Forclaz ONnight 100 Review

Overview

The Forclaz ONnight 100 is Decathlon’s entry-level hiking headlamp: a one-button, three-mode light that runs on three AAA batteries, which are included. It sells for about $10 on sale and $15 at full price, and buyers rate it highly for that money. The trade-off is weight. At 79 g, it is a camp-and-trail workhorse rather than a gram-counter’s light.

Key Specs

Spec	Detail
Weight	79 g (2.8 oz)
Max output	80 lumens
Beam	Wide, diffuse flood
Beam range	25 m (82 ft)
Modes	Red, Eco White, Power White
Battery life	30 hr Eco / 10 hr Power
Battery	3x AAA (LR03), included
Water resistance	IPX4
Body size	60 x 40 x 31 mm (excluding headband)
Headband	Removable, washable; 70% polyester, 30% natural rubber
Price	About $10–15

Performance

Beam. The ONnight 100 is built around a wide, even flood rather than a focused spot. Decathlon says the optic spreads light uniformly so the wearer sees ahead and to the sides, which suits what the company describes as relatively easy trails, bivouacs and shelters. The 25 m range is modest. It’s enough for a well-marked path and camp chores, but it won’t pick out a cairn across a talus field or a trail junction on a dark ridge. Eighty lumens is a campsite number, not a night-hiking-at-pace number.

Modes and interface. The three modes are red, an eco white and a strong white, all run from a single button. The button is sized to work with gloves or mittens, and its design is meant to prevent the lamp switching on in a pack. Owners like the red-first behavior: one reviewer with kids noted that it keeps the beam from blinding tentmates, and others call out the red mode as useful for signalling and for sharing a shelter. Red is also the right choice for preserving night vision while reading a map or sorting a bear canister.

Battery life. Decathlon rates the lamp at 30 hours in eco mode and 10 hours in power mode on a set of AAAs. That’s plenty for a week of camp use, since most evenings involve minutes of light rather than hours. The lamp uses a basic unregulated design, so output tapers as the cells drain instead of holding flat and then dropping off. In practice, the light gets dimmer well before it dies. The AAA format is a point in its favor on long resupply gaps: cells are available in nearly any gas-station or small-town store, and there’s no USB cable or charging brick to carry. Cold-weather performance depends on the cells; lithium AAAs are the usual upgrade for that.

Weight and fit. This is where the ONnight 100 gives ground. At 79 g, it is a heavy light by ultralight standards, and one buyer’s review on a retail listing flagged weight as the main drawback. Rechargeable headlamps in the ultralight category weigh noticeably less. Part of the mass is the monoblock body, which holds the battery pack directly on the forehead instead of using a separate rear compartment. That design is compact and easy to stash in a pocket, with the soft SEBS casing giving access to the batteries. The elastic headband is removable and washable, has two symmetrical buckles for tightening, and fits children, adults and helmets. Owners describe it as comfortable.

Durability. The flexible casing is meant to absorb impact, and IPX4 means it handles splashes and rain from any direction. That’s adequate for a wet trail or a drizzly camp, but it is not rated for immersion. Decathlon also says the reduced part count cuts the product’s CO2 impact by 16%.

Owner sentiment. Decathlon’s U.S. listing shows a 4.7 out of 5 average across roughly 3,700 reviews. Comments cluster around value, simplicity and reliability, with phrases like good for the price and works as expected recurring. A few buyers wish the white beam were stronger, a fair complaint at 80 lumens.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Costs about $10–15 with batteries included
• Wide, even flood beam suits camp tasks and easy trail walking
• Red mode available, and it’s the first mode when the lamp is switched on
• Single glove-friendly button that resists switching on in a pack
• Uses AAA cells that are easy to resupply on the trail
• IPX4 rating, impact-tolerant casing, and a washable headband that fits helmets

Cons

• 79 g is heavy for an ultralight kit
• 25 m range and 80 lumens limit fast night hiking
• Unregulated output dims gradually as the batteries drain
• No lockout, rechargeable option or separate beam focus
• IPX4 protects against splashes only

Who Should Buy This

The ONnight 100 suits section hikers, weekend backpackers and car campers who want a dependable, cheap light for camp chores, tent reading and early-morning starts. It’s also a sensible spare for a kid’s pack or a first headlamp. Thru-hikers who regularly hike after dark, and anyone trying to shave grams from a base weight, should look at a lighter, brighter rechargeable lamp instead. Those who want a lamp with a true spot beam for route-finding should do the same.

Verdict

The ONnight 100 does the basics well for the price of a sandwich: a wide beam, a usable red mode and cells you can buy anywhere. Its weight and modest output keep it out of serious ultralight kits. Buy it as a budget camp light or a backup, not as a primary night-hiking lamp.