Best Headlamp for Hiking: Always See the Trail at Night

What to Look for in a Good Headlamp

Brightness in Lumens vs Beam Distance

Brightness

One of the “banner” specs thrown at you by headlight companies is the brightness measured in Lumens. Lumens are a measure of the total amount of light that comes out of your headlamp, and the more lumens you have, the brighter the output will be.

If you’re the sort that likes to know the technical definition, a lumen is a unit of luminous flux and it’s equal to the amount of visible light emitted by one candle per square meter. So your headlamp with 200 lumens is equivalent to the light output of 200 candles shining on a single square meter.

There is a wide range of lumens in headlamps, ranging from 50 to 950 (on maximum setting). The maximum brightness of the headlamps we’ve reviewed falls between 200 and 600 lumens – which is a powerful enough range for the demands of hiking.

One thing to keep in mind is that the more powerful the output, the more power it will require. More power equates to more demand on the batteries, and therefore shorter battery life. To help extend the life of the batteries many headlamp models allow you to adjust the level of brightness.

Beam distance

Beam quality refers to how well the light is focused from a headlamp by the optical lens system. Depending on the bulb type and the quality of the construction a lower lumen headlamp may have a longer beam than a more powerful one. While one lamp may technically be brighter, it may not do as good a job of focusing the light from practical use.

Beam distance varies significantly between different models, with the products reviewed ranging between 50 to 150 meters (180 to 500 ft) while set to max brightness.

Battery Power

Battery Type

Whether you are buying AAA alkaline disposable batteries or a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, they both have their own strengths and weaknesses.

Alkaline costs less than the rechargeable battery but cannot be recharged, meaning you’ll (1) have ongoing battery costs & (2) you’ll need to carry additional replacement batteries with you on longer trips. Although, we’d always recommend carrying spare batteries with you as a backup on every trip, no matter how short.

Conversely, lithium-ion batteries are the more expensive option but will last longer than their alkaline equivalents. While being rechargeable is a plus, it does have the downside of having to carry a power source (e.g. a solar panel or power bank) on longer trips. If you count every gram in your pack, then Li-ion batteries are also lighter than the alkaline cousins.

Burn Time (Battery Life)

Depending on the length of trips you take the battery life of your headlamp may be a fundamentally important feature. Running out of juice too soon can lead to disaster.

Manufacturers like to boast about how long the headlamp’s battery will last. But don’t be fooled by these claims as unfortunately they usually overstate the actual performance in real life situations.

While overall duration is lower, the beam distance also suffers over time, as unless the light output is regulated then the headlamp will progressively dim as the batteries run down. Few manufacturers publish them, but look out for charts of max beam distance over battery lifespan.

Regulated light headlamps such as the Petzl Actik Core will maintain the same brightness before suddenly failing. Headlamps which regulate light are great for activities such as winter sports or caving where dimming could be dangerous.

Weight

The weight of a headlamp is another important metric to consider. The lightest models weigh less than 20 grams, and heavier ones can tip the scales at over 200 grams or more. This may not seem like a huge burden but it will impact both comfort while in use and also how much gear we need to carry in order to keep it close by for use when needed.

Lightweight lamps are more comfortable to wear, easier to pack, and don’t inhibit movement so much. More powerful headlamps and more durable ones bring with them more heft.

In our opinion, it’s best to choose the lightest model that meets your usage requirements.

Weight alone is not the sole determiner of the comfort of a headlamp, as the weight distribution of the headlamp can have a large impact on the comfort during use. Poorly distributed weight will be obvious the moment you tilt your head abruptly or try jogging a short distance.

Less important for day hikers, but for those gram-counters in the ultralight community, you may want to choose a lighter model to keep your pack weight down.

Durability and Weather Resistance

As an outdoor activity, hiking, backpacking, and camping gear need to be able to hold the weather and the occasional bump or drop at bay. How weather resistant a headlamp is, is determined using IP ratings – an industry standard for electronics equipment.

Ingress Protection (IP) ratings are best known as a way of measuring how resistant electronics are from water or moisture damage.

Every product is tested and given an IPXX number, with the first X representing how well it can handle the ingress of solid materials (think dust). Solids protection is rated from 1-6, with one being the lowest level of protection.

The second X tells you how water-resistant the product is, with the protection level ranging from 1-8.

Cheaper models are an IPX0 that offers no protection from the elements, and you’d best get them covered up at the first sign of bad weather. At the other end of the scale, an IPX8 rating means you can dunk your headlamp in the local lake for a while and it’ll still come out shining.

For some more precise definitions of the IP ratings then check out the table below.

To live up to the weather demands of hiking and the outdoors, all the models reviewed range from a minimum of IPX4, which is protected against splashes of water (think light-moderate rain). At the top end is the Fenix HM50R, the most durable headlamp with a top rating of IP68.

Cold Weather & Battery Life

Still on the topic of weather, let’s turn back to batteries, and specifically batteries and cold weather.

In cold weather, batteries can perform poorly. This is because the electrolyte inside them becomes thicker as the temperature drops, and this slows down chemical reactions that are necessary for charging and discharging. Meaning a significant decrease in your battery’s lifespan & a longer recharging time.

