Two headlamps worth lining up side by side. They score within a hair of each other, so it comes down to the details below.
| Black Diamond Spot 400-R | Black Diamond Storm 450 | |
|---|---|---|
| GearScore | 73✓ | 72 |
| Max lumens | 400 lm | 450 lm✓ |
| Weight | 3.0 oz✓ | 3.2 oz |
| Beam distance | 100 m | 120 m✓ |
| Max runtime | 225 h | 175 h |
| Price | $80 | $60✓ |
| Battery | Rechargeable | Hybrid |
| Water rating | IP67 | IP67 |
Highlighted cells mark the better spec: Spot 400-R in blue, Storm 450 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 Black Diamond Spot 400-R and Black Diamond Storm 450 take different routes to the same job. They are close enough that this really is about which handful of specs you weight most.
The Spot 400-R is 7 g lighter. The Storm 450 is brighter (450 vs 400 lm), a longer beam (120 vs 100 m), and $20 cheaper. Their GearScores land within a couple of points (73 vs 72), so neither runs away with it.
Pick the Spot 400-R if you care most about low weight, which makes it the better call for counting grams on long miles. Pick the Storm 450 if brightness and longer throw matter more to you, or you are focused on your priorities.
The Black Diamond Spot 400-R. It is 7 g lighter than the Storm 450.
The Black Diamond Storm 450. It is brighter (450 vs 400 lm) than the Spot 400-R.
They are nearly tied at 73 and 72 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 Spot 400-R for low weight, or the Storm 450 for brightness. The spec table above shows exactly where each wins.