Petzl vs Nitecore Headlamp: ACTIK CORE or NU25 for Camping?
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Petzl vs Nitecore comes down to power against weight: the Petzl ACTIK CORE is rated 625 lumens and weighs 88 g, while the Nitecore NU25 MCT UL is rated 400 lumens and weighs 47 g with its headband. We read both makers' pages and both Amazon listings on 9 October 2026, then read what independent testers found, and added the Black Diamond Spot 400 because the tests we read keep putting it next to them.
Quick answer
Checked on 9 October 2026. Pick the Petzl ACTIK CORE if you want the brighter, simpler lamp: 625 lumens, one button and a battery pack you can swap for three AAA. Pick the Nitecore NU25 MCT UL if weight and size decide: 47 g with the headband, a built-in USB-C battery and three light colours. Both have a red light. On Amazon, 500+ ACTIK COREs and 400+ NU25s were bought last month.
Both, with a buy button each
Petzl ACTIK CORE Headlamp
One-button lamp that runs on a CORE battery or three AAA. Ships from Amazon. Read more
Nitecore NU25 MCT UL Headlamp
Ultralight, built-in battery, three light colours. Ships from Amazon. Read more
Where to go deeper
Best Headlamp for Camping and Van Life
Six headlamps and a flashlight, side by side. Read more
How we compared them
The NomadsToolsLab team read the Petzl and Nitecore product pages on 9 October 2026 and checked both Amazon pages with a US address. What surprised us: the weight and the water rating run in opposite directions. Nitecore lists 47 g with the headband and IP66; Petzl lists 88 g and IPX4, which Petzl calls weather resistant.
Testers at CleverHiker (more than 40 headlamps, updated 14 April 2026) name the ACTIK CORE their best well-rounded headlamp and the NU25 UL their best ultralight one. They found the Petzl bright, comfortable and easy to use, but heavier than the lightest lamps and not fully waterproof; the Nitecore's materials felt fragile next to premium lamps and its red mode can be too bright. Switchback Travel (13 headlamps, updated 27 March 2026) named the ACTIK CORE its best overall and the NU25 its best ultralight, and found the Petzl bulky and front-heavy and the Nitecore's thin elastic strap less comfortable than a wide band.
On YouTube, JetSetYourself calls the ACTIK CORE a straightforward one-button lamp whose extra lumens help for quick orientation, with maximum power for about two hours on the bundled battery. The description of Flashaholic's video lists measured outputs of 432 to 453 lumens at turn-on for the NU25 MCT, across its three light colours.
Our conclusion: pick on weight against power. Every number in the table comes from the makers' own pages unless we name the tester.
Petzl vs Nitecore at a glance
| Petzl ACTIK CORE | Nitecore NU25 MCT UL | Black Diamond Spot 400 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max output | Petzl ACTIK CORE: 625 lm on the CORE battery, 450 lm on AAA (Petzl) | Nitecore NU25 MCT UL: 400 lm (Nitecore) | Black Diamond Spot 400: 400 lm (Black Diamond) |
| Weight | Petzl ACTIK CORE: 88 g | Nitecore NU25 MCT UL: 47 g with bracket and headband | Black Diamond Spot 400: 86 g with AAA, 72 g with the BD 1500 battery |
| Power | Petzl ACTIK CORE: CORE battery (1250 mAh) or 3 AAA | Nitecore NU25 MCT UL: Built-in 700 mAh Li-ion, USB-C | Black Diamond Spot 400: 3 AAA included; BD 1500 battery optional |
| Runtime | Petzl ACTIK CORE: Max power 2 h, 7 lm for 100 h (CORE battery) | Nitecore NU25 MCT UL: Up to 45 h | Black Diamond Spot 400: High 2.5 h, low 200 h (AAA) |
| Water rating | Petzl ACTIK CORE: IPX4, weather resistant | Nitecore NU25 MCT UL: IP66 | Black Diamond Spot 400: IPX8, 1.1 m for 30 min |
| Red light | Petzl ACTIK CORE: Continuous and strobe | Nitecore NU25 MCT UL: Auxiliary red, two brightness levels | Black Diamond Spot 400: Red night vision with dimming and strobe |
