Fenix HM65R-T Review: Incredibly Bright and Long-Lasting, a Powerful and Functional Outdoor Headlamp from a New Brand

Friday, July 21, 2023

Gear reviews , recommendations , headlamps , offers , FENIX

Written by Yasushi Hisatomi

on the booming outdoor exhibitions in China that "outdoor culture is no longer just a pastime for Westerners and Japanese people ." The outdoor industry is now a globally growing industry with new players entering the market one after another from around the world, and it is no longer uncommon to see them surprise us with groundbreaking ideas that traditional manufacturers have not yet come up with.

we will review the trail running headlamp " HM65R-T Fenix , a comprehensive lighting manufacturer founded in Shenzhen, China in the early 2000s

In fact, I'd seen this brand at exhibitions in Europe and the US for several years and had been interested in it, but I'd never had a chance to actually use it. I was approached to write a product review, with the condition that I could honestly talk about what I liked and what bothered me, so I was grateful to be given the opportunity to try it out. I'll share my review of the product after testing it in the lab, camping in a tent in the mountains, and running

table of contents

Fenix HM65R-T general features
Detailed Review
Summary: A powerful and tough lamp that is better suited to long-term mountain climbing than trail running

Fenix HM65R-T general features

The HM65R-T headlamp is designed for outdoor activities like trail running and hiking. Its rugged body boasts excellent impact resistance and IP68 dust and water resistance. It offers a maximum 1500 lumens (up to 170m) of spot illumination, a wide beam for easy visibility, and excellent brightness control for long-lasting brightness. It also features a breathable headband with a dial for easy adjustment and a comfortable fit. Its battery is compatible with a dedicated battery with a Type-C charging port for quick charging, or with commercially available CR123A lithium batteries. Its high illumination, durability, comfort, and convenience combine to provide excellent visibility and practicality in harsh outdoor conditions at night.

Favorite points

Powerful enough to maintain strong brightness for over 4 hours
Breathable and comfortable dial headband for a comfortable fit with easy operation
Shock-resistant, dust-proof, and waterproof for a triple-shot of durability
Battery structure that enables fast charging and large capacity with Type-C charging port
Simple button operation

Points of concern

I feel a weight on my forehead, and if I wear the band too tight to keep it in place while running, it becomes too tight and hurts
The contrast between light and dark at the edges of the light is a little too clear
If the light is kept on at high output, the body will get very hot

Main specifications and evaluation

item	Fenix HM65R-T
Light intensity (lm) (max/min)	1500/5
Official irradiation distance (m) (maximum/minimum)	170/6
Official irradiation time (h) (min/max)	4/300
Actual weight (g) (main unit + battery)	143
Dedicated battery	Lithium-ion battery (3400mAh)
Dry cell batteries	CR123A lithium battery
Waterproof and dustproof performance	IP68
Supported temperature	-35℃～45℃
Light Type	Spot (weak, medium, strong), Wide (weak, medium, strong), Spot + Wide
long distance irradiation	★★★★★
short distance irradiation	★★★★☆
Battery life	★★★★★
Ease of use	★★★☆☆
Weight (perceived weight)	★★☆☆☆
waterproof	★★★★★
durability	★★★★★

Detailed Review

Beam performance: The catalog specs are not just for show. Powerful and long-lasting at both long and short distances

Looking at the headlamp market over the past few years, it seems as though rapid technological advances have led to annual updates that increase brightness and duration. For example, just five years ago, Petzl's flagship model, the Reactic+, had a maximum light output of 300 lumens, but as of 2023, the maximum light output of its equivalent, the Swift RL, has increased to 900 lumens, about three times that. Looking at other models and manufacturers, even entry-level models now routinely exceed 300 lumens, and it's not uncommon for headlamps for fast-paced nighttime activities like trail running to have a maximum power of over 1,000 lumens

Even in this day and age, the Fenix HM65R-T is designed for trail running, boasting a maximum light output of 1,500 lumens. Based on specs alone, this figure is one of the brightest headlamps on the market for outdoor use.

