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Nitecore NU25 UL Headlamp — Specs & Analysis
Manufacturer specifications, compared against every other lighting in our database. We do not test gear in the field — we measure, verify, and compare.
The NU25 UL is the bikepacker's headlamp. At 45g with the headband — 28g without it — it disappears in your kit. 400 lumens on max handles camp chores and emergency trail navigation. USB-C rechargeable with a red light mode that preserves night vision.
Who Is the Nitecore NU25 UL Headlamp Best For?
Ultralight camp and emergency headlamp for bikepacking. If that describes your riding style, the NU25 UL Headlamp should be at the top of your shortlist. It sits in the Lighting category alongside 16 other products we track.
How It Compares
At 45g and $36, the NU25 UL Headlamp is the lightest option in this category. The most budget-friendly option is the Goal Zero Crush Light Solar Lantern at $30.
The price-to-weight ratio comes in at $80 per 100g — a premium price point, but you're paying for quality, materials, and design that justify the investment for serious bikepackers.
What We Like
- +45g, the lightest headlamp we track by some margin
- +400 lumens on max
- +USB-C rechargeable
- +Red light mode for camp
Watch Out For
- −Battery life is limited on high
- −Not suitable as a primary trail light
- −Headband is minimalist (slips on some heads)
The Bottom Line
We haven't scored the Nitecore NU25 UL Headlamp, and neither has anyone else we can cite. It's here for its verified specifications and dimensions, which is what the fit tools run on — a score is an editorial judgement, and we don't hand one out until someone has a basis for it. What this page can tell you is measured: 45g, $36, and how both sit against every other lighting product we track.
Weight checked against the manufacturer on 18 August 2026 — see the source.
Specifications and dimensions come from the sources listed above. Where a page draws on first-hand riding, it says so.
How it compares
Against the 17 lighting products we hold published specs for.
At 45g the NU25 UL Headlamp is the lightest in the category we track, against a category median of 110g.
At $36 it undercuts 15 of 16 of them, against a median of $70. That works out at $80 per 100g — above the $73 median for lighting products.
Weight and price come from published specifications. Cost per 100g is a blunt measure — it rewards light gear and says nothing about durability or whether the thing works — so treat it as one input, not a verdict.
More in Lighting
Headlights, taillights, and camp lanterns for visibility and safety.