Headlamps

Comparing headlamps

Headlamp reviews note that the brightest available light isn't always the most useful. Lower light levels are better for reading (especially for reading in bed or in a tent without disturbing a partner), and also make batteries last longer. So the best headlamps have adjustable brightness levels. Most headlamps also provide a strobe mode. This flashing light can be seen for long distances, which is useful for emergencies.

Some manufacturers rate the maximum brightness of their headlamps in lumens. (To give a rough idea of lumens, a MagLite 2D flashlight averages about 36 lumens.) But manufacturers calculate lumens in different ways, and headlamp reviews say it's better to compare light output by the amount of lux at a certain distance. This gives a more realistic comparison of the light cast though it favors headlamps that cast a narrower beam.

The simplest way to understand lux is to compare it with moonlight; one lux is four times brighter than a full moon on a clear night. It's crucial to compare headlamp lux measurements taken at the same distance. FlashlightReviews.com takes the measurement at one meter from the headlamp, while REI.com uses two meters because in actual use, that's the average distance between a headlamp and the path just ahead.

Reviews emphasize that different headlamp designs have different strengths. At this point, no headlamp is perfect in all respects -- if it "does everything" it does so at the cost of weight or battery life. The main difference lies with the choice of LED -- which for most headlamps, largely determines the beam width.

Headlamps that use a single bright LED -- 1-watt, 3-watt or even 5-watt -- provide a spot beam that can light a path far ahead. In other words, they excel in "beam throw." This is important for fast-moving sports such as running or cycling. It can also make a difference in hiking on an unfamiliar or challenging path, where you want to see trail markers far ahead.

For task lighting -- such as checking a map, reading, cooking or changing a tire -- a wider beam is much better. Headlamps that excel in task lighting usually use an array of three to five 0.5-watt LEDs. You don't see as far ahead, but you get a wider area of light.

A few headlamps provide both types of beam, either by diffusing a spotlight for task lighting, or by using both one big LED and an array of smaller ones. This still involves some compromise, since a diffuser dims the light more, and using both types of LEDs increases the weight. Heavier headlamps often mount the battery pack at the back of the headband to balance the weight, which is fine for many purposes, but uncomfortable for some applications (such as reading while lying down or consulting a map in a car seat with a headrest).

As if this beam width and battery-pack location didn't complicate your choice enough, there's also the color of the light to consider. For most uses, white LED light is ideal for preserving good color discrimination. But for preserving night vision, reviews recommend headlamps with the option of red light. Some headlamps provide one or two red LEDs for this purpose, while others use a red filter, but many headlamps completely lack this option.

Best headlamps for general use

For relatively close-up task lighting – for household use during power outages, reading in bed, changing a car tire or battery, or for campsite use – reviews recommend headlamps with wide flood beams. This type of headlamp doesn't provide red light for night vision, and they don't throw light far enough ahead to be good for running or hiking on challenging trails.

For comfort, ease of use and value, Backpacking Light gives top ranking to the waterproof Princeton Tec Quad (*est. $30) , which carries a lifetime warranty. It uses four Nichia SuperBright LEDs with a wide flood beam. Maximum output is only 21 lumens compared with 60 lumens for the Apex discussed further below, but one owner reviewing it at REI.com says it's almost too bright for reading.

The Princeton Tec Quad is lightweight – 2.9 ounces with three AAA lithium-ion batteries (3.6 ounces with alkaline batteries) and can use rechargeable lithium-ion or NiMH batteries. Battery life is 50 hours (on high) to 150 hours (on low). The battery pack is located in front with the lamp. Reviews say the main drawback is that the voltage regulator doesn't work well at keeping the light output constant when the light is set on its brightest setting. Princeton Tec headlamps are waterproof to one meter.

The Petzl Zipka Plus (*est. $40) also uses an array of four LEDs for a broad floodlight, but uses a retractable cord instead of an elastic headband. This makes it less comfortable when worn on the head, but versatile since you can attach it to a wrist, tent pole or dog collar. Owners say it's useful in strobe mode as a safety blinker when walking at dusk.

