Review: NITECORE NU05 - HEADLAMP MATE

roma58 · 2019-02-08T14:47:06.000Z

The Nitecore NU05 was sent to me directly by Nitecore for the review.
For product description: https://flashlight.nitecore.com/product/nu05

For purchase: https://www.nitecorestore.com/Nitecore-NU05-Headlamp-Mate-p/fl-nite-nu05.htm

The Nitecore NU05 is a small frontal torch but also an accessory of great utility when it is necessary, for safety, to signal our presence. It can be worn on the head (front or back), around the wrist, on the belt of the trousers, attached to a suit or backpack. It can be used to signal our presence when we ride a bicycle or be inserted in the collar of our beloved dog. Uses are innumerable things that make it an accessory of great interest to those who move in the evening or in the dark.
The Nitecore NU05 is rechargeable via the Micro-USB socket and features 4 high-performance LEDs and dual white and red light sources. The Nitecore NU05 is dustproof and waterproof with an IP66 rating.

Main features:

LED: four high-performance LEDs (2x white and 2x red)
Battery supported: Built-in 3.7V - 120mAh lithium-ion battery
Mode: 4 - White light, Slow white flashing, Fast red flashing, Slow red flashing
Brightness:
Slow red flashing: 4 lumens / 9 hours
Rapid flashing red: 4 lumens / 9 hours
White Slow flashing: 35 Lumens / 2 hours 15 minutes
White light lighting: 35 Lumens / 2 hours 15 minutes
IP rating: IP-66 water resistant
Impact resistance: 1.5 m

Dimensions and weight:
Height - 29.5 mm (1.16 ")
Width - 30.3 mm (1.19 ")
Length - 16.3 mm (0.64 ")
Weight: 10.4 g (0.37 oz)

The packaging:

Nitecore NU05 is sold in two different packages: Standard and KIT.

The test package is the standard version with the headband included for the review. The box is in cardboard with yellow / black coloring. Anteriorly Nitecore NU05 is highlighted with printed the main applications where it is recommended to use the small NU05. USB charging is also indicated.
Behind is printed a small guide on the use (UI) of the NU05 and how to use USB charging.

Inside the package we find:
Nitecore NU05
Multilingual manual

The manual:

Near other things:

The Nitecore NU05 is IP66 certified and is made of durable and robust plastic. It is very light and therefore portable or wearable without any difficulty. It has a square shape and is semi-transparent with a single button for managing the UI (User Interface). The translucent upper and lateral part give a glimpse of the LEDs and circuitry with which it is equipped. The inscription Nitecore in relief above the rubber button is also in evidence.

In the lower part is printed the model of the torch with the certifications and the type of rechargeable battery. This lithium ion battery has a maximum battery life of 20 hours.
The anchor clip system of the Nitecore NU05 is comfortable and functional, with three small teeth that make the grip stable.

The two-colored elastic band, present in the "KIT" package, is of good quality and allows a reasonable adjustment. It is possible to wear it in different ways such as on the front, front and back, above a helmet, around an arm etc.

The Nitecore NU05 can easily be hooked onto the backpack through the MOLLE (MOdular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment).

Operation and User Interface:

Using the single button interface, you can choose from five ways including:

- Red power indicator - flashes slowly - Ideal for locating the NU05 in a bag or as a signal.

- Red - flashes slowly (4 lumens) - Suitable for low speed activity at night, ideal for hiking.
- Red - fast flashing (4 lumens) - Suitable for individual high-speed movement at night, for example as a warning to cars.

- White - flashes slowly (35 lumens) - Ideal for signaling the position at a short distance.
- Fixed white (35 lumens) - Ideal as emergency light

From the manual:

ON/OFF
Turn on: Tap the switch once to turn on the NU05 and the red
indicator will blink slowly.
Turn off: If no further operation occurs 3 seconds after turning on,
tap the switch once again to enter standby status. When the NU05
is fully charged, the max standby time up to 1 year theoretically.

Mode Selection
NU05 has 4 special modes and white light illumination.
Within 3 seconds interval, press the switch repeatedly to cycle
through Red Indicator (slow blink) - Red Light (slow blink) -
Red Light (quick blink) - White Light (slow blink) - White Light
Illumination - Standby.

Lockout/unlock
Lockout: When the light is on, hold the switch for one second to
lockout; after lockout, the indicator will blink once to notify user.
Unlock: In lockout status, hold the switch for three seconds, the
NU05 will unlock and then enter the Red Indicator (slow blink).

Charging
The Nitecore NU05 features a built-in lithium-ion intelligent charging circuit for Micro-USB charging.

