Fenix HM50R V2 Review: A Featherweight Head Torch for Winter Running

Introduction

The Fenix HM50R V2 is the updated version of Fenix’s compact running head torch, and it now throws out up to 700 lumens on its maximum turbo setting. It weighs just 77 grams including the rechargeable battery, which puts it among the lightest head torches we have tested. After around a month of nighttime runs, it has proven to be a small unit with a genuinely useful amount of power behind it.

Who This Head Torch Is For

This is a head torch for runners who spend most of their winter nights on lit or partly lit roads but occasionally venture onto the trails. If your off-road excursions last an hour or two at most, the HM50R V2 covers that well. If you are ultra running or building up to long night sessions, a larger torch with longer burn times will serve you better.

At £59.95 in the UK, it sits in a reasonable place for a premium compact head torch, and the limited lifetime warranty with five years of free repair adds some reassurance.

Spec and Built-In Features

The HM50R V2 is powered by Fenix’s rechargeable ARB-L16 700P battery and takes about an hour and a half to reach a full charge. It will also run on standard CR123 batteries, though you get a slightly decreased burn time with those. On the max turbo setting you get 700 lumens from the Cree XP-G3 S4 LED with roughly an hour of burn time. The high setting drops to 400 lumens for about three hours, the mid setting of 130 lumens lasts around eight hours, and the low setting of 40 lumens stretches to 24 hours, which is fine for camping, walking, or reading but not for running.

Beam distance on turbo reaches 115 metres, plenty for lighting up the trail a long way ahead. The unit carries an IP68 waterproof rating, meaning it can be submerged up to two metres underwater and left there for four hours while switched on. It has one metre of impact resistance, and the body is made from premium type three aluminium with a hard anodised anti-abrasive finish, so it should shrug off the knocks and scrapes a running head torch collects.

The headband is soft, elasticated, and perforated for breathability, fully adjustable, with a silicone bead at the front to control movement and keep sweat out of your eyes. High-visibility detailing adds a bit of extra visibility on dark roads.

Main Strengths

Comfort is the first thing that stands out, and the 77-gram weight is the main reason. You genuinely stop noticing the torch is on your head. The curved back plate sits well against the forehead and the soft strap is pleasant against the skin, with the perforations helping air flow on warmer nights.

Despite the low weight, the build quality feels very solid. That high-grade aluminium body gives it a durable, well-engineered character consistent with the other Fenix head torches we have tested, and it should hold up to real wear and tear.

Operation could not be simpler. A half-second hold on the big side button turns the torch on, a single click cycles through the brightness levels, and another half-second hold switches it off. It is easy to adjust on the fly, whether you are wearing running gloves or moving at speed.

The unit is packed with features for its size. A red light mode covers close-proximity lighting, and a locking system stops the torch accidentally switching on in a running pack or on the way to a race. Hold the button for three seconds to lock the torch off, and another three-second hold brings up the red light mode.

One clever touch: you can unclip the torch from the head strap. That makes the strap much easier to wash than some other Fenix models, and it also turns the unit into a super compact, powerful mini flashlight with a small clip for attaching it to clothing.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The one weakness worth thinking about is the mid setting. At 130 lumens with around eight hours of burn time, it works fine for lit streets and the occasional dark road, but it is simply not bright enough for extended trail running. A mid setting closer to 250 lumens with five or six hours of burn time would make more practical sense for runners, and that feels like the one area Fenix could tweak to make a good torch even better.

Also be realistic about run length. Because the unit is so small and compact, you do not get the prolonged burn times of larger torches. It will handle long outings, but if you plan to spend entire nights on the trail, a bigger unit such as Fenix’s HM65R would suit that environment better.

Buying Advice

If you are looking for a head torch to light up your road running this winter, keep you visible on dark streets, and still handle the occasional trail outing of an hour or two, the HM50R V2 is an easy recommendation. You get a super lightweight, comfortable, compact but powerful torch, fully rechargeable operation, strong manufacturer guarantees, and Fenix’s well-established build quality.

If you are ultra running, building mileage on the trails through winter, or running through the night, factor in the shorter burn times and consider a more powerful, longer-running model instead.

Conclusion

The Fenix HM50R V2 is a genuinely impressive compact head torch: light enough to forget you are wearing it, bright enough to light the trail ahead, simple to operate, and built to last. Its only real compromise is the mid setting’s suitability for unlit trail running. For road runners with occasional trail ambitions, it is one of the strongest options in its class.