Nitecore NU25 MCT UL Review

Overview

The NU25 MCT UL is Nitecore’s third-generation take on its long-running NU25 line, the headlamp that’s been a fixture on thru-hiker gear lists for years. The “MCT” designation means it now switches between three color temperatures — warm, neutral, and cool white — and the “UL” version shaves weight down to 47g by pairing the light engine with a minimalist bungee-cord headband instead of a traditional elastic strap. It’s built for people who count grams: thru-hikers, fastpackers, and ultralight backpackers who still want a genuinely useful amount of light.

Key Specs

Spec	Value
Weight	47.0 g
Max Output	400 lumens
Max Beam Distance	132 m
Color Temperatures	3000K (warm) / 4500K (neutral) / 6500K (cool)
Battery	Built-in 700mAh Li-ion, USB-C rechargeable
Max Runtime	45 hours (ultralow setting)
Charge Time	75 minutes
Water Resistance	IP66
Impact Resistance	1 m
LED Type	MCT UHE

Performance

The headline number here is the weight. At 47g, the NU25 MCT UL is genuinely one of the lightest rechargeable headlamps you can buy, and reviewers consistently point out that at just 47g, it’s among the lightest rechargeable head torches on the market, yet still manages to deliver an impressive 400 lumens of output and a beam distance of 132 metres. One outdoor gear outlet went as far as calling it arguably the best headlamp on the market in terms of power output-to-weight, outperforming ultralight rivals like the Petzl Bindi, Silva SMini, Ledlenser NEO1R and Black Diamond Deploy 325.

The three color temperatures are the real differentiator over older NU25 models. Reviewers note that the warm light is good for fog, rain and snow; the neutral light is good for all-around use; and the cool light provides the highest level of visibility, making it good for night hiking. That’s not a gimmick — anyone who’s hiked through fog with a cool-white beam knows how much the light scatters back into your eyes, and dropping to the 3000K warm setting genuinely cuts through it better.

Battery life is solid for the size. The built-in 700 mAh lithium-ion battery has a maximum autonomy of 45 hours and a built-in USB-C port that allows full charging in just 1h15min. That 45-hour figure is only achievable at the dimmest ultralow setting (around 6 lumens), so don’t expect anywhere near that at full brightness — treeline reviewers noted Nitecore’s changes here specifically bumped runtime on that low setting compared to the previous generation.

Where the UL loses points is the control scheme. Multiple reviewers flag the same issue: controls are split between two top-mounted buttons, though mastering the full array of functions takes some practice. Backpacking Light forum members echo this, rating the user interface noticeably lower than comfort or output — a 7/10 compared to 10/10s elsewhere. Expect to spend a few minutes with the manual before you have the mode-switching muscle memory down, especially for locking the light (a long-press-both-buttons combo) versus cycling color temperature.

One point of contention among longtime NU25 owners: switching to the MCT lineup means losing the classic dual spot/flood beam that older non-MCT NU25s offered. A Backpacking Light forum poster who preferred the earlier version noted they got rid of the flood beam on the MCT version and always used the dual flood/throw mode which the newer version can’t do. If you relied on that combined beam pattern for camp chores, the MCT UL’s beam is more spot-focused by comparison.

On durability, the IP66 rating and 1-meter impact resistance held up fine in the reviews I found, but it’s worth flagging that one BPL forum user reported the plastic carrier that interfaces the light to the strap and rests on the forehead broke on their unit for no apparent reason, and superglue was working to hold it together. That’s a single data point and not necessarily representative, but the bracket-to-headband connection is worth a visual check periodically if you’re putting this through daily thru-hike abuse.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Exceptionally light at 47g — barely noticeable on the head
• Three color temperatures add real practical value (warm cuts through fog/rain, cool for max visibility)
• Strong output-to-weight ratio; 400 lumens and 132m beam distance from a headlamp this small
• Fast USB-C charging (75 minutes) and long low-setting runtime (45 hours)
• IP66 rated, holds up to rain and dust
• Affordable — priced around $37, in line with the previous generation

Cons

• Control scheme takes real practice; two-button UI isn’t intuitive out of the box
• Lost the dual spot/flood beam mode that older NU25 owners liked
• Cord/bungee headband is a step down in structure from a traditional elastic strap for some users
• Isolated reports of the plastic bracket connecting light to headband failing
• Not rated for submersion — heavy rain and dust only, per IP66

Who Should Buy This

This is an easy recommendation for thru-hikers and ultralight backpackers who want a dedicated, rechargeable headlamp and are willing to spend five minutes learning the button combos in exchange for shaving grams. It’s also a good fit for trail runners and fastpackers who value the color-temperature versatility for fog or low-light conditions. If you want the simplest possible interface or you specifically rely on a combined flood/spot beam for camp tasks, the standard (non-UL) NU25 MCT or an older-generation NU25 might suit you better.

Verdict

The NU25 MCT UL delivers class-leading output-to-weight performance and genuinely useful color-temperature switching in a package that barely registers on a gear scale. The control learning curve and the loss of the old dual-beam mode keep it from being a perfect 10, but for anyone optimizing base weight without sacrificing real lumens, this is one of the best headlamps on the market right now. I’d rate it an 8.3/10.