Nitecore HC30 & Xtar H3, on paper comparison

Other Types of Lights LED Headlamps
1

I placed an order 20 days ago, through Amazon, for an Xtar H3 Warboy, sold by SkyBenTrade. I’m still waiting for delivery, but that is another story.

Last night I saw an add for a headlamp by Nitecore, the Nitecore HC30, on the BangGood site. I had not seen this lamp before, and the specifications are very similar to the Xtar H3. Both headlamps claim 1,000 lumens, and they have almost identical lumen outputs at five brightness modes. Both specify IPX8. Both take 1x18650 (the Nitecore can also take 2xCR123).

These are the main differences I could spot. The Nitecore HC30 quotes a slightly longer beam range at 162m v 157m for the Xtar H3. The Xtar H3 quotes significantly longer runtimes in all but the 1 lumen mode. The Xtar H3 quotes 28 hours at 70 lumens, and 2.9 hours at 1,000 lumens. The Nitecore HC30 quotes 15 hours and 15 minutes at 70 lumens, and 1 hour at 1,000 lumens. These are very big differences. As they both put out the same number of lumens, it might be suspected that Nitecore gets its longer range from a more tightly focused beam, and as they both put out the same number of lumens, and have virtually the same brightness modes, I wonder why the runtime figures are so different. The Nitecore specifies a 3400mAh 18650 for its tests. Xtar don’t seem to specify what capacity battery they used. If they are using different capacity batteries, this may make any comparison of the runtimes meaningless. I hope we can find out what batteries Xtar used for their tests.

The Nitecore also has a few extra features:
Strobe mode.
Beacon mode.
SOS mode.
Can take 1x18650 or 2xcr123 (the Xtar takes 1x18650 or 18700).

There may be some other important features on either lamp, but the ones above caught my attention. At time of writing, the Nitecore is slightly more expensive (at Bangood). If the Xtar really does give significantly better runtimes, then on the face of it, the choice is between lower price and longer runtimes for the Xtar H3, and slightly longer throw and more “disco” modes, but higher price, for Nitecore CH30.

Personally I lean towards the longer runtimes. However, until we know what battery Xtar used to test the H3, it is still an open question as to whether the Xtar H3 really does have significantly longer runtimes.

2

Here are the specifications for the Nitecore HC30, and Xtar H3, as posted on BangGood [my Bold].

Nitecoore HC30:

Specification:
Product name: Nitecore HC30 CREE XM-L2 U2 Headlamp
Brand: Nitecore
Model: HC30
Emitter Brand CREE
Emitter Type: XM-L2 LED
Material: Hard-anodlized Aluminum alloy
Mode: Turbo,high,mid,low,lower
+Location Beacon, SOS, Strobe
Lumens: 1000LM,400LM,210LM,70LM,1LM
Runtime: 1h,3h30min,7h15min,15h15min,330h
Battery Configurations: 1 x 18650/2 x CR123 battery (not included)
Switch Type: clicky
Switch Location: on the top of the flashlight [switch is on side]
Impact Resistant 1.5 meters
Max Output: 1000lumens (max)
Range: 162 meters (max)
Peak Beam Intensity: 6600cd
Reflector: Smoothe reflector
Waterproof: IPX-8 waterproof 2meters
Color: Black
Weight: 40.3 g without battery
Size: 98mm x 24.2mm(length x head diameter)

Xtar H3:

Specification:
Product name: XTAR H3 WARBOY 1000 Lumens LED Heahlight
Brand: XTAR
Model: H3 WARBOY
Emitter Brand CREE
Emitter Type: XM-L2 U3 LED
Material: Aircraft-grade 6N01 Aluminum Alloy
Mode: Turbo,High,Mid,Low,Moonlight
Lumens: 1000LM,400LM,200LM,70LM,1LM
Runtime: 2.9h.4.5h,10h,28h,30d
Battery Configurations: Use common 18650/18700 Li-ion batteries (not included)
Max intensity 6200cd
Switch Type: Easy one click on/off button
Switch Location: Top of the headlight [switch is on side]
Impact Resistant 1.5m
Max Output: Max 1000 Lumens
Range: Wide and long beam of 157 meters
Waterproof: Waterproof with IPX-8 – Good for wet or rainy environment
Color: black
Weight: 50g (Battery and Head Strap Excluded)
Size: 105mm x 30mm x 22mm(length x head x body diameter)
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And here are the relevant pages on the Nitecore and Xtar sites.

