The Lumonite Leader is Lumonite's flagship multipurpose headlamp. It is a powerhouse lamp capable of sustaining over 5000 lumens for approximately 2 hours. It includes a proprietary 99.4Wh, 14.4V, 6900mAh battery pack and many accessories.
Here are the key specifications as tested:
Skip to the commentary section at bottom to read my subjective notes on the Lumonite Leader, or continue to read the detailed analysis.
Disclaimer: This light was provided at no cost by Lumonite, shipping from their e-shop in Finland. Retail price at the time of this review (May 2019) is €749.
Unboxing
The Leader arrived in a premium, heavy-duty, hard-shell case with air vent, dual latches, and lock holes. The Lumonite branding is on the top; the other sides have no markings. The case measures approximately 11.5 x 8.25 x 3.5 in (29 x 21 x 9 cm).
The inside of the case is lined with foam on both top and bottom. There are not cutouts for each item; rather, they are all simply packed together.
Included is lamp with protective cover pre-installed, the Slimcore 1000 lithium ion battery pack with beltloop/mount pre-installed, Ergo model headband, large and small Flexlink bands (for mounting to headband or bicycle handlebar), a wide hook-and-loop band (for mounting battery pack), a couple adhesive-backed rubber strips (for adding friction when mounting battery pack), DX 50 cm extension cable for the battery pack, AC charger, and product manual.
For sake of this review, Lumonite also included the D-Nut accessory that allows the Leader to mount on any GoPro mount. This is a €14.90 option that is purchased separately.
The manual is in 4 languages: Finnish, English, Swedish, and Norwegian. Each section is about 10 pages in length and full color, covering the Leader's features, specifications, and usage instructions. I can only comment on the English section, but I found it to be very well-written and complete. Amongst other things, it mentions that the battery is delivered at about 50% of the charge level (which it was), that the battery will not charge when conditions are below 0C, and that the lamp will get warm but is equipped with overheating protection that will reduce intensity if the lamp is not sufficiently cooled.
It is online in full here:
https://www.lumonite.com/images/Man...al__UPDATED_11-2018__CONTENT__380x120__V2.pdf
Lumonite backs the Leader with a 5 year warranty on the lamp, 24 month warranty on the charger, and 12 month warranty on the battery pack. As of the time of this review, the charger can be purchased separately as an accessory for €34.90 and the Slimcore 100 battery pack for €249.
Design
Lumonite advertises the Leader as "THE FLAGSHIP - Lumonite Leader is a headlamp designed for the most demanding needs possible. It was created for situations requiring absolute maximum light power." The Leader does embody that spirit of being focused on performance – whether it's the 8 LEDs or the sizable cooling fins.
The Leader has a wide hexagonal shape with 8 emitters and the Lumonite logo on the front. One (1) of the 8 emitters has a diffused lens in front of it, adding a bit of flood to an otherwise throwy beam. (Note: clear protective plastic is still present as shown; should be removed before first use.)
A closer shot with protective plastic removed:
On top is the single button that serves as both power button and mode adjustment button. The button is of good size and easy to locate and press with or without gloves on. The rubber is grippy but does collect dust easily. The model/serial is listed behind the button here. The sides and bottom are featureless.
The rear is dominated by large cooling fins. The largest of these has depth measuring 21 mm! Near the bottom of the unit, on the rear, there are two screws that can be removed to switch from the regular headband/bicycle mount to the D-Nut GoPro mount. The mounts slip under two fins, providing a secure connection.
The circumference of the lamp covered by a rubber ring that Lumonite refers to as a protective cover. It is removable, exposing the sides of the lamp and the yellow button underneath.
It also allows a view of the screws holding the rear heatsink to the lens assembly. (Note: the optional D-Nut is shown in this picture.)
Lumonite reports the Leader lamp at 63 mm tall, 84 mm wide, and 42 mm deep. I measured 65, 87, and 44 mm respectively, with the rubber protective ring that encircles the front of the lamp installed. Weight is reported at 155 g; I measured it at 168 g with the rubber ring – which I see no case to not have installed.
The cable attached to the lamp was measured at approximately 27 inches (69 cm). A secondary 50 cm (19.6 in) extension cable is also included.
The official battery specifications are 76 mm wide, 165 mm tall, 25 mm deep, and with a weight of 472 g. With the mount installed on the battery (which I felt was necessary as this is the only way to use the Leader without additional accessories), I measured it at 80 mm wide, 165 mm tall, 33 mm deep, and with a weight of 508 g.
To put it another way, Lumonite's specifications on the dimensions are accurate though my numbers slightly as I included the required additional components when measuring.