As a regular headlamp, though, the Zipka Plus gets more mixed reviews. At 2.3 ounces, it's a little lighter than the Princeton Tec Quad, and a bit brighter too at 35 lumens. REI measures the Quad's output as 37 lux at two meters on its higher brightness setting, while the Zipka Plus produces 64 lux on its higher setting. However, the Zipka Plus lamp doesn't tilt to aim the light where you want it, and doesn't throw the light as far. Nor can this headlamp use lithium-ion batteries.

The Petzl Tikka Plus (*est. $35) weighs five ounces more, but gets high marks from owners reviewing it at REI.com and at BackCountry.com. It also outputs 35 lumens but tilts for better aim, and throws light as far as 105 feet. Battery life is similar to that of the Zipka Plus – 150 hours on low, 100 on high. But like other Petzl headlamps, it's only water-resistant, not waterproof, and the lack of voltage regulation means the light gradually fades as batteries lose their charge.

As a budget headlamp, the 2007 Outside Buyer's Guide recommends the 2.8-ounce Black Diamond Gizmo (*est. $20) , saying it provides plenty of light for camp chores. Owners reviewing it at REI.com say it's not as well built as more expensive headlamps, but quite usable. Instead of an array of four LEDs powered by three AAA batteries, as on the task-lighting headlamps discussed above, the Black Diamond Gizmo has just three LEDs powered by only two AA batteries. The main drawback is short battery life of only 30 to 36 hours, but the Gizmo can use rechargeable NiMH batteries. Some owners recommend it for children because it can fit small heads and turns itself off after four hours to save battery life.

Small headlamps for emergency use

Headlamp experts suggest that nearly everyone would benefit from keeping a tiny, compact headlamp on hand for emergencies. One-ounce headlamps fit into a glove compartment or emergency kit, or as a backup for a primary headlamp. However, they aren't generally bright enough for everyday use, and battery life can be short.

The emergency backup headlamp most often recommended in reviews is the Petzl e+LITE (*est. $30) , which is as small as a fifty-cent piece, weighs only an ounce and packs into a protective case. Unlike most Petzl headlamps, the e+LITE carries a ten-year warranty (most other Petzl models have a three-year warranty) and is waterproof to a depth of one meter. This headlamp includes a red LED for night vision, a strobe function and certification for use in hazardous (explosive) conditions.

You can use this headlamp on a clip as well as its elastic headband. The beam is wide to illuminate tasks very well, but can project usable light as far as 60 feet. Maximum output is 21 lumens (or 23 lux at two meters), so it's not as bright as some headlamps. But its main drawback is relatively short battery life – 35 hours at its high setting, 45 on low. This is plenty of time to get through most emergencies, however, and the CR2032 lithium-ion batteries can hold their charge for up to ten years.

The 1-ounce Black Diamond Ion (*est. $20) is less expensive but dimmer, lacks the option of red light for night vision and provides shorter battery life. It uses only a single white 0.5-watt LED, while the Petzl e+LITE uses three white plus one red. The Black Diamond Ion is only water-resistant, not waterproof, carries a shorter three-year warranty and has a very short battery life of only 15 hours.

Long-throw LED headlamps

Super-bright LED headlamps use 1-watt, 3-watt or 5-watt Luxeon LEDs to provide a spot beam that excels in throwing light into the distance. Switches let you dim these headlamps for task lighting, but their main strengths are brightness and beam throw. This can be important for cycling, trail running and any adventure sport that requires fast movement and long-range vision. For most users, however, reviews say the more powerful lights can be overkill because the bright light comes at the expense of extra weight and higher price.

For single-LED headlamps, a 1-watt LED can be bright enough. In the recent comparison review of ten headlamps, Backpacking Light gives top overall ranking to a 1-watt LED model, the Princeton Tec Eos (*est. $40) . Tests show the voltage regulator is excellent, keeping brightness consistent for 44 hours on the low setting, 9.5 hours on medium and 6.5 hours on high. Battery life is moderate, up to 60 hours on the lowest setting, but beam throw is excellent at 187 feet. Owners reviewing the Eos at REI.com say the lowest light setting is bright enough for most tasks.

