REASONS TO BUY
Good performance for the price
94 meter beam throw
Easy to use
REASONS TO AVOID
Average in most ways
Yalumi LED 140-Lumen Review
The Yalumi is a good light, at a good price, that provides basic functionality
Credit: Abriah Wofford
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Our Verdict
The Yalumi LED is a quality and easy to use headlamp sold at a competitive price. We found it to offer average or above average performance on every category. It throws a good quality beam 94 meters, which is unusual performance for a light that sells for around $20 online. And, we love that it is so easy, and simple to use, with single button control. It is a yeoman light, a good light, at a good price, that provides basic functionality in a quality way.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Yalumi LED 140-Lumen | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  |  | |||
| Price | $29 List $19.95 at Amazon | $21.97 at Backcountry Compare at 2 sellers | $14.96 at Backcountry Compare at 2 sellers | $20.00 List $19.95 at REI | $19.00 List $14.99 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Pros | Good performance for the price, 94 meter beam throw, easy to use | Excellent spot light capability, wide evenly lit flood beam, above average in most ways | Super easy to use, inexpensive, solid performance, compact, and reliable | Lightweight, small size, excellent flood beam, great price | Attractive price, good flood lighting, easy to use |
| Cons | Average in most ways | Below average battery life, claimed battery life is wildly misleading, single button hard to use, lame waterproofing | Good but not great spot beam for trail finding, slightly below average flood beam optics | Too weak a beam for trail finding or distance viewing | Below average spot beam, below average quality |
| Bottom Line | The Yalumi is a good light, at a good price, that provides basic functionality | A quality, durable, and bright light that hits the sweet spot for most people's needs, despite dubious marketing claims | For $20, the Tikkina offers impressive performance at a great price, that will meet most people's needs | Offers great close proximity lighting at a budget price | Good enough performance, at a good price, but the Tikkina is a better long-term value |
| Rating Categories | Yalumi LED 140-Lumen | Black Diamond Spot | Petzl Tikkina | Black Diamond Astro | Energizer Vision HD |
| Trail Finding (35%) | |||||
| Close Proximity (20%) | |||||
| Battery Life (15%) | |||||
| Weight (15%) | |||||
| Ease of Use (15%) | |||||
| Specs | Yalumi LED 140-Lumen | Black Diamond Spot | Petzl Tikkina | Black Diamond Astro | Energizer Vision HD |
| Measured Beam Distance | 94 m | 94 m | 62 m | 38 m | 45 m |
| Claimed Distance | 90 m | 80 m | 55 m | 35 m | 40 m |
| Measured High Mode Run-time (ANSI) | 4.3 hrs | 2.9 hrs | 3.5 hrs | 4.8 hrs | 8.7 hrs |
| Claimed High Mode Run-time | Not specified | 30 hrs | 60 hrs | 20 hrs | 8 hrs |
| Measured Low Mode Run-time | 47 hrs | 9.7 hrs | 223 hrs | 95 hrs | 74 hrs |
| Claimed Low Mode Run-time | 100 hrs | 175 hrs | 220 hrs | 80 hrs | 8 hrs |
| Measured Weight | 2.7 oz, 77 g | 3.1 oz, 89 g | 2.9 oz, 83 g | 3 oz, 86 g | 3.1 oz, 89 g |
| Battery Type | 3 AAA | 3 AAA | 3 AAA | 3 AAA | 3 AAA |
| Water Resistance | IPX4 splash proof | Splash proof (dubious IPX8 claim) | IPX4 splash proof | IPX4 splash proof | water resistant |
| Manuf Claimed Lumens | 140 lumens | 300 lumens | 150 lumens | 150 lumens | 180 lumens |
| Beam Type | flood/spot | flood/spot | flood | flood, dimmable | flood/spot |
| Red Light | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| On Switch Lock | no | yes | no | yes | no |
Show full specification detailsHide full specification details
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Yalumi takes a "just the facts, Maam" approach to performance. It doesn't excel in any way, other than offering great simplicity in use, but instead delivers performacne that is good to better across the board, at a good price.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Likes
The Yalumi is one of the easiest to use lights we have tested. Part of that comes from its restraint, in offering basic, core, functionality, and nothing more. With a single button that is easy to operate, even with gloves on, controlling the light is very simple and obvious.
For a light selling around $20 street price, the Yalumi offers a long beam throw of 94 meters. While it doesn't have as wide a beam as our favorites, it is more than adequate, and we scored it just above average at 6 of 10 for trail finding. We found the Yalumi to be just a tad better for trail finding than the Petzl Tikkina, which typically sells for a lower street price, but no match for the BD Spot which typically sells for a little bit more.
Beam Distance Photos
Yalumi LED 140-Lumen
Black Diamond Spot
Battery life is slightly better than average, with 4.3 hours in high mode, and 47 hours in our low mode test.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Dislikes
There is not much to dislike about this solid, base-hitter, of a headlamp. But, close proximity lighting is something of a weak suit, where performance is only average. The flood light is wide, which we like, but dim around the edges and with moderate light distortion. Not bad, and certainly functional, but not outstanding in any way.
Conclusion
You would not make a mistake by buying the Yalumi. It offers a simple, no-nonsense approach; a quality, basic headlamp, sold at a reasonable price.
—
RJ Spurrier
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