The 5 Best Headlamps for Hiking

Headlamps are an essential piece of hiking gear that all hikers should carry, regardless of the trail length and difficulty. It is crucial to have a light source when hiking because it allows you to see the trail or set up camp after the sunset. Having a headlamp for hiking and backpacking is a perfect light source because it is hands-free, easy to use, and lightweight. There are many headlamps on the market, so it can be overwhelming figuring out which is the best for you. This guide reviews everything you need to know about hiking headlamps, including the best headlamps for hiking and what to consider when looking for a headlamp.

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Why You Should Invest in a Headlamp for Hiking

Having a light source while hiking and backpacking is crucial, and it is one of the Ten Essentials. The Ten Essentials consist of a list of essential hiking gear for hiking and backpacking. They are critical for emergencies, including getting injured, lost, or stuck in bad weather. The best light source to carry is a headlamp. Headlamps allow you to hike at night or set up camp after the sunset. They are easy to carry, lightweight, and hands-free, making them the perfect piece of hiking gear!

Best Headlamps for Hiking

Black Diamond Storm Headlamp

Pros:

500 lumens
120 meters beam distance
Multiple modes
Lightweight
Tilt capability

Cons:

The band can be hard to fit

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The Black Diamond Storm Headlamp is one of the best headlamps for hiking because it has everything you need. It is my favorite headlamp for hiking and backpacking! It is lightweight, weighing 4.2 ounces, and compact. It offers multiple light modes, including flood, spot, dimming, strobe, red light, green light, and blue light modes, and has 500 lumens for its max light output, reaching up to 120 meters. It is perfect for hiking at night! It has three brightness levels and an average run time of 200 hours on the lowest setting and 5 hours on the highest setting. The Black Diamond Storm Headlamp has a rating of IPX7 for water resistance, which means it is dustproof and waterproof. It is not rechargeable, but the long-lasting run time makes up for it! If you are looking for an all-around great headlamp for hiking, the Black Diamond Storm Headlamp is for you!

Petzl Actik Core Headlamp

Pros:

450 lumens
90 meters beam distance
Multiple light modes
Rechargeable battery
Lightweight
Tilt capability

Cons:

Battery life not as good as other headlamps

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The Petzl Actik Core Headlamp is one of the best headlamps for hiking and is comparable to the Black Diamond Storm 400 Headlamp. It is lightweight, weighing 2.8 ounces, and compact. It has multiple light modes, including flood, mixed, proximity, distance, and red light mode, and has 450 lumens for its max light output that reaches up to 90 meters. It has three brightness levels, with an average run time of 130 hours in the lowest setting and 2 hours in the highest, which is a little less than what the Black Diamond Storm 400 Headlamp offers. Unlike the Black Diamond Storm 400 headlamp, the Petzl Actik Core Headlamp is rechargeable and can run off of batteries, which is a perfect feature for backpacking! It also has a rating of IPX4, which means it can withstand splashing water but is not waterproof. Petzl Actik Core Headlamp is one of the best headlamps for hiking on the market!

BioLite HeadLamp

Pros:

335 lumens
75 meters beam distance
Multiple light modes
Rechargeable battery
Lightweight
Tilt capability

Cons:

Not as water-resistant as other headlamps

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The BioLite HeadLamp is one of the best ultralight, top-performing headlamps for hiking on the market. It only weighs 2.3 ounces, making it the lightest headlamp on the list! It also offers multiple light modes, including flood, spot+flood, dimmable spot, strobe, and red light modes, and has 335 lumens for its max light output that reaches up to 75 meters. It has three brightness levels, and the average run time for the lowest setting is 40 hours, and the highest setting is 3.5 hours. The BioLite HeadLamp is perfect for backpackers or hikers who don’t want to carry batteries because it is rechargeable via a micro USB. On top of all of those features, it also has tilt capabilities and moisture-wicking fabric. It has a rating of IPX4 for water resistance, which means it can handle splashes of water but cannot withstand a prolonged downpour. The BioLite HeadLamp is one of the best headlamps for hiking on the market!

Black Diamond Astro 300 Headlamp

Pros:

300 lumens
75 meters beam distance
Multiple light modes
Lightweight
Tilt capability
Inexpensive

Cons:

Switching modes is not intuitive

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The Black Diamond Astro 300 Headlamp is one of the best headlamps for hiking that is budget-friendly. It is compact and lightweight, weighing 2.8 ounces. It offers multiple modes, including proximity, distance, dimming, strobe, and red light modes, and has 300 lumens for its max light output, reaching up to 75 meters. It also has multiple brightness levels for each light mode, and the average run time is 200 hours in the lowest setting and 4 hours in the highest setting. The Black Diamond Astro 300 Headlamp also has a rating of IPX8 for water resistance, meaning it can withstand being in a downpour, but is not as waterproof as the Black Diamond Storm 400 Headlamp. Although it is not rechargeable, it has a good average run time for the price. The Black Diamond Astro 300 Headlamp is one of the best inexpensive headlamps for hiking on the market!

