Nitecore NU25 UL (400 lm, USB-C)
Published · Researched 2026-09-21
2026 lineup note: The ultralight community's favorite headlamp: 400 lumens, 45–47 g (1.59 oz), USB-C rechargeable, dual spot+flood beams, dual red LEDs, IP66. Street $36.95–$43.94. Note the newer NU25 MCT UL variant (2024+, multi-color-temperature LEDs, 700 mAh, 50 g) — same family, different emitter.
Version lineage (2023–2026)
- NU25 (original): micro-USB, 360 lm — the longtime ultralight standard.
- NU25 UL: USB-C upgrade, 400 lm, 650 mAh, 45 g with the ultralight cord headband (paracord-style instead of a full band). This is the current mainstream pick as of Sept 2026.
- NU25 MCT / MCT UL (2024+): adds Multiple Color Temperature (3000K warm / 4500K neutral / 6500K cool) UHE LEDs, 700 mAh battery, 50 g, 132–144 m throw. Sells alongside the standard UL.
- Discontinued predecessors: Original micro-USB NU25 — verify USB-C on the listing to avoid old stock.
- Smart-buy advice: The standard NU25 UL at ~$37 is the value pick; pay the MCT premium only if you care about warm light for fog/rain or photography.
Overview
A 45-gram dual-beam headlamp that punches far above its weight: primary spot LED (3 levels) plus a flood LED for close-up work, dual red auxiliaries, SOS/beacon modes, lockout, and a 650 mAh battery that fast-charges over USB-C in ~1.5 hours. The UL's cord-style headband (reflective + glow-in-the-dark threads) is what gets it under 50 g. The perennial thru-hiker and ultralight recommendation — the lamp people buy after getting tired of 90-g headlamps.
Key Specs
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Max output | 400 lm (high) · 200 lm (mid) · low (spec varies by listing) |
| Beam distance | 64 m (standard UL) per LumenTac; up to 70 yd per retailers |
| Runtimes | High 400 lm: 2 h 40 min · Mid 200 lm: 4 h 40 min · Max runtime 45 h (lowest) |
| Weight | 45–47 g / 1.59 oz (retailer variance) |
| Battery | Built-in 650 mAh Li-ion, USB-C charging (~1.5 h full) |
| Water resistance | IP66 |
| Impact resistance | 1 m |
| Modes | Spot (3 levels), flood, dual red, SOS, location beacon, lockout |
| Extras | Power indicator, unibody optical lens (>94% transmission), ultralight cord headband |
| Dimensions | 60 × 33 × 25.5 mm |
Sources: sagetosummit.com, lumentac.com, ultralightgear.com.au, armsagora.com, flashlightgo.com listings (all observed 2026-09-20).
Long-term durability
- The NU25 line has a 5+ year owner track record; the unibody PC construction holds up to normal trail abuse. The UL's hollow bracket and cord band are the wear points — inspect the cord for fraying annually.
- USB-C port covers on early units were a weak point (lost covers → water ingress); current production covers are improved (anecdotal, UNVERIFIED).
- 1-year warranty via LumenTac-type distributors; Nitecore's own warranty handling is via regional distributors (terms not re-verified — UNVERIFIED).
- Battery is built-in and not user-replaceable — plan on 2–4 years of heavy use before capacity fade becomes noticeable.
Pricing
- Street: $36.95–$43.94 — SOURCES: sagetosummit.com $36.95 (sold out at observation); lumentac.com $39.00; armsagora.com MSRP $43.94.
- Flashlightgo lists NU25 at $36.99 / NU25 UL at $39.99 (observed 2026-09-20).
In the Box
- NU25 UL headlamp
- Ultralight cord headband
- USB-C charging cable
Warranty
1 year via distributors (e.g., LumenTac's stated 1-year warranty). Nitecore's direct warranty terms not re-verified in this pass (UNVERIFIED).
Support & Parts
- Nitecore (China), support via regional distributors. Spare headbands/cord bands available through Nitecore accessory channels and flashlight retailers.
Head-to-head vs closest rivals
- vs Fenix HM23 v2.0 (
fenix-hm23-v20): HM23 is the AA-traditionalist pick (IP68, magnetic tail, detachable, 86 g). NU25 UL is half the weight and USB-C native — the modern ultralight pick. - vs Petzl Tikka (
petzl-tikka): Tikka is simpler (AAA, Petzl warranty) but twice the weight. NU25 UL for gram-counters; Tikka for simplicity. - vs Black Diamond Cosmo 350 (
black-diamond-cosmo-350): Cosmo is IPX8 and dual-fuel at 79 g. NU25 UL is 34 g lighter with better UI for night running — pick by priority: waterproofing/fuel flexibility (Cosmo) vs weight (NU25 UL). - vs BioLite HeadLamp 800 Pro (
biolite-headlamp-800-pro): 800 Pro is the max-output runner's lamp at 150 g; NU25 UL is the thru-hiker's lamp at 45 g. Different sports, different lamps.
Care & maintenance
- Keep the USB-C port cover seated; rinse grit out of the port after dusty trips.
- Engage lockout before packing — the dual-button UI is easy to bump.
- Store at ~50% charge for the off-season.
Buying traps
- NU25 vs NU25 UL vs NU25 MCT UL: three different products. UL = ultralight cord band + USB-C. MCT UL = color-temperature switching + 700 mAh + 50 g. Verify the exact variant on the listing.
- Old micro-USB NU25 stock still circulates — confirm USB-C.
- Some listings show 47 g, some 45 g — colorway/packaging variance, not a red flag.
Community Verdict
The most-recommended ultralight headlamp in the thru-hiking and UL communities, period. Owners consistently report that the 400-lm spot + flood combo covers everything from night hiking to camp chores, the red mode is genuinely useful, and the 45-g weight disappears on your head. Criticisms: the cord headband can feel less stable than a full band for running (some users swap bands), and the built-in battery means carrying a power bank on long trips. The 5.0/5 retailer ratings and constant "which headlamp" thread consensus back it up.
Images
images/nitecore-nu25-ul-1.jpgimages/nitecore-nu25-ul-2.jpgimages/nitecore-nu25-ul-3.jpgimages/nitecore-nu25-ul-4.jpg— Official-style graphic: black NU25 UL with paracord headband, "45 g / 400 lumens" specsimages/nitecore-nu25-ul-5.jpg— Graphic: black + yellow NU25 UL units with paracord headbands, side by side
Research date: 2026-09-20. Specs/prices change; re-verify live before buying. Claims dated above; anything marked UNVERIFIED was not confirmed from a primary source.