When I was given my first Nebo handheld torch— the small but mighty Galileo Tempest 350— at an event last summer, I became a fan of the brand very quickly. Not only are their products bright and made to withstand tough conditions, but they’re great value for money too. You can snap up plenty of lanterns, head torches, and flashlights for your outdoor adventures for under £100.
So, I was pretty excited to be given the chance to try out Nebo’s Curvbeam 600 Flex Headlamp (we’ll refer to it as the Nebo Curvbeam headlamp for now), especially as I’d just started running in the evenings. Would it be a strong contender for our best head torch guide though? Let’s find out!
Nebo Curvbeam 600 Flex Headlamp: Price and availability
The Nebo Curvbeam 600 Flex Headlamp is available to buy now for the recommended retail price of £39.99 at Nebo. In the box you get the head torch (which has a rechargeable lithium battery inside) and a charging cable. Sadly, it's not available to buy in Australia, Europe or the US at this time.
Nebo Curvbeam 600 Flex Headlamp review: specifications
- Weight (including battery): 124g/ 4.4oz
- Dimensions (width x height x depth): 45 x 50 x 250 mm
- Power: 1100 mAh Rechargeable Li-ion battery
- Modes: Spot low / Spot med / Spot high / 180° high/ 180° low/ 180°+ spot
- Brightness: 30 lumens–600 lumens
- Range: Spot low (30 lumens): 18m / Spot med (150 lumens): 53m / Spot High (500 lumens): 96m / 180° high (300 lumens):18m / 180° low (100 lumens): 11m / 180°+ spot (600 lumens): 92m
- Run time: Spot low up to 10 hours (30 lumens) / 180° low up to 4 hours (100 lumens)
- Ingress rating: IPX4
Nebo Curvbeam 600 Flex Headlamp review: Design and features
Instead of having a single unit headtorch, the Nebo Curvbeam Headlamp has a curved 180-degree C.O.B floodlight which illuminates the peripheral vision up to 96 metres. This has a high and low lumen setting, with a brightness of up to 300 lumens. In the middle is a small spotlight that has a 20-degree tilt for distance visibility and three lumen settings— low, medium and high— up to 500 lumens.
It’s equipped with BackBalance Fit, with the lithium-ion battery pack sitting at the rear of the headband to redistribute weight away from the forehead. This also stops the headtorch from bouncing around during high-impact activities, like running, for better comfort. The battery pack is either rechargeable via a USB-C port (supplied) or, if you need backup on the go, you can use 3 AAA alkaline batteries. Two grippy buttons also sit on the battery pack, one to control the spotlight, the other to control the floodlight.
The headtorch is made from impact-resistant polymer, rubber, and aluminum, and inside the front of the band is a soft liner, ensuring added comfort and any marks from being left behind. It also has an ingress rating of IPX4, which means it’s water-resistant and can be protected from splashing water in any direction. However, it’s not waterproof and cannot be submerged in water.
Nebo Curvbeam 600 Flex Headlamp review: Battery life
The battery life may not be quite as extensive as other head torches we’ve reviewed— like Black Diamond’s new Distance LT 1100 or the Petzl Swift RL 2— but it’s still plenty enough for camping, runs, outdoor work and shorter hikes.
In low mode, the 180-degree floodlamp provides up to four hours of 300 lumens, lighting the way for 11 meters. The spotlight (being smaller) gives a little more juice and lasts up to 10 hours at 30 lumens, illuminating 23 meters. Additionally, you can recharge using 3 AAA batteries if needed.
In high mode, the 180-degree floodlamp (300 lumens at 18 metres) drops to four hours and the spotlight to 1.5 hours (500 lumens at 96 metres). Combine the two together, and you get 1.5 hours of use with a brightness of 600 lumens for 92 meters.
It took me around two hours to get a full charge. The USB charging port is located inside the plastic case, which I really liked, keeping it safe and secure from any outside elements. There's also three light indicator on the back so you can gauge how much battery if left.
Nebo Curvbeam 600 Flex Headlamp review: Performance
I tested the Nebo Curvbeam 600 Flex Headtorch during several nighttime runs and walks, and it impressed me on multiple fronts. It’s lightweight and comfortable, thanks to its soft liner, which made it the perfect companion for running. Unlike other head torches I’ve used, which can sometimes tend to slip down my head during runs, the Curvbeam’s 180-degree floodlight and rear battery pack design prevent any bouncing or shifting, ensuring a secure fit throughout.
I would typically use both lights together during my trail runs (600 lumens), as I wanted to be able to see far and wide, as the ground I was running on was quite uneven. Its beam is brilliantly bright, and my dad (who spends a lot of time working underneath cars) was also very also very impressed. I particularly like the wide floodlight, a unique feature in comparison to single-unit head torches. Having peripheral vision whilst out on a run made me feel far safer, enabling a better view of my surroundings.
Weirdly, I also took a liking to wearing the headtorch upside down, particularly whilst running. I’m not the tallest person, so I had the tendency to keep lifting my head up high whilst bouncing along. But, by flipping it around, it enhanced my ability to see higher points.
It was also very simple to operate, with two buttons on the back of the battery pack. The right button (marked 'F') controls the floodlight, while the left (marked 'S') controls the spotlight. To activate, you simply press each button and then continue pressing them to cycle through the brightness settings, with a final click turning the light off.
Nebo Curvbeam 600 Flex Headlamp review: Verdict
If you’re looking for a headtorch that offers a bright 180-degree vision at an affordable price, then you can’t go wrong with Nebo’s Curvbeam 600 Flex Headlamp. Together, the spotlight and wide beam provide powerful illumination for better visibility, it’s lightweight and incredibly comfortable, making it the perfect companion for a range of outdoor activities. It’s also extremely easy to operate and what’s better is it doesn’t cost the earth either.
It may not be as durable as other head torches on the market with an IPX4 ingress rating (making it only water-resistant), but for those seeking a lightweight, budget-friendly option, it still offers reliable performance in most conditions.
