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 Range 400 | Black Diamond Spot 400 | |
|---|---|---|
| GearScore | 74✓ | 73 |
| Max lumens | 400 lm | 400 lm |
| Weight | 2.6 oz✓ | 3.0 oz |
| Beam distance | 90 m | 100 m✓ |
| Max runtime | 200 h | 200 h |
| Price | $60 | $50✓ |
| Battery | Rechargeable | AAA |
| Water rating | IP67 | IPX8 |
Highlighted cells mark the better spec: Range 400 in blue, Spot 400 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 Range 400 and Black Diamond Spot 400 take different routes to the same job. They are close enough that this really is about which handful of specs you weight most.
The Range 400 is 11 g lighter. The Spot 400 is a longer beam (100 vs 90 m) and $10 cheaper. Their GearScores land within a couple of points (74 vs 73), so neither runs away with it.
Pick the Range 400 if you care most about low weight, which makes it the better call for counting grams on long miles. Pick the Spot 400 if longer throw and price matter more to you, or you are focused on your priorities.
The BioLite Range 400. It is 11 g lighter than the Spot 400.
The Black Diamond Spot 400. It is a longer beam (100 vs 90 m) than the Range 400.
They are nearly tied at 74 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 Range 400 for low weight, or the Spot 400 for longer throw. The spec table above shows exactly where each wins.