The light faded as I crossed the meadow and plunged into dark timber. It was September in the Rockies, and I was still at least a mile from the road. I was hungry, tired, and wanted nothing more than dinner and a decent night’s sleep before getting up again at 4 a.m. to hunt, my fifth day in a row. It was time to move fast.
I reached up and double-tapped a button on the Fenix HM65R V2 headlamp, and bright red light illuminated the forest a solid 20 feet into the timber. I broke into a gentle jog, dodging branches as I moved quickly down the mountain. The HM65R was my primary headlamp for a week of elk hunting, and it served me well. It’s a step beyond the lightweight hiking headlamps I often use, and it excelled during a long outing, requiring minimal charging during many hours of use.
In short: The HM65R V2 Rechargeable Headlamp is the newest version of one of Fenix’s best-selling lights. It is a step up from most hiking headlamps in terms of power and battery life. It uses Fenix’s ARB-L18-3400 rechargeable Li-ion battery (a proprietary 18650) to deliver up to 296 hours of lighting and a max output of 2,200 lumens. A simple user interface, bright red mode, comfortable fit, and 755-foot throw make it a great upgrade to smaller headlamps when you require big power and runtime. The only significant downside is increased weight compared with smaller lights.
Compare the HM65R V2 in our guide to the best headlamps.
(Photo/Fenix)
Specifications
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Very bright
- Flood, spotlight function together or independently
- Excellent red light
- Durable
- Easy user interface
Cons
- Heavier than less powerful lights
- Low CRI only OK for color rendering
Fenix HM65R V2 Headlamp Review
The HM65R V2 is a phenomenal headlamp, and an absolute upgrade to the first version (also a great light in its own right). It increases runtime by 16 hours and maximum output by 800 lumens, while keeping the price under $100.
Operation is simple. Short-press the left button to turn on a floodlight with three settings (5 to 500 lumens). Press the right button to turn on the spotlight (30 to 1,800 lumens). Scroll through power settings with another single short press, or turn the lights off with a longer press.
The beauty is that both beams operate independently. You can combine flood and spot to customize your output, or run either mode alone.
Double-tapping either button activates the powerful red light, which can reach a remarkable 92 feet on high (140 lumens) for up to seven hours.
The versatility is lovely. I used the light navigating forests and mountain terrain for a week, and it proved very reliable and rugged, lighting my path well, usually on lower settings or red mode. I also used it in camp every night, lighting my stove as I cooked or organized my gear for the next day.
It accidentally spent one night outside in the rain, which wasn’t an issue at all given its IP68 waterproof rating. It can technically be submerged up to two meters, although I haven’t tested it to that depth. For outdoor use, it’s essentially impervious to water or dust.
Room For Improvement, Alternatives
The HM65R V2 uses one Luminus SST40-GEN2 LED, one Luminus SST-20F LED, and one 3535 red LED. These are premium, modern offerings with excellent light output and low power consumption. However, both the spot and flood lights are low-CRI LEDs.
What that means is that color rendering is only OK with both the spotlight and the floodlight. Other lights with side-by-side LED systems offer a warmer, high-CRI floodlight coupled with the spotlight. That gives the user a warm, softer light for close-in work in a tent, which is easier on the eyes.
I imagine that Fenix went with dual bright white lights because, when used together, they won’t confound your eyes. It’s a small ding that, for some, may actually be a positive. But it’s worth noting.
Finally, compared with some competitors, the Fenix is expensive. For $55 retail, you can pick up a similar Sofirn HS20. It has very similar specs, size, weight, and performance, although Fenix has an arguably nicer fit, finish, and tougher body (Sofirn uses aluminum, compared with Fenix’s premium magnesium/aluminum alloy). And the Sofirn lacks a red light, which to me is crucial.
Who It’s For
The Fenix HM65R V2 is a wonderful light for those who need an upgrade beyond the standard hiking headlamp. I’m talking about hunters who spend long hours working in the dark, industrial workers, mountaineers, and possibly trail runners.
The HM65R V2 offers a major step up in power compared with common headlamps like the Black Diamond Spot 400-R or BioLite Range 500. While those are also great lights, they don’t deliver high lumens or long runtime. The tradeoff is in weight — they both weigh a solid two ounces less than the HM65R V2.
But for those who want longer runtimes and very big lumen potential, the Fenix HM65R V2 is a major step up. With a comfortable overhead strap balancing the light, it’ll ride nicely and give you plenty of light to jaunt quickly through the forest on the darkest of nights.
