark spots in the beam shape. As compared to the highest scoring trail finder, in the beam comparison below, the Fenix is a little rougher than the light of the Petzl NAO.
Beam Distance Photos
Even more so than with trail finding, our subjective testing of close proximity performance and comfort revealed that light quality matters a great deal. All testers preferred the close proximity lighting of products with bright bulbs set in well-designed lenses. Well-designed lenses focus light with consideration to how they will be used. In close proximity use, the user appreciates a broad beam with even, but slightly center-concentrated, brightness. The Fenix sends out a strong beam, but is a little rough and lumpy. There are brighter and darker spots in the beam cast. Incidentally, since our testing team and procedures are so involved, we tested multiple versions of each and every light. In the case of the HP25, our testing team found variation in the quality of the close proximity/flood light. One version cast a more even, non-distracting beam than the other.
For such a bright light, we are tempted to completely gloss over the battery life. Our test is indeed very objective. We use modern instrumentation in a controlled setting to address significant issues on the headlamp market. While a standard for testing and reporting exists, developed with the cooperation of light manufacturers and retailers, many manufacturers choose to completely dismiss this standard and report numbers that are, at best, grossly optimistic and at worst fully misleading. Our methodology, as noted, is sound, but has its own biases. We tested every light in its respective highest mode. With the highest of the high modes, it is no surpsise that the Fenix HP25 burned through batteries rapidly. This battery life vs. beam distance chart shows the relative shape of battery drain curves for two otherwise tied products. At that link you'll see the Fenix compared to the Petzl Tikka RXP.
We cannot say it often enough. This is the brightest light in our test. It exceeds the nearest competitor by more than 20%. No other headlamp we tested dominates any other category in this way. While the performance of the Fenix is somewhat mediocre in most other ways, the fact that it is so much brighter than the others justifies some sort of award. If a category reviewing lights cannot reward light, what can we reward? Our Top Pick award exists to honor exactly something like this. When a product stands out for some particular purpose, it is a clear contender for the Top Pick. With such a large field of products serving such wide range of users, multiple sub-niches are bound to exist. In the case of headlamps, we award three Top Pick badges. On this extreme, we honor a product that exceeds a half pound but replicates the sun. On the other extreme we awarded a top pick for ultralight performance to the Petzl e+LITE. The Petzl is 1/10th the mass of the Fenix and sends light about 1/6th as far. The next brightest product in our review, after the Fenix, is the Coast HL7. After that, the Petzl NAO casts light just 70% of the distance of the Fenix. None of these lights can be considered in even the same realm as the Fenix for brightness.
Just as it is the brightest light in our review, it is also the heaviest. Just as it dominates the brightness of the next brightest product by 20%, it is 21% heavier than the next heaviest. While it sure seems as though the Fenix could be made lighter with no compromise in brightness, our testers didn't seem to care. One would not carry this light anywhere that weight matters. It is a pure light throwing beast!
Interestingly, it was not that long ago that we all carried ten ounce headlamps while backpacking and climbing and didn't think anything of it. Twenty years ago those burly beasts weighed the same as the Fenix, but threw light for a tiny fraction of the distance. The batteries burned out even faster, and were much heavier to carry as spares. While we gripe about a few ounces on our lighting devices, the fact is that the portable lighting world has come way further than most other businesses. All of this is due, of course, to the widespread use of LED bulbs in our lights. LEDs are brighter, more energy efficient, and longer lasting than the alternative. Its a win/win/win situation. Fenix taps into that and creates an ultra bright light that will serve certain people very well. It is heavy, but we overlook that fornow.
