BioLite’s new Range series of headlamps is built for people who want reliable, all-weather light in the backcountry without the bulk. Lightweight, sleek and powerful, the Range line is designed to keep pace with long hikes, late nights at camp and those moments when your route home takes longer than expected.
The Range models build on the success of BioLite’s original headlamps, which set themselves apart with a snug, bounce-free fit that didn’t dig in or slide around. This new series maintains that comfort but pushes performance further, with lumens galore and boosted USB-C charging.
All models in the Range series boast an IP67 waterproof rating, so sudden downpours, slippery creek crossings or damp kayak hatches won’t take them out of commission. The lineup includes three versions based on brightness: the Range 300, a simple single-button option with a dimmable white spot, and the Range 400 and 500, which add red-light mode and a two-button interface that’s easy to use, even with cold fingers.
With long runtimes, a rugged build plus a three-year warranty, the Range series is for dedicated outdoorists who push their day after the sun goes down and need light that won’t quit halfway through the trip.
BioLite Range 500
If you’ve ever had a hike stretch past sunset, you know how important a solid headlamp can be. The BioLite Range 500 is one of those lights that feels built for real-world use rather than just ticking spec-sheet boxes.
We tried out the 500 recently, and the headline feature is its vast brightness, particularly impressive for its diminutive size: with 500 lumens, it throws a beam strong enough for technical trails, late-night scrambles or even biking back to camp.
The tilt adjustment (maybe our favourite BioLite headlamp feature) is smooth and stays put, so you can aim the light where you want it and micro-adjust the angle in an instant. The red-light mode is handy too—perfect for map checks or preserving night vision around camp (and not blinding your buddies).
The tilt adjustment (maybe our favourite BioLite headlamp feature) is smooth and stays put, so you can aim the light where you want it and micro-adjust the angle in an instant.
Comfort is another big win. The band uses a moisture-wicking material that sits snugly without slipping or feeling clammy, even after a few hours on the move. And at just 78 grams, it sits lightly on your head.
Plus: the IP67 waterproof rating means you can sit pretty even when you’re socked in while touring, paddling, hiking or biking. Weather will always be weather, and the waterproof rating means one less thing to fuss about. You can even submerge it (up to 1 metre for 30 minutes).
Related content from ML:
The charging system also overdelivers. The USB-C input is a welcome update, and the quick charge function is a lifesaver—plug it into your Charge 100 Max for just eight minutes and you’ll get another hour of runtime. That’s the kind of safety net you want so nightfall doesn’t hold you back.
The trade-off? Like most rechargeable headlamps, if you drain your power bank on a multi-day trip, you won’t have the AAA backup. But for most outings, the long runtime and rapid top-ups more than make up for it. (You can also pair your power bank with a solar panel.) And we won’t miss AAA batteries, which are easy to misplace on a trip, and also qualify as toxic waste.
The 500’s two-button controls are easy to use, with or without gloves. (And the lock-out mode prevents accidental activation—very handy when your lamp is stored in a kit and jostled around with other items.) The white spot serves for focused work and distance, the white flood is for wide illumination of what’s in front of you, and red flood lighting is for wide illumination of what’s around you. You press the small button on the left to move between modes, and press-hold the larger right-hand button to dim or brighten.
All told, the Range 500 is incredibly bright for its compact size, waterproof for peace of mind and comfortable and reliable for the long haul so you can focus on illuminating your stoke to the max.
Check the ML Podcast!
