The world's most in-depth and scientific reviews of outdoor gear

Northbound Train LED Review

At a similar price-point to higher scoring headlamps, the Northbound Train LED is more appealing for household use than as an outdoor tool.
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Price:  $45 List
Pros:  Simple design and usage
Cons:  No switch lock, short beam throw
Manufacturer:   Northbound Train
By RJ Spurrier ⋅ Senior Review Editor  ⋅  May 28, 2018
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45
OVERALL
SCORE

RANKED
#24 of 27
  • Trail Finding - 35% 3
  • Close Proximity - 20% 3
  • Battery Life - 15% 5
  • Weight - 15% 6
  • Ease of Use - 15% 8

Our Verdict

This headlamp is priced similarly to the Black Diamond Spot and $15 less than Editors' Choice winning Black Diamond ReVolt. With this price-point competition, Northbound Train really needs to step up their game. Performance across the board suffers next to these and other products we reviewed. We anticipate that this product is apt to be readily available on sale. In this case, as long as the price is competitive with our Best Buy winner, the Petzl Tikkina, we can recommend the Northbound Train as a household headlamp.


Compare to Similar Products

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This Product
Northbound Train LED
Awards  Top Pick Award Editors' Choice Award Editors' Choice Award  
Price $45 List$89 List$36.85 at Amazon$39.95 at REI
Compare at 2 sellers		$27.84 at Amazon
Overall Score Sort Icon
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Star Rating
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Pros Simple design and usageBright wide beam, good battery life, durable design, rechargeableExcellent trail finding and close proximity beam, waterproof, above average battery lifeExcellent spot light capability, wide evenly lit flood beam, above average in most waysExcellent brightness and beam control, often available online at discount
Cons No switch lock, short beam throwExpensive, 18650 Li-ion battery is not included, heavier than averageMore expensive, heavier than average, claimed battery life is very misleadingBelow average battery life, claimed battery life is wildly misleading, single button hard to use, lame waterproofingAverage battery life, heavier and bulkier than most
Bottom Line At a similar price-point to higher scoring headlamps, the Northbound Train LED is more appealing for household use than as an outdoor tool.An impressive, powerful light in a small package that won't disappoint if you can get past the priceA durable light that will last for years with a bright high-quality beam, slightly higher in cost and weightA quality, durable, and bright light that hits the sweet spot for most people's needs, despite dubious marketing claimsPreviously one of our favorites, but hasn't kept pace with competitor's innovations
Rating Categories Northbound Train LED Zebralight H600w Mk IV Black Diamond Storm Black Diamond Spot Coast HL7
Trail Finding (35%)
10
0
3
10
0
9
10
0
9
10
0
8
10
0
8
Close Proximity (20%)
10
0
3
10
0
7
10
0
8
10
0
9
10
0
7
Battery Life (15%)
10
0
5
10
0
9
10
0
6
10
0
4
10
0
5
Weight (15%)
10
0
6
10
0
4
10
0
5
10
0
6
10
0
4
Ease Of Use (15%)
10
0
8
10
0
9
10
0
6
10
0
6
10
0
8
Specs Northbound Train LED Zebralight H600w... Black Diamond Storm Black Diamond Spot Coast HL7
Measured Beam Distance 34 m 121 m 91 m 94 m 112 m
Claimed Distance 30 m Not specified 85 m 80 m 119 m
Measured High Mode Run-time (ANSI) 13.8 hrs 3.1 hrs 5 hrs 2.9 hrs 3.1 hrs
Claimed High Mode Run-time 2.9 hrs 40 hrs 30 hrs 1.5 hrs
Measured Low Mode Run-time 107 hrs 232 hrs 42 hrs 9.7 hrs 25 hrs
Claimed Low Mode Run-time 203 hrs 120 hrs 175 hrs 70 hrs
Measured Weight 3.1 oz, 87 g 4.5 oz, 127 g 4 oz, 112 g 3.1 oz, 89 g 4.5 oz, 127 g
Battery Type 3 AAA 18650 rechargeable Li-ion 4 AAA 3 AAA 3 AAA
Water Resistance IPX4 splash proof IPX8 waterproof to 2 meters, 30 minutes IP67 waterproof to one meter and dustproof Splash proof (dubious IPX8 claim) water resistant
Manuf Claimed Lumens 90 lumens 1400 lumens 350 lumens 300 lumens 285 lumens
Beam Type flood/spot flood flood/spot flood/spot flood/spot
Red Light yes no yes, red/green/blue night-vision modes yes no
On Switch Lock no yes (tailcap lockout) yes yes no

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Northbound Train LED light is a product that appears to be made and packaged in the same facility or facilities as some of the best performing products in our test. It is also priced like a better performing product. However, our experience with the Northbound Train indicated substandard performance.

