LED Lenser XE0 19R Headtorch | Performance

With its massive spec, huge light output and Alien-style sci-fi aesthetics, it’s easy to get blown away by the XE0 19R. On paper it looks fantastic: a 2000-lumen output with 300m claimed beam range. Head-band mounting or a remote cord so you can carry the battery pack in a rucksack or pocket. Modular attachments to let you use the light on a bike. Or a helmet. Or probably mounted on a llama.

Plus twin zoomable LEDs that you can control individually with Boost, Low Power and Optisense settings. It’s pretty much waterproof too, rated to IPX6 which means it’ll withstand jets of water fired at it.

But, and yes, there is a BUT, for all the serious light levels, we found it had some serious flaws. For starters, although the head band arrangement is surprisingly comfortable, it’s way too heavy for head-mounted running use and tiring for walking more than short distances.

The answer is to stick the 285g battery pack in a bum-bag or pack, but even then, you don’t really need that level of lighting for running or walking.

Bike Mounting

On a bike – there’s an optional bar mount and battery top-tube mount attachment, it’s a decent high-powered bar light for off road use, but we’ve used lighter, more compact lights which put out as much power with reduced weight.

And then there’s the control button. We found it baffling. The central switch can be used to control both LEDs simultaneously with a central push or you can use quartered peripheral presses to control individual LEDs and modes.

Fiddly with gloves on, we found it easiest to simply treat it as an on/off switch especially when head mounted with gloves on.

None of that detracts from the light’s sheer brightness and one nice feature is the zoomable LEDs. Each side has a switch that propels the lens forward and narrows the beam to a focussed spot. Unfortunately we broke the lefthand one with minimal force, though to be fair, we found a mix of spot and beam worked well for all-round use anyway, so it was no great loss.

The mechanism feels worryingly fragile and plasticky though for a £275 light and the housing itself has a slightly brittle feel that doesn’t augur well for hard impacts. Not ideal for a mountain bike light.