BioLite Dash 450 Rechargeable Headlamp Review
An in-depth review of our overall favorite headlamp right now
August 28th, 2025
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Our verdict
The Biolite Dash 450 rechargeable headlamp is the updated version of the Biolite headlamp that we’ve been huge fans of ever since we first started writing headlamp reviews. With a dimmable, tilting light and the most comfortable headband of any headlamp we’ve tested, we dubbed the Dash 450 the overall winner in our Best Headlamps guide.
The new Biolite Dash 450 is brighter, lighter (by a few grams), and an improved locking mechanism that we didn't like in the last model. They even increased the beam distance to 90 meters max.
After 8 months of testing the new for 2025 BioLite Dash 450 on the Arizona Trail and Grand Enchantment Trail during the dark winter months, we believe this headlamp is a champion among headlamps. The Dash 450 is so comfortable, and BioLite gives it a 30 Day HolyFit Guarantee.
BioLite markets the Dash 450 as a "running headlamp" due to its secure, balanced design and moisture-wicking headband. It isn't the lightest, it isn't the brightest, but it balances all the features we look for in a headlamp. For that reason, we think it is the best headlamp for most outdoor activities.
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BioLite Dash 450 specifications
Price: $60
Weight (including batteries): 2.75 ounces
Bulb type: LED
Light Output: 450 lumens
Maximum Beam Distance: 90 meters
Power Source: USB Rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery (USB-C)
Run Time (High): 3 hours
Run Time (Low): 60 hours
Waterproof Rating: IPX4
Best for
Testing the Biolite 450 Dash while backpacking in the Eastern Sierra
Running in the dark due to the red back light that adds extra visibility
Thru-hikers in need of long battery life
Nighttime recreators who need to see long distances (e.g., running on trails, setting up camp)
Comparison table
| HEADLAMP | MAX OUTPUT (LUMENS) | WEIGHT W/ BATTERY (OZ) | RUN TIME ON HIGH / LOW (HOURS) | MAX BEAM | FLOOD LIGHT | MSRP* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BioLite Dash 450 | 450 | 2.75 | 3/60 | 90 m | Yes | $60 |
| Black Diamond Spot 400 | 400 | 2.7 | 2.5/200 | 100 m | Yes | $50 |
| Nitecore NU25 UL | 400 | 1.6 | 4.2/45 | 64 m | Yes | $37 |
| BioLite 425 | 425 | 2.8 | 4/60 | 78 m | Yes | $60 |
| Black Diamond Spot 400 R-Rechargeable | 400 | 2.58 | 4/225 | 100 m | Yes | $65 |
What we liked
Comfortable fit
Excellent illumination
Long battery life and easy charging
Improved fixed locking mechanism
What could be better
Slightly bulky design
Lock button difficult to press with gloves on
How we tested
Testing the Biolite 450 Flash while backpacking in the Eastern Sierra
We tested the BioLite Dash 450 over the course of 4 months of winter thru-hiking on both the 800-mile Arizona Trail and 400 miles of the Grand Enchantment Trail. We hiked at night, set up camp, and traveled through rain, sand, snow, and wildfire smoke all while wearing the BioLite Dash 450.
We also spent a month in the Sierra living at a summer camp, walking across the property, setting up tents, and otherwise living at night by headlamp. For a month, we carried the headlamp everywhere at night and got to test the higher beam distances and more battery-intensive features that we typically wouldn't need while backpacking but definitely needed while doing camp chores and getting to-and-from buildings at the camp.
Performance in the Field
The Biolite 450 Dash headlamp has a red floor LED light that is useful for early mornings and nights when you don't want to disturb your camp neighbors.
Lighting and Brightness
The BioLite Dash 450 has one white spot LED, one white flood LED, a red flood LED, a rear red flood LED, and a rear red strobe light. It also has four white power level indicator LEDs—all essential lighting features that every quality headlamp should have.
Our testers found the BioLite’s 450 lumens were bright enough to night-hike safely without ever needing to use the maximum brightness setting. However, we appreciate the max distance for situations when we woke up in camp and heard wildlife in the distance (it was javalina).
Dimmable
Both the spot and floodlight modes are dimmable—running on a spectrum instead of a preset brightness. This is a unique feature we love about the BioLite that other headlamps we’ve tested are missing.
One nice feature is that the light does a quick double flash when the dimmable light reaches its maximum or minimum power.
Rear light
Close up on the rear red light on the Biolite 450 Dash rechargeable headlamp.