The Leader is larger - and brighter - than any headlamp offering from Acebeam, Fenix, Imalent, Jetbeam, Klarus, Manker, Nitecore, Olight, Thrunite, or any other headlamp maker I'm familiar with. I'm sure there are larger headlamps out there, but I haven't reviewed one. Here it is between a Nitecore HC65 (left) and Nitecore NU10 for size comparison. Also note the different kinds of headbands used.
Lumonite advises against disassembling the lamp or battery pack. No disassembly was performed during the course of this review.
Accessories
Battery Pack
The 99.4Wh, 14.4V, 6900mAh battery pack is not user-serviceable, but appears to be in the shape of 4 18650 cells wide by 2 high (8 cells total). Most 18650 cells are around 12.6Wh, so I do suspect there are 8 inside the pack to total 99.4Wh as rated.
The top of the battery pack has a button and five (5) indicator lights to check and display remaining charge. The connector for the lamp (or extension cable) is also on the top of the pack.
Battery Pack Mount
Preinstalled on the battery pack is a multifunction clip/mount that Lumonite refers to as the Slimholder. It wraps around both sides of the battery pack and the top, using the top endcap of the pack to keep it in place. It holds the battery pack very securely.
When the pack is being attached to a bicycle frame or other tube, the inner pass-throughs can be used with the hook-and-loop band. There are also slots for a belt to be passed through for waist carry and screw holes in the corners for more permanent mounting. Additional holders can be purchased from Lumonite at a cost of €19.90 as of the time of this review.
Headband
The included Ergo headband is a Y-shape design that wraps both high and low on the rear of the user's head. The band has adjustments on both rear bands. Once adjusted/tightened, the headband holds the leader securely. There is minimal elasticity; the headband is designed to be adjusted to fit. It should fit almost any size head but is not large enough to be worn around a helmet or safety cap.
The headband has two small elastic loops on the right side (as the user wears it) to route the Leader's power cable. This is a nice touch and ensures the cable stays out of the way. Lumonite sells an accessory vest for €39.90, branded Slimvest, that allows the battery pack to be worn like a backpack.
GoPro-Compatible Mount
The OPTIONAL, €14.90 D-Nut allows the Leader to be used with any GoPro compatible mount. For example, it can be mounted on a helmet.
Extension cable
A 50cm extension cable is included, allowing the battery pack to be worn at the user's waist. Lumonite sells DX series extension cables like this in lengths of 50, 100, and 150 cm, each for €14.90.
Flexlinks
Two small oval-shaped rubber-based bands are included; Lumonite refers to these as Flexlinks.
The larger of the bands is used to attach the Leader to the headband or other tubes of similar size, as shown above. The smaller is used with slightly smaller tubes like a bicycle handlebar.
Charger
The Leader comes with an AC charger with an EU-style plug. The charger is compatible with common EU 240V/50Hz power as well as North American 110V/60Hz power, but those outside of the EU must use a socket adapter in order to charge the Leader.
While charging is underway, a small LED appears red on the face of the charger. The LED changes to green to indicate when charging is complete.
Performance
Beam
The eight emitters provide a wide center hotspot and further spill outside of that thanks to the combination of shallow smooth lenses and a single diffused lens. As shown in the tint comparison image below, the layout of the emitters does produce an off-balance hotspot. However, this is not noticeable at all in real-world use.
Tint & Temperature
Color temperature is advertised by Lumonite at 5500K, which is on the cooler side of neutral. I measured it around 5100K, putting it closer to the middle of the neutral range. Some variation in temperature is normal within a given bin, so another Leader might test a little differently. The tint was slightly yellow/green.
To demonstrate the overall color balance, here is the Concept 2 surrounded by two other lights with emitters of various tints and temperatures. Camera W/B set to daylight.
L to R: Convoy S2+ (6500K XM-L2 U2 1B), Lumonite Leader, Convoy S2+ (4300K-4500K XM-L2 T6 4C)
Output
Note: The included Slimcore 100 99.4Wh, 14.4V battery pack used for all tests. Ambient temperature was 73F +/- 3F. An 80mm PC fan was used to provide airflow mimicking real-world use for Turbo ("Max") and High mode tests.
One of the big differentiators between the Leader and other headlamps is that the Leader is reported to be able to output over 5000 lumens for over 2 hours. Lumonite notes that in their lab max output was 5581 lumens - but doesn't state if this was in an ANSI FL1 test or not so we don't know if that was immediately at turn-on or within the 30 to 120 second window.
In my testing, the Leader powered on at 5613 lumens with 5405 lumens output at 30 seconds. It held over 5000 lumens until a step-down to 2911 lumens occurred right at 2 hours. It slowly rose to almost 3100 lumens before stepping down again less than 5 minutes later to 1109 lumens – which is <50% of the initial output. One more step-down happened at 2 hours and 16 minutes into the test, dropping to 323 lumens – which is <10% of initial output and thus provides the official runtime as tested at 2 hours and 16 minutes. It eventually powered off at about 3 hours and 42 minutes into the test.
