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Outbound Reviewed: Black Diamond Astro Headlamp

A no-nonsense, lightweight and easy to use headlamp great for your adventure needs

By: Kristi Teplitz + Save to a List

You never know when you’ll be out in the dark in need of a headlamp, which is why I always carry an extra in my car and throw one in my backpack. Light, affordable, easy to use, and compact, the Black Diamond Astro Headlamp is an easy choice to add to your just-in-case kit.

The Astro is a great deal for its price tag. It isn’t the brightest headlamp on the market nor the most minimalist, and it lacks some features I love (like a red light setting), but it certainly shows up for you when you need it.

Let’s get into features.

Sleek, bright and stormproof (yay!), the Astro doesn’t take up much space in a pack or pocket and can withstand Mother Nature’s fickleness. It’s super easy to open up to change batteries, and the head strap is soft, comfortable and super easy to adjust. Bonus - I lent this to a sweaty friend on an early morning trail run and it the strap dried out super fast!

The Brightness Memory is nice. If I’m walking around camp and have my headlamp dimmed to my optimum setting, i can turn the headlamp off and then back on and it’ll be at the same setting I turned it off at. Most headlamps I’ve tried over the years default to turning on at the lowest dim and you have to work your way back up to where you want it to be.

The dimming mechanism is different than I am accustomed to and took me a minute to get used to it, but it has really grown on me. To change brightness you press and hold the button and then release when you reach your desired setting. Most headlamps I’m used to make you press the button over and over again to toggle through the setting options. I’ve taken the Astro out on several early morning trail runs and it’s really nice to be able to see the ground while you’re adjusting your light. (Countless times on my old headlamp I’ve accidentally clicked right by the highest setting and had push through the off setting to start over, increasing the risk of tripping.) The Astro also has a nice feature that while you’re pressing and cycling through the dim-to-bright settings, the light will pulse once when you’ve reached the lowest or highest brightness.

Priced at only $20, the Black Diamond Astro Headlamp is hard to say no to. If anything, pick one up and store it in your car for for your next trail run or spontaneous hike. You won’t regret it.


We want to acknowledge and thank the past, present, and future generations of all Native Nations and Indigenous Peoples whose ancestral lands we travel, explore, and play on. Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

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