GEAR | Bright & Brilliant – Fenix HM65R-T Trail Head Torch Review

June 16, 2021 Benjamin Cannon

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What is it?

Fenix HM65R-T Trail Head Torch RRP £104.95

Features

1500 Lumens (Incredibly Bright!)
300 hours maximum battery life
Single-handed adjustability headband
5 Year Warranty

What we thought

Not considered one of the most exciting toys to purchase when planning an outdoor expedition, yet a head torch is an important consideration especially if you intend to be up and active once the sun goes down.

A head torch is a vital, often life-saving, piece of equipment and Fenix’s latest offering more than holds its own up against the big boys.

With IP67 Waterproofing, a battery life that can comfortably last over 24 hours and a maximum brightness of 1500 lumens, the Fenix HM65R-T is a strong contender for being my new favourite trail running torch.

Fit & comfort

Being a trail runner for numerous years now, I’ve encountered my fair share of head torches. However, none of them had managed to create such a clever mechanism for quick adjustability, until I met the Fenix.

With a closure system I’ve only ever previously seen on cycling shoes, a single rotating lock allows for precise and rapid adjustment allowing you to not only dial in a comfortable fit, but also throw your head torch to a partner who can fit it for themselves in a matter of seconds (something which is required more often than you’d ever think when somebodies battery goes!).

With previous head torches I’ve had to struggle for days on end, and even in the middle of runs to make minor tweaks to get the perfect fit, NO MORE!

Considering this head torch is heavier than my previous model too, you very quickly forget this weight once you’ve dialed in the perfect fit. Once locked in, that head torch isn’t going anywhere.

Brightness

Surely the most important question with any head torch is, does it allow you to see in dark places? Quite simply, this feels like you are walking around with the sun strapped to your head.

The full, monstrous, 1500 lumens of the Fenix which paled every one of my fellow trail runners torches in comparison.

Until now, I had been using a head torch that I thought to be a more-than-sufficient at 400 lumens. That was, until I released the full, monstrous, 1500 lumens of the Fenix which paled every one of my fellow trail runners torches in comparison.

It’s overkill to run around with the torch on its maximum setting with both your forehead and the battery, thanking you for lowering it to its medium setting but even on a lower setting, you are going to struggle to trip over something you didn’t see.

Lifespan

This plays to several factors with a Head torch and I think it’s fair to say the Fenix seems to excel in all of them. With a maximum battery life reaching well over 24 hours of constant use at lower brightnesses, and a fairly reasonable 1 hour 30 minutes for what I call “nuclear” mode, taking advantage of the full 1500 lumens, it is rare you will find yourself having to reach for the charging cable.

Even here, Fenix has been clever by using the latest USB-C charger which is now the same as my phone, saving another cable I have to drag around with me. No corners cut here!

My only concern with the whole torch is the adjustment mechanism could feel a little sturdier, the rest of the head torch feels incredibly solid but after a few seasons on the fells I will have to keep a close eye for failures here. However, Fenix provides this product with a 5 year warranty so I guess they must be pretty confident in their products to provide that much of a guarantee!

Final verdict

Putting it simply, this is the best head torch I’ve ever owned. From the fit to the brightness to the incredible build quality of the torch and its numerous different Floodlight and Spotlight modes, I really do struggle to find fault.

If you really wanted to nitpick, this head torch certainly isn’t the lightest I’ve ever used but this is more than compensated by the incredible lifespan as well as the eye-watering brightness.

It’s still also considerably more portable than its rivals with similar brightness so I certainly would not struggle to recommend this to outdoorsy types and in particular, my fellow fell runners!

DISCLOSURE | Thank you to Fenix who supplied the featured product for us to test. We were not paid to write this review.

Benjamin Cannon

Attempting to encapsulate my surroundings through the eye of a lens is something I love to do”

Ben is keen on all things outdoors, from rock climbing and fell running, to kayaking. He truly does it all. With a camera in tow, he attempts to spend all his free time training at the local climbing wall in order to take his abilities into the mountains and put the latest gear to the test in his favourite national park, the Lake District

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