The Leader's temperature reached 135F on the rear of the lamp inside the cooling fins about 5 minutes into the test. It eventually peaked at 141F (60C) about 27 minutes into the test. It maintained this temperature until power was reduced. The side with fewer emitters was several degrees cooler; the hottest spot is marked below with a red dot. At no point did the Leader become uncomfortable to handle.
Note that Max mode can be accessed one of two ways – either in the normal 4 mode rotation – or by quickly pressing the button twice. (Another quick double-press returns to the last-used mode.)
Max, first 15 minutes:
Max, full runtime:
High is rated at 3000 lumens for 4 hours 10 minutes. I measured 3377 lumens at turn-on and 3315 lumens at 30 seconds. Output held above 3150 lumens until 3 hours 51 minutes into the test, at which point it stepped down to around 1150 lumens – <50% of initial output.
At 9 hours 5 minutes, the Leader stepped down further to 320 lumens – producing the runtime as measured being <10% of initial output. It eventually powered off entirely at 10 hours 25 minutes. A runtime of 9:10 exceeds the rated runtime of 4:10 by more than double – but do keep in mind this is measuring down to 10% output. Many people prefer to look at the 50% output point instead of 10% since usefulness is so reduced at 10% output.
Temperature as measured never rose above 110F (43C) on High with the fan-cooling in place.
Medium is rated for 1000 lumens for 14 hours 30 minutes. I measured 1257 lumens at turn-on and 1252 lumens at 30 seconds. Output then dropped gradually down to 1150 lumens over the first hour, but then the 1150 was maintained flatly until 12 hours and 28 minutes into the test. The Leader then held about 325 lumens until powering off at 13 hours and 28 minutes into the test.
In this case, the tested runtime fell short of specifications by about an hour. As output was tested a bit higher than specifications, the consequence of a slightly shorter runtime isn't a surprise.
Low is rated at 250 lumens for 70 hours. Output was measured at 339 lumens; runtime was not tested.
There is no Ultralow or Moonlight level on the Leader headlamp. Low at 250 lumens (339 as tested) is the minimum output available.
All output levels:
All runtimes tested:
Amperage Draw
Not measured due to internal nature of battery.
Throw
Throw was tested at 1.46 meters; candela measured 34639 at 30 seconds - equivalent to 372 meters of throw. Lumonite's specifications report throw at 370 meters – very closely in line with measured results.
PWM
Lumonite does not address if the Leader uses PWM in specifications, but I was unable to find any evidence of PWM visually or using a camera. I would consider the Leader to be PWM-free.
Parasitic Drain
This could not be tested given the fully-enclosed battery pack and lamp, but the product manual states that the battery pack should be "fully or almost fully charged during the storage" if being stored for an extended period of time. As the switches – both on the Leader and on the Slimcore 100 battery pack – are electronic, some parasitic drain should be expected. Lumonite acknowledges this and thus provides those storage instructions.
Low Voltage Notification
The Slimcore 100 battery pack has 5 small red LEDs that indicate the charge level. These illuminate when the battery pack's button is pressed. When the charge is nearly depleted, the first of the five lights will blink.
[Battery Lights]
Impact Resistance
Lumonite does not provide any impact resistance specifications with the Leader – which is actually a bit atypical for flashlight and headlamp manufacturers. Still, the Leader is advertised for outdoor enthusiasts including enduro motorcycle riders – so it should be durable. I dropped the lamp several times from around 1.5 meters and it came out unscathed. The battery pack was not drop-tested.
Water Resistance
The Leader lamp is rated IPX6 – indicating that it should be able to handle heavy and windy rain but not underwater immersion. Considering how it is constructed (see the earlier image with the outer rubber cover removed), I don't see a risk of water damage so long as it isn't submerged – which isn't protected against given the way the heatsink and front connect and with the cable entering in the rear. The cable entry point would be a vulnerable spot, but Lumonite does have that sealed up with a dried compound of some type.
The Slimcore battery pack is rated IPX4 – indicating that it can handle splashing but not more. Vulnerabilities for the battery pack would be small vents on the lower end and the lamp cable connection, though neither of these should be a big concern in normal use.
Recharging
Amperage draw during charging could not be measured given the proprietary battery pack and charger design. The product manual states that a full charge takes about 4 hours.
Outdoor Beamshots
All photos taken with a Canon SD4000IS camera. 1/4" exposure, ISO800, Daylight white balance, F2.0. Approximate distances: White deck railing @ 15 ft., white fence in distance @ 75 ft, back of dock @110 ft. Partial moonlight with extremely light precipitation.