| Light colour | Petzl ACTIK CORE: White, mixed beam | Nitecore NU25 MCT UL: Warm 3,000 K, neutral 4,500 K, cool 6,500 K | Black Diamond Spot 400: White, dimmable, brightness memory |
| Maker page | Petzl ACTIK CORE: Current product | Nitecore NU25 MCT UL: Product page live | Black Diamond Spot 400: Listed as Past Season |
| Bought last month on Amazon (9 Oct) | Petzl ACTIK CORE: 500+ | Nitecore NU25 MCT UL: 400+ | Black Diamond Spot 400: 700+ |
1. Petzl ACTIK CORE
Petzl ACTIK CORE Headlamp
The Petzl ACTIK CORE is a multisport headlamp with a mixed beam, wide and focused. The Petzl page lists 625 lumens (ANSI/PLATO FL1), 88 g, and a CORE rechargeable battery of 1250 mAh that takes 3.5 hours to charge or three AAA batteries; the lamp detects which one it has and adjusts its output. On the CORE battery, maximum power is 625 lumens for 2 hours, the standard level is 100 lumens for 7 hours and the lowest level is 7 lumens for 100 hours; on AAA the maximum is 450 lumens. Continuous red light runs for 60 hours. Petzl lists IPX4 (weather resistant), a 5-year guarantee on the lamp and 2 years or 300 charging cycles on the battery, and warns that the lamp is not certified for road use.
On 9 October 2026 the black ACTIK CORE showed In Stock with an Add to cart button, shipped from Amazon and sold by TRADEFLOWSOLUTION LLC, with a 30-day refund or replacement and 500+ bought in the past month. The listing title says 650 lumens; Petzl's page says 625, which is the number we use.
The trade-offs, per the testers above: it is heavier than the lightest lamps and not fully waterproof (CleverHiker), and bulky and front-heavy, with a plastic strap adjuster that broke on Switchback's sample and a battery compartment that can be hard to open (Switchback).
2. Nitecore NU25 MCT UL
Nitecore NU25 MCT UL Headlamp
The Nitecore NU25 MCT UL is the lightest lamp here. The Nitecore page lists 400 lumens, a 132 m maximum beam distance, 47 g (1.66 oz) with bracket and headband, a built-in 700 mAh Li-ion battery charged over USB-C, up to 45 hours of runtime, and an IP66 rating with 1 meter impact resistance. It has two primary lights with three colour temperatures (3,000 K warm light, 4,500 K neutral white and 6,500 K cool white), auxiliary red lights, four brightness levels, three special modes and two brightness options for the red light. The box holds the lamp with bracket and headband, a USB-C cable and a diffusing stuff sack.
On 9 October 2026 the NU25 MCT UL (elastic cord, black) showed In Stock with an Add to cart button, shipped from Amazon and sold by Lumen Tactical, with a 30-day refund or replacement and 400+ bought in the past month.
The trade-offs, per the testers above: the materials feel fragile next to premium lamps and the red mode can be too bright (CleverHiker), and the thin elastic strap is less comfortable than a wide band (Switchback). Nitecore lists a built-in battery only, so there is no AAA option: when it is empty you recharge it over USB-C.
Also worth a look: Black Diamond Spot 400
Black Diamond Spot 400 Headlamp
The Black Diamond Spot 400 appears beside the ACTIK CORE and the NU25 in both tests we read. CleverHiker named it the best value headlamp and noted that it is not rechargeable, the light is harsh in spot mode and the controls take some learning; Switchback called it a close second that is cheaper and slimmer, with a battery life that disappointed its testers. The Black Diamond page lists 400 lumens, 100 m on high, 86 g with AAA batteries, IPX8, a red night-vision mode and a 3-year warranty. On that page the lamp is labelled Past Season, so Black Diamond may replace it with a newer model.
On 9 October 2026 the Amazon listing we link (dark olive) showed In Stock with an Add to cart button, shipped from Amazon and sold by Black Diamond Equipment, with a 30-day refund or replacement and 700+ bought in the past month.
