Two headlamps worth lining up side by side. They score within a hair of each other, so it comes down to the details below.
| Petzl Actik Core | Black Diamond Spot 400-R | |
|---|---|---|
| GearScore | 73✓ | 73 |
| Max lumens | 600 lm✓ | 400 lm |
| Weight | 3.1 oz | 3.0 oz✓ |
| Beam distance | 115 m✓ | 100 m |
| Max runtime | 130 h | 225 h |
| Price | $85 | $80✓ |
| Battery | Hybrid | Rechargeable |
| Water rating | IPX4 | IP67 |
Highlighted cells mark the better spec: Actik Core in blue, Spot 400-R 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 Petzl Actik Core and Black Diamond Spot 400-R take different routes to the same job. They are close enough that this really is about which handful of specs you weight most.
The Actik Core is brighter (600 vs 400 lm) and a longer beam (115 vs 100 m). The Spot 400-R is 3 g lighter and $5 cheaper. Their GearScores land within a couple of points (73 vs 73), so neither runs away with it.
Pick the Actik Core if you care most about brightness and longer throw, which makes it the better call for your priorities. Pick the Spot 400-R if low weight and price matter more to you, or you are focused on counting grams on long miles.
The Petzl Actik Core. It is brighter (600 vs 400 lm) than the Spot 400-R.
The Black Diamond Spot 400-R. It is 3 g lighter than the Actik Core.
They are nearly tied at 73 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 Actik Core for brightness, or the Spot 400-R for low weight. The spec table above shows exactly where each wins.