Fenix HM62-T Review: 1200 Lumens Maximum! An Outdoor Headlamp with Excellent Performance and Durability
Written by Yosuke.C
When hiking long distances, you may have to set off before dawn, and a headlamp is essential for safe walking at such times
When you go out to photograph the starry sky at night, the only light you can rely on in the pitch black mountains is your headlamp
Also, headlamps are not only necessary when walking on dark roads or inside a tent on an overnight mountain hike; they are an item that you should always carry with you even on a short mountain hike in case of a power outage
Until now, I had been using an entry-level model with a brightness of around 300 lumens, but to be honest, it wasn't enough for activities before dawn, so I was looking for a brighter headlamp.Just when I was about to be offered the Fenix HM-62-T .
Fenix is a comprehensive lighting manufacturer founded in Shenzhen, China in the early 2000s. Its sturdy construction and high performance have gradually gained recognition among hikers and trail runners, and the company has now grown to the point where it has earned a certain level of recognition among enthusiasts in Europe and the United States. We reviewed the HM65R-T , and we were impressed by its high quality, which should not be underestimated just because it is made in China.
I actually tried out this latest model in the mountains, and its brightness changed my world as someone who had only used 300 lumens up until then. I would like to write about its performance right away
table of contents
Fenix HM62-T Features
The Fenix HM62-T Headlamp is a versatile compact headlamp made from magnesium alloy for exceptional durability.
The large switch can be operated even with gloves on, and the white light has four brightness levels (Low, Mid, High, Turbo), a maximum output of 1200 lumens, and a maximum illumination distance of 150m. It provides strong illumination even in the dark. It also has a red light and red flash function, making it easy to switch between modes
The reusable 3400mAh battery provides long-lasting illumination, and the remaining battery level indicator lets you keep an eye on the battery status
The breathable, stretchy headband and adjustable dial make it easy to adjust the fit, and the silicone backing of the dial keeps it in place. The headband also has a whistle, which can be used to let others know where you are in an emergency
It has an IP68 protection rating and is completely dustproof and waterproof, making it suitable for a wide range of outdoor activities
Favorite points
- Strong brightness that allows you to walk safely even in the dark
- Long duration of high output
- Easy-to-adjust dial headband for a comfortable fit
- Highly dustproof and waterproof, and durable
- Simple button operation
- Rechargeable battery that can be used repeatedly. Battery level can be seen at a glance
Points of concern
- Slightly heavy
- The light only has one pattern that focuses on long distances, so it cannot illuminate a wide area close to the subject
- If you keep it on at maximum output mode, the body will get very hot
- Hard-to-replace battery
Main specifications and evaluation
| item | Fenix HM62-T |
|---|---|
| Light intensity (lm) (max/min) | 1200/5 |
| Official irradiation distance (m) (maximum/minimum) | 150/8 |
| Official irradiation time (h) (min/max) | 4/280 |
| Actual weight (g) (main unit + battery) | 125.1 |
| Dedicated battery | Lithium-ion battery (3400mAh) |
| Replacement batteries | 2 x CR123A lithium batteries |
| Waterproof and dustproof performance | IP68 |
| Light Type | White light source 4 modes (Low, Mid, High, Turbo) Red light source 2 modes (Low, Flash) |
| accessories | Rechargeable battery (ARB-L18-3400U V2.0) (Planned to be upgraded to V3.0) Spare O-ring USB Type-C charging cable Instruction manual |
| long distance irradiation | ★★★★★ |
| short distance irradiation | ★★★☆☆ |
| Battery life | ★★★★★ |
| Ease of use | ★★★★☆ |
| Weight (perceived weight) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| waterproof | ★★★★★ |
| durability | ★★★★★ |
Detailed Review
A strong, long-lasting light that lets you walk safely even in the dark
The Fenix HM62-T has a maximum light output of 1200 lumens, making it one of the brightest headlamps available. For someone like me who had previously used a 300-lumen headlamp, it felt surprisingly bright.
When I used it, it was dark and I couldn't see anything without a headlamp, but the Fenix HM62-T in strong mode, it clearly lit the hiking trail, allowing me to walk safely.
When illuminated in strong mode, you can see quite far ahead
Dark hiking trails can be stressful enough when you have to check the road conditions or hear the sounds of wild animals, so the extremely bright the Fenix HM62-T gave me a much greater sense of security.
As long as I wasn't running, I was able to walk without any problems even on medium mode (400 lumens)
The angle can be changed while wearing the light, so when you need to walk carefully on rocky terrain, you can focus on illuminating your feet, and when you don't, you can walk safely by illuminating a distance
The color of the light was warm white (neutral white) rather than cool pure white, making it easy to see even on slightly gassy nights (photo below)
In areas covered in gas or mist, yellowish warm white light is more visible than pure white light (although the illumination distance is slightly shorter than pure white)
However, the light's illumination range is neither wide nor spot, but only one standard width pattern, so while it's fine if you're just walking on a trail, it's not very user-friendly when you want to illuminate a wide area over a short distance, such as the inside of a tent, and it's not very versatile enough to handle any situation
The range of light irradiation is neither spot nor wide, but rather has a normal spread that is closer to the long distance
Even when used continuously at maximum brightness, the light remains bright and lasts a long time
It may not be widely known that most headlamps only emit the amount of light listed on the box for just a few tens of seconds when fully charged and turned on. After a few minutes, the brightness drops sharply to around 50-70% of its original level. The rate at which the brightness drops after that varies depending on the model. For this reason, in order to properly evaluate a light, it is important to carefully observe how the light intensity decays over time
please refer to our previous
also measured the brightness of Fenix HM62-T
The table below shows the results of measurements taken in the maximum light output mode (Turbo mode) out of the four levels
First of all, this lamp drops from maximum brightness to about 40% in about 10 minutes, but the way this drops is not much different from the characteristics of lamps from other manufacturers. In fact, because this lamp has a high base output, even when it drops to about 40%, it maintains a brightness comparable to that of high-end models from major manufacturers (we won't show graphs for specific products from other manufacturers here, but if you're interested, please refer to our previous reviews of other products on this site) . After maintaining the same brightness for a certain period of time, it stepped down several times, maintaining a realistic brightness for about four hours.
