Black Diamond ReVolt Headlamp Review

Are you sick of constantly throwing away half used headlamp batteries like me?  The Black Diamond ReVolt is a rechargeable headlamp that also happens to be the most expensive in the lineup.  Is it really worth the cost? Read on to find out.

Headlamps are essential for elk hunting but keeping them powered up can be a chore.  Most people constantly replace Alkaline AAA batteries but that isn’t cheap and extras tend to weigh down your pack.  So why doesn’t everyone use a rechargeable headlamp? Well it turns out there aren’t power outlets in the backcountry, and even if there were, it takes a while to charge them up.

Enter the Black Diamond ReVolt.  It allows you to recharge a set of AAA batteries via a micro USB port or switch them out for standard AAAs whenever you’d like.  That ability to switch options allows you to use the best option for the task at hand. Finally, a rechargeable I can get behind. Here’s a quick overview of the basics:

Overview & Specs: Black Diamond ReVolt

The Black Diamond ReVolt is a fairly standard backpacking design, which means the batteries and light are combined in one unit on a single strap.  Overall the specs are very competitive compared to non-rechargeable headlamps in it’s category:

• Weight: 3.1 oz (89g) with batteries
• Max lumens: 300 (alkaline) and 175 (Rechargeable)
• Max beam distance: 262 ft
• Battery life (alkaline):
  • High: 25 Hours
  • Low: 180 Hours
• Waterproof rating: IPX8 (full immersion)
• Batteries: 3AAA, rechargeable NiMH included
• Features: Red light, dimmable, spot and flood lamps, tilt-able, lock mode
• Warranty: 3 years
• Price: $59.95

This is actually the second generation ReVolt, so it’s seen quite a progression in features.  Aside from swappable batteries, it also had a red light, flood vs spot settings, and a solid waterproof rating which are all features I consider mandatory.  Here’s how it worked for me:

My Black Diamond Revolt Review (Pros & Cons)

At this point I’ve used the Black Diamond Revolt for over two seasons, so I have a strong opinion on what works and what doesn’t:

Pro: Rechargeability

Being able to constantly top up the battery in your headlamp is fantastic.  I bought this thing for the backcountry but I also use it all the time around the truck and house.  When you’re not worried about burning up one time use batteries you certainly use it a lot more.

Also, headlamps tend to lose a significant amount of brightness as batteries start to drain.  With rechargeable batteries you can always keep them fresh and ultra bright. It’s easy to plug the ReVolt into the truck, a computer, or just the wall, so I love it.

Pro: Works great with standard AAAs

The high tech regulator chip in the headlamp also leads to long life when it’s time to put some standard AAAs in it for longer trips.  Manufacturer claims are always inflated but I find that a set of Lithium batteries lasts almost all night, which is far more time than it takes to butcher an elk in the dark.

The nice thing about the Black Diamond ReVolt is that you’re essentially getting the best non-chargeable headlamp (the Spot) with the ability to recharge. It’s really easy to open the headlamp to swap the batteries as well.

Pro: Bright!

300 lumens is BRIGHT.  That’s great because I definitely don’t want to carry a separate flashlight for “things that go bump in the night”.  I feel comfortable just carrying this headlamp since it’s bright enough to use as a spotlight at 100 yards.

Pro: Great lighting options

Red light is mandatory for me since it preserves night vision and the Black Diamond ReVolt’s red LED works great (I’ve found other lights to be too dim in red mode).  Also, it has two types of white light modes: flood and spot. Those work like they sound… flood lights illuminate a wide area and the spot light focuses an intense beam in one area.  It’s really nice to flip between the two for different uses.

Finally, there is a feature that allows you to tap the side of the light to toggle between “everything at full power” and your last setting (which you can control with the dimmer).  That’s awesome so you can preserve battery life with low output and instantly switch to full power if you need.

Pro: Durable and water resistant

I’ve used this thing hard and it still works just fine.  That said, I’ve managed to crack two of the lenses but I can’t tell any difference in how it works, so no big deal. It’s also done well on some very wet trips even though I’ve always been skeptical of the open battery door design.

Con: Confusing user interface

Headlamp controls are very personal, but I find that it always takes me a while to remember how to navigate the different modes.  The single button (and side tap feature) is clean but it also means you’ve got to remember just how long to hold or tap to move around.  I think an extra button would be worth it in this situation. If you’re not tech saavy or like things simple, this might not be the option for you.

Con: Rechargeable battery life/brightness

Rechargeable batteries will never be as bright or last as long as one time units (especially Lithiums).  That’s true here as well… the 175 lumen max output for the NiMH batteries is plenty bright for me, but you definitely should be aware that it will be brighter with one time batteries.

I find I use the rechargeable batteries around the truck and when I’m on less intense trips (read: shorter distance and no big predators).  I’ll quickly swap the rechargeables for lithiums when I leave the car for longer trips.

Tips & Tricks

It’s hard to overrate Lithium AAA batteries.  Unlike Alkaline batteries they’re far more powerful and stay bright for most of the life of the batteries, which is a big perk.  Also, they’re almost half the weight, which is important for carrying spares while backpacking. I’d highly recommend buying some to try out on your next trip.

All headlamps last FAR longer at lower battery settings.  Make sure to only use the higher powered settings when you really need them if you want good battery life.

I like to leave an extra micro USB cable in my truck along with the headlamp so I can always charge it.  It’s pretty easy to swap batteries out when you venture away from the car. That way you preserve your expensive batteries for when you need them most.

Alternatives

There are a ton of headlamps on the market.  If you’re looking at backpacking lamps the big names are generally Black Diamond, Petzl, and Princeton Tec.  That said, there really aren’t any rechargeable options that compete with the Black Diamond Revolt since none of them allow you to also use standard AAAs.

The real alternatives are to use stand along rechargeable batteries and/or just use a standard headlamp.  Stand alone rechargeable batteries require a special charger and you need to swap them out every time you charge them. That’s enough effort and cost that I’m not really interested.

A standard headlamp is still a great option for most people. If you don’t use a headlamp often enough to make recharging worthwhile, the Black Diamond Spot 325 is the best option in my opinion (and it’s won many other shootouts).  It’s $40 vs the $60 for the ReVolt, so the decision really depends on how you’ll use it.

Summary: Black Diamond ReVolt Review

The Black Diamond ReVolt is a great headlamp since it’s rechargeable, which allows you to save batteries.  The killer feature it that it also allows you to use standard AAA batteries when time or power is important.  It’s bright, efficient, durable, and has a great range of lighting modes for all uses. Those benefits are balanced by a slightly confusing controls and the lower power/life of the rechargeable batteries.  Overall, it’s a great investment if you put a good amount of use on your headlamp each year.

Would I buy it?  Yes, it’s my primary headlamp and I’d get it again.  That said, I definitely don’t think the ReVolt is right for everybody.  You can get a top tier non-rechargeable headlamp like the Black Diamond Spot 325 for $30-40 these days (vs $60 for the ReVolt) which is hard to beat.  Use that extra $20 to buy some Lithium AAAs and you’d probably come out ahead.  It boils down to this: If you use your headlamp more than a week a year, or want to keep it for a long time, the ReVolt is a great option.

Update: Black Diamond released the Revolt 350 recently, which addressed some usability concerns and is supposedly brighter and lasts a little bit longer.  That said, early reviews seem to be mixed, so if you can pick up the 2018 version reviewed above for closeout prices you’ve got a great deal!