Control:
Ultralow:
N/A
Low:
Medium:
High:
Turbo/Max:
Interface
The Leader has a fairly simple interface via its single top-mounted switch.
From off:
From on:
There is no electronic lockout; the lamp should be disconnected from the battery pack to ensure the lamp does not power on while in storage.
Problems
No problems were experienced with the Lumonite Leader while testing.
Commentary
This is the only headlamp that I've ever tested capable of 5000+ lumens for 2 hours. This is also the only headlamp I've tested that has a price of €749.
Is it expensive? Yes. Is it overpriced? Well, for those who truly need a lamp with these specifications, the cost might be worth it. It's also what I'd consider a multi-purpose light… it's a headlamp and a bike light, but could be used for a variety of other purposes.
When I first read the specifications, I doubted it could sustain 5000 lumens without stepping down – or that it would be another light that has exaggerated specifications. My doubts were misplaced; Lumonite doesn't seem to have made exaggerated claims and by my testing, even slightly underrates their product. The output was there; the runtime was there.
The sizable fins on the rear of the leader – more common on a CPU heatsink than a headlamp – do a solid job of dissipating the heat. Fairly flat outputs are experienced, all PWM-free.
The throw matching specifications at about 370 meters is excellent. Color temperature is on the cool side, but not offensively so at all. The UI is simple and straightforward and the single button is large and easy to feel with or without gloves on, making it easy to use in the action-related environments intended.
The indicators on the battery pack provide useful information on remaining battery life and the eventual step-downs do provide additional warning that the battery is about out of power.
I thought that the Leader would be heavy and unwieldy, but the lamp itself only weighs about 40 grams more than my go-to 18650-based headlamp. Whether wearing it with the included headband or mounted to a helmet, I didn't notice any difference. The battery pack is comfortable to wear on the waist, but is of course noticeable given its size and weight.
The included headband is also a bit unique; it holds very securely but the double rear strap does take some getting used to compared to the one-over, one-around style most headlamps use. If the Leader was used on a motorcycle helmet as pictured on the Lumonite website, the sheer wind resistance of the large face might be noticeable at higher speeds.
As for what else is included, the Leader's case is amongst the highest quality of any flashlight/headlamp case I've come across. I note this not because the case value is significant, but it fits with the premium price of the lamp and battery pack. It's nice that Lumonite has included the accessories necessary to mount the Leader on a bicycle as part of the package, but the D-Nut for GoPro is an optional accessory. The battery pack holder also has screw holes in the corners for permanent mounting to other surfaces. All of these parts are readily available for purchase in case spares are needed.
The sheer output and design (especially with GoPro compatibility and a variety of mounting options) makes it useful in more situations than typical headlamps. For example, a couple times each year I regret not having docking lights on my small boat. But I do have a GoPro mount on the tower, so the Leader can fill that need. It could also be mounted to the handlebars of ATVs without headlights, to the frames UTVs needing additional lighting, or even to other vehicles like golf carts with the included hardware. Adding the GoPro-compatible D-Nut accessory opens the door further since GoPro mounts can be attached/adhered to almost anything.
As for negatives, the lack of an ultralow/moonlight mode is a bit disappointing; it's nice to be able to have one light to be able to rely on whether it's illuminating hundreds of meters of a trail ahead or discretely walking around a campsite. The Leader isn't built for close-range illumination as its lowest mode is over 250 lumens, so users would need to have a separate light for lower output.
I also wish that the battery pack was rated for more than IPX4. It should be fine exposed or when worn tucked away, but a bit more protection and a higher rating would add a bit more confidence when it comes to this expensive and potentially dangerous component.
Lumonite should also consider including the GoPro mount with the Leader; paying another €15 for this inexpensive-to-produce item seems unnecessary given the price of the Leader package. A North American -compatible AC charging plug should also be included for North American buyers or at least available to improve marketability worldwide. (UK buyers will also need to use an adapter.) The availability of carry vests and other accessories and spares to support the Leader is quite good.
Overall, the Leader is a very powerful headlamp intended for serious users who need 5000+ lumens and long runtimes. It doesn't have every feature in the market, but it executes what it intends to as a high output, long runtime, multipurpose lamp. Those who want one may have trouble justifying the high cost, but those that need it may not.
Lux Meter: Dr. Meter LX1330B
Integrating "sphere": Homebuilt tube-style device calibrated on other known lights and test results. Numbers should be considered relative to each other and my other review figures but accuracy is in no way certified or guaranteed.