Alkaline batteries are the worst offenders here, although Lithium-Ion batteries also suffer greatly from a drop in the mercury. The best option in cold weather is to choose a CR or rechargeable NiMH batteries- the Fenix HM50R is the only headlamp in our review that accepts CR123A batteries, making it a great choice for colder weather trips.

A few headlamp models allow you to remove the battery pack while it is in use. Thus allowing you to store it inside your jacket or next to your body to help keep it warm.

Durability

Durability is important for any piece of outdoor gear that will occasionally get dropped, bumped and scratched. Cheaper “plasticky” models are easily spotted and should be avoided, lest you want to replace your rechargeable headlamp every time it suffers a mishap.

More robust models will incorporate aluminum or other light metals to help give a sturdier build, but this does come at a cost of weight. There is a middle ground of solidly build plastic models such as the Black Diamond Spot, and the Petzl Actik core which combine durability with reasonable weight.

So, how to pick?

Activity type, weather, and trail conditions you expect to face play into how rugged a model you should select. For instance, if you regularly encounter rainy weather on your hikes then choosing a more water-resistant model may be a smart choice.

Lighting Modes

Quality headlamps will allow you to switch between different beam modes for use in various situations. Most headlamps will use separate LEDs for different lighting settings, while others “shape” the LED to the specific function desired.

Spot Light

Spot lights are meant to provide a focused beam of light, allowing you to see off into the distance. This mode is perfect for spotting an animal in the distance or following trail markers.

Some headlamps have different spot settings that allow you to choose between a wide and narrow beam. The best way to identify what is best suited for you and your needs depends on how much ground space you need illuminated.

Proximity or Flood Light

Flood Beam diffuses the light to cast a wider beam of light, giving a wider coverage area and allows you to see your immediate surroundings better.

This is best suited for campers who want to illuminate the ground and nearby objects with enough brightness so that they can find their way around in the dark.

Strobe Light

Most headlamps have a strobe mode. This feature is intended for emergency use to attract attention while conserving battery power.

The strobe light mode is also great as a bike light or for runners who need to be seen by traffic.

“Night Vision” Red Light

Softer and easier on the eye than white light, red light mode is great for reading or finding something in your tent in the middle of the night without disturbing your fellow tent-mates.

Red light has the added benefit of not causing your pupils to adjust, so you won’t be night blind when the dark returns. As it can take up to an hour for your eyes to fully adjust to the dark, this is a particularly useful mode if you want to do some star-gazing without fumbling your way around the campsite.

Green or Blue Light

Some headlamps come with green light, which preserves the natural color of objects in the dark. This is a particularly useful color filter for hunters who are tracking a wounded animal, with the blood showing up as a vivid red in the dark.

Blue light has been shown to prevent night blindness and decrease eye strain when reading maps or using a GPS device.

Comfort

Brightness, durability, and weather resistance are all great, but if your headlamp is not comfortable to wear then it’s not going to be used often. There are two main elements to think about with comfort – weight distribution and the headlamp straps.

The heaviest part of any headlamp, the battery pack, is typically in the light body or as a separate pack at the back of the strap. It is standard to have the battery pack in the light housing which works well for lighter headlamps.

More powerful lamps will separate the battery pack and place it at the back of the strap to balance weight and prevent the headlamp from becoming too “front-heavy”.

The weight distribution of a headlamp can be hugely important, depending on your intended use. Front-heavy models like the Black Diamond Storm feel off-balance for activities like trail running, where a lighter or lower profile model such as the Biolite 330 will help prevent “bounce” on the trails.

The headband straps generally come in two styles, the simple wrap-around and a two-piece design with an additional strap that crosses the dome of the head to help balance weight more. The lighter headlamp models are typically the former, and heavier one’s the latter.

The head strap should be able to fit snugly against your head without feeling like it’s cutting off the circulation to your scalp. It should also be easily adjustable when you need to throw on a beanie in cold weather, or a helmet for activities like climbing or caving.

Not a 1:1 correlation but you tend to get what you paid for, and cheaper models will feature cheaper, less well-made headbands that either don’t wick moisture away well or feel uncomfortable next to your skin.

Ease of Use

Headlamps are not complicated devices and certainly won’t give technophobes the “fear”, but certain models have a more intuitive design that makes them easier to use.

Many headlamps use a single touch button design, this allows you to cycle through the various light modes, which frankly, can be a bit annoying. Several of the higher-end models incorporate a brightness memory, or a two-button design to help alleviate the pain of cycling through modes.

Others like the Coast HL7 make use of a twist lens and a lever to control the flood/spot and brightness making it much easier to control the exact light output you want.

For specific tasks models that allow the headlamp housing to be tilted allowing you to direct the beam in a specific direction is hugely useful. Allowing you to stand in a more ergonomic position rather than craning your neck while you complete the task.

Another helpful feature for battery life is an On-Off Lock. This prevents any accidental turnoffs mid-task and also prevents the battery from running down if it were to accidentally get turned on when inside your pack.

Best Headlamps for Outdoor Adventures Reviewed