Two headlamps worth lining up side by side. The Spot 400 leans on low weight while the Actik answers with brightness, so the pick comes down to which you value.
| Black Diamond Spot 400 | Petzl Actik | |
|---|---|---|
| GearScore | 73✓ | 70 |
| Max lumens | 400 lm | 450 lm✓ |
| Weight | 3.0 oz✓ | 3.5 oz |
| Beam distance | 100 m | 100 m |
| Max runtime | 200 h | 100 h |
| Price | $50✓ | $65 |
| Battery | AAA | Hybrid |
| Water rating | IPX8 | IPX4 |
Highlighted cells mark the better spec: Spot 400 in blue, Actik 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 and Petzl Actik take different routes to the same job. The Spot 400 wins on low weight and price, and the Actik pushes back on brightness.
The Spot 400 is 14 g lighter and $15 cheaper. The Actik is brighter (450 vs 400 lm). On the default GearScore the Spot 400 leads 73 to 70.
Pick the Spot 400 if you care most about low weight and price, which makes it the better call for counting grams on long miles. Pick the Actik if brightness matter more to you, or you are focused on your priorities.
The Black Diamond Spot 400. It is 14 g lighter than the Actik.
The Petzl Actik. It is brighter (450 vs 400 lm) than the Spot 400.
The Black Diamond Spot 400, 73 to 70 on the default algorithm. You can re-weight the factors to match your trip.
It depends on your priorities. Go with the Spot 400 for low weight, or the Actik for brightness. The spec table above shows exactly where each wins.