While we don't always love having a bigger rear light (especially when we're counting every gram), we know that it's safer for runners, people out walking their dog, and most folks who go outdoors at night. That's something we talk a lot about in our Reflective Gear for Running in the Dark guide. For most folks, a headlamp is as much about being seen by cars as it is about allowing you to see.
Charging
Charging the Biolite Dash 450 with a USB charger on a Nitecore battery pack.
The BioLite Dash 450 is charged with a USB-C. This can be plugged into the battery pack on the back of the headlamp band. We like that you don’t have to remove the battery to charge it, unlike the Petzl Actik Core, our recommended Best for Camping winner or the Nitecore UT 27 520 that we’ve tested. We found it easy to pop off the protective case on the BioLite Dash 450 and insert the USB charger. Unfortunately, the protective case broke off our Dash 450, but we didn't have any problems with dust or water getting in after.
We also like that you can charge the Biolite Dash 450 at the same time you are using the headlamp. We have unexpectedly found ourselves having to night-hike to escape a wildfire when our headlamp wasn't fully charged. While we hope you never find yourself in this situation, we appreciated having the ability to use the headlamp and charge it at the same time.
Comfort and fit
Close up on the wide but thin-fabic-ed sweat-wicking strap on the Biolite 450 Dash rechargeable headlamp.
Comfort and fit are the BioLite Dash 450's standout features. Redesigned for runners to make it feel more comfortable, the slim and sleek front light is integrated into the moisture-wicking reflective band. The battery is located on the back of the band. This gives it a more balanced weight than the other headlamps we considered, making it suited for hours of use at night as well as running.
We think this is one of the best fitting headlamps and highly recommend it to runners in particular.
Water resistance
The BioLite Dash 450 has an IPX4 water resistance rating, the same as the previous model. This means that it is protected from water splashes in any direction. We were hoping this model would have a higher water resistance like our winner of longest lasting headlamp, the Black Diamond Spot 400, which is waterproof.
Nonetheless, the BioLite Dash 450 survived the rigors of a variety of adverse conditions our testers put the headlamp through, including rain, sand, and snow.
We also didn’t take any precautions to protect it from the rain (like put it in a Ziplock bag for extra protection). However, keep in mind that we’ve tested the BioLite extensively in the West. If you’re night hiking on the Appalachian Trail, you may want to consider the Black Diamond Spot 400 instead.
Features
The battery indicator light on the Biolite 450 Dash rechargeable headlamp.
Weight and Construction
The 3D Slimfit construction of the Biolite is only 9 mm (or 0.36 in) thick, adding to its overall comfort. The balanced weight distribution and “no-bounce, no-slip” design of the band helps the BioLite feel very secure—a reason why it’s marketed as a running headlamp.
The Dash 450 weighs 2.75 oz, making it a big draw for runners––that's lightweight for a running headlamp that delivers this much brightness. The back light feels lighter than on the 425 model.
Ultralight backpackers (ourselves included) think it runs on the heavier side, which is why we recommend our ultralight winner, NiteCore NU25 UL, for weight-conscious outdoors people.
Tilting
The ability to tilt the front light on the Biolite 450 Dash rechargeable headlamp is one of our favorite features.
You can tilt the front light by moving the slight lip on top of the main button, making it easy to adjust the direction of light.
The tilt has consistently been one of our favorite features on the BioLite headlamps and something relatively rare in the headlamp world.
Batteries and battery life
As with the previous model, it uses a USB-C rechargeable battery.
The biggest advantage of a rechargeable headlamp is not purchasing a new, disposable battery every few months. Disposable batteries, when thrown into the garbage, take centuries to biodegrade. They also require you to carry extra weight or plan ahead to have batteries on hand before a day hike.
The BioLite Dash 450 has 3 hours of battery life at full power and 60 hours at low power. We discovered that during months of using the headlamp every night, the battery never died, even when used for night hiking for several hours, setting up, and breaking up camp every day (except when we had issues with the lock function). As a practice, our testers would top off the Dash 450’s power at night with a portable battery.
Control button
The BioLite Dash 450 has a single control button. The control button turns on/off or locks the headlamp, scrolls through the five different light modes, and controls the dimmer. Our one complaint about the Dash 450 is that the button is small and difficult to use while wearing gloves.
