Two headlamps worth lining up side by side. They score within a hair of each other, so it comes down to the details below.
| BioLite Dash 450 | BioLite HeadLamp 425 | |
|---|---|---|
| GearScore | 73✓ | 73 |
| Max lumens | 450 lm✓ | 425 lm |
| Weight | 2.8 oz | 2.8 oz |
| Beam distance | 90 m✓ | 85 m |
| Max runtime | 60 h | 60 h |
| Price | $70 | $60✓ |
| Battery | Rechargeable | Rechargeable |
| Water rating | IPX4 | IPX4 |
Highlighted cells mark the better spec: Dash 450 in blue, HeadLamp 425 in amber. A blank spec is never counted as a win. Runtime is shown for context and is not scored, since makers publish it at different brightness levels. GearScore is the overall rating (0 to 100); re-weight it on the full headlamp comparison. Prices are current MSRP.
The BioLite Dash 450 and BioLite HeadLamp 425 take different routes to the same job. They are close enough that this really is about which handful of specs you weight most.
The Dash 450 is brighter (450 vs 425 lm) and a longer beam (90 vs 85 m). The HeadLamp 425 is $10 cheaper. Their GearScores land within a couple of points (73 vs 73), so neither runs away with it.
Pick the Dash 450 if you care most about brightness and longer throw, which makes it the better call for your priorities. Pick the HeadLamp 425 if price matter more to you, or you are focused on getting the most for your money.
The BioLite Dash 450. It is brighter (450 vs 425 lm) than the HeadLamp 425.
The BioLite Dash 450. It is a longer beam (90 vs 85 m) than the HeadLamp 425.
They are nearly tied at 73 and 73 on the default algorithm, so re-weight the score to your own priorities to break the tie.
It depends on your priorities. Go with the Dash 450 for brightness, or the HeadLamp 425 for price. The spec table above shows exactly where each wins.