Camera: Canon SD4000IS
Micrometer: Mitutoyo CD-6ASX
Multimeter: Craftsman 82170
Here are the key specifications as tested:
Skip to the commentary section at bottom to read my subjective notes on the Lumonite Leader, or continue to read the detailed analysis.
Disclaimer: This light was provided at no cost by Lumonite, shipping from their e-shop in Finland. Retail price at the time of this review (May 2019) is €749.
Unboxing
The Leader arrived in a premium, heavy-duty, hard-shell case with air vent, dual latches, and lock holes. The Lumonite branding is on the top; the other sides have no markings. The case measures approximately 11.5 x 8.25 x 3.5 in (29 x 21 x 9 cm).
The inside of the case is lined with foam on both top and bottom. There are not cutouts for each item; rather, they are all simply packed together.
Included is lamp with protective cover pre-installed, the Slimcore 1000 lithium ion battery pack with beltloop/mount pre-installed, Ergo model headband, large and small Flexlink bands (for mounting to headband or bicycle handlebar), a wide hook-and-loop band (for mounting battery pack), a couple adhesive-backed rubber strips (for adding friction when mounting battery pack), DX 50 cm extension cable for the battery pack, AC charger, and product manual.
For sake of this review, Lumonite also included the D-Nut accessory that allows the Leader to mount on any GoPro mount. This is a €14.90 option that is purchased separately.
The manual is in 4 languages: Finnish, English, Swedish, and Norwegian. Each section is about 10 pages in length and full color, covering the Leader's features, specifications, and usage instructions. I can only comment on the English section, but I found it to be very well-written and complete. Amongst other things, it mentions that the battery is delivered at about 50% of the charge level (which it was), that the battery will not charge when conditions are below 0C, and that the lamp will get warm but is equipped with overheating protection that will reduce intensity if the lamp is not sufficiently cooled.
It is online in full here:
https://www.lumonite.com/images/Man...al__UPDATED_11-2018__CONTENT__380x120__V2.pdf
Lumonite backs the Leader with a 5 year warranty on the lamp, 24 month warranty on the charger, and 12 month warranty on the battery pack. As of the time of this review, the charger can be purchased separately as an accessory for €34.90 and the Slimcore 100 battery pack for €249.
Design
Lumonite advertises the Leader as "THE FLAGSHIP - Lumonite Leader is a headlamp designed for the most demanding needs possible. It was created for situations requiring absolute maximum light power." The Leader does embody that spirit of being focused on performance – whether it's the 8 LEDs or the sizable cooling fins.
The Leader has a wide hexagonal shape with 8 emitters and the Lumonite logo on the front. One (1) of the 8 emitters has a diffused lens in front of it, adding a bit of flood to an otherwise throwy beam. (Note: clear protective plastic is still present as shown; should be removed before first use.)
A closer shot with protective plastic removed:
On top is the single button that serves as both power button and mode adjustment button. The button is of good size and easy to locate and press with or without gloves on. The rubber is grippy but does collect dust easily. The model/serial is listed behind the button here. The sides and bottom are featureless.
The rear is dominated by large cooling fins. The largest of these has depth measuring 21 mm! Near the bottom of the unit, on the rear, there are two screws that can be removed to switch from the regular headband/bicycle mount to the D-Nut GoPro mount. The mounts slip under two fins, providing a secure connection.
The circumference of the lamp covered by a rubber ring that Lumonite refers to as a protective cover. It is removable, exposing the sides of the lamp and the yellow button underneath.
It also allows a view of the screws holding the rear heatsink to the lens assembly. (Note: the optional D-Nut is shown in this picture.)
Lumonite reports the Leader lamp at 63 mm tall, 84 mm wide, and 42 mm deep. I measured 65, 87, and 44 mm respectively, with the rubber protective ring that encircles the front of the lamp installed. Weight is reported at 155 g; I measured it at 168 g with the rubber ring – which I see no case to not have installed.
The cable attached to the lamp was measured at approximately 27 inches (69 cm). A secondary 50 cm (19.6 in) extension cable is also included.
The official battery specifications are 76 mm wide, 165 mm tall, 25 mm deep, and with a weight of 472 g. With the mount installed on the battery (which I felt was necessary as this is the only way to use the Leader without additional accessories), I measured it at 80 mm wide, 165 mm tall, 33 mm deep, and with a weight of 508 g.
To put it another way, Lumonite's specifications on the dimensions are accurate though my numbers slightly as I included the required additional components when measuring.
The Leader is larger - and brighter - than any headlamp offering from Acebeam, Fenix, Imalent, Jetbeam, Klarus, Manker, Nitecore, Olight, Thrunite, or any other headlamp maker I'm familiar with. I'm sure there are larger headlamps out there, but I haven't reviewed one. Here it is between a Nitecore HC65 (left) and Nitecore NU10 for size comparison. Also note the different kinds of headbands used.