Locking feature
We really like that the Dash 450 has a battery indicator light and if you hold the button down, it locks to prevent accidentally turning it on. When you hold the control button down for 8 seconds, it will flash a few times to indicate that it is locked. With the Dash 450, BioLite fixed issues we had with the previous model getting the lock function to work. As usual though, we recommend paying special attention to where you store your headlamp to prevent it from accidentally turning on.
Lighting Modes and Visibility
The BioLite Dash 450 has six different lighting modes: white spot, white flood, white spot/flood combo, red flood, rear red flood, and rear red strobe. The rear light is controlled by its own button, and can be turned on to red or red strobe for extra visibility while running, walking, or hiking at night. The headband also features a reflective design, adding to its visibility.
The white spot/flood combo provides excellent illumination to your surroundings, giving a 90-meter beam on the highest setting. This was helpful when trying to find a place to set up a tent at night.
Updates in the new version
Comparing the BioLite Dash 450 rechargeable headlamp with an older BioLite that still used the micro USB charging.
The BioLite Dash 450 is a much-needed improvement on the change in fit and comfort compared to the previous model. It features a 3D Slimfit construction designed to feel more like a running headband than a headlamp. If you measure the front, it is, as advertised, only 9 mm (0.36 in.) thick.
BioLite also reduced the weight of the battery pack by a few grams. It's not quite as comfortable as the Biolite 330 (an old and discontinued model), but our necks appreciated the weight savings.
The big difference though is the increase in brightness. With 450 lumens, this headlamp is brighter and illuminates farther than the previous models.
The battery life has stayed the same or even declined, but what you get in terms of brightness and max beam distance is better than the last model. It used to be you'd get 60 hours of low at 5 lumens. Now that is up to 60 lumens. How they defined "low" changed for the better.
We see a drop in battery life down to 3 hours on high, but again, if you look at how they define "high," you get more lumens throwing farther distance.
Who should buy this
Buy if you’re a nighttime runner or thru-hiker wanting to invest in a headlamp that will survive the elements, provide excellent illumination, and keep you visible in the dark.
Skip if you’re not recreating very often at night, and want a more affordable, basic headlamp for nighttime at camp. You can also skip if waterproofness is a main priority and opt for a more waterproof option, like the Black Diamond Spot 400.
Where to buy
The BioLite Dash 450 is a popular headlamp, so you have options when it comes to retailers. Here are some of the pros of the retailers.
REI
Pros: 100% satisfaction policy for 1 year; 10% dividend for members.
Amazon
Pros: Free 2-day shipping with Amazon Prime membership
Backcountry
Pros: Frequent sales for Expedition Perks members (free to join), fast shipping, Gearhead chat customer service is excellent
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The Petzl Tikinna lacks many of the features that the Dash 450 has, but is a great option for sitting around the campfire, carrying in your day pack (just in case), or keeping in an emergency preparedness kit.
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Why you should trust us / About the Author
Mike Unger is one of few people in the world to have thru-hiked the PCT end-to-end both as a northbounder and southbounder. He’s a double Triple Crowner, having completed the PCT, Appalachian Trail, and Continental Divide Trail each twice. He spends a considerable amount of time night hiking on these trails. As a result, he's spent cumulatively months testing headlamps on technical terrain in rough, real conditions.
You can see all articles by Mike Unger on his Treeline Review author page.
Naomi Hudetz is Chief Operating Office at Treeline Review. Some of her favorite long-distance hikes (ok, they’re all my favorite) include the Triple Crown (Pacific Crest Trail, Continental Divide Trail, and Appalachian Trail), Pacific Northwest Trail, Great Divide Trail, Tahoe Rim Trail, Arizona Trail, Grand Enchantment Trail, Idaho Centennial Trail, Blue Mountains Trail, among others. She’s carried a headlamp on all of these trails, often night hiking on desert trails or doing camp chores by headlamp after a long day of hiking or while packing up to get started in the morning.
You can see all of Naomi’s Treeline Review stories on her author page.
Liz Thomas has thru-hiked the PCT as a northbounder and completed the PCT a second time as a section-hiker over ten years. A former Fastest Known Time (FKT) record holder on the Appalachian Trail, she has also hiked the PCT and CDT and is a Triple Crowner. She’s co-founder and editor in chief of Treeline Review. As a former FKTer who enjoys night hiking, Liz continues to test headlamps while hiking in the dark. Additionally, she regularly hikes in the dark before work and uses headlamps while living off-grid in the Sierra each summer.
You can read all her gear articles here and on her personal website, as well as on Wikipedia.