Which one to pick
Camp chores after dark: either one; the ACTIK CORE for the brighter beam, the NU25 if the lamp lives in a pocket. Ultralight packing: the NU25, at 47 g. Trips without a socket: a lamp that takes AAA, the ACTIK CORE or the Spot 400, because spare batteries work where a charger does not. Wet weather: compare the ratings in the table: IPX4 for the Petzl, IP66 for the Nitecore, IPX8 for the Black Diamond. Reading in the tent: the NU25 is the only one here that lists a choice of light colour, including a 3,000 K warm light.
For six headlamps and a flashlight side by side, see our best headlamp for camping guide, and for a trip packing list, our backpacking packing list.
From the road: look under the van
Chenzo, founder of NomadsToolsLab
Underneath the car, under the motor, you need to protect it for rats, because they can go in the motor but they can also eat your cables.
That is Chenzo's advice from his years in a van. Looking there means working with both hands, which is the job of a lamp on your head. Our guide to rats chewing wires in a van has the checks, and our cargo van conversion guide covers the van conversion he built himself.
Watch: the ACTIK CORE and the NU25 in video
Video by JetSetYourself. His description calls the video unsponsored.
JetSetYourself compares the ACTIK CORE with Black Diamond's rechargeable Storm 500-R. He tested the 600-lumen version, which Petzl's page now lists as 625, and picks the Storm as his overall winner and the Petzl as the straightforward one-button lamp, whose extra lumens help for quick orientation. He notes that maximum power lasts about two hours on the bundled battery.
Petzl ACTIK CORE Headlamp
Video by FLASHAHOLIC. His description carries a shop link with a discount code.
FLASHAHOLIC reviews the NU25 MCT, the same lamp with a standard headband; Nitecore's page covers both. In his description he lists measurements at turn-on of 449 lumens in neutral white, 432 in warm and 453 in cool, alongside the maker's runtimes from 2 hours 40 minutes at 400 lumens up to 45 hours at the lowest level.
Nitecore NU25 MCT UL Headlamp
- Petzl ACTIK CORE: 625 lumens, 88 g, CORE battery or three AAA, IPX4, 5-year guarantee on the lamp.
- Nitecore NU25 MCT UL: 400 lumens, 47 g with the headband, built-in 700 mAh USB-C battery, IP66, three light colours.
- CleverHiker and Switchback Travel both name the ACTIK CORE a top all-rounder and the NU25 the best ultralight lamp.
- Black Diamond lists the Spot 400 as Past Season; on 9 October 2026 the Amazon listing was in stock.
- On 9 October 2026 all three were in stock on Amazon: Spot 400 with 700+ bought last month, ACTIK CORE 500+, NU25 400+.
FAQ
Is Petzl or Nitecore better for camping?
Neither wins on every point. The Petzl ACTIK CORE is rated 625 lumens, takes a rechargeable battery or three AAA and weighs 88 g. The Nitecore NU25 MCT UL is rated 400 lumens, has a built-in USB-C battery and weighs 47 g. CleverHiker and Switchback Travel both name the ACTIK CORE a top all-rounder and the NU25 the best ultralight headlamp.
Is the Petzl ACTIK CORE waterproof?
Petzl lists IPX4 and calls the lamp weather resistant, and CleverHiker's testers describe it as not fully waterproof. For a higher rating, Nitecore lists IP66 for the NU25 and Black Diamond lists IPX8 for the Spot 400.
Can the Nitecore NU25 use AAA batteries?
No. Nitecore lists a built-in 700 mAh Li-ion battery that you charge over USB-C. The Petzl ACTIK CORE and the Black Diamond Spot 400 both take AAA batteries.
Which headlamp is lighter, Petzl or Nitecore?
The Nitecore. It lists 47 g with the bracket and headband, against 88 g for the Petzl ACTIK CORE.
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Where to go next
See the best headlamp for camping, the Kidde vs First Alert carbon monoxide detector comparison and the Jetboil vs MSR camp stove comparison.
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