BioLite Headlamp 325 and Headlamp 800 Review and Giveaway!

 

BioLite 800

Hello and happy almost Spring!  Not sure about where you are, but here in Colorado, we've had a few really nice warm sunny days, which hint at a departure from winter, but we aren't quite there. 

That being said, while the days are getting longer, there is still plenty of dark out there in the evenings and mornings, so it's always great to have a dependable headlamp. Also, stick around through this review and get rewarded with a chance to win an awesome one!

BioLite

Which of course brings me to one of my favorite companies, BioLite!  If you recall from past posts, I've had the great opportunity to test and review a variety of products from them, including the Headlamp 330/750, the Alpenglow 250 lamp, and the Charge 40 PD Powerbank.  All fantastic products! 

SolarHome 620+

Also, a great friend of mine has the SolarHome 620+ system in his off-grid cabin that a group of us spend at least two long weekends at each year.  Such an awesome system that provides plenty of light for poker playing late into the evening :-)

BioLite 325

So today, I have have the pleasure of providing a review of two new models of headlamps from Biolite. They are the next iteration of the 330 and 750, namely the 325 and 800. 

But before, I dive into that, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention just how cool BioLite is as a company.  You can read all about their mission HERE, and it's a fantastic story. 

The bottom line is, your purchases at BioLite helps drive their mission to "Empower people & Protect our Planet through access to renewable energy."  And the vision is to "provide 20 million people with access to clean energy and to avoid 3 million tons of CO2e by the year 2025."

AWESOME 

BioLite 325

Ok, lets kick it off with a look at the Headlamp 325.  This headlamp is the latest model of what was the 330 in its first iteration.  Below are the specs on this headlamp, followed by a few pics, and then I'll give you the low down on how it compares to the original 330. 

Specs:

• Weighs only 50g
• Max Output: 325 lumens
• White + Dim , Red + Dim, White Strobe, Red Strobe
• Front panel tilts downward with one hand
• 40 hours on LO, 3 hours on HIGH
• Recharge via micro USB
• Backed by the HolyFit Guarantee (try it for 30 days, and a full refund if not happy!)

This has to be one of the lightest headlamps I've tried, considering the punch it packs in a small package.  And so comfortable. I really like the enhancements and updates on this version over the 330.  Speaking of which, lets take a look at what those differences are:

So, as you can see, the 325 has shed a lot of weight by no longer having a rear mounted battery pack, but instead having one integrated unit up front. All without any loss of run time or performance.  Also, the 330 had a two light system that allowed for a spot or a flood, or a combination at 330 lumens.  The 325 sports one mode that does both, and frankly to me it seems to put out more light than the 330, which is cool.  Also the red light feature has a nicer spread in the 325 than the 330 did.   So this is a win-win... lighter and better performing and much more comfortable.  An ideal lamp for just about any outdoor use.  Not quite strong enough for me for dark trail running, or long hours, but for every other situation, fantastic (like being under my car last weekend changing the oil!)

Biolite 800

OK.. and now for the big dawg...  the Headlamp 800.  This is the next iteration of the Headlamp 750.

 Below are the specs, and then I'll give you the break down comparison:

Specs:

• Max output 800 lumens
• Dimmable red, white, strobe & burst mode
• Dimmable rear red visibility light with solid & strobe
• Front panel tilts downward with one hand
• 150 hours LOW, 7 hours HIGH, 8 hours RESERVE
• 3000 mAh li-ion battery recharges via micro USB
• Constant Mode and Run Forever settings
• Backed by our HolyFit Guarantee

Ok, so as you can see, basically the same weight and set up between the 800 and the 750.  The primary enhancements on the 800 include an increased beam distance, better run times, and a better temp use rating. 

What I like most in the 800 is the ability to do a pass through charging while in use, so you can connect a powerbank to the battery pack, effectively allowing you to run the headlamp for a long long time! The 800 also features an enhanced reserve so you don't get left in the dark, so to speak ;-) 

I love the 800 for long night runs (which I am hoping to get back to soon), and would be ideal for overnight trail runs or backpacking, especially with the ability to run the pass through charging. 

There is only one aspect of both the 750 and 800 that annoys me a bit.  Nothing to do with performance, but its the way the tilt function works on the headlamp.  I really wish it worked like the 330/325 which has a distinct ratcheting mechanism to lock the lamp in at each angle.  The 750/800 just doesn't do this nearly as well, so sometimes you have to fiddle with it.  It's a nit, but I sure hope they address in future iterations!

BioLite

OK! If  you've made it this far, thank you.  As a reward, thanks to the kind folks at BioLite, I'm giving away a new Biolite Headlamp 325 to a lucky winner!  Just review the Rafflecopter doohickey below and enter!

Contest will run through midnight MST, Tuesday March 21st, 2023 and is open to US residents only. Good luck!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks again for tuning in, and happy trails!!

Jeff

barefootinclined@gmail.com