Spoiler Review: Olight H1 Nova Headlamp
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I’ll start with a conclusion to justify the spoiler:
…In the year 2016, if you want to get an Olight Headlamp, get the Olight H1 Nova Neutral White, and forget the Cool White version ever existed.
There you have it… you can skip the rest of the text and move on…
Not convinced? Here are the Pros and Cons:
Pros
- Lightweight
- Short
- Can use rechargeable RCR123
- 500 lumens Turbo mode
- Neutral White option
- Clip
- Tailcap/Physical lockout
- Magnetic base/tailcap
- Nice pouch
- It remembers last used mode (except Turbo)
Cons
- Cool White option
- Electronic lockout
- Turbo mode is hot
- No lanyard hole
Take a look at the following beamshot:
It is what it is… regardless of CRI, the neutral white is simply… better! (Yes, I’m bias when comes to using artificial light outdoor and urban settings)
other modes comparisons:
compare the above with Fenix HL50…
a pic to compare H1 Nova to Fenix HL50
and a feature comparison table…
I really wish H1 Nova has a similar conversion/adapter to use AA size battery.
a beamshot of SMini (BeadBlaster Ti) to compare to…
and a group shot with SMini and S1…
still reading? ok, here are some boring stuffs to roll your time over…
It comes in a box… (Olight send me both Cool White and Neutral White)
and further “protected” by a pouch…
It’s a nice pouch, and good to keep H1 Nova in it together with a couple of spare batteries and/or the new Olight UC cable if you are on rechargeable RCR123.
H1 User Manual
remember to remove the battery insulator before use… yes, a CR123A is included in the light.
some close-up shots…
and let’s finish it with a boring tint comparison…
oh, almost forgot to give you a tip… when you “double-click” to go into Turbo mode, you can “double-click” again to go back to whichever mode you were before Turbo mode, and if you are anyway like me, you will spend a good deal of time putting the light in low mode and double-clicking watching the light ramping up and ramping down… all in the name of stress testing the electronic switch.
again, it’s the year 2016, if you ever wanted to get an Olight-branded headlamp, it is the H1 Nova Neutral White that you want, it is the H1 Nova Neutral White that you need, it is the H1 Nova Neutral White that you always desired… there are no other Olight headlamps… there is one and the only Olight H1 Nova Neutral White… now… and now… you are feeling very tired… your eyes can hardly stay open… ZZZZZZZZZ…
great pics! thanks for posting! i like the look of this olight headlamp!
Excellent review, Rookie. Thanks for taking the time.
I hope O-light makes an 18650 version of this light.My Army Tech Wizard could use a friend. Thanks for an excellent review!
Just concluded a low-mode (2-lumen) runtime test with the Cool White version using a fresh Olight CR123A Primary battery:
This must be at least the 6th review of this über cute light…
Maybe they turned it off when they went to sleep.
Thanks for the review, very informative!
testing a small headband mod for quick attach and detach…
the original headband
cut away the loop and glue a small neodymium magnet
H1 Nova clip just snapped on to the magnet…
mod works for S Mini too…
and easy 360° rotation for S Mini…
not suitable for Copper or heavier lights, not for running nor hiking… it’s pretty secured for what I intended — light close up task. 