Lumonite advises against disassembling the lamp or battery pack. No disassembly was performed during the course of this review.
Accessories
Battery Pack
The 99.4Wh, 14.4V, 6900mAh battery pack is not user-serviceable, but appears to be in the shape of 4 18650 cells wide by 2 high (8 cells total). Most 18650 cells are around 12.6Wh, so I do suspect there are 8 inside the pack to total 99.4Wh as rated.
The top of the battery pack has a button and five (5) indicator lights to check and display remaining charge. The connector for the lamp (or extension cable) is also on the top of the pack.
Battery Pack Mount
Preinstalled on the battery pack is a multifunction clip/mount that Lumonite refers to as the Slimholder. It wraps around both sides of the battery pack and the top, using the top endcap of the pack to keep it in place. It holds the battery pack very securely.
When the pack is being attached to a bicycle frame or other tube, the inner pass-throughs can be used with the hook-and-loop band. There are also slots for a belt to be passed through for waist carry and screw holes in the corners for more permanent mounting. Additional holders can be purchased from Lumonite at a cost of €19.90 as of the time of this review.
Headband
The included Ergo headband is a Y-shape design that wraps both high and low on the rear of the user's head. The band has adjustments on both rear bands. Once adjusted/tightened, the headband holds the leader securely. There is minimal elasticity; the headband is designed to be adjusted to fit. It should fit almost any size head but is not large enough to be worn around a helmet or safety cap.
The headband has two small elastic loops on the right side (as the user wears it) to route the Leader's power cable. This is a nice touch and ensures the cable stays out of the way. Lumonite sells an accessory vest for €39.90, branded Slimvest, that allows the battery pack to be worn like a backpack.
GoPro-Compatible Mount
The OPTIONAL, €14.90 D-Nut allows the Leader to be used with any GoPro compatible mount. For example, it can be mounted on a helmet.
Extension cable
A 50cm extension cable is included, allowing the battery pack to be worn at the user's waist. Lumonite sells DX series extension cables like this in lengths of 50, 100, and 150 cm, each for €14.90.
Flexlinks
Two small oval-shaped rubber-based bands are included; Lumonite refers to these as Flexlinks.
The larger of the bands is used to attach the Leader to the headband or other tubes of similar size, as shown above. The smaller is used with slightly smaller tubes like a bicycle handlebar.
Charger
The Leader comes with an AC charger with an EU-style plug. The charger is compatible with common EU 240V/50Hz power as well as North American 110V/60Hz power, but those outside of the EU must use a socket adapter in order to charge the Leader.
While charging is underway, a small LED appears red on the face of the charger. The LED changes to green to indicate when charging is complete.
Performance
Beam
The eight emitters provide a wide center hotspot and further spill outside of that thanks to the combination of shallow smooth lenses and a single diffused lens. As shown in the tint comparison image below, the layout of the emitters does produce an off-balance hotspot. However, this is not noticeable at all in real-world use.
Tint & Temperature
Color temperature is advertised by Lumonite at 5500K, which is on the cooler side of neutral. I measured it around 5100K, putting it closer to the middle of the neutral range. Some variation in temperature is normal within a given bin, so another Leader might test a little differently. The tint was slightly yellow/green.
To demonstrate the overall color balance, here is the Concept 2 surrounded by two other lights with emitters of various tints and temperatures. Camera W/B set to daylight.
L to R: Convoy S2+ (6500K XM-L2 U2 1B), Lumonite Leader, Convoy S2+ (4300K-4500K XM-L2 T6 4C)
Output
Note: The included Slimcore 100 99.4Wh, 14.4V battery pack used for all tests. Ambient temperature was 73F +/- 3F. An 80mm PC fan was used to provide airflow mimicking real-world use for Turbo ("Max") and High mode tests.
One of the big differentiators between the Leader and other headlamps is that the Leader is reported to be able to output over 5000 lumens for over 2 hours. Lumonite notes that in their lab max output was 5581 lumens - but doesn't state if this was in an ANSI FL1 test or not so we don't know if that was immediately at turn-on or within the 30 to 120 second window.
In my testing, the Leader powered on at 5613 lumens with 5405 lumens output at 30 seconds. It held over 5000 lumens until a step-down to 2911 lumens occurred right at 2 hours. It slowly rose to almost 3100 lumens before stepping down again less than 5 minutes later to 1109 lumens – which is <50% of the initial output. One more step-down happened at 2 hours and 16 minutes into the test, dropping to 323 lumens – which is <10% of initial output and thus provides the official runtime as tested at 2 hours and 16 minutes. It eventually powered off at about 3 hours and 42 minutes into the test.
