Tried the bigger ones and smaller ones and this is perfect. I would switch between modes a lot. The super high powered mode got me threw some tech climbing and riding in the middle of the night. The batteries last a long time.

After careful research I chose the BD Spot for climbing, rescue, and back country trips. I looked for three main functions: weight, brightness, and battery life. The BD Spot might not be the brightest headlamp you can buy, but it casts a surprising long beam when in long mode- which is plus even though that is the least frequently used mode. In the lowest setting, the Spot lasts 120 hours with lithium batteries. I've abused mine in serious rain and extreme cold- and it worked every time. I've dropped it on rock a few times and it has survived well squished between other gear in the top pocket of my pack. For me, the best features are that the Spot weighs in at less than 3oz with batteries and has no external wire- a plus if you plan (or didn't plan) on bush-wacking in the dark.

On several backpacking trips my cohorts have noticed that this headlamp is by far the brightest of the bunch. It has a great battery life as well. Be forewarned- if you get this headlamp, you'll be forced into the lead when backpacking at night :)

I did a lot of research before buying this headlamp, instead of the Petzl Tikka XP, which also sports a 1-watt LED. The Spot is $10 cheaper, uses a better LED, and brighter. When trail running with a friend after dark, him wearing the Petzl, and me the Spot, both on fresh batteries, the Petzl's brightness pales in comparison. This is because the Petzl uses the Luxeon LED, which gives only half of the light output as the CREE LED, which the Spot uses. Both LEDs have similar run time. If you want a side-by-side comparison of CREE vs Luxeon, go here: http://www.flashlightreviews.com/reviews/fenix_p1d.htm

This amazing headlamp is the best of both worlds, a super bright 1 watt LED spot plus three smaller, powerful .5 watt LED's. I installed 3 AAA lithium batteries instead of the included alkaline to reduce overall weight. As an added bonus, the SPOT fits in the Petzl clam shell case for added protection. Three brightness settings for both modes to conserve battery life. I love it!

I really like this headlamp a lot. It's got 8 different settings so you can always have the right amount of light (high, medium, low, and strobe with LEDs and bulb). I like everything about it. The weight, the comfortable headband, the tilting action, the brightness of the lights, and the variety of the settings. Just a sweet headlamp.

You can't go wrong with this purchase. The light is super bright. I can light up the night to distances over 100 feet with the spot beam, and the three smaller LED's are great for close at hand tasks. The battery life is amazing. I have not noticed any drop off after repeated use over the past 4 months. The light has help up well to much abuse. I find the tiltt mechanism to be strong and reliable... on many occasions I have over adjusted the tilt, and it has never broke. I have also dropped the baby quite a few times with no damage other than scratches. I can't see any reason to not recomend this light to everyone.

ultralight, compact, multiple settings, great spot beam. oh, and really long battery life. been reliable at temps from 15-90 degrees. stays put on your head, or easily clips onto a climbing helmet. like many folks, i don't even bother with a flashlight anymore. one of my favorite pieces of gear.

After trying a considerable amount of headlamps my overall favorite is the the Black Diamond Spot Headlamp. I like it for a variety of reasons. One is that it's small and compact, yet it puts off an incedible amount of light. Two it runs on three AAA batteries and is self-contained and does not have the annoying battery pack on the back and is very light and covieniently fits in a pocket. Three it has mutiple light settings like most headlamps these days do, but it also has two different sets of bulbs, one large bulb for long distances when you're walking a trail, and a set of three smaller bulbs for up-close work say when you're kneeling and are trying to complete a small project or are working on something. Four is the ease of using the switch on the top of the light. Unlike other lights its very easy to use and can be used with a large pair of mittens on, yet it won't come on in your pocket accidentally. The only downside to this lamp is that the battery life is fairly short. You'll only receive full power from the light for about 8-10 hours, after that the battery life begins to diminish rapidly, but with AAA's you can always bring an extra set and off you go.

Probably one of my favourite lamps, totally bomber. The 6 different light settings are definitely useful, and always appreciated. Low setting on the triple LED is perfect for in camp, and lighting up that last belay at sundown, and the large single LED is awesome for lighting your way skiing up those last couple hundred meters to the next camp. Super light weight for the power, and really bomber construction. Can drop it or cram it in your pack, won't break.

Very bright! The headlamp does come with batteries and it does have a tiltable housing. The tech specs must be from an older version. The hyperbright and superbright leds both have 3 brightness settings plus a strobe. Overall great headlamp. Only con is it does not come with a carrying case.

The headlamp does have a tiltable housing and comes with batteries. The tech specs must be from a much older version. Headlamp is super bright! The hyperbright bulb and superbright leds both have 3 brightness settings and a strobe. So far the headlamp is the best buy. Only con is it does not come with a carrying case.

This is the second one that is in use in our family! It is a great light with no complaints. It has been used at night for mechanic work, changing water on the farm and for camping. The headlamp is adjustable which is a great feature.

This thing is light, bright, and reliable. It's everything you need in a headlamp.

