Fenix HM65R-T Review: It's incredibly bright and long lasting. Powerful and functional outdoor headlamps from a new brand
Written by Yasushi Hisatomi
has also been reported on this website on the booming Chinese outdoor exhibitions Nowadays, the outdoors are a global growth industry where new players from all over the world are entering the market one after another, and it is no longer uncommon to see them astonishing us with groundbreaking ideas that traditional manufacturers have not had.
we will review the HM65R-T trail running headlamp from Fenix , a comprehensive lighting manufacturer founded in Shenzhen, China in the early 2000s
In fact, this brand has been a hot topic at exhibitions in Europe and the United States for a few years, but it has not been possible to actually use it. This time, I happened to be honest about my favorite and interesting points and received a product review on the right terms, and was given an opportunity to use it as a boat, so I was gratefully allowed to use it. We'll be giving you a review of how we used it for irradiation tests in our lab, staying in a tent in the mountains, and running.
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Fenix HM65R-T features
The HM65R-T is a headlamp designed for outdoor use such as trail running and hiking. The robust body has excellent impact resistance and IP68 dust and waterproof performance, and offers spot irradiation of up to 1,500 lumens (maximum irradiation distance of 170m) and wide irradiation that makes it easier to see the hands, and excellent illumination control that allows you to maintain high illumination for a long time. It also has excellent breathability and a headband with a dial-type adjustment and a comfortable fit. In addition to a dedicated battery with a Type-C charging port that allows for quick charging, the battery can also be replaced with a commercially available CR123A lithium battery. It combines high irradiation performance, durability, comfort and convenience, providing excellent visibility and practicality in harsh nighttime outdoors.
Favorite points
- Powerfulness that keeps strong brightness for more than 4 hours
- Dial headband with breathability and comfort, providing a comfortable fit with simple operation
- It has three robustness: shockproof, dustproof, and waterproof
- Battery structure that allows for speedy charging and large capacity with Type-C charging port
- Simple button operation
Interesting points
- If you feel the weight on your forehead and keep the band tight so that it won't shake while running, it will tighten too tightly and hurt.
- The difference in light and darkness at the edges of light is slightly too clear
- If the light continues to light at high power, it will cause a considerable amount of heat in the body.
Main Specifications and ratings
| item | Fenix HM65R-T |
|---|---|
| Light intensity (lm) (max/min) | 1500/5 |
| Official irradiation distance (m) (max/min) | 170/6 |
| Official irradiation time (h) (min/max) | 4/300 |
| Actual measured weight (g) (main unit + battery) | 143 |
| Dedicated battery | Lithium-ion battery (3400mAh) |
| Dry battery | CR123A Lithium Battery |
| Waterproof and dustproof | IP68 |
| Supported temperature | -35℃～45℃ |
| Light type | Spot (weak, medium, strong), wide (weak, medium, strong), spot + wide |
| Long distance irradiation | ★★★★★ |
| Close-range illumination | ★★★★☆ |
| Battery life | ★★★★★ |
| Ease of use | ★★★☆☆ |
| Weight (actual weight) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Waterproof | ★★★★★ |
| Durability | ★★★★★ |
Detailed review
Beam performance: Catalog specifications are not just formal. Powerful and long-lasting both long and short distances
Looking at the headlamp market over the past few years, I get the impression that "higher illumination and longer periods" are being updated every year due to technological innovations that have progressed and are becoming more and more illuminated every year. For example, just about five years ago, Petzl's flagship model, Reactiv Plus, had a maximum light intensity of 300 lm (lumens), but as of 2023, the maximum light intensity of the Swift RL, which is in the same position, has increased to about three times that, to 900 lumens. Looking at other models and manufacturers, even entry models are now clearing 300 lumens, which is commonplace, and it is not uncommon for the MAX power to be over 1,000 lumens for speedy nighttime activities such as trail running.
Despite this age, the Fenix HM65R-T was designed for trail running, and the maximum amount of light is 1,500 lumens. This number is one of the brightest in the average outdoor headlamp market, if it is just specs.
