Simond
Simond UL500 USB-C Rechargeable Head Torch (150 lumens)
- Brightness: 3/10 How much light it gives at full power, for finding your way in the dark.
- Runtime: 4/10 How long one charge or set of batteries lasts at a level you can walk and cook by.
- Weight: 9/10 How much it adds to your pack and your head.
A very light back-up or camp torch: 42 g with the strap
- Brightness
- 150 lumens (maker's figure)
- Runtime
- 3 h at 150 lumens
- Weight
- 42 g
- Power
- Rechargeable
- Water rating
- IPX4
Where to buy
Alpinetrek £16.95 In stock. Delivery £4.49. Grey, the same UL500 (Alpinetrek item 545-1120: 150 lumens, 42 g, USB-C). Delivery time 5-7 working days; free UK delivery from £85.
View at shop: AlpinetrekDecathlon UK £19.99 In stock. Yellow; grey and orange are the same price. Delivery from £2.99; free for members on orders of £80+.
View at shop: Decathlon UKPrices checked 8 Nov 2026 on each shop's own page; shops can change them. We earn no commission on these links; shops are listed by price. More
Our ratings (out of 10)
1 to 10, compared with the whole market. Each says what it's based on. How we score
Brightness
From maker's figures 3/10How much light it gives at full power, for finding your way in the dark. 3: Below average. Fine for some trips, not others.
Decathlon gives 150 lumens as the top mode, which it runs for 3 hours, so it is held, not a burst: the 150–299 band. Decathlon quotes the FL1 standard for the runtime and range figures but not for the lumen figure itself, so this is the brand's own figure, capped at the 4 band (it is in the 2 band anyway).
Runtime
From maker's figures 4/10How long one charge or set of batteries lasts at a level you can walk and cook by. 4: A bit below average.
The only mode of 80 lumens or more is the 150-lumen power mode, 3 hours (FL1): the 2–3.9 h band. The eco mode is under 80 lumens (Decathlon's feature list says 50, its description 30) and runs up to 16 hours, so it doesn't count. A reserve mode gives 1 hour at 30 lumens. Decathlon's specification table also says up to 20 hours, without naming the mode, so we use the 3 hours.
Weight
From maker's figures 9/10How much it adds to your pack and your head. 9: Among the best you can buy for this.
Decathlon lists 42 g with the battery, under 50 g. Hike for Purpose weighed 43 g.
What reviewers say (out of 10)
Ratings marked * are from reviews and are not part of the trip score. They are reviewers' scores, not our own measurements. How we score
Comfort*
Reviewers' average 8/10How comfy and steady it sits on your head.
3 reviews on comfort, e.g. "Its a very light and compact headlamp, that sits comfortably on your head with the strap.".
Ease of use*
Reviewers' average 8/10How easy the buttons, modes and lock are, with gloves too.
3 reviews on ease of use, e.g. "its great that red light is the first thing when you turn it on".
In short
Good for
- A very light back-up or camp torch: 42 g with the strap
- Wild campers who want a red light that comes on first, to protect night vision
- Short night walks and chores around the tent
Strengths
- 42 g including the battery, one of the lightest rechargeable head torches
- Red mode first, a low eco mode (30 lumens in Decathlon's description, 50 in its feature list) and a dimmer that adjusts between 10 and 150 lumens
- USB-C charging, and a reserve mode that gives 1 hour at 30 lumens when the battery runs out
- Lock mode stops it switching on in a bag; the headband is removable and washable, and fits helmets
Weaknesses
- 3 hours at 150 lumens, and the 30 m range is short for fast night walking
- The 750 mAh battery is built in, so no spare cells; the charging cable is not supplied
- IPX4: splash-proof only (Hike for Purpose advises against a rainstorm or swim)
- Decathlon quotes the FL1 standard for runtime and range but not for the lumen figure, so brightness is the brand's own figure
- Only one independent review of this torch found, so comfort and beam are estimates, not reviewed scores
Sources
We haven't tested this ourselves. Every score comes from these specs, tests and reviews.
ShowHide sources (4)
- Decathlon UK: Simond UL500 USB-C rechargeable headlamp, 150 lumens (specifications)
- Decathlon UK customer reviews: UL500 USB-C (623 reviews, 4.64 out of 5)
- Hike for Purpose: Simond UL 500 headlamp (long-term test)
- Highlander Kris (YouTube, in Polish): Czołówka czyli latarka czołowa co wybrać na początek w góry? Simond (his own purchase of the UL500 USB-C, night test in the woods)