When you get your hands on this model, it's only human nature to want to test out this extraordinary output first and foremost. So, I set it to maximum brightness and shone it on a farm road in the middle of the night. Sure enough, it was so bright that it was almost dazzling in the nearby area, filling the front and surroundings with brightness that provided an extremely clear view (see photo below), although it might be an exaggeration to say it was "just like daytime."

This beam, which brightly illuminates a wide area both near and far, is created by a combination of two independent LEDs, "Spot" and "Flood," mounted on the front

The LED light on the left is the "spot" light, and the light on the right is the "wide" light

Although the spot beam has a narrow range, it is an LED that can emit a maximum 1300 lumen beam that can reach a distance of 170m (see the photo below for the light distribution pattern). The light color is white. The large, deep reflector and lens function concentrate the light in the center, and it is more designed to project light farther rather than have a flat light distribution. The edges also have a fairly clear division between light and dark

On the other hand, the wide beam does not reach far, reaching up to 54m, but it does provide light that illuminates a wide area of nearby vision in front of you. One impressive point is that this light uses a slightly warmer daylight white color to be gentler on the eyes. Below are photos comparing the "spot" and "wide" settings. You can see how the light spreads, the color of the light, and the edges. The 1,500-lumen beam that we saw earlier, which reaches far and wide, is achieved by these two beams being emitted simultaneously

Top-class brightness that lasts for an astonishing amount of time

At this point, any sensible outdoor enthusiast would be concerned that this is a model that misrepresents its specs, as is often the case with disappointing headlamps: "After a full charge, the brightness shines at near-maximum brightness for a few dozen seconds, but within a minute the brightness drops to far below expectations." Of course, we have thoroughly checked this point as well

As a result, we found that this outstanding brightness did not fade for a long time at a practical level. Of course, it did not maintain the maximum 1,500 lumens, but even so, compared to various models from other manufacturers that we have tested in the past under almost the same conditions, it was still one of the brightest in its class, and we were surprised that it lasted for almost four hours (as per the catalog specifications)

By the way, this is only the graph of the duration when the brightness is set to "MAX". Unless you have to cross a dangerous cliff before dawn, for a normal night run or hike, you don't actually need to make it this bright (medium) and you'll be able to see well enough. If you lower the output to that level, the duration will increase accordingly (12 hours at "medium (400lm)" and 24 hours at "low (130lm)" according to the specs), so in that sense it has incredible stamina

This graph shows the brightness measured when the sensor was illuminated at maximum brightness with a fully charged battery from a distance of about one meter for five hours. The brightness drops off from maximum brightness, but it was still surprisingly bright for a little over four hours

If you would like to compare the graph above with other models, please refer to the headlamp feature article below

Comfort: Super-comfortable headband and dial closure system

The structure of this lamp itself looks simple, a flat elastic headband, but upon closer inspection, it's packed with intricate gimmicks that will have you groaning. First of all, the band is slightly wider than a regular headband, making it gentler against the skin. Furthermore, the fabric has dotted mesh holes, allowing sweat to escape easily and providing excellent breathability (see photo below)

Furthermore, the back of the head is equipped with a dial-type closure system (uniquely patented), which allows you to easily adjust the fit by simply turning it. After placing it on your head, you can simply tighten it to your liking, making the fitting easier and more reliable than you might imagine (see photo below)

Waterproof, durable, and easy to use: More than enough protection and ease of use

Another consideration when considering outdoor use is durability. In this regard, the Fenix HM65R-T delivers more than adequate performance. For example, the body is made of lightweight yet strong magnesium, making it shock-resistant enough to withstand a drop from a height of 2 meters. It's also highly precise and carefully crafted. It also boasts a high level of dustproof and waterproof performance (IP68), and the battery compartment is tightly sealed with an O-ring. No need to worry about it raining or dropping it in a river (see photo below).

