Black Diamond Spot 400-R review
Black Diamond Spot 400-R Rechargeable Headlamp
By Tom Calder
Key specs
The maker's figures.
- Type
- Headlamp
- Brightness
- 400 lm
- Power
- Rechargeable (1,500 mAh)
A headlamp leaves both hands free for cooking, fuses and kids in the dark. 400 lumens and rechargeable.
- Best for
- Hands-free light for an outage
- Skip it if
- You want a room-filling light
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Researched, not used. We haven't used this product. This review is built from the maker's specifications, owner reports and our own sizing.
What we like
- Hands-free
- Rechargeable
- 400 lumens
Worth knowing
- Recharging needs USB power
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Our review
Black Diamond lists the Spot 400-R at 400 lumens on high with a built-in 1500 mAh battery charged over micro-USB, and a 3-year warranty. This researched review covers its three brightness levels and burn times, the waterproof rating that Black Diamond's page states two ways, and who should pick a lantern instead.
What it is and who it suits
The Spot 400-R is Black Diamond's rechargeable Spot headlamp, powered by an integrated lithium-ion battery. Black Diamond sells it for outdoor use, but its own description also names close-range jobs such as sorting gear, cooking or reading, which are the same jobs a headlamp does in a dark kitchen or at a fuse box.
It suits a household that wants a hands-free light for each adult. Ready.gov's power outage advice is to have flashlights for every household member, and a headlamp keeps both hands free. This review is researched, not tested. It relies on Black Diamond's product page and on Ready.gov.
Brightness, distance and burn time
Black Diamond's spec list gives three white levels: 400 lumens on high, 200 on medium and 6 on low. It lists maximum beam distance as 100 meters on high, 60 on medium and 12 on low, and burn time as 4 hours on high and 8 hours on medium. The low figure reads only 225 on the page, with the unit cut off. Treat these as the maker's ratings, not what a battery that has aged will deliver.
The page describes PowerTap, which jumps from any setting to full output with a tap, and brightness memory, which turns the light on at the level you last chose. Black Diamond also lists a red night-vision mode with dimming and strobe that starts without passing through white, which is useful for reading a map or checking on a child without waking the room.
Battery, charging and lockout
The battery is integrated, listed at 1500 mAh, and charges through a micro-USB port. Black Diamond's page does not give a charging time. Because it is a micro-USB cable and not USB-C, keep a cable of the right kind with the lamp, and keep it charged: a headlamp that is flat in a drawer is no use in an outage.
The page lists a digital lockout that guards against accidental use when the lamp is stored in a pack or pocket, so it is less likely to switch on by itself in a go-bag. The page describes the battery meter in two ways: the feature list says it shows percent of power remaining, while the longer description calls it a six-setting, three-LED meter. Either way the lamp has a built-in battery gauge; check the packaging for how it reads.
Weather resistance
Black Diamond's spec list gives an IP67 rating and says the lamp was tested to operate at least 1.0 meters underwater for 30 minutes. The longer description on the same page says IPX8, so the page does not agree with itself. Either way the maker calls the housing waterproof, but that is not a reason to leave a charging port uncovered or to soak the lamp on purpose.
Warranty and weight
Black Diamond covers its lighting products with a three-year warranty and lists the lamp at 86 grams, with a country of origin of China. Black Diamond's page also says the item contains PFAS and cannot be shipped to California, New York or Colorado, and it was showing as out of stock on the day we checked, so confirm availability before you plan around it.
Who should skip it
Skip it if you want one light that fills a room. A headlamp points where you look and is meant for tasks, so add a lantern for the kitchen table; our headlamp comparison and flashlight and lantern comparison list both kinds. Skip it too if you want a lamp that takes ordinary batteries, since this one relies on its built-in cell and a cable. The power outage checklist shows where lighting fits in the wider plan.
A researched review, built from the maker's specs, manual and US listings; facts checked 30 Oct 2026. Sources: Black Diamond: Spot 400-R Headlamp product page; Ready.gov: Power outages.
Who shouldn't buy this
Don't buy it if you want a room-filling light: get a lantern too.
This is a Researched review: we haven't used this product. We check every specification against at least two independent sources, re-check the US price on a schedule where we can track it automatically, and say plainly who it isn't for. Commissions never change a rating.
If this isn’t the one
Best for The brightest flashlight here
See the comparison →Best for A tough flashlight that runs on one AA
See the comparison →Best for A simple headlamp from a climbing brand
See the comparison →Questions
How bright is the Black Diamond Spot 400-R?
Black Diamond lists 400 lumens on high, 200 on medium and 6 on low, with a 100 meter maximum distance on high. Its burn time ratings are 4 hours on high and 8 hours on medium.
How does it charge?
It has an integrated 1500 mAh lithium-ion battery with a micro-USB charge port, per Black Diamond. The page gives no charging time, so charge it fully before you store it.
Is it waterproof?
Black Diamond's spec list gives IP67 and says it was tested at 1.0 meters for 30 minutes, but another paragraph on the page says IPX8. Treat it as rain-proof and splash-proof and keep the charging port closed.
Will it switch on by accident in a bag?
Black Diamond lists a digital lockout that guards against accidental use when the lamp is stored in a pack or pocket. Lock it before you put it away.