Backpacker Magazine named the 3.7-ounce Eos a best buy in 2006, noting that it's so stable on the head that it's good for running. Like most single-LED headlamps, it's better for fast sports than for task lighting. One owner reviewing the Princeton Tec Eos at BackCountry.com wishes it had a diffuser, and Backpacking Light wishes the beam quality was better.

Reviews also like the slightly lighter 3.25-ounce Petzl Tikka XP LED (*est. $50) , which also uses a 1-watt LED. At the time of this report, it's the top-rated headlamp in owner-written reviews at REI.com, and in 2006 Backpacker Magazine gave the Tikka XP LED its Editor's Choice award. However, the maximum beam throw is 115 feet, quite a bit shorter than that of the Princeton Tec Eos, and batteries only last 46 hours on low – gradually dimming because of the lack of a voltage regulator. The Tikka XP LED headlamp does have a nice battery meter, but it can't use lithium-ion batteries.

Reviews say 3-watt LED headlamps are overkill for most uses, even when a distance spotlight is important. Nor do the top-ranked higher wattage models provide red light for night vision. But hikers say that in an emergency, projecting light a long distance can make the difference between finding trail markers and getting lost. And the top-ranked super-bright headlamps provide a separate array of smaller LEDs for task lighting.

The 6.1-ounce Princeton Tec Apex Pro (*est. $90) uses a 3-watt Luxeon III LED to project light up to 279 feet. One owner reviewing this headlamp at REI.com says "I can spot a 12" x 12" flag from 100 yards while running with that beam." For task lighting, the Princeton Tec Apex adds four 5mm UltraBright LEDs to provide a wider beam. Both types of light have both a high and low setting for a total of four light settings plus a strobe, and a voltage regulator keeps the light consistent as the two lithium-ion CR123 batteries fade. Like other Princeton Tec headlamps, it's waterproof to a depth of one meter, and carries a lifetime warranty.

The Apex Pro has a battery meter so you know how much juice you have left. Reviews say it runs about 35 hours on the lower floodlight setting (with 12 lux at two meters). The super-bright spot beam (60 lumens or 452 lux) naturally uses batteries faster, with a runtime of only 1.5 hours on its higher setting and 15 hours on the lower setting.

The older Princeton Tec Apex (*est. $85) weighs more at 9.8 ounces, but provides much longer battery life. Also, you can power it with four AA batteries (alkaline, lithium-ion or rechargeable NiMH). Batteries last about 72 hours on the higher of the two spotlight settings and 150 hours on the lower of the two floodlight settings. Despite the headlamp's weight, owners say it's still reasonably comfortable and well balanced. An extra strap goes over the head, and the battery pack is mounted at the back for balance. The roundup review at Backpacking Light praises the Apex for its output, beam quality and ease of use, with its weight the main drawback. Like most super-bright headlamps, neither Apex headlamp provides red light for improved night vision.

The 6.6-ounce Black Diamond Icon (*est. $60) also combines a 3-watt LED with a 4-LED array, for both distance and task lighting. It has a regulator and battery meter, and battery life is excellent. However, this headlamp comes in for some criticism from owners reviewing it at REI.com; owners wish it had a blinker to help find it in the dark, and the 3-watt LED headlamp produces light that some find a little greenish.

Both Petzl and Brunton also make super-bright headlamps that fare better than the Icon in reviews, but use just a single bright LED. Since there's no added array of smaller LEDs for wide-beam task lighting, they can provide long battery life without too much weight. The Petzl Myo XP LED (*est. $80) uses a single 3-watt LED that switches from spot to flood, using a hinged diffuser. The recent Backpacking Light review rates the beam quality as perfect, slightly better than that of the Princeton Tec Apex, and one owner says he loves the floodlight diffuser. He adds that the Myo XP LED headlamp provides plenty of light even on its low setting -- which REI staff measure as 72 lux at two meters.

The Petzl Myo XP weighs 6.2 ounces, about the same as the Apex Pro, but provides battery life that's even better than that of the heavier Apex. Batteries last about 80 hours on the higher brightness setting, 180 hours on low. You can even boost the light to five watts for 30 seconds at a time to throw light a whopping 318 feet ahead.

