Black Diamond Icon

Summary

Super-bright light at 200 lumens and very durable. A little on the heavy/bulky side if you are into minimizing weight, but overall a solid light. See more details and see it in action in my video.

Durable, reliable, and long lasting.

I've found this headlamp easy to operate and have put it to use on more than just backpacking. I've also used it when I work on computer hardware and working on my vehicle. 

Speaking for headlamps in general, you can't beat the hands free lighting this provides when you are trying to set up your tent after the sun has gone down.

This is the best gear I purchased for my kayak this year. It has performed beyond my expectations. The long range light is great for open water and the low setting is great for rivers and in camp. I have used this in the Gulf of Mexico miles offshore and on many inland lakes and rivers.

The high beam seems to offend those on the wrong side of it and the low is enough for everything at the put in/take out and camp. You can see the yellow eyes of the alligators at fifty plus yards. The reflectors on bouys and markers at a hundred. Loading and unloading gear and setting up camp are a breeze with the low setting. After getting the straps adjusted, it is a comfortable fit for long paddling sessions.

Although the wearer can't see the battery meter, it is a big help to know the status of your light before it goes dark. There is enough warning that you should never experience dead batteries. The batteries seem to never die! I used this light every night on an eight day trip and never needed to change the batteries. This should be all the light anyone would need.

I sell gear at a local Alaskan Mountaineering shop, so I see a lot of cool stuff come and go. This is the only headlamp I would own. All of the necessary features, no fluff.

I use the long range 3 watt LED for high speed adventures like skiing and winter biking, as well as route finding in the dark. I am very impressed with the range it has. The 4 smaller LEDs are great for cooking, reading in the tent, and for finding that chocolate bar at the bottom of the backpack.

It is lighter and simpler than similarly powerful headlamps, but the greatest attribute in my opinion is its battery life. By running solely on LEDs, and leaving out the old-school Halogens, the Icon can go for many trips on the same set of three double A's. It lives in the top pocket of my pack.

I purchased the Black Diamond Icon at a local backpacking store based on a recommendation I read at runnersworld.com. I both run and backpack and wanted a headlamp that would work for both purposes. So far, the Icon has performed well during my early morning runs in the woods, although it took a couple runs to get used to the weight of the battery pack on my head. Both the close up and distance lights work well. The leds are very bright, even during the day, and the best part is that the batteries last for a long time. Also, the straps keep the headlamp secured to my head even during fast runs.

The only issue I've had with the headlamp is that the batteries in the battery pack sometimes pop out of place, which causes the headlamp to go out and me to stop and readjust the batteries. Overall though, I'm happy with the Icon and look forward to many years of use.

Would be 5 stars but the individual light levels are too hard to scroll between. otherwise light level on main light is excellent and the nrg kit holds a good charge and can be swapped with the apollo in a pinch. also runs well on regular batteries but stick to lithium for best run times. secondary lights for area lighting also works well for cooking and camp chores.

i would recommend this product to any avid backpacker or trail runner.

This is by far the best headlamp I have ever used. I do a lot of outdoor trips each year, 4 or 5. This headlamp lights up the trail like no other.

The only complaint that I have about the headlamp is that when I am hiking and turn around to talk to somebody, I need to turn down the light because the say it is too bright.

The battery pack on this headlamp may be a little big, but once you get everything adjusted it fits like a dream. I would definitely buy this headlamp again.

The Icon headlamp by Black Diamond is a must have. I believe that it is the brightest headlamp on the market right now. In the pitch black you can see upwards of 200 ft with the highest beam on. It has a 3-watt LED spotlight with four SuperBright LEDs for brilliant close-range lighting. This lamp is also compatible with the NRG Battery System. Its battery-power meter uses 3 indicator lights: green (50% or more), yellow (20% or more) and red (less than 20%). All three of my teammates have them and we feel as though we are cheating a bit with them.

I believe in the Black Diamond Icon Headlamp — it's great. I use it, among three other brands, at my Great Bear Rainforest river access "only" cabin in Bella Coola, BC, Canada.

My problem is I haven't found anyone not afraid of the beat infested rainforest there. I can get scared too being alone there. I like buying the best equipment when possible.