Nitecore HC65 vs Nitecore EDC31
Quick take: The Nitecore EDC31 costs $0.04999999999999716 less; the Nitecore EDC31 is brighter (3,500 vs 1,750 lm); the Nitecore EDC31 throws farther (380m vs 219m); the Nitecore EDC31 runs longer on high (57 vs 2 hrs).
| Spec | Nitecore HC65 | Nitecore EDC31 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $55 | $54.95 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Headlamp | EDC |
| Lumens | 1,750 lm | 3,500 lm |
| Candela | 12,000 cd | 35,630 cd |
| Beam distance | 219m | 380m |
| Runtime | 2 hrs (high) | 57 hrs (max) |
| Battery | 18650 | Built-in |
| LED | Luminus SST-40 + Red + High CRI | 9-core NiteLab UHi 20 MAX |
| Beam type | Balanced | Balanced |
| Modes | 5 Stepped | 4 Stepped + Search |
| UI | Simple | |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| CRI | 70 | |
| Weight | 2.5 oz | 3.5 oz |
| Dimensions | 4.2 x 1.1 in | 4.5 x 0.9 in |
| Warranty | Lifetime | — |
What owners report
Nitecore HC65
- ✓Three separate emitters — spot, high-CRI flood and red
- ✓Military-grade anodised aluminium casing that feels genuinely rugged
- ✓USB-C charging on the UHE revision, so any cable works
- ✓Reliable onboard charging with a removable 18650
- ✓Smooth reflector gives real throw for a headlamp
- ✗The interface needs sequences of presses and half-presses to navigate
- ✗Headband isn't quite tight enough for running
- ✗Battery life falls short under demanding repeated use
- ✗Output doesn't match similarly priced competitors
- ✗Aluminium body is heavier than plastic headlamps