Just like everything else about the Fenix, we overlook some quirks on account of the brightness. With two bulbs and two buttons, usage is even less intuitive than some of the other multiple moded products we reviewed. Thankfully, the HP25 is slightly better designed in one aspect than its cousin the Fenix HL30. In our use of the HL30, we found the head to flop forward and down uselessly at times. The notches that hold the head in place run out on the 30 before the light aims low enough to use for the closest proximity tasks. The 25 has a similar issue, but the angle is much lower. Essentially, at all usable angles, the HP25 works just fine. In an issue ubiquitous to all two-part lights (lights with battery pack at the back of the head and bulb unit on the front), and exaggerated by a somewhat floppy cord connecting the two, the HP25 gets tangled up in pocket or pack. Before putting it on, you must sort out the straps and cord in order for everything to line up correctly. All two part lights suffer this fate, but the Coast HL7 streamlines things with an internally routed cable and no top strap.
Finally, in terms of ease of use, and this goes for both Fenix lights we tested, but there is some assembly required. Out of the package the Fenix arrives with straps and hardware all separate. You must put it all together in a 10 minute project.
When you need to see a long distance, choose the Fenix. We hesitate to prescribe exactly when you might need this much light, but when you do, you'll know. Perhaps Search and Rescue professionals are prime candidates for a light this bright. Just be aware that, in max mode, the light will burn through batteries pretty quickly.
Again, this is a specialized beast. It is not particularly expensive, nor is it cheap, but for those that need this amount of light, they'll overlook price and battery life and weight and plunk down for the massive lighting power.
Performance Comparison
In
most usage, the user can select between one of two bulbs. In its true
advantage, the Fenix's big bulb is what you are here for. If you need
less than the brightest, choose something else.
Credit: Micah JamesMicah James
Trail Finding
Our trail finding scores were the result of head-to-head, on-trail usage. We handed headlamps out to several testers and asked "which one makes it easier to find your way?" What we found could be almost directly correlated to a combination of beam strength and the evenness of that beam. The best lights in this category are strong, but also spread that light out in a usable fashion. The most usable light is a little brighter in the center, and evenly gradates towards the user's periphery. While the Fenix HP25 is the brightest in our test, by far, the light quality is a little rough. We tempered our trail finding scores to account for the bright and dark spots in the beam shape. As compared to the highest scoring trail finder, in the beam comparison below, the Fenix is a little rougher than the light of the Petzl NAO.
Beam Distance Photos
| Fenix HP25 | Petzl NAO |
Close Proximity
Even more so than with trail finding, our subjective testing of close proximity performance and comfort revealed that light quality matters a great deal. All testers preferred the close proximity lighting of products with bright bulbs set in well-designed lenses. Well-designed lenses focus light with consideration to how they will be used. In close proximity use, the user appreciates a broad beam with even, but slightly center-concentrated, brightness. The Fenix sends out a strong beam, but is a little rough and lumpy. There are brighter and darker spots in the beam cast. Incidentally, since our testing team and procedures are so involved, we tested multiple versions of each and every light. In the case of the HP25, our testing team found variation in the quality of the close proximity/flood light. One version cast a more even, non-distracting beam than the other.
Battery Life
For such a bright light, we are tempted to completely gloss over the battery life. Our test is indeed very objective. We use modern instrumentation in a controlled setting to address significant issues on the headlamp market. While a standard for testing and reporting exists, developed with the cooperation of light manufacturers and retailers, many manufacturers choose to completely dismiss this standard and report numbers that are, at best, grossly optimistic and at worst fully misleading. Our methodology, as noted, is sound, but has its own biases. We tested every light in its respective highest mode. With the highest of the high modes, it is no surpsise that the Fenix HP25 burned through batteries rapidly. This battery life vs. beam distance chart shows the relative shape of battery drain curves for two otherwise tied products. At that link you'll see the Fenix compared to the Petzl Tikka RXP.
The
battery pack in the back holds this light's power, and allows it to be
extremely bright. Unfortunately all the straps, cord, and pack tend to
get tangled when in a pocket.