The Petzl Myo XP LED Belt (*est. $85) is similar, but comes with a battery pack that clips onto a belt or can be worn in a pocket. Since the Myo XP LED headlamps can't use lithium-ion batteries, this is a good choice for use in very cold weather, because you can keep the batteries warm in a pocket. The weight on the head is reduced to 2.7 ounces, with another five ounces carried on the belt or in the pocket.

Like other Petzl headlamps, neither Myo XP headlamp incorporates a voltage regulator to keep light consistent as batteries lose their charge. The more expensive Brunton L3 (*est. $120) does have a voltage regulator that reviews say is even better than the one Princeton Tec uses on the Apex headlamp. The Brunton L3 keeps the light from its 3-watt Luxeon LED consistent till batteries drop to 15 percent of their charge – then dims the light to a power-save mode so you have plenty of time to change batteries.

Owners reviewing the Brunton L3 headlamp at both Cabelas.com and Trailspace.com give it high marks, especially for beam quality. One owner says a side-by-side comparison with the Apex gives the Brunton L3 the edge for better light. The Brunton L3 weighs eight ounces, but an optional runner's belt (*est. $20) lets you move the batteries to a belt.

The voltage regulator gets outstanding runtime from the four AA batteries – 140 hours on high, 160 hours on medium and 200 hours on low. Furthermore, you can triple the runtime by using the external battery pack provided with the headlamp, which holds four C batteries. Owners say this makes the pricey Brunton L3 especially useful for long cold-weather adventures, including dog sledding, backpacking and snowmobile racing.

The Brunton L5 (*est. $195) uses a 5-watt Luxeon K2 LED powered by a 4.5-volt external battery pack that uses rechargeable NiMH batteries. (It comes with a charger.) The total weight is ten ounces, but only four of these ounces are worn on the head. Outside magazine calls the Brunton L5 the “brightest LED headlamp in the world," and praises its "smart" voltage regulator. It runs 50 hours on one charge, and provides four modes including a flash/strobe. We found few owner reviews of this expensive headlamp.

Night-vision headlamps

For hiking and backpacking – and any outdoor adventure when you might be caught out after dark – reviews recommend headlamps that provide red light to preserve night vision. You can buy an optional filter kit (*est. $5) for the 2.3-ounce Petzl Zipka Plus (*est. $40) discussed above, but owners say it's easy to misplace the filters. Keep in mind that the lightweight Petzl e+LITE also includes a red LED bulb for this purpose.

The 2.7-ounce Petzl Tactikka Plus LED headlamp (*est. $45) includes a pull-down red filter that switches the 4-LED array to red light. It's more expensive, but it also throws light a longer distance (up to 100 feet) than the tiny e+LITE, plus it tilts for good aim. It's also brighter in general than the e+LITE, putting out 64 lux at two meters. On that setting, batteries last 100 hours, while using the lower 14-lux setting extends battery life to 150 hours (the battery on the e+LITE only lasts about 45 hours). The battery pack is in the front with the lamp.

The slightly heavier 3.3-ounce Petzl Tactikka XP (*est. $60) is more geared for distance lighting. The single 1-watt LED normally throws a beam as far as 100 feet, but a boost mode increases the throw -- for 20 seconds at a time -- to 164 feet. This makes it a good choice for night running, cycling or hiking on challenging terrain. The color filters (green and blue as well as red) are detachable, but the headlamp includes a carrier to keep them handy. (Hunters often prefer a green light.) Petzl rates the battery life at 120 hours on the lowest light setting, but tests at Field & Stream magazine, where the Tactikka XP earns the "Best of the Best" award, find battery life longer by 30 hours -- matching that of the Tactikka Plus.

A new 2008 headlamp from Princeton Tec, the Quad Tactical (*est. $37) is even more convenient, letting you flick back and forth between a clear lens and a colored red, green or blue lens. With alkaline or rechargeable NiMH batteries it weighs 3.6 ounces, but unlike the Petzl headlamps, can use lithium-ion batteries – reducing the weight to 2.9 ounces.