The battery cover has a rubber O-ring, making it almost completely waterproof

Operation is done with just two buttons, one for controlling "Spot" and one for "Wide." Press and hold each button to turn it on and off. Each press switches between weak, medium, and strong, and holding the button for three seconds locks/unlocks it. There are no complicated functions, and it's so simple that it's impossible to make a mistake. What's more, this button has a cover over it when stored to prevent it from accidentally being activated inside your luggage (see photo below)

The battery is USB rechargeable with a Type-C connector, allowing for precise brightness control and fast charging. Once you get used to this convenience, it's an essential feature you won't want to let go of. It comes with a dedicated high-capacity 3400mAh battery. Incidentally, you can also use commercially available CR123A lithium batteries instead of this dedicated lithium-ion battery. While this may not be particularly useful for outdoor use, it's well worth considering as a disaster preparedness item

The included items are shown in the photo below: the body, a dedicated battery, a Type-C cable, and a replacement O-ring

Things I noticed after actually using it: Performance is great! But..

I'm concerned about the weight that's concentrated on my forehead

While it showed surprisingly high performance in many areas, such as beam performance, band fit, and ease of use including operability and battery performance, when actually using it on an overnight mountain hike and trail run, there were some areas that made me feel it was a shame

First of all, there's the weight. Including the battery, the actual weight of 143 grams is a real concern. For headlamps like this one, which have a typical design where the light and battery are concentrated on the forehead, most weigh around 100 grams, as you can see from the representative models of major manufacturers. Anything heavier than this inevitably gives the feeling of it "hanging from your forehead (making it prone to shaking)" and makes it difficult to maintain stability. If you try to compensate by tightening the band, it gradually becomes too tight and uncomfortable

the HM65R-T was. To be precise, it wasn't particularly noticeable when walking, but it became a real concern when moving vigorously for long periods while running. Considering that this model was designed for trail running, I would have preferred it to be a little thicker to counter the weight and tendency to shake, for example by separating the battery component from the light and placing it somewhere like the back of the head or in a chest pocket.

The softer the edge of the light source, the easier it is to use in the field

Another thing that bothers me personally is the difference in brightness at the edge of the beam. While the "light surface" created by a headlamp is naturally brightest in the center and its periphery, the way the light fades from the center to the periphery (how it fades) varies considerably depending on the model. When walking through a cluttered forest at night, frequently turning your head, the stark difference between what you can see and what you can't see can be surprisingly stressful. Personally, I prefer patterns that fade gradually with a beautiful gradation toward the edge, as they are gentler on the eyes. In that sense, the light of the HM65R-T has a rather pronounced contrast at the edges, and while this is a very subtle detail, it bothers me compared to the more careful light distribution of other established outdoor brands

Summary: A powerful and tough lamp that is better suited to long-term mountain climbing than trail running

FENIX HM65R-T SST40/XP-G2 S3 LED Running Headlight, USB Rechargeable, Maximum 1500 Lumens, Black

created by Rinker

FENIX

¥13,957 (2026/02/02 07:07:53 Amazon survey - details)

After thoroughly testing it again this time, I found that the numerical performance of the light, such as beam power, battery life, and durability, is undeniably high-performance, including practicality. I think it's no exaggeration to say that it threatens traditional outdoor manufacturers in terms of the so-called physical performance (although I admit that I was underestimating it)

However, when it comes to practical aspects such as mobility and visibility in the field, I have to say that there are some noticeable issues with it being suitable for trail running. Compared to high-end trail running headlamps from other outdoor brands, I feel that it is clearly stressful when it comes to ease of running

In conclusion, I would say that this is a lamp I would rather take on long overnight mountain trips such as traverses or long trails than for trail running. On a multi-day camping trip, you'll be walking most of the time, so the weight won't be a concern, and you'll be able to take advantage of all the features of this model, such as its power, lifespan, and durability. In any case, the basic quality is undeniable, so if you understand its features and use it well, it will no doubt be a reliable asset