Petzl Tikka Headlamp

Pros:

300 lumens
65 meters beam distance
Multiple light modes
Lightweight
Tilt capability
Inexpensive

Cons:

Lacks spotlight mode
Beam length not as effective as other headlamps

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The Petzl Tikka Headlamp is another one of the best headlamps for hiking if you don’t want anything fancy. It is lightweight, weighing 3 ounces, and compact. It offers multiple light modes, including proximity, movement, distance, and red light modes, and has 300 lumens for its max light output that reaches up to 65 meters. It also has three brightness levels, and the average run time is 120 hours on the lowest setting and 2 hours on the highest setting. The Petzl Tikka Headlamp has a rating of IPX4, which means it can handle splashing water but is not waterproof. Although it is not rechargeable, it has a good average run time on the lowest setting. If you are looking for one of the best headlamps for hiking that is budget-friendly, the Petzl Tikka is it!

Headlamps for Hiking Features

Headlamp Lumens

Lumens are a measurement unit for hiking headlamps that tell you how bright it glows. The lumens count is great to figure out how bright the headlamp is, but also how long the battery will last. The higher the lumens count, the more it has to use energy. If you are hiking with the headlamp on its brightest setting, the battery will run out quicker than on a lower one. Typically, a higher lumen number means a brighter light, but it also depends on how the headlamp directs the light.

Headlamp Beam Distance

Each of the best headlamps for hiking should have an estimated distance you can see while using each setting. You should consider the headlamp beam distance if you will be hiking long distances at night because you will want to make sure you can see far on the trail in front of you.

Headlamp Type of Beam

There are two types of beams that the best headlamps for hiking can have: Flood and Spot. Both types are great for different purposes, but ideally, you want a headlamp that has both.

Flood: Flood beams provide a wide beam of light that is great for setting up camp because you can see more of the area immediately in front of you.
Spot: Spot beams provide a narrow or focused beam of light that allows you to see a long distance. They are great for hiking in the dark because you can see far in front of you on the trail.

Headlamp Average Run Time

Each of the best headlamps for hiking should provide an average time it will last when it’s fully charged. If the headlamp has multiple settings, the manufacturer should provide run times for each of them. The average run time measurement recently changed, and some manufacturers have not updated their specifications yet. The old standard measured the run time until the headlamp would run out of battery. The new standard measures the run time until it hits 10% of its battery remaining. If you see a drastic difference in the average run time when comparing models, it is most likely due to the standard change.

Headlamp Modes & Brightness Levels

Most hiking headlamps offer multiple modes or brightness levels. It is great to have a headlamp that at least provides a few brightness levels or modes.

Low: Low is the lowest brightness level on a hiking headlamp that is great when you don’t need to see far, including setting up camp.
Mid: Mid is a brightness level on a hiking headlamp that provides a great middle between low and high.
High: High is the highest brightness level on a hiking headlamp that is great when you need more light or to see further, including hiking on a dark trail.
Strobe: Strobe is a hiking headlamp mode that is an emergency signal.
Red light: Red light mode is a hiking headlamp mode that is great to use when you are with other people while wearing your headlamp because it does not cause pupils to shrink as white light does.

Headlamp Tilt

Most of the best hiking headlamps can tilt, which helps adjust the light beam to be where you need. Although this may not seem important, I love the tilt feature when I am hiking because I can tilt the headlamp to shine the light in front of me without having to look down. A lot of backpackers enjoy using it for reading as well.

Headlamp Water Resistance

Most of the best headlamps for hiking are water-resistant. It is crucial to have a water-resistant headlamp because you never know how the weather could turn when you are out on the trail.

Headlamp Rechargeability

Hiking headlamps either use one-time batteries or rechargeable batteries. Most backpackers prefer having rechargeable headlamps for hiking, so they don’t have to carry batteries with them. However, rechargeable headlamps tend to not have as long of an average run time. Both types of headlamps are great, and it comes down to personal preference.

Headlamp Weight

Most of the best headlamps for hiking are very lightweight and small. Once you start researching high-powered headlamps, you will begin to notice the difference in weight and size. Most of the high-powered headlamps or headlamps that come with external battery packs are for technical needs, like rock climbing, and will be heavier. Most headlamps for hiking will be small and lightweight.

If you are looking to find the perfect hiking headlamp, this guide is a great starting point! It reviews everything you need to know about headlamps for hiking, including the best headlamps for hiking on the market and what to consider when looking for a hiking headlamp.