NITECORE NU25 MCT UL 400 Lumen USB-C Rechargeable Multi-Temperature Ultralight Headlamp

Flag up front: this is a recon report, not a review. I have never had a NU25 MCT UL on my head. What follows is a read of the numbers NITECORE publishes on the product page, sorted into what a dad needs to know. The verdict comes after I have one in hand.

The Spec Read

NITECORE rates the NU25 MCT UL at 400 lumens out of dual-core MCT UHE LEDs, with a claimed 144 yard throw and 4351 candela of peak intensity. The spec table puts the whole thing at 1.66 oz, and the marketing copy on the same page says 1.65 oz. Take the heavier number. Footprint is listed at 2.36 by 1.30 by 1.01 inches.

The part that separates it from the cheaper NITECORE lights is not the lumen count, it is the MCT part. Three color temperatures, 3000K warm, 4500K neutral, 6500K cool, and the listing says you get up to four brightness levels in whichever one you choose. On top of that sit three red modes plus SOS and Beacon, both special modes listed at 400 lumens. NITECORE also lists a power indicator and a lockout mode. Power is a 700mAh cell charged over USB-C, which NITECORE describes only as slightly over an hour. IP66 and the 1 meter impact rating are claims off the page, not test results. In the box: the headlamp, a USB-C to USB-C cable, a bracket, a headband NITECORE describes as easily adjustable elastic cords, and a diffusing stuff sack.

Who It Is For

On paper this is a camp and trail light, which is why I filed it under camping instead of pocket carry. The 1.66 oz spec weight, the ultralight name, and the diffusing stuff sack all point at backpacking and camp use rather than a pocket. Warm 3000K at a low level is the option you would reach for inside a tent, and the red mode rated at 5 lumens for 26 hours is the middle of the night setting by the numbers. Whether any of that holds up on a head in the dark is the part I cannot tell you yet.

If you want a pocket light instead of a head light, that conversation starts with the Olight Baton 4 and the flashlight slot in my best EDC for dads guide.

The Honest Math

The 45 hour number in the headline is at Ultralow, which is 6 lumens. The rated output that actually lights a work area looks different: 400 lumens for 2 hours 40 minutes, 200 for 5 hours, 60 for 13. Run it at full brightness for a dark morning dog walk or a truck side repair and you are on a sub three hour clock by NITECORE's own numbers.

Two things the page does not settle. IP66 is written up as waterproof, and it is not. IP66 is high pressure water jet resistance, so rain and a hose are fine, dropping it in a creek is not. And the 700mAh cell is sealed in with no word on replaceability, cycle life, or a warranty period, which on a built in battery light is the entire lifespan question. Charge time gets the same treatment: slightly over an hour, no exact figure, no input wattage.

At $36.95 it sits above the NITECORE HA23 UHE at $29.95 and the HA13 at $28.95, so that $7 has to earn itself on the spec weight and the three color temperatures. One more thing to check before you order: the product page renders a backordered notice while the store's own variant data reports both Black and Yellow available.

Get it at NITECORE Store

Every Dad Carry earns an affiliate commission on purchases made through NITECORE Store links, at no extra cost to you. No sample was provided, I have not handled this headlamp, and this overview was published ahead of hands-on testing.