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Testing headlamps for boat use
October 22, 2025 · 12 min · 326 views · Bolærne
What this video covers
Four headlamps — Black Diamond, Silva, Navilite, and a Jula-brand model — were tested over nearly a year of sailing, including a winter passage to Bolærne on 30 January, where all crew wore headlamps to dock in complete darkness without destroying night vision.0:12
Red-light capability and water resistance were the baseline requirements for all four.0:38 The Silva Mini Fly won the test: compact, light, USB-C rechargeable, priced between 375–500 NOK, and easy to operate with gloves.11:29 The Black Diamond ranked second — the most powerful at 400 lumens, IP67-rated, with stepless dimming on both white and red, and a battery life up to 200 hours on low, but it charges via outdated USB-micro and costs up to 800 NOK.8:15 The Jula model at 79 NOK was the positive surprise, offering multiple beam modes and dimming at near-throwaway cost despite being the heaviest.10:39 The Navilite, sold at 579 NOK, was the worst: weakest light at 110 lumens, the only lamp to run flat mid-passage, and cheaply built.10:32 The test confirmed that raw lumen output matters less than comfortable red-light usability aboard; a boat arriving at the same dock using a spotlight blinded both its own crew and the shore party.3:31
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