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Nitecore NU21 vs Nitecore NU25 UL

Weight and specs compared for 2026 — and which one to choose.

Nitecore NU21 is the lighter option — 4 g lighter than the Nitecore NU25 UL (8% less weight). If grams matter to you, that is the one to beat.
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Spec Nitecore NU21 Nitecore NU25 UL
Weight 44 g · 0.044 kg · 0.10 lb
as listed, bracket and headband included, built-in battery
 48 g · 0.048 kg · 0.11 lb
as listed, bracket and headband included, built-in battery (page model name: NU25 MCT UL)
Brand Nitecore Nitecore
Category Lighting Lighting
Nitecore NU21
44 g

Ultralight USB-C rechargeable headlamp with 360-lumen white and auxiliary red beams, built for running and minimalist hiking.

See it in your base weight → Full details →
Nitecore NU25 UL
48 g

Dual-beam headlamp with white and red LEDs. Built-in rechargeable battery, IPX6 waterproof, and 400 lumens max output; ideal for ultralight hikers.

See it in your base weight → Full details →

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Nitecore NU21 vs Nitecore NU25 UL: which should you buy?

If saving weight is your priority, the Nitecore NU21 wins — at 44 g it is 4 g (8%) lighter than the Nitecore NU25 UL (48 g). That said, the heavier option may justify the extra grams with more capacity, durability or comfort, so weigh the trade-off against how you'll use it.

See where both rank against everything else in this category on the lightest lighting page, or browse the full gear weight database.

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