Wurkkos/Headlamp

Wurkkos HD15R

Name: Wurkkos HD15R
Brand: Wurkkos
Price: 28 USD
Availability: Discontinued

DiscontinuedWurkkos no longer makes this light; what dealers have left is the last of it. Its current replacement is Wurkkos HD15.

Wurkkos paired a high-CRI main emitter with a red LED in the HD15R, a dual-LED camping headlamp at a low price. The red channel was there to preserve night vision. The HD15 is now the maker's replacement.

Beam profile

Balanced, about 26° wide. A usable hotspot with enough spill to see around it.

Estimated from 1,300 lm ÷ 8,000 cd — how this works

$28

Specifications

Output: 1300lm
Peak intensity: 8000cd
Beam distance: 179m
Emitter: LH351D + red
Colour rendering: 90 CRI
Beam type: Flood
Cell: 18650
Runtime: 2 hrs (high)
Modes: 4 Stepped
Interface: Simple
Water/dust: IP67
Dimensions: 4.0 x 1.0 in
Weight: 2.2 oz
Warranty: 1 Year

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

Features

High CRI (90+)USB-C Charging Magnetic Tailcap Waterproof (IP67+)

What owners report

Wurkkos HD15R/3 sources reviewed

The built-in-cell version of the HD15: the same well-regarded 18650-class right-angle headlamp with dual emitters, USB-C charging in the head and a strong magnetic tailcap, but with the cell sealed in rather than removable. Reviewers rate the HD15 platform's build quality as fantastic for the money, and charging pulls over 2.3A, which is quick for the format.

The trade is the one every integrated-cell light makes: convenience now against a finite lifespan. When the cell degrades after a few hundred cycles you can't swap in a fresh one, and you can't carry a spare for a long night. The HD15 platform's other known limitation carries over — too few brightness levels, with high often too bright and medium not bright enough — and Wurkkos's published runtime figures overstate reality by two to three times.

Consistently praised

Same well-rated HD15 platform: dual emitters, magnetic tailcap, strong build
USB-C charging in the head at over 2.3A
Nothing to lose — no cell to misplace or fit incorrectly
Smaller and lighter than the 21700 HD20
Good value for the feature set

Common complaints

Sealed cell — no swapping a fresh one in on a long night
Finite lifespan: when the battery degrades the light is finished
Too few brightness levels, as on the removable-cell HD15
Published runtime figures overstate reality by two to three times
No Anduril, so the mode spacing can't be reconfigured

Questions people ask

HD15 or HD15R?: The HD15 with a removable 18650 if you ever work long nights or want the light to outlast its battery. The HD15R if you value never dealing with cells and accept replacing the light eventually.
How long will the built-in cell last?: Typically a few hundred charge cycles before capacity drops noticeably, and two to four years of calendar life. After that the light can't be revived.
Are the runtime claims accurate?: No. A reviewer found Wurkkos measures in a way that overstates runtime by two to three times across the HD15 platform. Halve the figure for a realistic estimate.
What's the mode-spacing complaint?: There are too few levels — the jump from medium to high is large enough that high is often too bright for the task and medium isn't bright enough.

Sources (3)