The Claymore CAPON 120D is a clever, compact lighting solution that stands apart from even some of the best head torches. Designed to clip onto the brim of a cap, a pack strap, or even hang from a carabiner, it’s a highly adaptable light source aimed at campers, hikers and ultralight adventurers who don’t mind ditching a traditional headband design.
Weighing just 55g, it delivers an impressive 380 lumens with a beam range of up to 100m. It features a focused white spotlight, twin red-light arrays for night vision, and a top-mounted flood beam that works brilliantly as a tent lantern.
Wide ranging features include stepless dimming or five brightness levels and an SOS strobe. A proximity sensor allows hands-free control, and the rear USB-C port allows for easy recharging.
Burn times are competitive for such a small and lightweight unit. The build is solid, the clip is strong and adjustable, and the overall package feels well engineered.
The CAPON 120D isn’t perfect for all use cases – it lacks the bounce-free comfort of a headband, so it won't make the cut on our running head torch roundup – but it’s a superb all-rounder for camp life, backup use, or anyone who prefers to wear a cap on the trail. At £40, it’s solid value too.
Pros
- Bright 380-lumen maximum output
- Three versatile light modes
- Solid build quality and clever clip design
- Works brilliantly as a tent/camp lantern
- Hands-free proximity sensor
- Compact and lightweight (55g)
- Good value at £40
Cons
- Less stable than a headband for dynamic movement
- Comfort depends on cap style
- Burn time at full power is limited
- IP54 rating is only splashproof
| RRP: | £37.95/$37.95 |
| Max power: | 380lm |
| Max burn time: | 3hrs at 380Lm or 4.5hrs @ 25Lm (focused beam), 60hrs @ 1Lm or 4hrs @ 40Lm (red light mode), 4.5hrs @ 25Lm or 3hrs @ 340Lm (diffused cool white light) |
| Max beam distance: | 100m |
| Battery: | rechargeable 1200mAh li-ion battery (USB-C) |
| Weight: | 55g/1.9oz |
| Ingress protection rating: | IP54 |
Design and features
Claymore’s CAPON series actually consists of half a dozen models at various price points and specifications. The 120D is one of the more powerful and fully featured models in the range.
Build-wise, it’s solid and compact. It consists of a rectangular unit with LED arrays on the front and top surfaces, housed in a moulded plastic casing.
The underside of the light body is fitted with a sturdy 180-degree adjustable clip, which enables it to be attached to the brim of a cap or a hard hat. However, it’s versatile enough that you could also clip it to a chest pocket or a pack shoulder strap too.
It’s also supplied with a small aluminium carabiner for hanging it in your tent, and the clip itself even doubles as an angled kick-stand, so you can direct the light as needed. All in all, it’s a clever and functional little bit of kit.
The front of the light has a forward-facing 8.5-degree spot beam inside a circular projector housing. This emits up to 380 lumens and throws a beam up to 100m. On either side, there are twin 4 x LED red light arrays, ideal for preserving night vision.
Meanwhile, the top of the unit has a 10 x LED white-light array, with a translucent white plastic lens that produces a diffused cool white flood beam, ideal for use as a tent or camp lantern.
Operation is simple and fairly intuitive – though the CAPON does a lot for such a small and seemingly simple light, which is impressive. There are two rubberised buttons: a top-mounted power button that turns the light on/off, and a side-mounted ‘mode’ button that cycles from spot to red light to flood beam.
Holding the power button gives stepless dimming that allows you to set any of the light modes to your chosen brightness.
Alternatively, you can hold the power button and then press the mode button to cycle through 5 stepped brightness settings. A two-second press of the power button also activates an SOS strobe mode for emergency use.
There’s a handy three-LED battery level indicator on top of the unit, which briefly illuminates when you power off the unit to show remaining charge. There’s no button lock feature though.
Unusually, the CAPON 120D is equipped with a side-mounted proximity sensor, which permits hand-free operation. Simply hold the ‘mode’ button for two seconds, and a small red LED illuminates to show ‘sensor on’.
