My go to for long distance hiking. Love that, if needed, a can use the lamp while charging. Love the USB-C charging port. One less charging cord. Night hiking is a must on the JMT! Roots
A 38 gram headlamp that throws 109 metres and still has a red light and a reading light built in.
For trail runners, hikers and ultralight backpackers counting every gram. Light enough to forget it is on your head, bright enough for a fast descent in the dark.
- 38g (1.34 oz) with the headband, 28g for the lamp and bracket alone
- 360 lumens at the top, spread in a flood wider than 100°
- NiteLab UHE LED for more light from every milliamp
- Three light sources: 6,000K main white, a CRI≥90 4,500K reading light and a red light
- Up to 97 hours on the 1 lumen setting from the built-in 500mAh battery
- USB-C charging, full in about 1 hour 20 minutes
- IP66 dust and water resistance, impact resistant to 1 metre
Light enough to forget.
The whole headlamp, headband included, weighs 38 grams. That is lighter than a handful of trail mix, and on a long night run it means no bounce, no pressure point on your forehead and nothing to adjust at the aid station.
The body is durable PC and the band is highly elastic and adjustable, with a reflective finish that catches car headlights on the road section home. Strip it to the lamp and bracket and it drops to 28 grams for clipping to a pack strap or a cap brim.
360 lumens that reach 109 metres down the trail.
A multi-faceted optical lens shapes the beam into two jobs at once: a flood wider than 100° that fills your footing, and the reach to pick out a trail marker or a junction far down the path.
The light transitions smoothly between levels and has a soft edge, so hours on the trail stay easy on the eyes. Drop to 200 lumens for five hours of steady hiking light, or 38 lumens for seven hours around camp.
The classic shape, with a far more efficient LED inside.
The NU20 Classic keeps the compact, low-profile housing that made the original NU20 a favourite with ultralight hikers, and fits it with a NiteLab UHE LED built specifically for headlamps.
In Nitecore's lab testing the UHE LED reaches 190 lumens per watt, about 16.6% more efficient than the XP-G2 it replaces. More light from the same small battery is exactly what an ultralight headlamp needs.
A reading light and a red light, built into the same small housing.
Beside the main LED sits a high CRI auxiliary white light at 4,500K and CRI 90 or above. At 20 lumens it shows true colours for reading a map, sorting gear or cooking in the vestibule, with a soft, glare-free spread.
The red light runs at 13 lumens or a 1 lumen glow that lasts 53 hours, keeping your night vision and your tent-mate's sleep intact. A slow-flashing red mode marks your position on a road or a group hike.
A built-in battery that charges in 80 minutes.
The 500mAh Li-ion battery lives inside the housing, so there are no spare AAAs to pack or run flat. On the 1 lumen setting it lasts up to 97 hours, several nights of camp chores on a single charge.
Lift the cover on the USB-C port and it is full again in about 1 hour 20 minutes from a power bank or a phone charger. Four indicator lights show the level as it charges.
Two buttons, found by feel in the dark.
The power button runs the main white light: a short press for LOW, then MID and HIGH, and a one second hold for the full 360 lumens. From off, a one second hold goes straight to the high CRI reading light.
The R button runs the red light on its own, so red comes on first and the campsite stays dark. A three second hold on the power button brings up SOS and BEACON.
Lock it before it goes in the pack.
Hold both buttons for three seconds and the headlamp flashes three times to confirm it is locked. It stays dark in a stuff sack or a pocket, and arrives at camp with the charge you left home with.
Hold both again to unlock, or simply plug it in to charge, which unlocks it automatically.
Rated for rain and a knock on the rocks.
IP66 means dust-tight and protected against powerful jets of water, so a tropical downpour on the ridge or a sweaty two-hour run is well within its rating. It is made for weather, not for swimming.
The PC housing is impact resistant to 1 metre, so a drop from head height onto the trail is part of the plan.
WHY THE NU20 CLASSIC OVER AN ORDINARY HEADLAMP
Three lights in one
A main beam, a colour-accurate reading light and a red light, where most lightweight headlamps give you one white LED and nothing else.
Reach at a featherweight
A long reach and a wide flood from a headlamp under 40 grams, where ordinary ultralight lamps give up distance to save weight.
No batteries to carry
A built-in cell and USB-C charging mean one cable for your phone and your light, and no spent AAAs in the bin.
Tested to the standard
Every output and runtime figure on this page comes from Nitecore's lab data, so the numbers you plan a trip around are the numbers you get.