The Leader's temperature reached 135F on the rear of the lamp inside the cooling fins about 5 minutes into the test. It eventually peaked at 141F (60C) about 27 minutes into the test. It maintained this temperature until power was reduced. The side with fewer emitters was several degrees cooler; the hottest spot is marked below with a red dot. At no point did the Leader become uncomfortable to handle.
Note that Max mode can be accessed one of two ways – either in the normal 4 mode rotation – or by quickly pressing the button twice. (Another quick double-press returns to the last-used mode.)
Max, first 15 minutes:
Max, full runtime:
High is rated at 3000 lumens for 4 hours 10 minutes. I measured 3377 lumens at turn-on and 3315 lumens at 30 seconds. Output held above 3150 lumens until 3 hours 51 minutes into the test, at which point it stepped down to around 1150 lumens – <50% of initial output.
At 9 hours 5 minutes, the Leader stepped down further to 320 lumens – producing the runtime as measured being <10% of initial output. It eventually powered off entirely at 10 hours 25 minutes. A runtime of 9:10 exceeds the rated runtime of 4:10 by more than double – but do keep in mind this is measuring down to 10% output. Many people prefer to look at the 50% output point instead of 10% since usefulness is so reduced at 10% output.
Temperature as measured never rose above 110F (43C) on High with the fan-cooling in place.
Medium is rated for 1000 lumens for 14 hours 30 minutes. I measured 1257 lumens at turn-on and 1252 lumens at 30 seconds. Output then dropped gradually down to 1150 lumens over the first hour, but then the 1150 was maintained flatly until 12 hours and 28 minutes into the test. The Leader then held about 325 lumens until powering off at 13 hours and 28 minutes into the test.
In this case, the tested runtime fell short of specifications by about an hour. As output was tested a bit higher than specifications, the consequence of a slightly shorter runtime isn't a surprise.
Low is rated at 250 lumens for 70 hours. Output was measured at 339 lumens; runtime was not tested.
There is no Ultralow or Moonlight level on the Leader headlamp. Low at 250 lumens (339 as tested) is the minimum output available.
All output levels:
All runtimes tested:
Amperage Draw
Not measured due to internal nature of battery.
Throw
Throw was tested at 1.46 meters; candela measured 34639 at 30 seconds - equivalent to 372 meters of throw. Lumonite's specifications report throw at 370 meters – very closely in line with measured results.
PWM
Lumonite does not address if the Leader uses PWM in specifications, but I was unable to find any evidence of PWM visually or using a camera. I would consider the Leader to be PWM-free.
Parasitic Drain
This could not be tested given the fully-enclosed battery pack and lamp, but the product manual states that the battery pack should be "fully or almost fully charged during the storage" if being stored for an extended period of time. As the switches – both on the Leader and on the Slimcore 100 battery pack – are electronic, some parasitic drain should be expected. Lumonite acknowledges this and thus provides those storage instructions.
Low Voltage Notification
The Slimcore 100 battery pack has 5 small red LEDs that indicate the charge level. These illuminate when the battery pack's button is pressed. When the charge is nearly depleted, the first of the five lights will blink.
[Battery Lights]
Impact Resistance
Lumonite does not provide any impact resistance specifications with the Leader – which is actually a bit atypical for flashlight and headlamp manufacturers. Still, the Leader is advertised for outdoor enthusiasts including enduro motorcycle riders – so it should be durable. I dropped the lamp several times from around 1.5 meters and it came out unscathed. The battery pack was not drop-tested.
Water Resistance
The Leader lamp is rated IPX6 – indicating that it should be able to handle heavy and windy rain but not underwater immersion. Considering how it is constructed (see the earlier image with the outer rubber cover removed), I don't see a risk of water damage so long as it isn't submerged – which isn't protected against given the way the heatsink and front connect and with the cable entering in the rear. The cable entry point would be a vulnerable spot, but Lumonite does have that sealed up with a dried compound of some type.
The Slimcore battery pack is rated IPX4 – indicating that it can handle splashing but not more. Vulnerabilities for the battery pack would be small vents on the lower end and the lamp cable connection, though neither of these should be a big concern in normal use.
Recharging
Amperage draw during charging could not be measured given the proprietary battery pack and charger design. The product manual states that a full charge takes about 4 hours.
Outdoor Beamshots
All photos taken with a Canon SD4000IS camera. 1/4" exposure, ISO800, Daylight white balance, F2.0. Approximate distances: White deck railing @ 15 ft., white fence in distance @ 75 ft, back of dock @110 ft. Partial moonlight with extremely light precipitation.
Control:
Ultralow:
N/A
Low:
Medium:
High:
Turbo/Max:
Interface
The Leader has a fairly simple interface via its single top-mounted switch.
