The Harlowe Avant Max 80W Portable LED Lighting Kit is a robust, feature-rich lighting setup designed to provide an excellent solution for photographers and videographers alike. Blending traditional lighting techniques with modern convenience, the Avant Max offers a clean, classic look, a range of accessories and a smart, user-friendly design, ideal for creators on the go or in the studio. With many additional accessories available, there is much to appreciate about Harlowe’s Avant Max Creator Kit Light.
The base light measures a compact 4.84 by 3.69 by 3.90 inches, with an impressively small footprint, and weighs 2.02 lb — fairly compact considering its 80W output. As a modular light, the Avant Max provides a highly flexible framework to accommodate its well-constructed accessories. The Creator Kit includes six colour gels, a honeycomb light cover, a barn door attachment, a frosted dome cover, an Avant Max lens, a V-Mount clamp, a detachable handle, a 99Wh Max battery, an AC dual-port adaptor and a 100W power supply.
The build quality of the Harlowe Avant Max 80W is top-notch, with the base light feeling sturdy and durable. Comprised of a dense, hard plastic casing and aircraft-grade aluminum, Harlowe has done a superb job with the construction. The design itself appears inspired by the film era of the 1960s and ’70s, giving the Avant Max a classic parcan light look and feel. Leatherette accents cover the light body, offset by the Harlowe logo impressed upon the patches to create a clean, timeless aesthetic.
“The build quality of the Avant Max 80W is top-notch, with the base light feeling sturdy and durable.”
While the look of the Avant Max may stir up feelings of nostalgia, it is anything but classic in functional design. Leveraging a V-mount system, swapping batteries and attaching the mount handle is a simple, streamlined process. Quick-release buttons located on the light’s body and handle allow for easy installation and removal of key accessories. The barn door, gels and frosted dome cover attach via a magnetic clip system on the front of the lens, allowing for fast, simple swapping.
While magnetic attachments can be a smooth and efficient solution, the sturdiness of the barn door and gels when secured to the base light is especially impressive. Once attached, the light can be picked up and carried by the barn door — though this is not the recommended method of transport. This is a testament to the quality of both the design and build, and something that stood out consistently during testing.
The removable lens is another thoughtful touch, as it passively increases the light’s brightness without requiring additional wattage. As with the rest of the design, removing the lens is a quick process that takes only seconds. This modular approach makes the Avant Max an exceptionally versatile lighting kit, equally at home in the field or in the studio, and easily adaptable to the user’s needs.
Even the power solutions available for the Harlowe Avant Max reflect the device’s adaptable design. The Max 99Wh battery, for instance, not only accepts power via the included 100W power supply but also features a D-Tap port for both input and output, along with two USB-C in/outputs and a single 12V DC output port. This allows other devices to draw on the Avant Max’s power, turning it into a hub for multiple devices as needed. It’s a unique design element that elevates the Avant Max to premium status.
“Harlowe leverages its 80W capacity effectively, delivering a maximum illuminance of 9,005 lux with the lens attached.”
The Max AC adaptor also provides an alternative means of powering the Avant Max, designed for scenarios where AC power is available. In such cases, the Max AC attachment removes the battery from the equation, supplying direct power to the unit and preserving battery life for when it is needed. It’s a smart, easy-to-attach accessory that fits seamlessly with the light’s design philosophy.
While many lights include some of these features, it is the build quality and attention to detail that help the Avant Max stand out. The ease of swapping components, for instance, conveys quality when handling lighting equipment. Other seemingly small but highly practical touches — such as the battery swap light, which illuminates the mounting point for easy battery changes in low-light settings — help raise the Avant Max above competing lighting kits. It’s smart, efficient and works exceptionally well.
The last accessory worth noting, while not part of the Creator Kit but a pleasure to work with, is the adjustable 210-centimetre Tripod Light Stand Harlowe provided for testing the Avant Max. While attachable to any lighting tripod thanks to the thread port on the V-mount, the Harlowe Tripod Light Stand is an exceptionally lightweight and sturdy option. Rated for 4.4 lb, it offers a smooth setup process and feels premium in use. Constructed from carbon fibre and designed to accommodate a variety of settings, the Tripod Light Stand is a worthwhile addition for anyone looking to elevate their lighting setup.
Shifting to performance, I have nothing but praise for Harlowe’s LED, bi-colour portable lighting kit. Controlled via the onboard display and dials or through the Harlowe app, the Avant Max is streamlined and straightforward to manage. Harlowe leverages its 80W capacity effectively, delivering a maximum illuminance of 9,005 lux with the lens attached — an impressively bright and compact setup.
With full dimming control, adjusting the light for any environment is easy using the onboard dial or the app. The CCT range is also highly adaptable, covering lighting temperatures from 2,700K to 6,500K, again fully adjustable through either control method.
Carrying over the smart design elements, Harlowe has included presets for both temperature and brightness control, allowing for quick, easy adjustments. This saves time when fine-tuning settings and reflects the company’s experience and design philosophy.
On the subject of presets, the Harlowe Avant Max also offers several effects options, such as flame and lightning, which simulate their respective visual effects. These are thoughtful additions that can help create a more immersive atmosphere during filming. While the Avant Max does not include an RGB lighting option, it comes with six coloured gels that provide versatile solutions for mood lighting. In testing, I found the included colours covered the lighting spectrum well enough to meet all my needs. Thanks to their magnetic clip-on system, they were also easy to swap on the fly.
“Combined with its classic yet refined aesthetic and excellent light output, the Harlowe Avant Max stands out as one of the best lighting kits I have ever worked with.”
Already impressive for its bright output, feature-rich design and extensive accessories list, the Avant Max further distinguishes itself with excellent battery life. The 6,900 mAh battery delivers exceptional longevity, particularly at lower brightness levels. As I write this, running the light at 25 percent with less than half a battery charge, the digital display indicates just under three hours of power remaining.
Though battery life depends entirely on brightness and application, I have found the Avant Max provides hours of use at lower settings and a couple of hours at 100 percent. For context, I have yet to encounter a situation where full output was necessary, as the 80W light is extremely bright. In most product shoots I tested with the Avant Max, I rarely set it above 20 percent. While 80W is powerful on its own, the inclusion of the detachable lens passively amplifies the final output and performs exceptionally well.
The Harlowe Avant Max Creator Kit Light is an impressive piece of equipment from Harlowe. Functional, well-chosen accessories, a straightforward interface and outstanding build quality elevate it above many other lights on the market. Combined with its classic yet refined aesthetic and excellent light output, the Harlowe Avant Max stands out as one of the best lighting kits I have ever worked with. Whether for photography or content creation, the Avant Max is well worth considering.
