Petzl Nao+ Headlamp Review

Interested in the Petzl Nao+ headlamp? Then you’re definitely in the right place because this detailed review will tell you all you need to know about the headlamp!

Brightness, lighting modes, durability, and value for money are just a few of the things we’ve covered in this detailed review. Read on to learn more about the Petzl Nao+ headlamp, and see if it is the right option for you!

Light

Lumens

Lumens are the key specification of a headlamp that determines exactly how bright it is. The more lumens a headlamp has, the brighter it can shine. Also, lumens affect the beam distance as well, and generally the more lumens in a lamp, the longer the beam distance will be.

The Nao+ headlamp has 750 lumens of power, making it one of Petzl’s brightest headlamps. To put things in perspective, average headlamps made for night hikes have between 100 and 300 lumens, and even those with 300+ lumens are considered top of the range.

With 750 lumens, this incredibly bright headlamp is suitable for even the most demanding adventures in the dark.

It’s worth noting that the headlamp doesn’t constantly output the highest amount of lumens, but it is capable of doing that. The Nao+ is programmable, with several lighting modes that output different amounts of lumens.

Beam Distance and Pattern

The beam distance of a headlamp is the length of the path in front of you that the headlamp is capable of illuminating. With the max lumen output, the Nao+ has a beam distance of 140 meters, which is absolutely incredible. If you’re looking for a headlamp that has an extremely long beam distance, the Nao+ is certainly one of the best options on the market.

It’s important to note that the beam distance heavily depends on the lumen output. This means that the 140-meter beam distance is only possible when the headlamp is in the Max Power lighting mode that outputs 750 lumens by using reactive lighting technology.

Another great feature of the Nao+ headlamp is that it utilizes multi-beam lighting. It manages to combine a flood beam (proximity lighting) with a focused beam (long-range vision), for optimal lighting conditions at night.

Modes

There are four pre-programmed modes for the headlamp – two constant lighting modes and two reactive lighting modes. The reactive lighting modes are Max Autonomy (320 lumens, 85 meters) and Max Power (750 lumens, 140 meters).

When the headlamp is set up in the reactive lighting modes, it utilizes a light sensor that allows it to automatically adjust both the brightness and the beam pattern, which in turn optimizes battery use. The reactive lighting technology is generally a great option since it eliminates the need to adjust the headlamp manually if you are using it in changing lighting conditions.

The two constants lighting modes are Max Autonomy (120 lumens, 65 meters) and Max Power (530 lumens, 135 meters).  In constant lighting modes, the light sensor is not utilized and the brightness of the lamp stays the same until you manually change it.

The Nao+ headlamp also has a reserve mode that outputs 15 lumens when at a low battery.

Additionally, it is possible to customize the different profiles and set up something that’s ideal for you. You can do this with the MyPetzl Light smartphone app, which connects to the headlamp via Bluetooth.

Battery

Battery Type

The Petzl Nao+ headlamp uses a 31000 mAh Lithium-Ion battery. It’s included in the purchase, and it is rechargeable with a micro USB cable. The micro USB cable is included in the purchase, but you don’t get a dedicated adapter for the headlamp.

And that’s okay – you can plug the cable into pretty much any adapter or computer and it will charge the battery. The charging time of the battery is 6-8 hours for a full charge, depending on the electrical output of the adapter.

That’s pretty much the only downside of this headlamp – you must remember to charge it the night before you want to use it, otherwise, you won’t have enough time to charge it. Also, 8 hours is a long time to charge a 3100 mAh battery – smartphones these days have batteries of 5000+ mAh, and they can be fully charged in an hour.

Battery Life

The battery life of the Nao+ headlamp depends on which mode you use it in. The maximum burn time for the lamp is 15 hours for the pre-programmed mode that outputs 320 lumens for a beam distance of 85 meters.

The Max Power in constant lighting mode has a battery life of only 90 minutes, which is actually 5 hours shorter than the mode that outputs 750 lumens in reactive lighting. That’s just one of the reasons why it’s better to use the headlamp in reactive lighting mode.

Also, it’s important to keep in mind that these are only the pre-programmed modes – you can customize the output and beam distance as much as you want, and you should be able to find a setting that allows you to maximize the battery life.

Another thing worth noting is that the reserve mode is best in low-battery situations since it gives you about 2 hours of battery life with an output of 15 lumens.

The battery can operate for at least one year, or 300 charging cycles. One charging cycle is fully charging and draining the battery, so the longevity will depend on how often you use it. If you use it every single day, expect it to work for about a year, before you need to purchase a replacement battery. If you use it once a week, the battery can last you some 5-6 years.

A brand new battery for the Nao+ headlamp costs some $70, and it’s possible to purchase it directly from Petzl or from Amazon.

Weight

The Nao+ headlamp weighs 6.5oz/185 g. It’s a bit heavy for a headlamp – average mid-range headlamps with a lumen output of 300-400 usually weigh around 100 grams. The Nao+ is almost twice that, but it’s worth noting that a lot of that weight comes from the battery.

The battery alone weighs 95 grams, which is the bulk of the weight of the Nao+ headlamp. In any case, the headlamp is still lightweight enough that it should make you uncomfortable or cause you any pain while you are wearing it. It’s not even the heaviest headlamp Petzl makes – that would be the DUO RL, which weighs almost 400 grams!

Also, it’s worth noting that there is a belt kit accessory for the headlamp, which allows you to move the battery to the belt. This helps reduce the total weight that is worn on the head and distributes the weight more evenly so that the headlamp doesn’t move around when you’re on the go. Moving the battery to the belt also helps keep it warm in cold weather conditions, which can be a bit of an issue for Li-Ion batteries.

Durability

The Nao+ headlamp has an IPX4 water resistance rating, meaning that it can handle light precipitation. This rating means that the headlamp is resistant to splashes from any direction, but it cannot handle very heavy rain.

If you want a headlamp that’s suitable for use in all weather conditions, this, unfortunately, isn’t the best option. You should look into waterproof options like the Black Diamond Storm, which are suitable for use even in heavy rain.

The lack of total waterproofing is the only performance aspect where there’s room for improvement. In terms of everything else, there’s no reason to expect that the Nao+ will malfunction even with constant use. Petzl includes a three-year guarantee for this headlamp, but that doesn’t include the battery.

Value for Money

Petzl Nao+ is an expensive headlamp, with a price point of around $200. It’s definitely worth the money because of the excellent performance that you won’t find in many other lamps.

Also, the Bluetooth connectivity and the fact that you can control it with a smartphone app is an amazing feature that alone is worth half the price of the lamp. You never have to take it off your head to adjust anything since you have full control of the lamp through the app.

Durability, performance, and convenience of use are the main reasons why the Nao+ headlamp is worth the high price tag.

Verdict

Should you buy the Petzl Nao+ headlamp? It depends on what features you’re looking for in a headlamp.

If you need something that offers the maximum amount of brightness, then this is definitely a good choice. With an output of 750 lumens that can offer a maximum beam distance of 140 meters, this is one of the best and brightest headlamps on the market. Plus, you can control it with a smartphone app, which just makes it even better!

On the other hand, if you don’t need that bright a headlamp and you’d rather have something waterproof, there are dozens, if not hundreds, of other headlamps you can get instead. Be sure to check out our related posts for ideas on some more excellent headlamps that might be a better option for you!

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