The Quad Tactical headlamp is also waterproof and has a voltage regulator – but as on the regular Quad, the regulator only keeps the light at its maximum brightness for 1.5 hours. On its medium setting, brightness is regulated for nine hours, and for 24 hours on low. Total runtime is much longer – 150 hours on low – but it's gradually fading during much of this time.

The UK Vizion 3AAA eLED Headlamp (*est. $30) is made by Underwater Kinetics, a company that's not only based in the United States, but does its manufacturing here. Its innovative new headlamp has a unique design that reviews praise as extremely easy to use -- you just twist a knob on the end of the lamp to adjust the light among three modes: spot, flood and red flood light. The spotlight mode throws a beam up to 305 feet, with an output of 29 lumens -- a "medium" output that's comparable to that of the Princeton Tec Quad.

The design actually recycles heat from the half-watt LED back into the batteries to keep them warm for longer runtime, with a heatsink to protect the LED itself. You can remove the lamp from the wide headband to use it as a camp light, and the design is so waterproof that the headlamp is submersible to ten meters (33 feet). Battery life is good – 76 hours on high, 127 on low. There are no hinges to break, and the headlamp carries a lifetime warranty. Oddly enough, the LED itself is guaranteed for only 30 days. The main drawback is that the Vizion headlamp lacks a strobe mode.

As a budget choice, the Rayovac Sportsman (*est. $25 for a pack of two) is actually one of the top-rated headlamps in owner-written reviews at Amazon.com. It's a hybrid headlamp that uses either a white or red 1-watt LED for task lighting, plus a Krypton bulb for distance. It's water-resistant and tilts for aim, but reviews say the aim doesn't lock securely into place. Battery life for task lighting is 40 hours, then lower for up to 200 hours, but the Krypton spotlight only runs a little over two hours on a set of batteries. If you seldom need distance lighting, owners say it's comfortable (once you figure out how to attach the headstraps), and can be a fine budget choice for campsite use.

Another Rayovac model, the Sportsman Xtreme 1-watt LED Headlight (*est. $20) , combines a 1-watt Luxeon LED for spot lighting with a floodlight array of two red LEDs and one blue. Its single alkaline AA battery makes it lightweight, and the 45-lumen output is fine for most tasks, but the two-hour runtime is a major drawback. Also, lighting experts warn against choosing the least expensive LED lights, because LED quality varies so much.

Solar headlamp

The Everlite EL8 Solar Headlamp (*est. $50) is getting well-deserved attention right now. It's already earned the 2008 Editors' Choice award from Backpacker Magazine, whose editors chose it based on thorough comparison field tests of new headlamps. This innovative solar headlamp uses a 5-LED array to provide a wide beam in several modes, including a strobe light for alerting rescuers. Testers say the brightest setting provides enough light for night hiking, while the low setting is fine for campsite tasks.

The 3-ounce headlamp is powered by a small external 3-ounce solar panel that can be attached to a backpack or jacket. Both headlamp and solar panel are water-resistant. Charging the solar panel in full sun for eight to ten hours provides 12 hours of bright light, then 12 to 18 more hours at a dimmer level. A battery meter tells how much charge is available. The solar panel also charges the headlamp even under tree cover or on an overcast day, but takes twice as long to do so. Optional accessories (*est. $17) let you charge the headlamp from AC or 12-volt outlets.

Unlike most rechargeable headlamps, this one uses lithium-ion batteries that can hold their charge for a year – making this an option for disaster preparation and household power outages as well as for hiking. For even more uses, you can set the Everlite solar headlamp to a photocell mode that automatically turns the light on at dusk and off at dawn. Since you never need to replace batteries, this headlamp is also an option for travel. Optional accessories (*est. $17) let you use the solar panel to charge a cell phone or digital camera – even while the solar panel continues to collect energy. The main drawback is the lack of red light for night vision, but the manufacturer tells us this is a feature they plan to add.

Aside from the endorsement at Backpacker Magazine, we haven't yet seen any user comments on this interesting headlamp, however.

