Two headlamps worth lining up side by side. They score within a hair of each other, so it comes down to the details below.
| Nitecore NU31 | Black Diamond Storm 450 | |
|---|---|---|
| GearScore | 73✓ | 72 |
| Max lumens | 550 lm✓ | 450 lm |
| Weight | 3.4 oz | 3.2 oz✓ |
| Beam distance | 145 m✓ | 120 m |
| Max runtime | 147 h | 175 h |
| Price | $40✓ | $60 |
| Battery | Rechargeable | Hybrid |
| Water rating | IP66 | IP67 |
Highlighted cells mark the better spec: NU31 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 Nitecore NU31 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 NU31 is brighter (550 vs 450 lm), a longer beam (145 vs 120 m), and $20 cheaper. The Storm 450 is 4 g lighter. Their GearScores land within a couple of points (73 vs 72), so neither runs away with it.
Pick the NU31 if you care most about brightness and longer throw, which makes it the better call for your priorities. Pick the Storm 450 if low weight matter more to you, or you are focused on counting grams on long miles.
The Nitecore NU31. It is brighter (550 vs 450 lm) than the Storm 450.
The Black Diamond Storm 450. It is 4 g lighter than the NU31.
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 NU31 for brightness, or the Storm 450 for low weight. The spec table above shows exactly where each wins.