1. Open the rubber cover of the USB port, plug the end of the USB
cable into the port and the other end to the power source
(adapter, computer or other power devices) to charge. It takes
about 2 hours to fully charge NU05.
2. Power tip: A red indicator will turn on
during charging. Upon completion red
indicator light will turn green.

Power tips
In standby status, hold the switch for one second, the indicator will
blink to indicate the power level:
3 blinks indicate the power level is above 50%
2 blinks indicate the power level is below 50%
1 blink indicates the power level is close to depletion
NOTE: When the power level is insufficient, the NU05 will dim and
should be charged before further use.

Beam is Runtime:

The beam of Nitecore NU05 with white light is naturally very floody, uniform and with a not particularly cool white shades of color.
However, it can illuminate discreetly at small distances and in enclosed spaces such as boxes and cellars.

The runtime test was performed in a closed environment without forced ventilation with the 120mAh Li-ion battery inside the Nitecore NU05 fully charged.

VIDEO:

www.youtube.com/embed/SKk27xRB_Qc

CONCLUSIONS:

The Nitecore NU05 is a small illuminator indispensable when you move in the evening in partial or total darkness. This safety and emergency light is equipped with 4 high-performance LEDs, two red and two white, and is equipped with clips for perfect portability. The Nitecore NU05 can be recharged via a common Micro-USB socket and can easily be operated via a single button located at the top and center. The Nitecore NU05 has an indicator of residual charge and is resistant to impacts up to 1.5 meters and to water being certified IP66.
Having tried the Nitecore NU05 for a while, I can only recommend it in particular the KIT package also equipped with elastic band and bicycle support.
Thank you for reading the review.

Boro · 2019-02-08T16:32:52.000Z

Nice Review, thank you

This little light is very useful(safety notice) for runner’s to put on their hat in the back, it fits almost all adjustment closures.

No need for the kit with regular headbands, it fits on the straps on the back and can be used for behind the head notification of traffic. I have notice when I am on the roads, car pass far more often on the other side of the road when I am using this light. I put it on back of my headband for the NU10/20/25 or Fenix HL60 when walking/hiking.

It is surprisingly useful!!!

defloyd77 · 2019-02-12T12:30:28.000Z

I really like the idea of this light, but my biggest gripe is it only has 1 steady on mode. If it were up to me, I’d tweak the UI and add a few steady on modes. Click from off gives white with low, high, and slow flash. Press and hold from off gives red. I’d add a red steady on mode too, maybe 2 if the small single red LED is useable.

xevious · 2019-02-12T13:02:04.000Z

Boro:

Nice Review, thank you :+1:

This little light is very useful(safety notice) for runner’s to put on their hat in the back, it fits almost all adjustment closures.

No need for the kit with regular headbands, it fits on the straps on the back and can be used for behind the head notification of traffic. I have notice when I am on the roads, car pass far more often on the other side of the road when I am using this light. I put it on back of my headband for the NU10/20/25 or Fenix HL60 when walking/hiking.

It is surprisingly useful!!!

Yes, I like the design of this light and what you get for the price (there’s a discount going for this on BG). I decided to go for one, despite a sour experience with the Nitecore TIP (2 of them failed on me—so that was it).

EDCba · 2019-02-12T14:57:17.000Z

defloyd77:

I really like the idea of this light, but my biggest gripe is it only has 1 steady on mode. If it were up to me, I’d tweak the UI and add a few steady on modes. Click from off gives white with low, high, and slow flash. Press and hold from off gives red. I’d add a red steady on mode too, maybe 2 if the small single red LED is useable.

Yes I really wish it had low white and red steady modes.

iwandutchy · 2019-02-12T15:04:08.000Z

with discount EUR 10,81……but only 1 hour running time….probally useful for reading, not for hiking…

Gebe · 2019-02-12T16:57:12.000Z

Very nice review! I’ve had one of these, (no headband), for awhile now. Absolutely great, tiny featherweight light.

roma58 · 2019-02-13T23:06:02.000Z

EDCba:

defloyd77:

I really like the idea of this light, but my biggest gripe is it only has 1 steady on mode. If it were up to me, I’d tweak the UI and add a few steady on modes. Click from off gives white with low, high, and slow flash. Press and hold from off gives red. I’d add a red steady on mode too, maybe 2 if the small single red LED is useable.

Yes I really wish it had low white and red steady modes.

So we hope for an update.

Forsythe_P_Jones · 2021-09-04T04:49:15.000Z

(Necro rather than open a new thread):

Does anyone have the weight of this light including the headstrap, but not the bike mount thingy?
Any rumors or news about an updated version? I haven’t seen any but thought I’d ask.

This is the lightest weight headlamp I’ve heard of, I’m pretty sure.