Gear Review: Black Diamond Equipment Cosmo Headlamp

Bright and light describe this rugged headlamp from Black Diamond Equipment.

Verdict

This headlamp stands out for its paltry weight and size, high-beam brightness, and complete feature set—all at an affordable price. The primary LED bangs out 70 lumens, which proved enough for a predawn adventure race start and moonless night-hiking in Colorado’s Front Range. Two low-powered LED bulbs (they’re dimmable) are ideal for camp duty. A large button on top of the housing controls everything, and I could operate it easily while wearing gloves. Three AAA batteries last for more than 100 hours. Props: The rugged casing repelled rain on stormy midnight hikes. Gripe: The power button lacks a lock, which resulted in a few accidental turn-ons inside a pack (see above for a fix). $30; 3.2 oz.; blackdiamondequipment.com

Best For

Any backpacker looking for an all-around performer at a great price and weight

Tester Data

» Kristy Holland (other testers: Heather Balogh, Will Rochfort)

» Duration Sept. to Feb.

» Locales/conditions CA, CO; 40°F to 70°F

» “I used the red light to refill multiple mugs of hot chocolate while stargazing—without losing any of my night vision.”

When you buy something using the retail links in our stories, we may earn a small commission. We do not accept money for editorial gear reviews. Read more about our policy.