Two headlamps worth lining up side by side. The Actik leans on low weight while the Sprinter 500 answers with brightness, so the pick comes down to which you value.
| Petzl Actik | Black Diamond Sprinter 500 | |
|---|---|---|
| GearScore | 70✓ | 65 |
| Max lumens | 450 lm | 500 lm✓ |
| Weight | 3.5 oz✓ | 4.0 oz |
| Beam distance | 100 m✓ | 50 m |
| Max runtime | 100 h | n/s |
| Price | $65✓ | $100 |
| Battery | Hybrid | Hybrid |
| Water rating | IPX4 | IPX4 |
Highlighted cells mark the better spec: Actik 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 Petzl Actik and Black Diamond Sprinter 500 take different routes to the same job. The Actik wins on low weight and longer throw, and the Sprinter 500 pushes back on brightness.
The Actik is 15 g lighter, a longer beam (100 vs 50 m), and $35 cheaper. The Sprinter 500 is brighter (500 vs 450 lm). On the default GearScore the Actik leads 70 to 65.
Pick the Actik if you care most about low weight and longer throw, which makes it the better call for counting grams on long miles. Pick the Sprinter 500 if brightness matter more to you, or you are focused on your priorities.
The Petzl Actik. It is 15 g lighter than the Sprinter 500.
The Black Diamond Sprinter 500. It is brighter (500 vs 450 lm) than the Actik.
The Petzl Actik, 70 to 65 on the default algorithm. You can re-weight the factors to match your trip.
It depends on your priorities. Go with the Actik for low weight, or the Sprinter 500 for brightness. The spec table above shows exactly where each wins.