In reality, you probably won't need to use it at maximum brightness unless you're running at high speed in the dark, and in reality you'll probably use it at a lower brightness (Mid or High). In that case, it will maintain a brightness that is sufficient for night walking for over 10 hours
If the light is left on in "strong mode" for a long time, the body will get quite hot
One thing that bothered me a little was that the main unit got hot when left on strong mode
It's not so hot that you can't wear it, but it does feel a little hot. It was a bit bothersome when I was sweating while moving around
I found it bothersome when wearing the headlamp directly, but not when wearing it over a hat
heavy
The Fenix HM62-T weighs 125.1g, which was a bit of a concern when wearing it and moving around.
A typical headlamp weighs around 100g (depending on the model)
This is unavoidable, as the battery capacity needs to be large to maintain a high light output for a long period of time, but after wearing it for about three hours, I began to feel fatigued and heavy
Easy-to-adjust dial-type headband
The Fenix HM62-T features an adjustable dial-type headband, which works in conjunction with the elastic headband to enhance the fit.
The dial mechanism makes it easy to adjust, which is very convenient. When walking fast or jogging, you can simply turn the dial to get a snug fit. On the other hand, when walking slowly, you don't need a tight fit, so you can quickly loosen it to reduce the tightness, which is great
The body is a little heavy, so if you try to fit it too tightly it can be too tight, but I was able to adjust it to suit the situation without any stress
The back of the dial has anti-slip silicone to prevent it from slipping off. Even when wearing it with a loose fit, it didn't slip off while walking
The back of the dial is made of silicone to prevent it from slipping
Highly dustproof and waterproof, and durable
The Fenix HM62-T has a dust and water protection rating of IP68, which is the highest protection rating set by the IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) standards.
When walking in dark environments, a headlamp is essential for walking safely. It is an item that can be called a lifeline
A sturdy headlamp is definitely something you want. The Fenix HM62-T so you can rest assured it will last even in rain or sandstorms (although sandstorms are rare).
Simple button operation
It has white light mode and red light mode, but there is only one button
Operation is very simple; from the off state, press and hold to turn on white mode, and press the button to adjust the brightness (press and hold to turn off)
Press twice from the off state to enter red mode, and press the button to switch to flashing mode (long press to turn off)
Once you learn it, you can operate it without stress
Rechargeable battery that can be used repeatedly. Battery level can be seen at a glance
Battery with built-in USB Type-C charging port
The problem with battery-powered headlamps is that you can't tell how much charge is left. Not knowing how much charge is left can be worrying, and you definitely want to avoid running out of battery in the mountains
That's why I always carry spare batteries, and the Fenix HM62-T has a battery indicator that lets you see the remaining battery level at a glance. The battery is also rechargeable, so you can just charge it before heading out to the mountains or trails (saving you the trouble of having to go out and buy batteries).
The indicator on the button lets you see the remaining battery level at a glance
Remember that the indicator light changes depending on the percentage of battery remaining (when it is lit green, the remaining battery level is between 100-80%)
When using it, I switched between strong mode (1200 lumens) and medium mode (400 lumens) and it stayed on for about 1 hour and 40 minutes, but the battery level after use was 80-50% (in this case, the indicator was flashing green)
The top of the battery will turn red while charging. When it turns blue, charging is complete
The battery itself also has an indicator light that lights up red when charging and turns blue when charging is complete
Hard-to-replace battery
The included battery can be replaced with two CR123A lithium batteries
The Fenix HM62-T can be powered by commercially available batteries, but it uses CR123A lithium batteries, a type that is not widely available in Japan (though it is not impossible to purchase).
There are headlamps that can be used with easily available AA or AAA batteries, so I was concerned that this one uses batteries that are difficult to obtain
It is sufficient for short-term mountain hikes and trail running, but it may not be suitable for long-term mountain hikes or long trails as it may be difficult to obtain batteries
Summary: A headlamp that is sure to be useful in a wide range of outdoor situations!
We introduced the Fenix HM62-T
The maximum light output of 1200 lumens was very satisfying, allowing me to hike and climb mountains with the same confidence in dark environments as I did during the day. Its ease of operation, comfortable fit, and dust and water resistance make it perfect for hiking and climbing. I recommend it for those who want to use it in a wide range of situations, including camping, canoeing, fishing, and disaster preparedness. However, its weight is a drawback, so it may not be suitable for those who want to reduce weight for emergency use or for trail running, which involves intense vibrations, so this is something to consider
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Yosuke
A person who travels around with just one backpack, with the motto of "as light as possible" without causing inconvenience
From spring to autumn, I go fishing in mountain streams in pursuit of char deep in the mountains. I hike the mountains in search of spectacular views that cannot be seen from the ground. I camp to relax by a bonfire. I snowboard to experience the feeling of floating in the silvery white mountains
A freelance writer who enjoys the outdoors all year round, he shares his experiences and the best gear he has used
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