Black Diamond Spot 400 Head Torch review
By Tom Calder
A well-made, genuinely waterproof head torch that punches above its size, and the dual-fuel design means you can keep it running on cheap AAA batteries you already stock. For household preparedness it is a sensible, no-drama choice at a fair price.
- Best for
- A dependable everyday head torch to keep in the emergency kit for power cuts and outdoor jobs.
- Skip it if
- You want a hands-free light to illuminate a whole room during a blackout
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
- 400 lumens with a true IPX8 waterproof rating and a handy red night-vision mode
- Dual-fuel: runs on three AAA batteries you can store cheaply, or an optional rechargeable pack
- Light (~77g) and comfortable, with a battery meter and lock mode to prevent it draining in a bag
Worth knowing
- Runtime falls quickly at full brightness — around 2.5 hours on high
- The single-button interface and lock feature take a little getting used to
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Our review
Black Diamond's Spot 400 is a 400-lumen head torch on three AAA cells, with a 6-lumen low that Black Diamond rates at 200 hours, a waterproof body and an optional rechargeable pack. Spare cells from any shop keep it going through a long cut. It weighs about 86g with cells and has a three-year warranty.
What it is
Black Diamond's page gives three modes: high at 400 lumens with a 100m beam, medium at 200 lumens and 60m, and low at 6 lumens and 12m. On the three AAA cells supplied it quotes 2.5 hours on high, 5 hours on medium and 200 hours on low; with Black Diamond's BD 1500 rechargeable pack, sold separately, 4, 8 and 225 hours. The listed weight is 86g with AAA cells, 72g with the pack. PowerTap takes it to full power with a tap on the side, and there is a dimming control. Black Diamond's US page describes it as waterproof to IPX8, tested to operate at 1.1m underwater for 30 minutes, while its European listing says IP67; either way, rain is no problem.
Why AAA matters in a power cut
A rechargeable head torch is only as good as your means of charging it. Three AAA cells from a supermarket packet, or the same rechargeable AAA cells you keep for the radio, put this back to full in a minute with no socket, and the 200-hour low mode means one set lasts a week of evenings. The optional BD 1500 pack charges by Micro USB and drops in the same slot, so you can run it rechargeable day to day and keep AAA cells as the reserve, which is the best of both.
Limits
At 86g it is heavier than the lightest rechargeable torches, and the lumen figure is for fresh cells; alkaline output falls as they drain, so expect the high mode to dim before the hours are up. The medium and low gap is wide, with nothing between 6 and 200 lumens except the dimmer. Black Diamond gives a three-year warranty, which is longer than most. Keep the cells out of the torch if it will sit in a drawer for a year, since leaking alkaline cells wreck contacts.
How it compares
On our head torch comparison the Petzl Actik is the closest rival, also on three AAA with an optional rechargeable core, and the Petzl Tikka is the simpler, cheaper sibling. The Nitecore NU25 UL is half the weight but sealed and USB-only. The Spot's edge is its waterproof rating and PowerTap; the Petzls are lighter.
Our verdict
Buy it if you want a head torch that runs on cells you can buy anywhere and still has a bright high and a week-long low. Skip it if weight is the priority or you want USB-C charging built in; the Nitecore does that for less weight, and a lantern lights a room better than any head torch. The government's Be Ready checklist asks for a torch and spare batteries, and this one takes the spares you already have.
A researched review, built from the maker's specs, manual and UK listings; facts checked 2 Nov 2026. Sources: Black Diamond: Spot 400 headlamp, specifications; Black Diamond Europe: Spot 400 headlamp; UK Government Be Ready: emergency kit checklist.
Who shouldn't buy this
Don't buy it if you want a hands-free light to illuminate a whole room during a blackout — that is a lantern's job, not a head torch's; and if you specifically want USB-rechargeable out of the box, choose the Spot 400-R version instead.
Key specs
| Max output | 400 lm |
| Runtime | ~2.5 hrs on high, up to 200 hrs on low |
| Battery | 3x AAA (dual-fuel; optional BD 1500 rechargeable pack) |
| Weight | 77 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 does the Black Diamond Spot 400 last on AAA batteries?
Black Diamond quotes 2.5 hours on high, 5 hours on medium and 200 hours on the 6-lumen low from three AAA cells, and longer on its BD 1500 rechargeable pack.
Is the Black Diamond Spot 400 waterproof?
Black Diamond's US page says IPX8, tested at 1.1m underwater for 30 minutes; its European listing says IP67. Rain, snow and a dropped puddle are fine on either rating.
Can the Spot 400 be recharged?
Not on its own. It runs on three AAA cells, but Black Diamond's BD 1500 rechargeable pack, sold separately, fits the same compartment and charges by USB.
What is PowerTap on the Spot 400?
A touch sensor on the side: tap it to jump from any setting to full brightness, and tap again to go back, without pressing the main button.
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