WHO WEARS THE NU20 CLASSIC
Trail & Night Runners
Bounce-free and barely there, with enough throw to read the next switchback on a pre-dawn loop at Bukit Timah.
Ultralight Backpackers
A lamp that earns its place on the gear list: three light sources, no spare batteries and a lockout for the pack.
Campers & Trekkers
The reading light for the tent, the red light for the midnight toilet walk, and the main beam for the summit start.
Home & Emergency Kit
Hands-free light in a power cut, with SOS and BEACON modes and a charge that keeps for months in the drawer.
OUTPUT AND RUNTIME
| MODE | LUMENS | RUNTIME | DISTANCE | INTENSITY |
| Primary White (6,000K) | ||||
| Turbo | 360 | 2h | 109m | 2,963cd |
| High | 200 | 5h | 85m | 1,822cd |
| Mid | 38 | 7h | 38m | 360cd |
| Low | 1 | 97h | 8m | 15cd |
| SOS / Beacon | 360 | - | - | - |
| Auxiliary White (CRI≥90, 4,500K) | ||||
| On | 20 | 7h | 7m | 13cd |
| Auxiliary Red | ||||
| High | 13 | 12h | 5m | 5cd |
| Low | 1 | 53h | 2m | 1cd |
| Slow Flashing | 13 | - | - | - |
*Nitecore laboratory data
Measured with the built-in 3.7V 500mAh Li-ion battery. Real-world results vary with conditions.TECHNICAL SPECS
| LED | NiteLab UHE LED |
| Light Sources | Primary white 6,000K; auxiliary white CRI≥90 4,500K; auxiliary red |
| Max Output | 360 lumens |
| Max Beam Distance | 109m |
| Peak Intensity | 2,963cd |
| Battery | Built-in 500mAh Li-ion (3.7V) |
| Charging | USB-C, approx. 1h 20min |
| Body | PC |
| Water & Dust | IP66 |
| Impact Resistance | 1m |
| Dimensions | 52.1 x 33.1 x 24.4mm (2.05" x 1.30" x 0.96"), bracket included |
| Weight | 38g (1.34 oz) with bracket and headband; 28g (0.99 oz) with bracket only |
| Download Instruction Manual (PDF) | |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Why does the 360 lumen Turbo dim after a while?
Turbo steps down on its own during a long run to manage heat and stretch the battery. It is built for short bursts, like checking a junction or scanning a slope, with High at 200 lumens as the level to leave on for hours.
How do I check the battery with the light off?
Hold the R button and the four power indicators light up in turn for two seconds: four for 75 to 100%, down to one for under 25%, which is the time to recharge. They also show the level each time you switch the headlamp on.
Will it hold its charge in an emergency kit?
Fully charged, it has a standby time of about 12 months. Nitecore recommends topping it up every six months when it is stored, and locking it first so it cannot switch on inside the bag.
What's In The Box
- 1x Nitecore NU20 Classic - fitted in its bracket
- 1x Headband - elastic and adjustable
- 1x USB-C Charging Cable
Feather-light on your head. Every trail after dark.
GET YOUR NU20 CLASSIC NOWYou’re Backed by Our 60-Day Ironclad Guarantee
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Try it for 60 days. If it’s not right for you, send it back.
We stand behind our gear. If you’re not happy with your purchase, just return the full package within 60 days and we’ll issue a full refund—no fuss, no forms, no hoops to jump through.
What Happens After You Order
- You’ll get an instant order confirmation email with your receipt.
- We’ll pack your order the next working day and send you a tracking number once it’s on the way.
- From the moment you order to the moment it reaches your hands, we’re here to keep you updated and supported.
When will I receive my gear?
- Singapore: Delivered to your doorstep in 4–6 working days.
- International: Arrive within 10–14 working days.
Returns and warranty
- Every product comes with a 1 to 3-year replacement warranty (depending on the item).
- If anything isn’t working right, just let us know. We’ll make it right.
FREE Gift with Purchase: Limited Edition Ember Shard Whistle
Spend $99 or more today, and we'll automatically include a limited-edition Glow-in-the-Dark Ember Shard Whistle when packing your order.
Charge it quickly under sunlight or your flashlight, and enjoy its subtle glow throughout the night—perfect for marking gear, emergency kits, or attaching to your bag.
Limited quantities. These will be swapped (at our discretion) to other gift items if shards are unavailable.
Customer Reviews
Overall rating: 5.0 / 5 from 2 reviews.
Versatile, light weight, rechargeable. I am a trail runner, hiker and international traveler. This headlamp is light, effective, with no disposable batteries. A great choice for all of the above.
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