When I picked up this model, humans would first want to test such an extraordinary output. So I first set the brightness to MAX on a midnight farm road and tried to actually light it up. In fact, while it might be an exaggeration to say "it's like during the day," the brighter vibes were so bright that it felt dazzling in the vicinity, filling the front and surroundings, providing a very clear view (photo below).
This beam, which brightens up a wide area, both far and near, is created by a combination of two separate "spot" and "flood" LEDs mounted on the front.
The LED light on the left is a "spot" and the light on the right is a "wide" light.
The spot beam has a narrow range of illumination, but is an LED that can illuminate a beam of up to 1,300 lumens that reach a distance of 170m (see photo below for light distribution patterns). The color of light is white. The large, deep reflector and lens function allow light to concentrate in the center, making it more conscious of dispersing light into the distance rather than flat light distribution. The edges are also fairly distinct from the light and dark sides.
On the other hand, wide beams do not reach a distance of up to 54m, but provide light that illuminates the visibility of the nearby areas in front of you over a wide area. This is a well-thought-out feature of this light, which is a slightly warm daylight color, taking into consideration the gentleness of the eyes. Below is a photo of the comparison of the "spot" and "wide" illuminated. You will probably know how the light spreads, the colour of the light, and the edges. The initial beam that we saw, reaching far and wide, up to 1,500 lumens, was achieved by irradiating these two beams simultaneously.
Top-class brightness lasts incredibly long
If you're a wise outdoor enthusiast, you'll probably be curious to see that this is a model that is so-called spec fraud, with a disappointing model that is common in headlamps, where the illumination is illuminated at close to the maximum for a few tens of seconds after a full charge, but within a minute the illumination drops to a brightness far below expectations. Of course, we also check that point carefully.
As a result, it was found that this prominent brightness does not fade for a long time at a practical level. Of course, the maximum 1,500 lumens lasts, but I was surprised that it lasted for almost four hours (as per the catalog specifications), even when comparing it under almost the same conditions as testing various models from other manufacturers in the past, it had the highest brightness at the highest level, and it lasted almost four hours (as per the catalog specifications).
By the way, this is just a graph of the duration when the brightness is set to "MAX". It's not surprising if you have to pass through a dangerous cliff before dawn, but if you're a normal night run or hike, you can actually see it (medium) without having to brighten it this much. If you lower the output to that extent, the duration will increase (if the specs are followed, 12 hours for "medium (400lm)" and 24 hours for "low (130lm)"), so in that sense it can be said to be a huge amount of stamina.
A graph that measures the brightness of the sensor illuminated for 5 hours from a location about 1 meter away, with full charge and maximum illumination. The brightness calmed down from the maximum illumination, but I was surprised that the high illumination lasted for just over 4 hours.
If you would like to compare the graph above with other models, please refer to the headlamp feature article below.
Related Articles
Comfort: Headband and dial closure system for exquisite comfort
The structure of this lamp itself looks simple flat rubber headband type, but when you look closely it is packed with small gimmicks that will make you snarl. First of all, the band is slightly wider than a typical headband, so it feels mild to the touch. Furthermore, the fabric has a dot-shaped mesh, which makes it highly breathable, allowing you to sweat well (photo below).
In addition, the back of the head is equipped with a dial-type closure system (uniquely patented), allowing you to easily adjust the subtle fit simply by turning it. All you have to do is set it on your head and then tighten it to the point you think is good, so fitting can be done more easily and reliably than you imagined (photo below).
Waterproof, Durable, Ease of Use: More than enough protection and ease of use
When considering outdoor use, another thing that bothers me is its toughness. In that regard, the Fenix HM65R-T has more than adequate performance. For example, the body is made of lightweight and strong magnesium, providing impact resistance that can be dropped from a height of 2m. The craftsmanship is highly accurate and the construction is very carefully done. It also has a high level of dust and waterproof performance of IP68, and the battery compartment also has an O-ring that allows it to be sealed firmly. There's no need to worry about whether it rains or falls into the river (photo below).
