BioLite Range 300 head torch review: Minimalist but powerful

New for 2025, the BioLite Range 300 is a minimalist head torch that punches above its weight –literally. At just 51g, it’s one of the lightest full-featured head torches on the market, yet it still delivers a respectable 300 lumens of output and a max beam range of 75 metres.

The sleek design integrates the LED unit directly into a wide, soft, breathable headband that sits flush and comfortably against your head, with zero bounce or hotspots.

The light is intuitive to operate via a single top-mounted button, with stepless dimming from 300 to 3 lumens, a strobe mode, and useful features like light memory and a lock function.

A three-LED battery indicator shows charge level, and the USB-C charging port allows for rapid recharging – just 8 minutes of juice yields an hour of high-power light.

While burn time at full brightness (3.5 hours) is fairly modest, this is to be expected from such a compact unit. It excels in lower-output modes, making it perfect for wild camping, hillwalking, climbing, or short runs.

The lack of red light is a slight omission, but otherwise, this is a well-priced, impressively specced head torch that excels as a lightweight primary or backup option for fast-and-light adventures.

Design and features

New for 2025, the BioLite Range 300 is an extremely lightweight and compact head torch, powered by an in-built USB rechargeable li-ion battery.

Staying true to the brand’s trademark comfort-focused design ethos, the LED light unit is slim and unobtrusive, being seamlessly integrated into the one-piece elastic headband, which is soft, breathable and fully adjustable.

This gives a sleek look and a total weight of just 51g. In terms of power-to-weight, that means the Range 300 is one of the most competitive head torches on the market, bettered only by the more expensive Black Diamond Deploy 325 and Nitecore UL25.

And despite its diminutive size, this is a robust bit of kit. It has an IP (ingress protection) rating of IP67, which means it is completely dustproof and submersible in water (the test criteria allows total submersion up to one metre for 30 minutes).

This ought to give good peace of mind that the Range 300 will keep on shining even in the most biblical of downpours, and will continue to function even if it gets dropped in a puddle.

Operation is very intuitive, since there’s only one rubberised button, sensibly positioned on top of the unit. Press it and the single white centrally-positioned LED illuminates.

On initial power-up, it’s set by default to the maximum 300-lumen output, but you can hold the button to dim the light as desired, down to a minimum 3-lumen setting.

Impressively, the Range 300 also has a light memory function, so when you switch the light off and on again, it’ll automatically return to your last chosen brightness. Alternatively, a quick double press of the power button activates a white strobe mode.

You also get a button lock function to prevent the head torch being accidentally operated, e.g. while it’s stashed away in your pack – to activate it, just press and hold the power button for 8 seconds.

There’s also a handy three-LED battery charge indicator on one side of the unit. Meanwhile, the USB-C recharging port is hidden on the rear of the light body, which flips down for easy access. It can be adjusted in four positions to angle the light as desired.

Performance and comfort

We’ve praised many BioLite head torches for their wearability and comfort, and the new Range 300 is no exception. It feels great to wear, partly because it is so light. But a hallmark of the brand’s designs is their ability to integrate the lamp unit seamlessly with the headband, and that’s a stand-out quality of this model too.

You get a full-size, one-piece elasticated headband made from a soft and flexible wicking fabric. It’s easy to adjust and doesn’t bounce around or feel front-heavy. Nor does it cut into your temples or press against the back of your skull, unlike the elastic bungees and cordlocks of most rival lightweight lamps.

When it comes to performance, the 300-lumen output is bright enough for most general outdoor scenarios, and the maximum beam throw of 75m is adequate.

Some rivals delivers slightly superior performance in this metric, mostly due to superior beam optics – the Range 300 relies on a single white LED for all its light output.

Quoted burn times are 3.5hrs at maximum power of 300 lumens, and 150hrs at the minimum three lumens output. After that, the battery charge indicator will flash eight times, and the unit will drop to one hour of emergency reserve lighting – so you’ll never be plunged into total darkness with no warning.

That’s very good for its size. Obviously, as a small, compact head torch, this is not a unit designed for epic dusk-to-dawn night hikes or extended low-light use.

It’s much better suited to general ‘around the tent’-type situations, such as when wild camping (though the lack of a red-light mode might be an annoyance for your tentmate). It also has a quick charging capability.

The USB-C port allows for ‘Rapid Recharge’, and the brand claims you’ll get an hour of power (on high) from just 8 minutes’ charge. This makes the Range 300 a very efficient light source – ideal if you’re relying on a portable power bank to keep all your electronics alive when backpacking off-grid.

Moreover, the Range 300’s compact dimensions ensure that it also works well when utilised as a back-up or emergency light to keep stashed in a pack or kit bag. Climbers and hikers will love it.

And thanks to its supremely comfortable low bulk design and minimal weight, it’s also a viable choice for runners heading out on short evening sessions or pre-work training runs, especially if you tend to stick to trails or quieter roads.

It’s fine for city streets too – it’s certainly bright enough – but the lack of a rear red light means it lacks the safety elements of more specialist running head torches (in which case, take a look at BioLite’s Dash 450 instead).

Price and competition

With a UK RRP of £42.99, this is a very reasonably priced head torch, especially given its low weight in relation to its 300-lumen maximum light output.

In fact, there are few 300+ lumen head torches that can compete with the Range 300 as an overall package. The only two that spring to mind are Black Diamond’s Deploy 325 (325 lumens, 40g, £55) and Nitecore’s NU25 UL (400 lumens, 47g, £45).

However, the Range 300 slightly undercuts both of these on price. It also has fractionally superior burn times (especially in the mid and low power range) – though you can’t expect amazing battery life from such small, compact units. But where the Range 300 really shines is its quick charging ability.

Thanks to that Rapid Recharge function, you’ll get 1hr of light from just 8 minutes of charging. That adds to this head torch’s practicality and useability in the field, whether you’re using it as a primary light source or a back-up.

All in all, we think it’s a great addition to the BioLite range and a head torch that fills a handy niche for ultralight backpackers and weight-conscious wild campers, as well as other users.

For example, it’ll particularly suit hillwalkers, runners and climbers in search of a lightweight, compact, comfortable and decently bright head torch for back-up and emergency use, or for shorter bursts of activity.

Verdict

A ‘forget-it’s-there’ ultralight head torch with practical features and fast charging. Ideal as a compact, high-performing backup option or a primary head torch for shorter ‘fast and light’ pursuits.

For more useful gizmos, check out our roundup of the best camping gadgets.

About the author

Matt Jones is a freelance journalist based in the heart of Snowdonia National Park, he’s a vastly experienced gear tester and self-confessed outdoor kit geek.

Matt’s been one of our main gear testers for the last couple of years and is the first person we call with any complicated kit queries that need in-depth and forensic analysis.