Black Diamond Distance LT 1100 Headlamp

Black Diamond saw a need to go back to the drawing board and improve upon the Distance 1500 to offer a headlamp that is more compact, lighter and that didn’t exclude any ‘must have’ features or performance. The result is the Distance LT 1100 which is a very stable headlamp that's ideal for running and speedsters like Black Diamond Athlete Hillary Gerardi.

The design uses a low-profile removable Li-Ion battery pack that is rechargeable via a USB-C cable. This provides up to 120 hours of light at its lowest setting and 4.25 hours on the brightest. There are three light settings in total and a 10-second burst mode on the highest power thanks to Black Diamond's proprietary PowerTap™ Technology. These various brightness levels (including a dimming feature) provide reliable depth perception no matter the circumstances.

There is also a red light for use when you don’t want to disturb others when you stay up late reading or need to answer the call of nature in the middle of the night. You’ll also find blue and green light options as well as a strobe light.

To further improve visibility the Distance LT 1100 Headlamp pivots while keeping the battery mass close to your forehead which minimizes bounce while running.

The super bright 1100 lumens of the Distance LT 1100 are just the beginning for this high-output headlamp as you can see in the feature list below.

• Low profile, suspended headband provides superior comfort during use
• A pivoting light option keeps the mass of the battery close to the body to minimize bounce and movement while running.
• PowerTap™ Technology boosts the beam to the max setting of 1100 lumens (dims automatically after 10 seconds to save battery life)
• Rechargeable 2200 mAh Li-ion battery charges via USB-C port and can be swapped on the go. Replacement battery sold separately.
• 3-colour, RGB LED for additional performance mode
• Multifaceted optical lens design provides a combination of depth lighting to better spot obstacles and smooth, diffuse light for consistent visibility
• Submersible IP67 waterproof rating up to a depth of about 3 feet for up to 30 minutes
• Removable and washable elastic headband
• Helmet compatible
• The patented digital lock feature safeguards against accidental use when stored in a pack or pocket.
• A locked mode to ensure that it does not switch on in your pack.

Besides the obvious blindingly bright 1100 lumens, the next best thing about the Black Diamond Distance LT 1100 Headlamp is that it is a relatively lightweight self-contained headlamp, meaning there is no external battery on the back of the headband. This allows the Distance LT 1100 Headlamp to pack down a lot smaller which is super important as it spends most of its time in your pocket or pack until needed. It also means that the Distance LT 1100 Headlamp doesn’t bounce around when you are running as the battery component remains firmly against your head where it's solid and stable. On top of this, the ability to tilt the headlamp and also get a ten-second full power boost of light are features that I now cannot live without. While not the lightest headlamp for long-distance adventures, the Distance LT 1100 Headlamp is still impressively light at just 108 grams and combines that with a long list of innovative features. If you are a hiker, runner, backcountry skier or even just a weekend warrior the Distance LT 1100 Headlamp is packed with all the tech you could ever ask for and will provide more than enough light for any multi-day adventure. I’ve been testing the Distance LT 1100 Headlamp on day hikes and a few trail runs and also took it on an 80km solo hike in Haida Gwaii called the East Beach Trail. I always had plenty of light once the sun went down and being able to manage my power use with the dimmer was a nice feature as was the red light mode which came in handy for those nights sleeping in cabins. I never did get the chance to use the strobe or blue/green lights in party mode—yet.