From off:
- Single press to turn on the last mode used. (mode memory)
- Double press to turn on Turbo/Max.
From on:
- Single press to cycle upward through output levels
- Double press to activate Turbo/Max
- Double press again to return to the previous mode
- Single press to cycle to Low
- Press and hold to turn off
There is no electronic lockout; the lamp should be disconnected from the battery pack to ensure the lamp does not power on while in storage.
Problems
No problems were experienced with the Lumonite Leader while testing.
Commentary
This is the only headlamp that I've ever tested capable of 5000+ lumens for 2 hours. This is also the only headlamp I've tested that has a price of €749.
Is it expensive? Yes. Is it overpriced? Well, for those who truly need a lamp with these specifications, the cost might be worth it. It's also what I'd consider a multi-purpose light… it's a headlamp and a bike light, but could be used for a variety of other purposes.
When I first read the specifications, I doubted it could sustain 5000 lumens without stepping down – or that it would be another light that has exaggerated specifications. My doubts were misplaced; Lumonite doesn't seem to have made exaggerated claims and by my testing, even slightly underrates their product. The output was there; the runtime was there.
The sizable fins on the rear of the leader – more common on a CPU heatsink than a headlamp – do a solid job of dissipating the heat. Fairly flat outputs are experienced, all PWM-free.
The throw matching specifications at about 370 meters is excellent. Color temperature is on the cool side, but not offensively so at all. The UI is simple and straightforward and the single button is large and easy to feel with or without gloves on, making it easy to use in the action-related environments intended.
The indicators on the battery pack provide useful information on remaining battery life and the eventual step-downs do provide additional warning that the battery is about out of power.
I thought that the Leader would be heavy and unwieldy, but the lamp itself only weighs about 40 grams more than my go-to 18650-based headlamp. Whether wearing it with the included headband or mounted to a helmet, I didn't notice any difference. The battery pack is comfortable to wear on the waist, but is of course noticeable given its size and weight.
The included headband is also a bit unique; it holds very securely but the double rear strap does take some getting used to compared to the one-over, one-around style most headlamps use. If the Leader was used on a motorcycle helmet as pictured on the Lumonite website, the sheer wind resistance of the large face might be noticeable at higher speeds.
As for what else is included, the Leader's case is amongst the highest quality of any flashlight/headlamp case I've come across. I note this not because the case value is significant, but it fits with the premium price of the lamp and battery pack. It's nice that Lumonite has included the accessories necessary to mount the Leader on a bicycle as part of the package, but the D-Nut for GoPro is an optional accessory. The battery pack holder also has screw holes in the corners for permanent mounting to other surfaces. All of these parts are readily available for purchase in case spares are needed.
The sheer output and design (especially with GoPro compatibility and a variety of mounting options) makes it useful in more situations than typical headlamps. For example, a couple times each year I regret not having docking lights on my small boat. But I do have a GoPro mount on the tower, so the Leader can fill that need. It could also be mounted to the handlebars of ATVs without headlights, to the frames UTVs needing additional lighting, or even to other vehicles like golf carts with the included hardware. Adding the GoPro-compatible D-Nut accessory opens the door further since GoPro mounts can be attached/adhered to almost anything.
As for negatives, the lack of an ultralow/moonlight mode is a bit disappointing; it's nice to be able to have one light to be able to rely on whether it's illuminating hundreds of meters of a trail ahead or discretely walking around a campsite. The Leader isn't built for close-range illumination as its lowest mode is over 250 lumens, so users would need to have a separate light for lower output.
I also wish that the battery pack was rated for more than IPX4. It should be fine exposed or when worn tucked away, but a bit more protection and a higher rating would add a bit more confidence when it comes to this expensive and potentially dangerous component.
Lumonite should also consider including the GoPro mount with the Leader; paying another €15 for this inexpensive-to-produce item seems unnecessary given the price of the Leader package. A North American -compatible AC charging plug should also be included for North American buyers or at least available to improve marketability worldwide. (UK buyers will also need to use an adapter.) The availability of carry vests and other accessories and spares to support the Leader is quite good.
Overall, the Leader is a very powerful headlamp intended for serious users who need 5000+ lumens and long runtimes. It doesn't have every feature in the market, but it executes what it intends to as a high output, long runtime, multipurpose lamp. Those who want one may have trouble justifying the high cost, but those that need it may not.
Lux Meter: Dr. Meter LX1330B
Integrating "sphere": Homebuilt tube-style device calibrated on other known lights and test results. Numbers should be considered relative to each other and my other review figures but accuracy is in no way certified or guaranteed.
Camera: Canon SD4000IS
Micrometer: Mitutoyo CD-6ASX
Multimeter: Craftsman 82170
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