The battery lid has an O-ring made of rubber, making it almost perfect waterproof.
Operations are performed using only two buttons to control each of the "spot wide". Press and hold each to turn it on and off. It does not come with any difficult functions, such as switching between weak → medium → strong every time you press the button, and lock/unlock it for 3 seconds. Moreover, this button has a cover on top when you put it in order to prevent it from erroneously working inside the package (photo below).
The battery is USB rechargeable with a Type-C terminal that allows for fine brightness control and quick charging. This is an essential specification that you can't let go of, even if you get used to this convenience. It comes with a large capacity dedicated battery of 3400mAh. Incidentally, other than this dedicated lithium-ion battery, you can replace it with a commercially available CR123A lithium battery. You may not be very grateful for outdoor use, but it seems to be worth it when you consider it as a disaster prevention stockpile.
Incidentally, the list of items included is shown below. The body comes with a dedicated battery, a Type-C cable, and a replacement O-ring.
Things that caught my eye after actually using it: Performance is undeniable! But...
I'm concerned about the weight that concentrates on my forehead
While it showed amazing performance in many ways, including beam performance, band fit, operability and battery performance, I can see some parts that I can't help but feel like a "solution" when I actually used it on mountain hiking or trail runs.
First of all, it's the weight. Including the battery, the actual weight of 143 grams is inevitable. For headlamps like this model, which have a typical "light and battery concentrated on the forehead" structure, the weight is usually around 100 grams, as you can see from the typical models of major manufacturers. If the weight is greater than this, the feeling of being "hanging from the forehead (easy to shake)" will inevitably become stronger, making it difficult to maintain stability. If you tighten the band even more to cover this, it will gradually become cramped and uncomfortable.
the HM65R-T was, it was inevitable. To be precise, although it's not particularly noticeable if you're walking, if you move vigorously for a long time while running, you won't be able to worry about it. Considering that this model was designed for trail running, I wish it would have been a little thicker to accommodate this weight and ease of shake, such as separating the battery components from the light and placing them in the back of the head or chest pocket.
It is easier to use in the field if the edges of the irradiation surface are softer.
Another thing I'm personally concerned about is the size of the "light and darkness" at the edge of the beam. It is natural that the "light surface" created by headlamps is the brightest in the center and its surrounding area, but the way the darkness (how it decays) from the center towards the periphery varies considerably depending on the model. When walking frequently through the cluttered forest at night, it is surprisingly stressful to see the difference between the visible and the invisible parts. Personally, I like the pattern that gradually fades towards the edge with a beautiful gradation, which is gentle on the eyes. In that sense, the light on the HM65R-T is rather clear in terms of contrast to the edges, and although this is very detailed, I was curious about it compared to the more careful light distribution of other long-established outdoor brands.
Summary: Powerful and toughness lamps that you'd like to use for long-term mountain climbing rather than for trail running
After doing some thorough testing this time, I found that when it comes to the numerical performance of lights, such as beam power, battery life, and robustness, it is undeniably high performance, including practicality. I think it's no exaggeration to say that he's a threat to traditional outdoor manufacturers when it comes to hitting people with physics (I regret that he was honestly intimidated by this kind of person).
However, when it comes to practical aspects such as mobility and how it looks in the field, it must be said that some of the concerns are particularly noticeable when it comes to being suitable for trail runs. I'm curious to see that compared to high-end train running headlamps from other outdoor brands, it's obviously stressful when it comes to ease of driving.
In conclusion, I think it's a ramp that I would rather take on long overnight mountain trips, such as traverses and long trails, rather than using them for trail runs. If you stay in a tent for several days, you'll be walking mainly, so the weight isn't a concern, and on the other hand, this model's features, such as power, lifespan, and durability, will be utilized all of its features. In any case, the basic quality is certainly high, so if you understand the characteristics and use it well, you will surely become a reliable force.