http://flashlight.nitecore.com/product/hc30

http://www.xtarlight.com/05-chanpin/p-001-1.asp?styleid=370

3

Xtar H3 can be had for much less than MSRP.

I bought mine for 30.59$ during flash sale(also waiting for it to arrive).

Perhaps differences in runtimes are that, maybe Nitecore are posting regulated runtime until light falls out of regulation and Xtar posts ANSI FL1 runtime when the light falls to 10% of its initial output?

Either way, there are few H3 reviews here on BLF, did you check them out, especially runtime section by Mhanlen?

4

yeah it’s not possible for an 18650 to produce 1000 lumens for 3 hours, so the runtime discrepancy is most likely a difference in testing standards, or an error in reporting.

I agree, they look very similar to each other.

5

I would say the driver that can also take 6V in the Nitecore may be the less efficient one.

Let us know of you get both….

6

The most difference between these headlamp is the UI.
I bought H3.

7

veer,

Looks like you might be right!

Here is a quote from old4570, who reviewed the Xtar H3.

I found this quote from xtarflashlight,

ANSI FL1 was supposed to allow people to compare apples with apples, but it does not always work out that way, and there is still a heap of confusion around various claims and specifications. :frowning:

8

I received my HC30 today. I like it. Very light weight. Nice moonlight mode of 1 lumen, and turbo is 1000. One click turns it on in moonlight. Successive full click goes to next mode: moon, low, med, high, turbo. From off, double click to enter very blinding strobe mode, double click again to SOS, double click again to beacon. Must hold switch down for 1 second to turn light off. I was concerned at first, but not an issue The switch has a nice feel, easy to press. Lockout by turning tail cap. Nice strap for headlamp but I don’t use it that way so I have a pile of those lying around. Oh, immediate access to turbo by holding down switch for over 1 sec. Nice tint, it’s cool white, I don’t see any blue. Yes, it heats up quickly on turbo. I thought this might take away my craving for a Zebralight H602, but nope. Very happy with this offering. Only wish they had a NW.

9

I was almost going to order the Hc30, but it looks so close in specs to the Xtar- I decided not to.

10

I wonder if HC30 has thermal management like the H3 does, where when the light gets hot on turbo it will dim down to the next mode and then ramp up back to turbo when the light cools down, I think its neat feature.

11

From the Nitecore product page :

12

i wish someone can do a head-to-head comparison between these to headlamps.

13

Bizarre, NItecore’s ad says it has a rotating head. It doesn’t. I’m a bit bummed. They need to fix their ad. I have an e-mail in to them. Still a great light!

14

You bought one ? The head is fixed, no rotation is possible ?
Wow that’s deceiving, it clearly shows that the head is rotating on 90° on the product page…

15

Yes, false advertising! I confirmed it with my seller. You just rotate the whole light while it’s in the strap! Like that’s new technology? The light head is one solid piece. Really upset with the deception by Nitecore. Shame on them.

16

just saw a video review of h3 on youtube. looks goods. 3hrs runtime on the highest mode is doable. light automatically step down and step up to achieve the 3hrs.

17

This may be the same video review akoposilester mentioned above…

18

^

yup thats the video. i wish i could walk my dog just like he did.

19

I ordered the H3 because of the temperature regulation and the not better but less worse mode spacing. Given it is 1/3rd of the price of current zebralights and wizard pro I think it’s worth a try.

20

Both HC30 and H3 have temp regulation.