Performance Comparison


The Northbound Train LED headlamp which is a low performing light for the $40-$50 price point.
The Northbound Train LED headlamp, which is a low performing light for the $40-$50 price point.

Trail Finding


As you can see in the beam comparison below the Northbound Train light isn't even in the same league as the Editors' Choice winning Coast HL7. For fewer dollars on the Coast, you get what looks and feels like truly high-end optics and beam throw. We are somewhat perplexed by the Northbound's performance and price, to be honest.

Beam Distance Photos
Beam photo of
Beam photo of


Close Proximity


With a relatively clean lens arrangement and wide spreading beam, the close proximity lighting of the Northbound Train LED is its most competitive attribute. With a score of seven out of ten, the LED light sits solidly average among our tested products. As compared, however, to the beam of something like the Nitecore HC50, the beam is clearly rough and spotty.

Close-proximity Beam Pattern
Beam photo of
Beam photo of


Battery Life


Battery life on the Northbound LED as deduced from just our coffin test wasn't actually all that poor. Burning 4.2 hours on high mode is a respectable score, falls just above the middle of our test roster, and is pretty close to the similarly priced but otherwise much higher scoring Black Diamond Spot. As compared, however, to our Editors' Choice Black Diamond ReVolt, the Northbound's light-coffin score is clearly less. Additionally, overall battery life in actual usage is dependent on other variables. Lights with the brightest bulbs can be used in much lower modes, while our testing was only in high beam mode. We bumped the Northbound's battery life score down because of its lesser beam. You'll use the high-beam mode a greater percentage of the time, burning the batteries faster. Also, we bumped the score down again because the Northbound lacks a locking switch.

The Northbound Train takes 3 AAA batteries.
The Northbound Train takes 3 AAA batteries.

Brightness


Throwing a beam just 27 meters puts the Northbound only one spot away from the bottom of our test roster. Only the Black Diamond Gizmo casts light less far. Even the diminutive Top Pick winner Petzl e+LITE pushes usable light 30m. In a refreshing move, Northbound does indeed report their brightness pretty accurately. They claim the LED light shines 30m.

Weight


The LED light from Northbound Train weighs 94 grams. In that category, it sits solidly in the middle of our test. The much higher scoring Black Diamond Cosmo is the same weight.

The Northbound Train LED light looks remarkably similar to the Black Diamond lights. Even the packaging is similar. Shown here on the left is the Northbound with the BD Spot on the right. They look similar but performance is considerably distinct.
The Northbound Train LED light looks remarkably similar to the Black Diamond lights. Even the packaging is similar. Shown here, on the left is the Northbound with the BD Spot on the right. They look similar, but performance is considerably distinct.

Ease of Use


The switch on this headlamp is easy to use and clicks through just a couple brightness modes. We had no complaints about the usability of the Northbound lamp.

Best Applications


This is only an acceptable light for casual camping or for keeping in your car. Any one of our Best Buy lights (this year's winner, the Petzl Tikkina, or the ultra inexpensive Energizer 3 LED) would be a better choice, however, in this application.

The Northbound light in action exiting a rock climbing area in Utah's Indian Creek. For most mellow applications the performance shortcomings of the Northbound are hardly an issue. It is when conditions get more intense that one wants a beefier light.
The Northbound light in action exiting a rock climbing area in Utah's Indian Creek. For most mellow applications, the performance shortcomings of the Northbound are hardly an issue. It is when conditions get more intense that one wants a beefier light.

Value


Given the low performance and narrow distribution of the Northbound light, one is likely to find it on sale. If the sale price approaches or drops below that of the aforementioned best buy lights, it could be considered as a value option.

Conclusion


While we generally choose lights to test that offer the promise of above average performance, the Northbound is an outlier. It should be telling that we are unlikely to choose to include this particular product, unless it is changed in design, in future OutdoorGearLab reviews.


— RJ Spurrier