Zebralight H600 vs Acebeam H30
Quick take: The Acebeam H30 costs $5 less; the Acebeam H30 is brighter (4,000 vs 1,568 lm); the Acebeam H30 throws farther (268m vs 173m); the Zebralight H600 runs longer on high (3 vs 2 hrs).
| Spec | Zebralight H600 | Acebeam H30 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $95 | $90 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Right-Angle | Right-Angle |
| Lumens | 1,568 lm | 4,000 lm |
| Candela | 7,500 cd | 18,000 cd |
| Beam distance | 173m | 268m |
| Runtime | 3 hrs (high) | 2 hrs (high) |
| Battery | 18650 | 21700 |
| LED | XHP50.3 HI 5000K | CREE XHP70.2 + Nichia 219C |
| Beam type | Balanced | Balanced |
| Modes | 3 Stepped + Sub | 5 Stepped |
| UI | Zebralight UI | Dual Switch |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| CRI | 80 | 70 |
| Weight | 1.8 oz | 4.5 oz |
| Dimensions | 3.5 x 1.1 in | 4.8 x 1.2 in |
| Warranty | Lifetime | 5 Year |
What owners report
Zebralight H600
- ✓Regulated 3.1 hours on high and over a week on low
- ✓Durable metal case with an IPX8 rating to two metres for thirty minutes
- ✓Substantial strap plus a top strap suited to helmet use
- ✓Even tint, good colour rendering and programmable modes including moonlight
- ✓Zebralight's regulation and potted electronics
- ✗Mk IV PID thermal control is poorly implemented against earlier generations
- ✗The H1 top setting is unrealistic for sustained use
- ✗Tight battery compartment that won't take all 18650s
- ✗127 grams — heavier than several competing headlamps
- ✗Scattered reports of defective units well below rated output
Acebeam H30
- ✓4,000 lumens from an XHP70.2, with 171 m of throw
- ✓Triple emitter — secondary red and green (or red and UV) channels
- ✓Mode memory, so you return to the level you were using
- ✓Integrated power bank for charging devices on long trips
- ✓IP68 rated with a secure head strap
- ✗Heavy on the forehead over long sessions
- ✗Not suited to distance running
- ✗The headband would benefit from a larger rubber backing
- ✗Around $120 — expensive unless you need the output and extra channels
- ✗Sustained output is thermally limited, as any 4,000-lumen headlamp's is