Two headlamps worth lining up side by side. Both are solid; the right one depends on the specs you care about most.
| Black Diamond Storm 500-R | Black Diamond Sprinter 500 | |
|---|---|---|
| GearScore | 67✓ | 65 |
| Max lumens | 500 lm | 500 lm |
| Weight | 4.2 oz | 4.0 oz✓ |
| Beam distance | 120 m✓ | 50 m |
| Max runtime | 350 h | n/s |
| Price | $75✓ | $100 |
| Battery | Rechargeable | Hybrid |
| Water rating | IPX7 | IPX4 |
Highlighted cells mark the better spec: Storm 500-R in blue, Sprinter 500 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 Storm 500-R and Black Diamond Sprinter 500 take different routes to the same job. The Storm 500-R wins on longer throw and price, and the Sprinter 500 pushes back on low weight.
The Storm 500-R is a longer beam (120 vs 50 m) and $25 cheaper. The Sprinter 500 is 5 g lighter. On the default GearScore the Storm 500-R leads 67 to 65.
Pick the Storm 500-R if you care most about longer throw and price, which makes it the better call for your priorities. Pick the Sprinter 500 if low weight matter more to you, or you are focused on counting grams on long miles.
The Black Diamond Sprinter 500. It is 5 g lighter than the Storm 500-R.
The Black Diamond Storm 500-R. It is a longer beam (120 vs 50 m) than the Sprinter 500.
The Black Diamond Storm 500-R, 67 to 65 on the default algorithm. You can re-weight the factors to match your trip.
It depends on your priorities. Go with the Storm 500-R for longer throw, or the Sprinter 500 for low weight. The spec table above shows exactly where each wins.