Nitecore

NU20 Classic Ultralight Headlamp

Name: Nitecore NU20 Classic Ultralight Headlamp
Brand: Nitecore

Manufacturer list price (MSRP)

$24.95

Retailer prices change, so we show the manufacturer list price and link out for you to check the current price.

RidgeNote is reader-supported: if you buy through the retailer links below, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Check current price at Amazon

Nitecore NU20 Classic Ultralight Headlamp

Overview

The NU20 Classic is an ultralight USB-C rechargeable headlamp that delivers up to 360 lumens from a 38-gram package. Gear-heads carry it because it sits at the sweet spot of the ultralight headlamp category: real usable brightness and a red mode at a weight you stop noticing on your head.

Specs

Brand: Nitecore
Weight: 38 g · 1.3 oz
Item Weight: 1.44 ounces
Lighting modes: 3 white brightness levels plus red light, reading light, SOS and beacon
Material: Polycarbonate
Material Type: Polycarbonate
Max Output: 360 lumens
Power source: Built-in 500 mAh Li-ion battery, USB-C rechargeable
Water resistance: IP66

Weight vs. category

This product1.3 oz

Category average2.7 oz

50% lighter than the category average.

How it measures up

Against every one of the headlamps in the RidgeNote register with a published figure. Manufacturer-listed; sources and dates are on this page.

Weight: 1.3 oz (38 g); Lighter than 86% of 7 weighed · #1 lightest; -56% vs the median 3.0 oz
Price: $24.95; Cheaper than 86% of 7 priced · #1 cheapest; -58% vs the median $59.88 · $18.61/oz (median $20.95/oz)

See every one of the headlamps measured →

RidgeNote verdict

At 38 grams the NU20 Classic disappears on your head, and it still puts out enough light to find a trail junction after dark, with a red mode that does not wreck night vision in a shared tent. For summer backpacking, where a headlamp mostly handles camp chores and the occasional alpine start, that trade is close to ideal, and USB-C means no proprietary cable. Its constraint is the 500 mAh built-in cell. Peak output drains it quickly, so 360 lumens is a burst you use to scan ahead, not a level you hike by; count on the lower modes for real runtime and carry a bank on longer trips. More importantly, the battery is sealed in. You cannot swap in fresh cells mid-trip, only recharge, and when the cell degrades after a few hundred cycles the lamp is finished. IP66 means rain-resistant, not submersible.

Similar — lighter or cheaper

Nitecore

NU25 UL 400 Headlamp

1.8 oz · MSRP $36.95

Fenix

HM50R v2.0 Ultra Compact Headlamp

2.8 oz · MSRP $59.95

Black Diamond

Spot 400 Headlamp

3.0 oz · MSRP $59.95

Measured

What's the Lightest Hiking Headlamp Worth Buying in 2026?

Seven backpacking headlamps ranked by maker-published weight, from 38 g to 100 g, with price per ounce and what going lighter costs or saves.

Start here

The Complete Beginner Backpacking Gear List

Everything you actually need for your first overnight, from our own catalogue — with the honest budget math and where to buy it.

Buying guide

Best Lightweight Backpacking Tents (2026)

The eight shelters in our catalogue, ranked by published weight, floor area, and list price — with an honest reason to skip every one of them.

View all guides →