This is a great head lamp. The focused led lets you clearly see out to 150 feet and the light goes even farther than that. The three luminary leds are great for sheading light over a large area at your feet.
I got mine without instructions but soon discovered that if you depress the switch halfway the lights will individually cycle through three brightness settings that make this thing great for battery life.
The head band is comfortable and the light is not so heavy that it makes your head feel off balanced when you are walking down the trail or working on your dinner.
The light is made of plastic so I wouldnt go chucking it around but it seems pretty durable.
My biggest quam with leds is the fact that you can never seem to see very far with them, the light gets there but you cant make out what you are seeing. This light casts a focused beam that makes even far away objects look clear so I am completly satisfied with this lamp.

This little puppy rocks. It is BRIGHT. I used to have an expensive petzel light - this is lighter, way cheaper, and plenty bright. Not having any batteries on the back of your head is very nice. It is a fantastic light.

This headlamp is perfect! 1 watt bulb and three superbright bulbs! This thing rocks. I use it for lighting the trail, cooking dinner, setting up the camp site and reading my book. Eight settings for all the dimmer levels you could wish for also lets you manage the battery life. Amazing little headlamp.

I've been using this lamp for about 3 years now and I have no complaints. I do a good amount of night hiking and I notice that with this lamp I am usually the one who breaks trail at night. There might be a handful of brighter LED lamps out there now, but none of them compare in weight. Like Stormking, I also tried lithium batteries to save a bit more weight but noticed decreased performance and battery life over conventional batteries. Great Headlamp Really.

Great light. I bought it for my dad for Christmas and he loves it. I've always owned BD lights with the third top strap and was a little weary of this headband design. The light head is so lite that it stays put with no problems and the single super bright LED puts out a great spotlight.

I think these head lamps are the bomb. I have been using mine for camping, Mtn Biking, walking the dog, & going into the basement or garage at night. Anytime you are going to do something outside or in where it is a low light environment put this thing on your head. The best part about these is that the AAA batteries normally last forever in them!!!

FANTASTIC!!! Through the dense mountain fog of Peru, my Spot and I never skipped a beat. What a great light. It only has two light options BECAUSE THAT'S ALL YOU NEED! I traveled with 4 other men, all with different lights. Nobody could compare with me and my Spot!

I bought this for my hubby to wear on his recent one-day Mt. Whitney climb. He said it was super comfy and the batteries lasted until daylight with no problem!

Lightweight with great light. The spot makes such a difference in visibility.

This is a very good light. It is very compact and lightweight. Light is bright for its size, but not blinding. Great burn time. Serviceable for trail running.
The tilt adjusting pegs broke on the first light I had. Return service from Backcountry was excellent. I had a new light in what seemed like less than one day.

Black Diamond makes some great products, and this is one of them. The headlamp is extremely light and versatile. The Hyperbright bulb is awesome and very bright, while the LED bulbs are very efficient. Its great to have a light that can do both brightness and subtleness together. And when I have it on strapped on my head, I hardly feel it because its so light.

Awesome headlamp, it's very light and you will not notice it one bit. The LED is very bright and lasts a long time. Bd's best all around headlamp.

This light is super lightweight and really bright. I was skeptical that it would have enough power to run by in the middle of the night but it was perfect. I didn't even notice it when running and I could see really well, and pretty far out away from me. This is definately worth every cent.

really bright, light, and loved the push button on/off switch.

great headlamp. super bright.

I've previously used Petzl head lamps and have been very happy with them. The "Spot" is the first Black Diamond I have owned. The Spot has the same features and quality of the Petzl Tikka XP at $10 less. What is there to think about?

Just go ahead and get this one already! Great brightness options, with the ability to save power on the dimmer settings. A great option if you don't need a ton of light and just enough to get by. You can go on a few treks and not even change batteries. I especially love the lightweight and simple design. Doesn't take very much space at all in the pack, plus has a blinking setting. Easy to use: One click for hyperlight, then three partial presses to adjust dimming. One more click, and you are on the three superlight LED setting, then another three partial presses to adjust the dimness and get it to the flashing setting. A great design, and a great value by BD. Has a multitude of uses, and will likely last at least seven years like my previous BD headlamp.

As some of the other reviewers stated I did my research on this head lamp.
I wanted a light small enough to use but not bulkey.
This head lamp does it all. I use it almost all of the time. Have to load wood in for the winter and need both hands great. Use it for jogging and it holds well. Can be used over or under ball caps. I love the toggle up or down.Stays in that position well. I have had a few head lamps in the past. This for weight to light ratio is by far the best.I would suggest ANYONE who wants a nice bright small light buy it, its worth the cost. Back country has tech experts to point you in the right direction. They prosessed my order and shipped fast I will do business here again.

I love this little guy, I was not expecting much as this is one of the cheaper models but it is a stud! It was bright, comfy and worked awesome. The strobe light is a nice option for those club nights in your tents. The light was very bright and worth every penny. Good job Black Diamond.

I've been using this headlamp all summer and love it because of it's brightness and how easily adjustable it is. I constantly have people asking to borrow my headlalmp at night because their headlamp isn't as bright as mine.