NiteCore HC65 rechargeable LED head torch

The NiteCore HC65 is a powerful, rechargeable LED head torch. In addition to white light, it also offers a red and a neutral white beam. This makes the HC65 very versatile. Both during jobs and at the campsite, but also for professionals who have to be able to rely on a good headlamp on a daily basis.

The housing is made of aluminium. Nice and solid and very good for the heat dissipation. An LED is relatively cool, but at the highest setting it produces quite some heat. The NiteCore HC65 comes with a 3400mAh 18650 battery. It only works on button-tops. You can also use it with two CR123A batteries, only they are not rechargeable. The 18650 battery is charged in the lamp with the included micro-usb cable. To protect this connection, NiteCore has hidden it behind a screw cap. You'll find this hood at the side-switch.

The two-stage side-switch is similar to a camera. Pressing it halfway switches between the modes, pressing it further switches it on and off.

NiteCore HC65: What is the difference between white and neutral white?

The neutral white LED has a high CRI value. This means that the light colour is very true to nature. Compared to many normal LED flashlights, this means that the light looks quite warm. This seems to be the case, because the neutral white LED is neutral (as the name suggests) and what we see today as a normal LED torch beam is actually very cold light. It's even called blue light. With a neutral white beam, assessing colours is a lot easier. With a bluish beam it is very difficult to see the difference between red and brown. Or between white and light blue. With a neutral white beam you can remove that problem and see the colours as they are.

Light modes of the NiteCore HC65 head torch

• Turbo: 1,000 lumens, 1 hour*
• High: 550 lumens, 2 hours 45 min
• Mid: 280 lumens, 4 hours 45 min
• Low: 80 lumens, 16 hours
• Ultralow: 1 lumen, 800 hours of Neutral
• White: 26 lumens, 25 hours
• Red: 11 lumens, 20 hours
• Red Caution: 11 lumens, 32 hours of
• SOS: 1,000 lumens of
• Beacon: 1000 lumens

*The burn time of the highest mode is calculated at the moment the lamp is switched on in the highest position. After 2-3 minutes, the lamp automatically switches to the lower light mode due to temperature regulation.