Hi everyone, with this review today we will see one of the latest flashlights born in the Fenix house. In fact, we will talk about the Fenix HP30R v2.0: powerful headlamp equipped with three LED emitters, capable of producing two beams with completely different geometry, and with a convenient rotary switch for selecting the output levels.
The flashlight was provided by Fenix specifically for the review. Here you can find the link of the company and here the link of the product.
Packaging and content
The Fenix HP30R v2.0 comes in a large Fenix-style colored cardboard box with all the main features of the product imprinted on it. The equipment is rich and as a whole includes:
- HP30R V2.0 light
- Battery pack
- Elastic band
- 2x Batteries 21700 size model Fenix ARB-L21-5000 5000mAh
- USB Type-C charging cable
- Extension cable for battery pack
- 4 helmet hooks
- Steel belt clip for the battery pack
- Spare O-Ring
- User Manual
- Warranty Card
Main features
- Led CREE XHP50.2 Cool White + 2x CREE XP-G3 S4 Neutral White (5700K)
- Max output: 3000 lumens
- Max light intensity: 17933cd
- Orange peel reflector for the main LED and TIR "Frosted" lens for the two secondary LEDs
- USB Type-C charging cable
- Batteries Included: 2x Fenix ARB-L21-5000 5000mAh
- Light Dimensions:
- Length: 3.62 "(92mm)
- Width: 2.20 "(56mm)
- Height: 1.73 "(44mm)
- Battery pack dimensions:
- Length: 4.21 "(107mm)
- Width: 1.97 "(50mm)
- Height: 1.61 "(41mm) [/ list]
- Weight: 15.41 oz. (437g) including battery pack and headband
- Impact resistance: 2m
- Waterproof: IP68 resistant to dust and rain
Levels of Output and Runtime
The Fenix HP30R v2.0 has 4 output levels for the Spot beam, 3 levels for the Flood and 4 levels for the combined Flood + Spot mode.
The output levels proved, in the first 30 seconds after power-up, all higher than those declared by the parent company. Optimal!
From some tests carried out on medium / high levels I can say that the data reported in the user manual regarding the discharge curves are consistent with the real behavior of the flashlight so we can consider them reliable. I report them below ..
The body and the materials
The Fenix HP30R v2.0 is powerful and large headlamp equipped with a high-performance battery pack consisting of two 21700 cells. Its size and weight do not make it very comfortable to wear directly on the head for very long periods, but it is perfect to be used for example mounted on a helmet.
Let's start by talking a little about the elastic band: it's really well made, it's thick and soft.
Inside, a small layer of silicone prevents the band from moving when making sudden movements. The surfaces of the helmets are usually very smooth and without this silicone layer the elastic band would tend to move.
To securely and securely lock the elastic band to the helmets, the HP30R v2.0 is also equipped with 4 plastic hooks.
There is also a fastening system to always keep the excess cable in order.
The light holder is made of rigid plastic so when you wear the Fenix HP30R v2.0 for long periods, this starts to feel and in the long run it could be a bit annoying.
The battery compartment is separate from the body of the flashlight and will be located on the back of the elastic band if we decide to wear everything on the head.
It connects to the light thanks to a cylindrical jack.
To access the battery compartment it is necessary to release a metal catch and open the cover. Here we will see the two large 21700 cells in series with each other. The contacts are made up of two golden buttons on the cap side and two grinding wheels on the opposite side.
On one side of the battery pack we find the USB-A and USB-C interfaces, covered by a thick rubber cap, which allow you to charge the batteries inside (via USB-C) and to use the battery pack also as a normal power bank for example to recharge the smartphone (via USB-A).
A full charge of the two 5000mAH 21700 cells takes approximately 4 and a half hours.
Next to the USB interfaces there are a series of status LEDs that provide information on the residual charge of the batteries: for example, 4 LEDs on indicate full charge, only 1 LED on means residual charge between 40% and 20% while a single LED blinking indicates that the residual capacity is less than 20% and therefore the light must be recharged as soon as possible.
The battery pack can also be easily detached from the elastic band thanks to the quick release system that we see in the picture and can, for example, be installed on the belt, on a backpack or in a pocket. To do this it is necessary to extend the power cable using the extension that Fenix provides in the package.
