Article by Markus Zinkl
Tiny Helio 600Z ($35.99)
Introduction
I recently got my hands on the Flextail Gear TINY HELIO 600Z headlamp and wanted to share my experience with it. I've been looking for a lightweight, versatile headlamp, and this one caught my eye with its feature set.
First Impressions and Specs
Out of the box, the TINY HELIO 600Z feels pretty compact. Flextail Gear lists the full weight (including battery, headband, and headlamp) at 2.1 oz (59.5g), but on my own scale, it came in just a tad heavier at 2.2 oz (63g) – still impressively light! The dimensions, excluding the headband, are 2.95 x 1.54 x 1.14 inches (75 x 39 x 29mm).
It boasts a maximum output of 600 lumens, which is plenty bright for most of my needs, thanks to its Luminus SST-20 Lamp Bead. You can get it with either a 2.4Wh (650mAh) or a 3.3Wh (900mAh) battery.
I appreciate the modern USB-C charging port, which is super convenient. The battery is also removable via this port.
It uses a standard RCR123R and in my case the 900 mAh version. This is a plus in terms of longevity and you always carry an additional one to swap it out on the go.
It's also got an IP67 waterproof rating, so it should handle rain and splashes without any issues. The lamp itself can be tilted down up to 60 degrees, which is handy for directing the light where you need it.
This little headlamp is packed with lighting options:
Mixed Light Mode: This is a combination of the spot and flood LEDs, giving you a good balance of throw and spread.
Spot Light Mode: Great for when you need to see further down the trail, offering a more linear beam.
Flood Light Mode: Provides wide-angle brightness, perfect for around camp or when you need to see your immediate surroundings. Flextail Gear claims a maximum runtime of 50 hours in this mode at its lowest setting (5 lumens).
Red Light Mode: Essential for preserving night vision or for subtle night observation. It's worth noting that the red light only has one brightness level.
Special Modes:
SOS Mode: Uses international Morse code for emergencies.
Signal Mode: A flashing mode to help mark your position in the dark.
It achieves these modes using two main LEDs: one for the spot beam and one for the wide beam (which also handles the red light). Each of these white light LEDs has three brightness levels.
Operation and Usability
Operating the TINY HELIO 600Z is quite intuitive, which I really like.
A double-click of either button turns the power on.
Once on, a single-click of the respective button cycles through the brightness levels for that LED (spot or flood). You can have either LED on by itself, or both on at the same time.
A long press of a button activates its special modes (flashing for the white LEDs, or the steady red light for the flood LED button). Another press will then cycle through the special options if there are multiple.
A neat safety feature is the safety lock: just press and hold both buttons simultaneously to activate or deactivate it, preventing accidental turn-ons in your pack.
There's also a handy battery charge indicator with four small blue lights:
4 blue lights: 76-100%
3 blue lights: 51-75%
2 blue lights: 26-50%
1 orange light: 0-25%
Comfort and Design
The headband is a minimalist design, made of two elastic cords. It does the job, but I found the adjustment mechanism a little stiff to use.
One thing I did notice is that the lamp feels a bit top-heavy and especially while running it tends to bounce a bit. This is likely due to its relatively deep dimensions. It's not a deal-breaker, but something to be aware of.
The foam on the backside makes it pretty comfortable to wear for such a minimalist design.
Interestingly, the design and feature set seem strongly inspired by the Nitecore NU27UL, which is a popular headlamp in its own right.
My Overall Take
So, what's the verdict?
What I Liked:
Very lightweight and compact.
USB-C rechargeable is a big plus.
Intuitive dual-button operation.
Good range of lighting modes, including a useful red light.
Three brightness levels for both spot and flood.
Safety lock feature.
Clear battery indicator.
What Could Be Better:
The red light only has one brightness level.
It feels a little top-heavy on the forehead.
The headband adjustment is a bit stiff.
All in all, the Flextail Gear TINY HELIO 600Z is a capable and feature-rich headlamp, especially for its size and weight. If you're looking for something light for trail running, hiking, or general outdoor use, and you appreciate a simple user interface, it's definitely worth considering. The similarities to the Nitecore NU27UL are apparent, but it stands on its own as a solid option.
Available at Flextail Gear
The products that are the basis of this test were provided to us free of charge by Flextail Gear. The opinions presented are our own.
Tester Profile
Markus Zinkl: I’m 35 years old and live in a small village in Bavaria, Germany. I started hiking and backpacking 5-6 years ago. Coming from trail running and with light and fast in mind, I started hiking and fast packing with ultralight gear. Over the years I tried and tested a lot of gear, always in search of weight savings. Although still trying to stay out of the ultralight rabbit hole. I spend most of my days off from work on the trail, with at least one 2-3 week thru-hike. Among the more well known trails I have hiked over the last few years are the GR221, WHR (Walker’s Haute Route), TMB (Tour du Mont Blanc), TC (Tour du Cervin-Matterhorn) and Via Alpina Switzerland. As you probably notice by now, I’m at home in the mountains. So if I’m not running or thru-hiking a longer trail, I’m probably somewhere in the Alps checking out some shorter trails.
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