A blood trail that's easy in daylight can disappear after dark. Blood tracking lights try to make red stand out from leaves and dirt. They use two different tricks, and the specs on the box don't always tell the whole story. Here's how they compare. Sources are at the end. For how to read sign and how long to wait, see blood trailing.
Two ways to make blood stand out
- Filter. The Primos Bloodhunter HD uses a custom optical filter that, per Primos, reduces select colors to amplify blood.
- Strobe. The NEBO IllumaTrace Blood Tracker uses an alternating strobe that, per NEBO, makes blood stand out against different backgrounds. It has three strobe rates and a separate white mode.
Specs side by side
| Primos Bloodhunter HD | NEBO IllumaTrace Blood Tracker | |
|---|---|---|
| Method | Optical filter | Alternating strobe |
| Rated output | 600 lumen LED (about 100 through the filter, per Outdoor Life) | 150 lumens blood mode, 170 white (NEBO US page) |
| Runtime | About 2 hours high, 8 low (Outdoor Life) | 3 hours blood mode, 2.5 white (NEBO) |
| Power | 4 CR123A, included | 4000mAh Li-ion, USB-C rechargeable |
| Water rating | Water resistant (retailer listings) | IP67 (NEBO) |
| Weight | 10.6 oz with batteries (Outdoor Life) | 380 g (NEBO UK page) |
| Price, approx. (Oct 10, 2026) | $129.99 on Primos's site; $76.98 on Amazon | About $42 on Amazon |
Spec conflicts. NEBO's U.S. page lists 150 lumens in blood mode and 170 in white mode. Its Amazon listing and NEBO's UK page say 170 and 190. Primos's own page doesn't publish lumens, runtime or a water rating. Retailers list 600 lumens and water resistance. Amazon's listing claims 12 hours of battery life, which doesn't match Outdoor Life's test.
What testers found
- Outdoor Life picked the Bloodhunter HD as its best blood tracking light. It found the filter makes blood stand out, but it called the light bulky, heavy and expensive, and the heaviest light it tested. It also noted that four CR123A batteries make it one of the most expensive lights to run.
- Tag & Timber ranked the NEBO first, citing its published output and three-hour runtime, and ranked the Bloodhunter HD as the established pick.
- Amazon reviews of the Bloodhunter HD are mixed on value. Some reviewers say it beats a plain light, while others say it made no difference for them.
Two reviews isn't long-term consensus, so neither light is crowned here.
Tradeoffs
- Filter light: runs on disposable batteries, and per Outdoor Life the filter cuts output to about 100 lumens.
- Strobe light: rechargeable, with a separate white mode, per NEBO. Its rated output is lower than the Primos LED but close to the Primos's filtered output.
Other good options
- A bright white light. Some Amazon reviewers of the Bloodhunter HD aren't convinced it beats a really bright flashlight. If you already own a good flashlight, try it on your next trail before you buy.
- NEBO's headlamp version. Tag & Timber lists an IllumaTrace headlamp with a 100-lumen blood mode for hands-free tracking.
- Flagging tape to mark the trail. See blood trailing.
Questions hunters ask
Do blood tracking lights work? Outdoor Life found the Bloodhunter's filter makes blood stand out. User reviews are mixed, so expect help, not magic.
How bright does it need to be? The specs above show real filtered or blood-mode output of roughly 100 to 170 lumens.
Rechargeable or batteries? The NEBO charges by USB-C. The Primos takes four CR123A cells, so carry spares.
Sources
- Primos, Bloodhunter HD product page: https://www.primos.com/products/bloodhunter-hd
- NEBO, IllumaTrace Blood Tracker Flashlight (US): https://nebo.acgbrands.com/en_US/illumatrace-blood-tracker.html
- NEBO UK, IllumaTrace Blood Tracker: https://nebotools.co.uk/products/illumatrace-blood-tracker-rechargeable
- Outdoor Life, "Best Hunting Flashlights of 2026": https://www.outdoorlife.com/gear/best-hunting-flashlights/
- Tag & Timber, "Best Blood Tracking Lights for Deer Hunting (2026)": https://tagandtimber.com/field-gear/best-blood-tracking-lights