Credit: Micah JamesMicah James
Brightness
We cannot say it often enough. This is the brightest light in our test. It exceeds the nearest competitor by more than 20%. No other headlamp we tested dominates any other category in this way. While the performance of the Fenix is somewhat mediocre in most other ways, the fact that it is so much brighter than the others justifies some sort of award. If a category reviewing lights cannot reward light, what can we reward? Our Top Pick award exists to honor exactly something like this. When a product stands out for some particular purpose, it is a clear contender for the Top Pick. With such a large field of products serving such wide range of users, multiple sub-niches are bound to exist. In the case of headlamps, we award three Top Pick badges. On this extreme, we honor a product that exceeds a half pound but replicates the sun. On the other extreme we awarded a top pick for ultralight performance to the Petzl e+LITE. The Petzl is 1/10th the mass of the Fenix and sends light about 1/6th as far. The next brightest product in our review, after the Fenix, is the Coast HL7. After that, the Petzl NAO casts light just 70% of the distance of the Fenix. None of these lights can be considered in even the same realm as the Fenix for brightness.
The
Fenix HP25 is bright enough to be distracting to other hikers, unless
you use its other modes. In a day-trip, rock cragging setting like
Indian Creek Utah, you would only need the brightest settings if you are
looking for distant bolted anchors or something. Routine trail finding
requires just a fraction of what this light is capable of.
Credit: Jediah Porter
Weight
Just as it is the brightest light in our review, it is also the heaviest. Just as it dominates the brightness of the next brightest product by 20%, it is 21% heavier than the next heaviest. While it sure seems as though the Fenix could be made lighter with no compromise in brightness, our testers didn't seem to care. One would not carry this light anywhere that weight matters. It is a pure light throwing beast!
Interestingly, it was not that long ago that we all carried ten ounce headlamps while backpacking and climbing and didn't think anything of it. Twenty years ago those burly beasts weighed the same as the Fenix, but threw light for a tiny fraction of the distance. The batteries burned out even faster, and were much heavier to carry as spares. While we gripe about a few ounces on our lighting devices, the fact is that the portable lighting world has come way further than most other businesses. All of this is due, of course, to the widespread use of LED bulbs in our lights. LEDs are brighter, more energy efficient, and longer lasting than the alternative. Its a win/win/win situation. Fenix taps into that and creates an ultra bright light that will serve certain people very well. It is heavy, but we overlook that fornow.
No one will claim the Fenix is compact. But it is super bright. No holds barred bright!
Credit: Jediah Porter
Ease of Use
Just like everything else about the Fenix, we overlook some quirks on account of the brightness. With two bulbs and two buttons, usage is even less intuitive than some of the other multiple moded products we reviewed. Thankfully, the HP25 is slightly better designed in one aspect than its cousin the Fenix HL30. In our use of the HL30, we found the head to flop forward and down uselessly at times. The notches that hold the head in place run out on the 30 before the light aims low enough to use for the closest proximity tasks. The 25 has a similar issue, but the angle is much lower. Essentially, at all usable angles, the HP25 works just fine. In an issue ubiquitous to all two-part lights (lights with battery pack at the back of the head and bulb unit on the front), and exaggerated by a somewhat floppy cord connecting the two, the HP25 gets tangled up in pocket or pack. Before putting it on, you must sort out the straps and cord in order for everything to line up correctly. All two part lights suffer this fate, but the Coast HL7 streamlines things with an internally routed cable and no top strap.
Finally, in terms of ease of use, and this goes for both Fenix lights we tested, but there is some assembly required. Out of the package the Fenix arrives with straps and hardware all separate. You must put it all together in a 10 minute project.
Rock goddess, OGL bike tester, and owner of ultimate stoke, Denise Park and the Fenix HP25 in Utah.
Credit: Jediah Porter
Best Applications
When you need to see a long distance, choose the Fenix. We hesitate to prescribe exactly when you might need this much light, but when you do, you'll know. Perhaps Search and Rescue professionals are prime candidates for a light this bright. Just be aware that, in max mode, the light will burn through batteries pretty quickly.
Value
Again, this is a specialized beast. It is not particularly expensive, nor is it cheap, but for those that need this amount of light, they'll overlook price and battery life and weight and plunk down for the massive lighting power.