A beautiful, easily removable stainless steel belt clip is useful for quickly attaching the battery pack to your belt or to any MOLLE system for example.
The head of the HP30R v2.0 is really very big, much bigger than any other front that I have ever owned. There is a lot of metal and therefore a lot of surface that allows for good heat dissipation. On the side and on the top of the head there are thick dissipation fins that help in the dispersion of the heat produced when using the flashlight on high levels.
The HP30R v2.0 can be tilted thanks to the system that allows it to be positioned at different angles. However, the flashlight cannot be removed from the support so it will always remain connected to the elastic band.
The optical part is composed of a main LED XHP50.2 (the manual erroneously shows the initials XHP50) with a cool color capable of delivering 2000 real lumens to the Turbo. It is well centered inside a small and deep parabola with orange peel treatment: from this comes a beam with a well-defined spot and a bright spill that can be used for short distances, I would say almost a shooting beam. ideal for distant lighting.
The two auxiliary, auxiliary LEDs have very little since they will probably be the ones you will most use for your walks when you have this flashlight on your head: in fact, thanks to the dotted TIR lens, they produce a wide and diffused beam without any well-defined spot. The color is neutral tending to cool (5700K), very beautiful and perfect for use in natural environments.
Having the possibility of using a spot beam to illuminate a lot and at the same time having the possibility to switch to a totally Flood beam, I find it a comfortable and functional solution.
The Spot + Flood combination is also a useful option when you need a lot of light, but the Spot beam is already perfect for this thanks to the presence of a large and bright spill.
The main LED lens is made of glass and with anti-reflective treatment
The management of the user interface is very simple: there is a rotary switch with a series of steps that allows the light to be switched on and the choice of brightness levels: in the central position, which is the starting position, the light is off.
If you turn the switch one step clockwise you will activate the Low level of the Spot Mode, if you continue to rotate it clockwise you will then go to the Medium level, then to the High level and finally to the Turbo.
From the starting position, turning the switch anticlockwise, on the other hand, will access the three output levels of the Flood beam.
The rotating switch is also composed of a button which, if pressed, will allow the main LED or the two auxiliary LEDs to be turned on according to the mode in which you are: for example, if we have the light on in Spot mode, if the switch is pressed they will be turned on the auxiliary Flood LEDs. Similarly, if you are in Flood mode, pressing the switch will turn on the Spot LED. In short, regardless of the mode we are in, by pressing the button in the center of the switch, all the LEDs of the HP30R v2.0 will light up to offer a Flood + Spot beam.
The overall build quality is excellent. The feeling in the hand is of absolute solidity and robustness. Everything is studied in detail, I do not find any defect in this flashlight neither in terms of construction nor in terms of aesthetics.
Here are some shots in the dark
Conclusions
The Fenix HP30R v2.0 is an excellent product. The materials are of high quality, the thicknesses are abundant and in the hand it gives a good feeling of strength. Sure it is heavy and bulky but it is also powerful, it disperses heat well and the runtimes are exceptional!
Pro:
- Excellent Turbo power
- Flood + Spot beam
- Elastic band perfect for installation on helmets
- High runtime thanks to the high-performance battery pack
- Fast battery charging and very useful powerbank function
- Possibility of detaching the battery pack from the band to be mounted in other areas of the body (in this way the weight on the head is reduced and the use of the flashlight is much more comfortable)
- Neutral tint of the Flood beam (tending to cool with 5700K)
- Rotary switch with immediate possibility to access the flood-spot mode by means of a specific button
- Possibility to tilt the light at will
- Super simple user interface: turn the switch to choose your preferred output level
- Complete package and full of accessories
Cons:
- High weight: this is not really a defect since the flashlight is very heavy due to its battery pack and the amount of metal present: but if you want a flashlight that has a high runtime and a lot of power, you certainly can't expect more.
- The elastic band could be designed with a rubber light support in order to make it comfortable to use the light for long periods when for example it is used directly on the head and not on a helmet. The fact that it is made of rigid plastic, wearing the flashlight for several hours can be a bit uncomfortable. [/ list]
Thanks for reading!!!