Starting with the lamp switched off, a single press will turn the main quad-power spot LED on at 75% brightness press and hold the button once itвЂ™s on and it will go to 100% then begin to dim. Like most LED lamps it offers a choice of modes, which can be cycled through with the power button. What really matters, of course, is the StormвЂ™s performance as a light source, and thatвЂ™s where it gets really impressive. Choose from matte black, white, blue, gray, high-visibility orange and olive green. The Storm is available in six colors with complementing straps. Alternatively, the head strap can be removed and the mount used to fit the Storm to straps on your pack or other gear.

Once tweaked to the right size theyвЂ™re very secure and you shouldnвЂ™t have any problems with it slackening off. Here, the headband is fitted with an adjustment buckle each side to allow for a comfortable fit. Solid as it is, the Storm is still light enough to be supported perfectly by a single strap thereвЂ™s no need for the uncomfortable crown straps found on many old-style lamps, which needed them thanks to their heavy battery packs. WearabilityДЄttachment is handled by a fully adjustable textured fabric strap, which is also extremely tough, so itвЂ™s not going to get ripped off by the first branch you walk into. That might seem excessive вЂ“ itвЂ™s meant to be worn on your head, and if you spend half an hour with your head under three feet of water your lamp will be the least of your worries вЂ“ but it guarantees that the Storm will survive heavy rain, wave tops coming over the side of your boat or the occasional dunking as you explore a wet cave system.ДЄnything you plan to use outdoors should be water resistant because the weatherвЂ™s unpredictable, and the Storm meets this challenge effortlessly. IPX 7 means itвЂ™s rated to withstand 30 minutes at a depth of one meter. The extra weight is down to the StormвЂ™s rugged construction its molded case is one of the strongest weвЂ™ve seen and it also has an IPX 7 water resistance certification. Compared to most cheaper lamps itвЂ™s on the heavy side, but those lighter models arenвЂ™t anywhere near the same class. The Storm is a compact and sturdy unit that weighs under five ounces with batteries fitted.

There arenвЂ™t many other lamps that can beat it on raw performance but what really earns our recommendation is the overall package. The latest Storm has its light output boosted from an already impressive 100 lumens to 160 lumens.

The Storm is already a familiar design, but Black Diamond Storm Headlamp, One Size, Black has now released an upgraded version that, in our opinion, wins it the accolade of the best general-purpose headlamp. If youвЂ™re looking for a tough and effective lamp, you wonвЂ™t go wrong with this one: Black Diamond Storm Features at a Glance WeвЂ™ve looked at all the leading models and come up with our top choice, to save you some time and money. ThereвЂ™s a wide choice of headlamps on the market and itвЂ™s possible to make an expensive mistake. To avoid discomfort look for minimum weight and a low profile. The heavier your lamp the more strain it puts on your neck. Light вЂ“ You might be wearing your lamp for hours at a time вЂ“ and ounces can add up fast.Because LEDs are so light and compact multiple colors are also possible. Variable power and emergency strobe mode are common features. TheyвЂ™re all electronically controlled, so itвЂ™s easy to build in extra functions. Versatile вЂ“ Old-style headlamps with a bulb were usually limited to two modes вЂ“ on or off.

Waterproofing is also essential вЂ“ wear a cheap headlamp in the rain and itвЂ™s not likely to survive very long.

Rugged вЂ“ Any piece of outdoor equipment is liable to take a few bumps, so it needs to be robust enough to keep working.

Black diamond storm headlamp 2015 strap