Fenix/Headlamp

Fenix HM50R V2.0

Name: Fenix HM50R V2.0
Brand: Fenix
Price: 60 USD
Availability: InStock

The backpacker's favorite do-everything headlamp. The HM50R V2.0 weighs almost nothing, charges over USB-C, adds a red mode for camp, and its 16340 cell swaps for a CR123A in an emergency. A perennial top pick for hiking and trail running.

Beam profile

Balanced, about 30° wide. A usable hotspot with enough spill to see around it.

Estimated from 700 lm ÷ 3,300 cd — how this works

$60

Find it at Fenix Lighting

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Specifications

Output: 700lm
Peak intensity: 3300cd
Beam distance: 115m
Emitter: XP-G3 S4 6500K
Colour rendering: 70 CRI
Beam type: Flood
Cell: CR123A
Runtime: 3 hrs (high)
Modes: 4 Stepped
Interface: Simple
Water/dust: IP68
Dimensions: 1.8 x 1.0 in
Weight: 1.5 oz
Warranty: Lifetime

Manufacturer figures, measured to ANSI FL1 where the brand states it.

Features

USB-C Charging Waterproof (IP67+)

What owners report

Fenix HM50R V2.0/5 sources reviewed

A minimalist 700-lumen headlamp on a 16340, light enough and stable enough that reviewers recommend it for short walks and jogging — it stays in place through sudden movement. The single-button interface is responsive even through medium to heavy gloves, unwanted activations are rare, and there's almost no learning curve. A reflective strap helps you find it in a dark tent, and a lockout stops it draining in storage.

The drawbacks are comfort and heat. A rubber strip inside the strap grips your skin well and gets sweaty during hard effort. The body gets hot on higher settings, which matters more on a headlamp than a handheld. And the tilt mechanism needs more force than most, so it isn't easy to adjust on the move.

Consistently praised

Very light and stable — stays put through sudden movement
Single-button interface that works through medium to heavy gloves
Reflective strap makes it findable in a dark tent
Lockout prevents battery drain in storage
Spare cells available from Fenix, useful for backcountry trips

Common complaints

The rubber grip strip inside the strap gets sweaty during hard effort
The body gets hot on higher settings
The tilt mechanism needs more force than most and isn't easy to adjust on the move
16340 capacity limits runtime at high output
Minimal feature set — no red mode or secondary emitter

Questions people ask

Is it good for running?: Better than most on this site — it's light and stays put. The caveats are that the internal rubber strip gets sweaty and the body warms up on high, both of which show up on harder efforts.
Can I adjust the tilt while wearing it?: With effort. The mechanism is stiffer than most, which keeps it from drifting but makes on-the-move adjustment awkward.
How long does it run?: It's a 16340, so runtime at high output is short by headlamp standards. Fenix sells spare cells, which is the sensible answer for longer trips.
Does it work with gloves?: Yes — reviewers specifically note the single button responds through medium to heavy gloves, which is unusual and genuinely useful in winter.

Sources (5)