Once activated, you can simply wave your hand past the sensor to switch the light on and off without needing to press a button. The proximity sensor has an effective range of about 10cm, and on test worked pretty reliably in a range of scenarios.
Performance and comfort
The CAPON 120D balances weight, performance and functionality very well. Although ‘cap lights’ are still a pretty niche lighting category, it has superior battery life to most of the competition, thanks to a 1200mAh in-built li-ion cell.
This is recharged via a rear USB-C port that is protected by a rubberised cover. Quoted battery life is 3hrs at full power or 4.5hrs at 25 lumens (using the forward focused beam); 60hrs at 1Lm or 4hrs at 40Lm in red light mode, and 4.5hrs at 25Lm or 3hrs at 340Lm (using the diffused cool white light).
The unit has an ingress protection rating of IP54, which means it is dust-resistant and splashproof. That’s not as high as some head torches, but still matches that of many popular models from big brands like Petzl and Princeton Tec.
It tips the scales at just 55g and has compact dimensions, measuring 54 x 57 x 34mm (or 2.1 x 2.2 x 1.3 inches). That’s fractionally heavier than some ultralight head torches, but with a maximum light output of 380 lumens, it outshines most of those competitors.
In the field, it performed reliably. While this isn’t a light you could use for extended periods under cover of darkness, due to the limited burn times, it’s still an excellent little light for backpacking and wild camping.
The spot beam is surprisingly powerful given the CAPON’s diminutive size, and the diffused flood lens makes this one of the best compact tent lanterns we’ve tested.
The CAPON’s portability and low weight ensure that it also works well when utilised as a back-up or emergency light to keep stashed in a pack or kit bag. For that kind of ‘just in case’ situation, hikers and hillwalkers will love it.
It’s not such a good running light though, because the fact it’s designed to be mounted on a cap brim inevitably makes it bouncier than a head torch fitted with a headband.
Overall comfort is a little hard to assess, as it really depends on whether you usually wear a cap when hiking and camping. The CAPON works better with sturdier trucker-style hats rather than ultralight, foldable trail running caps – but provided the brim is stiff enough to support its weight, it is compatible with most types of headwear.
The clip itself seems well-designed, with a secure, positive snap that doesn’t move around. It also provides a solid mounting point even if you angle the light body. It does feel a little front-heavy compared to the lightest conventionally designed head torches on the market, but at just 55g it’s certainly not overly hefty.
Price and competition
With a UK RRP of £40, this is a very reasonably priced lamp, especially given its low weight in relation to its 380-lumen maximum light output.
Although unusual, the concept of a cap light is not quite unique – there are a few other lighting brands who have produced clip-on torches for hats and caps.
These range from cheap junk lights to better quality offerings from reputable brands such as Nitecore and NEBO. However, Claymore’s CAPON is by far the best engineered product in this slightly niche category that we’ve seen or tested.
Compared to more conventional ultralight head torches, it also stands up well. There aren’t too many 300+ lumen head torches that weigh 55g or less.
The only models 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 CAPON 120D slightly undercuts all of these on price. It’s arguably more versatile in pure lighting terms, thanks to its range of light modes and ability to double as an excellent tent or camp lantern.
On the other hand, it doesn’t work so well for fast-paced activity such as trail running. And the fact you need to mount it to a cap, pocket or pack strap is arguably a limitation too.
Still, we think it’s a great product that fills a handy niche. Ultralight backpackers and weight-conscious wild campers (at least those who like to wear caps) will certainly value its versatility on the trail and in camp. It will also suit hikers and hillwalkers in search of a lightweight, compact and decently bright lamp to stash in their packs, ‘just in case’.
Verdict
A smart, high-performing alternative to traditional head torches that delivers performance and flexibility in a neat, clip-on design that’s perfect for cap-wearing campers and backpackers.
For more useful gizmos, check out our roundup of the best camping gadgets.
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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.