Important Features: Headlamps

To ensure comfort, experts recommend that you try on a headlamp before buying it – with the batteries inserted so you'll feel the full weight and balance. If you buy online, be sure the retailer offers a good return policy. Most headlamps let you tilt the lamp to direct the beam – an essential feature – and expert reviews suggest considering the following features, too:

• Brighter isn't always better. Too bright a light can create glare on a page you're trying to read, bother other people or ruin your night vision. Reviews warn that the brightest lights are usually spot lights – good for distance vision but not for task lighting.

• Look for adjustable light levels. The lowest brightness setting provides the longest battery life, and reviews say you're apt to need brighter light only for a few tasks.

• Choose a flood beam LED array for task lighting, a spot LED for distance. Some heavier headlamps combine both.

• For comparing output, lux is better than lumens. Lumens gives a very rough approximation of the maximum light output, but different manufacturers calculate it in different ways. Lux measurements at a specified distance provide a more reliable comparison among headlamps, though this information isn't available for all models.

• Consider the cost of batteries. For daily jobsite use near an AC outlet, consider a headlamp that can use rechargeable NiMH batteries, even though they usually lower performance a bit. A few headlamps use rechargeable lithium-ion batteries – even better. And of course a solar headlamp has no battery cost at all.

• A voltage regulator keeps light consistent for a certain number of hours. Without this feature, headlamps start to dim right away and gradually get dimmer as batteries fade. Headlamps with voltage regulators delay this, and usually have a battery meter so you have plenty of time to change batteries.

• Most headlamps include a flash or strobe mode for alerting rescuers. This isn't important for most household or jobsite uses, but can be life-saving for outdoor pursuits. It's also a valuable feature for a headlamp you keep in your vehicle.

• To preserve night vision, a red LED is better than a red filter. Both preserve night vision, but a filter diminishes the light more.

• Colored filters that pull down are more convenient than detached filters. Filters that pack separately are little things that tend to get lost, and are harder to use when wearing gloves.

• Decide if you need a waterproof case. "Waterproof to one meter" means the headlamp can perform well after up to 30 minutes of immersion in water up to one meter deep. "Water-resistant" means the headlamp should survive rain. Divers and cavers need even more waterproof headlamps; see our Alternative Considerations section below.

• For travel, consider a solar headlamp or one that uses batteries that are easy to find. Long runtime between battery changes is also a plus. A solar headlamp needs no batteries at all. For trips, try to get equipment that uses the same battery type.

• Lithium-ion batteries are lighter, better for cold weather and hold charge longest. Since lithium-ion batteries store for up to ten years, reviews recommend buying them in bulk for the best price. If you plan to do a lot of worldwide travel, however, you might want to stick with alkaline batteries since they're easier to find and less expensive.
  
  

Our Consensus Report shows how many times products are top-ranked by reviewers included in our
All The Reviews Reviewed chart.

# of picks	Model (with retailer links)	Details from Amazon.com
5	Petzl e+LITE (*est. $30)	details
4	Petzl Myo XP (*est. $80)	details
4	Petzl Tikka XP LED (*est. $50)	details
4	Princeton Tec Apex (*est. $85)	details
3	Petzl Zipka Plus LED (*est. $40)	details
3	Petzl Tikka Plus LED (*est. $35)	details
3	Princeton Tec Quad (*est. $30)	details
2	Brunton L3 (*est. $120)	details
2	Petzl Tactikka XP (*est. $60)	details
2	Petzl Tactikka Plus (*est. $45)	details
2	Princeton Tec Eos (*est. $40)	details
1 each	Black Diamond Cosmo , Black Diamond Icon , Black Diamond Gizmo , Black Diamond Zenix IQ , Coleman Exponent Mini Headlamp , Everlite EL8 Solar Headlamp , Princeton Tec Apex Pro , Rayovac Sportsman , StenLight S7, UK Vizion 3AAA eLED

Clearly Petzl and Princeton Tec headlamps take the lead. Quite a few reviews only cover the latest headlamps without comparing them with older (but still current) models, so some headlamps don't quite get their fair share of picks here. On the other hand, a few headlamps are too new to be covered in many reviews -- such as the Everlite EL8 Solar Headlamp and the Coleman Exponent Mini Headlamp.

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