Black Diamond Distance LT 1100 Headlamp Review

The past decade has felt like an arms race with lumens. Just how many can companies jam into their tiny light? In the mountain biking space, a staggering 8000 lumen bar light is not uncommon, and regular old headlamps boasting numbers over 500 is now commonplace. It’s a different world, one which you can see a lot better at night. When Black Diamond launched their Distance LT 1100 headlamp, their second-most powerful headlamp ever produced at 1100 lumens, I was interested to know what it was like to wear the sun as a hat. Illuminating, I assure you.

Black Diamond Distance LT 1100 Headlamp Features:

• Low profile, suspended headband is removable, washable, and helmet compatible
• Pivoting light engine keeps the mass of the battery close to body to minimize bounce and movement while running
• PowerTap™ Technology boosts beam to max setting 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.
• 3-color, RGB LED for additional performance mode
• Multifaceted optical lens design provides a combination of lighting depths for smooth, diffuse light and consistent visibility
• Submersible IP67 waterproof rating
• Helmet compatible
• MSRP: $120

See Well Into the Distance

It’s not been long since I operated with a sub-100 lumen headlamp (a decision based on weight), but the high-power lights of today hold their appeal. Over the past year, I’ve pretty consistently reached for my Petzl Actik Core, a 600 lumen light, feeling it was the apex of what a person might want or need in the brightness department. I felt that way until I used the Distance LT 1100. I’ll let you know upfront: my position has changed.

On one of my first trips out with the Distance LT 1100, I climbed British Columbia’s Mt. Slesse. It’s a grade V climb, but my partner and I aimed to do it alpine style in a day… That did not happen. What did happen was a lot of hiking at night, eventually bivvying on the wall, rappelling late the following night, then yet more pitch black hiking. This trip told me everything I needed to know about the LT 1100. I wish I didn’t have to use it as much as I did, but I was incredibly glad to have it.

I’ll start with power. There’s nothing quite like knowing your bearing when navigating a large talus-filled basin with snowfields and cliffs in the middle of the night. It matters not just where you put your foot next, but also where you ought to be aiming (or avoiding) over the course of the 100+ meters. The Distance LT gave me just what I needed in this situation. I looked out over the dark expanse (which the standard high setting of the lamp couldn’t illuminate with its 600 lumens), used the PowerTap to boost up to 1100 lumens for a bit, and I could see everything I needed to. For this night alone, the 1100 lumens were worth their weight in gold.

Under more typical circumstances during testing though, I found myself using the other light settings. These range from a 7 lumen low, to a 300 lumen medium, up to the aforementioned 600 lumen high. The low setting is mild enough to look your climbing partner in the face without turning them against you, the medium setting serves most purposes around camp, and the high setting is, in my opinion, well-suited for most night hiking. The headlamp does operate on a gradient though, so there are plenty of in-between settings for those looking to be a bit more precise.

Beyond just brightness controls, the LT 1100 has the light features many have come to expect on modern headlamps. It has a red light mode, a strobe, an SOS flash, and a light lock mode. All of these options can be accessed using a combination of clicks which may just remind the user of complex cheat codes from Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2. When I initially opened up the user manual, I was overwhelmed at the permutations of clicks for different settings. I’ll be honest. I still sometimes forget exactly how to turn on red mode. And God help me if I ever need to turn on the SOS mode. I just don’t think I’ve memorized it thoroughly enough.

Nevertheless, the features are there, and easy to activate for the person who has memory devoted to such things. One feature I will say has been a boon is the light lock. Not only do I remember how to use it, I remember how to unlock it as well. This feature holds a special place in my heart because, years ago, I owned a Black Diamond headlamp which frequently turned on in my pack, ran all day, and would be dead when I needed it at night. Those days are over. When the headlamp is on, it’s because I want it to be on. No more surprise dead batteries.

On the topic of batteries, I have some mixed feelings for the LT 1100. On the one hand, it has never died on me, even on multi-day trips where I was using the PowerTap like a curious monkey. With the light on low, it can live for 120 hours. On medium, it will last for 14 hours, and on high, will last just over 4. That’s decent burntime, all told. I don’t love that the rechargeable battery is proprietary though. It means that you either have to keep your outings short, bring an extra headlamp, or buy an additional battery as a backup. Gone are the days of the ubiquitous AAA, and that’s too bad for the sake of convenience, cost, and e-waste.

Moving on from this one mournful woe, I have to note that the LT 1100 is quite comfortable. Whether worn directly on the head or over a climbing helmet, it’s easy to adjust and sits naturally. I found the band to be very skin-friendly, and was happy not to notice the feel of the buckles or headlamp body while wearing it. It sits just right. When jogging downhill, loaded down with gear, it did bounce a very tiny bit, but it was far from significant. 99% of the time, it was sitting comfortable and stable right where it ought to.

Buy Now: Available at Black Diamond