Headlamps : Ratings of Sources

Our AssessmentTen LED headlamps from four major brands are reviewed and ranked here. Overall ratings are based on scores for eleven different factors, including battery life, beam quality, comfort and value. These more specific ratings are especially useful in choosing the best headlamp for a particular situation. The review includes a detailed buyer's guide, and readers have added useful comments as well. This site includes a 2003 review of earlier LED headlamps, plus an article explaining LED technology and several in-depth reviews of specific headlamps.

Our AssessmentREI publishes detailed specifications of headlamps, usually including the staff's calculations of the amount of light (in lux) at two meters – the distance most important in seeing a path right ahead of you. The headlamp descriptions also report hours of battery life at high and low light levels, plus beam throw in meters. The site also publishes owner-written reviews and ratings, listing the average rating and number of reviews right on the list of models – which makes it especially easy to browse here. The more detailed headlamp pages list the pros and cons mentioned by owners, and the site also includes an excellent headlamp buyer's guide. This guide also provides details of the standardized testing procedures adopted by manufacturers.

Our AssessmentThough this review is very current, we'd rank it higher if it compared these six new headlamps with other available models reviewed in previous years. Though the headlamps are thoroughly tested in the field, the descriptions are brief, with no ratings or rankings. The Everlite EL8 Solar headlamp is selected as the best; it can also be recharged on an AC outlet, and with optional accessories, its solar panel can be used to charge a cell phone or digital camera.

Our AssessmentBased on testing in field conditions, the 2007 issue of the Outside magazine Buyer's Guide recommends six headlamps covering a wide price range, selecting the Black Diamond Gizmo as a "killer value." We'd rank this review higher if newer headlamps were also compared with slightly older models; an earlier issue gave top ranking to two other headlamps that are still available. The descriptions are brief, leaving out important details such as whether or not a headlamp uses a voltage regulator. A later issue gives a 2007 Gear of the Year Award to the Princeton Tec Apex Pro.

Our AssessmentThis site uses moderators to check each owner-written review before it's published, making it a more credible source than its competitors. The site is also easy to use, since the list shows each model's average rating plus the number of reviews. Quite a few headlamps have accumulated ample reviews here.

Our AssessmentThis site publishes owner-written reviews and ratings of many headlamps, though most have accumulated only a handful of reviews. Amazon.com is a good place to check once you've narrowed down your choice.

Our AssessmentThis detailed single-product review is the only review we found of the new Underwater Kinetics (UK) Vizion 3AAA eLED headlamp. Manufactured in the United States, the headlamp has some new design features.

Our AssessmentThe three headlamps recommended at this site are selected by researchers on the basis of existing reviews, but the process isn't documented so we don't know how many products and reviews were actually analyzed. Nor is there any help in choosing among the three models.

Our AssessmentThis review compares the Petzl Zipka Plus headlamp with a budget model, the Rayovac Sportsman, with an eye to usefulness for travelers – reading in bed, for example – concluding that the Zipka Plus is well worth the difference in price.