Best Headlamps

The lights listed here fall into two families that are worth separating before comparing prices. One is the outdoor-brand headlamp from Petzl, Black Diamond, BioLite and Ledlenser: a sealed rechargeable pack or AAA cells, a few simple modes and usually a modest splash rating. The other is the enthusiast right-angle light from Sofirn, Wurkkos, Skilhunt, Zebralight and Emisar: an aluminum tube on a removable 14500, 18650 or 21700 cell in a head strap bracket, with far higher output and often IP68. The first is built for comfort and simplicity on the trail; the second for output, runtime and a cell you can swap in the dark.

How much light is enough is a smaller number than the spec sheets suggest. Switchback Travel's headlamp guide treats about 200 lumens as enough for most nighttime camp tasks and hiking, and notes that most models carry only an IPX4 splash rating, which is what the Petzl Tikka Core at $62.95 and Actik Core at $87.95 list. Extra spending at the outdoor-brand end mostly buys features and comfort, as with the Petzl Swift RL at $134.95. At the enthusiast end it buys cells and emitters: the now-discontinued Wurkkos HD10 at $20 ran Anduril 2 on a 14500, while the Armytek Elf C2 Max at $105 and Acebeam H18 at $109.90 move to 21700 cells and multi-emitter heads.

The best cases vary as much as the lamps. Nitecore NU25 owners called it the default ultralight backpacking headlamp at 45 grams before it was discontinued, and Fenix HM50R V2.0 owners say it stays put through sudden movement while jogging and works through medium to heavy gloves. Emisar DW4 owners report wearing it on helmets for hours in caves, mines and search work. Owners of the Zebralight H604c, also discontinued, liked its reflectorless pure flood with no hotspot for anything within arm's reach, and Sofirn HS20 owners single out separate buttons for spot and flood. Skilhunt H04 RC owners call it the closest to perfect light they own because it doubles as a clip and magnet work light.

What a headlamp gives up next to a handheld flashlight is reach and the ability to aim off-axis; what it gains is both hands free and the beam wherever you look. A dedicated headlamp with a rear pack also spreads weight better for long wear than a right-angle light in a headband.