Black Diamond Astro 300 review
Black Diamond Astro 300 Head Torch (AAA)
By Tom Calder
The Astro 300 is a small head torch that ships with three AAA cells and can also take Black Diamond's separate BD 1500 rechargeable pack. Black Diamond gives 300 lumens on high and about 140 hours on low with alkaline cells. It sits between the budget Energizer and the premium Ledlenser on this page and is a sensible pick if you want cells you can store and swap.
- Best for
- A compact, no-fuss AAA head torch for a household kit.
- Skip it if
- You want USB charging included or a stronger water rating
as of 2 Nov 2026, 16:07 GMT · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.We earn a commission if you buy through the retailer links on this page. It doesn't change our verdict. How we make money →
Researched, not used. We haven't used this product. This review is built from the maker's specifications, owner reports and our own sizing.
What we like
- Takes standard AAA cells, so spares can sit in a drawer and be swapped during an outage
- Black Diamond says the low level lasts about 140 hours
- Brightness memory and a lock mode, per the Cotswold Outdoor listing
- Dual-fuel design lets you add a rechargeable pack later
Worth knowing
- Black Diamond rates it IPX4, so rain is fine but immersion is not
- High lasts only about 4 hours on alkaline cells, per the maker
- This listing is the earlier BD620674 version; Black Diamond's own page now shows a newer one, so some figures come from retailers
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Our review
The Black Diamond Astro 300 is a 100 g head torch that runs on three AAA cells, with 300 lumens on high and a 140 hour low. It is the plain, cell-swappable option on our head torch page: no charging port, no app, just a torch you can keep going from a drawer of batteries through a long power cut. Black Diamond's rechargeable pack fits if you want it later.
What it is
Black Diamond's product page gives three output levels of 300, 150 and 6 lumens, with beam distances of 55, 35 and 8 metres. The burn times are listed as 4 or 6 hours on high, 8 or 12 hours on medium and 140 hours on low, the pairs being alkaline AAA cells and Black Diamond's BD 1500 rechargeable pack. It weighs 100 g, is rated IPX4, ships with three AAA cells and carries a three-year warranty. The item code on the current page is BD6207528001ALL1; the version on the listing we link carries the older BD620674 code, and a US retailer lists that one at 75 g, so the weight differs between sources.
Controls are a single button with dimming, a strobe and a digital lockout to stop it switching on in a bag. There is no red light. IPX4 means it shrugs off rain from any direction but is not built for immersion.
Why AAA cells suit a household kit
A head torch leaves both hands free for a fuse box, a baby or a camping stove outside, which is why one matters more than a hand torch in a power cut. The Astro's advantage is its fuel. Lithium AAA cells keep for years in a drawer, and the same cells run the radio and a lantern, so one box of spares covers the kit. A rechargeable torch is better value week to week but needs mains or a power bank on the second night of an outage. Our power cut preparation guide sets out the trade-off.
Four hours on high is short. The useful setting for most jobs is medium, with the 140 hour low enough to read by. If you later want to recharge, the BD 1500 pack drops into the same compartment and charges over USB, which gives the best of both: cells for the long outage, a rechargeable for the dog walk.
How it compares
On the head torches page the Petzl Tikka and Petzl Actik are the closest rivals: both run on three AAA cells with Petzl's optional Core pack, the Tikka at 350 lumens and the Actik at 450, with red light and longer quoted burn times. The Energizer Vision HD+ is the budget AAA choice. The Ledlenser HF4R Core and Fenix HM65R-T are rechargeable, sealed to IP68 and brighter, for those who will keep them charged. The Astro is the simplest of the group and lacks the red mode that makes a Petzl kinder on night vision.
Our verdict
Buy it if you want a dependable AAA head torch with a known brand's warranty and plan to keep lithium cells with it. Skip it if you want USB charging out of the box, a red light or a stronger water rating; a Petzl Tikka costs little more and adds the red mode, and a Ledlenser or Fenix is the pick if you will charge rather than swap.
A researched review, built from the maker's specs, manual and UK listings; facts checked 2 Nov 2026. Sources: Black Diamond: Astro 300 headlamp; REI: Black Diamond Astro 300 headlamp specifications; Electrical Classroom: IP ratings under IEC 60529 explained.
Who shouldn't buy this
You want USB charging included or a stronger water rating; a rechargeable Fenix or Ledlenser model on this page fits better.
Key specs
| Max output | 300 lm |
| Runtime | High 4 h; low 140 h (maker, AAA) |
| Battery | 3x AAA included; BD 1500 optional |
| Weight | 100 g |
This is a Researched review: we haven't used this product. We check every specification against at least two independent sources, re-check the UK price on a schedule where we can track it automatically, and say plainly who it isn't for. Commissions never change a rating.
If this isn’t the one
Best for A featherweight rechargeable head torch for grab bags and everyday power cuts.
as of 2 Nov 2026, 16:07 GMT · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Best for A long power cut kit that needs a head torch you can feed with ordinary shop-bought AAA cells.
as of 2 Nov 2026, 16:07 GMT · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Best for A high-output rechargeable head torch for DIY, tradespeople and long outages.
as of 2 Nov 2026, 16:07 GMT · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.Questions
How long do the batteries last in the Black Diamond Astro 300?
Black Diamond lists 4 hours on high, 8 hours on medium and 140 hours on low with alkaline AAA cells, and 6 and 12 hours on high and medium with its BD 1500 rechargeable pack.
Is the Astro 300 rechargeable?
Not as sold. It runs on three AAA cells, which are included. Black Diamond's BD 1500 lithium pack fits the same compartment and charges over USB if you want to add it.
Is it waterproof?
It is rated IPX4, which covers rain and splashes from any direction but not immersion.
Does it have a red light?
No. The Astro 300 has white light with dimming, a strobe and a lockout. If you want a red night-vision mode, look at the Petzl Tikka or Actik on the same page.
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