The Best Headlamp

The Best Headlamp

During our test, we found it ergonomic, comfortable and easy to handle. In addition, the adjustable lighting of up to 500 lumens offers a range of 80 meters. It is therefore ideal for hiking or walking in the mountains. Its design is resistant to extreme temperatures, which explains its usefulness in various circumstances. Even if it certainly lacks a few additional features like the red lighting, its hybrid power system is practical and reassuring.

The different headlamps we tested.

We analyzed their performance.

The maintenance of each device has been verified.

We have tested the different functions offered by certain lamps.

During our tests, we tried to put the autonomy to the test.

In our experience, it performs well in terms of lighting. Lightweight and compact, it is also waterproof, which makes it perfect for kayaking. Easy to handle, it has various modes and intensities more than sufficient to run in gloomy places. If it is logically more energy intensive than some lamps with its power (325 lumens), it allows a range of 80 meters. In our opinion, this is undoubtedly the preferred option for small budgets.

With great autonomy, refined ergonomics and convincing performance, the Petzl Nao + completely won us over. Despite its more difficult grip and lack of waterproofness, it is ideal for trail running and all kinds of camping activities. It is both ultra-powerful (750 lumens for 140 meters of range) and comfortable. Certainly, it requires a significant budget but for quality lighting, it is well worth its price in our opinion. Its little extra is its Bluetooth connection which allows it to be managed entirely from its dedicated application.

Even if it lacks a little waterproofness and support compared to its competitor, this headlamp is ultra-comfortable. Easy to use during an activity, it is particularly recommended for hiking and camping. During our various tests, we found it to be very complete in terms of functionality. The lighting is okay, nothing more, but this has the advantage of not drawing a lot from the battery. In addition, on the look side, it is undeniably our favorite of this selection.

Despite a design that could be improved, particularly in terms of the rear case and its weight, the Icon 700 totally won us over in terms of ergonomics and above all performance. Easy to handle, comfortable and powerful (700 lumens), from our point of view it has all the necessary functions and provides good lighting up to 140 meters. It is therefore intended for versatile practice, especially since it is quite resistant to climatic conditions. Its dual power supply system and its reserve mode improve its autonomy.

our selection

Our Pick, Best Mid-Range	Best cheap	Best high end	Mid-range alternative	High-end alternative
Fenix ​​HMR50	Black Diamond Spot 325	Petzl Nao+	BioLite Headlamp 330	Black Diamond Icon 700
It stands out for its solid and resistant design, its modular and comfortable design and its hybrid power supply. She does not have to be ashamed of the performance side either.	Lightweight, compact, waterproof and easy to use, it has one of the best quality / price ratios. Besides its excellent range, it also has several appreciable and useful functions.	It has a Bluetooth connection to control the lamp from its application. Its satisfactory autonomy, its ergonomics and its great power make it successful with users.	Ergonomic, autonomous and above all comfortable, it has a very attractive design. Without really shining, it is still relatively complete, which earned it its good quality / price ratio.	Its different lighting colors, great power and ease of handling are its main strengths. Its dual power system is also reassuring.
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Honorable mentions

Petzl E + Lite (see the test) (€ 18.20 upon publication): beyond its discreet, comfortable and ergonomic design and its brilliant autonomy, the Petzl E + Lite is not the most efficient since ‘it only displays 30 lumens. If it fully meets the title of “emergency lamp” for hikers and can help out for small things, it is however not suitable for poorly lit countryside. Among the other qualities that we have noted, it is easy to use with its multidirectional housing, it incorporates a safety whistle and is resistant to difficult weather conditions.

Black Diamond Spot Lite 160 (see test) (€ 21.31 when published): compact and lightweight, this headlamp delivers up to 160 lumens of warm white light. It works with two AAA batteries and features LED lighting. Its autonomy ranges from 2 to 60 hours depending on the intensity set. Among its options, there is a dimming function, flashing mode, night vision mode (red) and blocking mode. IPX8 certified, it is waterproof and ideal for walking in wet conditions. On the other hand, during our test, we found that it lacked a bit of comfort and light in some places.

Petzl Actik Core (see the test) (€ 54.21 when published): with its hybrid power system and good performance, we can better understand why the Petzl Actik Core arouses so much interest among outdoor sports enthusiasts . Even if from our point of view it can be improved in terms of waterproofing and functionality, we were as convinced by its ease of use as by its comfort. Moreover, it provides good support and its multi-beam lighting is interesting. However, the strobe function is missing.

How did we test?

For a more objective analysis, we tested the lamps in different environments , namely: town centers, countryside and / or forests for some. We also tried to vary the activities : sports walking, running, manual work, walks, trails, etc.

The hectic physical activities were useful for us in judging comfort , support and ease of use , while the different places allowed us to assess their performance in terms of lighting.

To check the indicated weight, we weighed the lamps on a kitchen scale and to see how tight they were, we dipped some of them in a basin of water for several minutes.

Several of us put them on, so as to take into account the various morphologies of the head.

To estimate their autonomy , we left each model on in certain modes until the batteries or the battery were completely empty. We took note of the times and then we counted the charging times.

On the design side, we looked at every reflective detail so that we can see their real importance in the dark. We even put a few on top of a helmet.

Finally, for one of them, we flipped the app from top to bottom, testing each feature , one at a time.

How to choose your headlamp?

Very popular with outdoor sports enthusiasts, the headlamp has many advantages in terms of portability over a flashlight . But given the amount of models currently on the market, it is sometimes difficult to know which one to choose.

This list highlights the criteria on which to base ourselves in order to make the choice best suited to your use:

• Power : this is measured in lumens. The greater the value, the more powerful the lamp, and the more it illuminates around it. Some offer different power levels in order to adapt the brightness to your immediate needs and, if necessary, to save a little autonomy. In general, for camping or hiking, 250 lumens is more than enough.
• The range : this data is more important than it seems because it determines how far your light beam can go to illuminate in front of you. It is of course better to have a longer range so that you can see as far as possible, unless your sole purpose is to use this lamp for repairs. In this case, it is better to favor the width rather than the length.
• The power supply mode : generally, the lamps use cells or batteries, preferably rechargeable . Lithium batteries are light, they have good energy capacity and better resistance, but they are disposable. But be careful: alkaline batteries (also disposable and heavier) are dangerous in that they can leak and damage the lamp. A hybrid power mode allows it to continue to operate when the battery is dead by inserting batteries.
• Battery life : this simply determines how long you can run it. Models with greater battery life are generally more expensive. This is a criterion that should not be overlooked, especially in the event that you find yourself in an emergency situation. However, be aware that the more power you use, the faster the battery drains.
• The type of bulb : the LED consumes less energy than a conventional bulb. If you often run at night on the roadside and want to be seen by other road users, the red night vision mode and / or the strobe (flashing) mode may be of interest in ensuring your visibility. Some offer different beams (wide, focused or mixed) as well as several colors of bulbs (red, blue, green…).
• Resistance : the quality of the components determines the resistance to shocks, scratches, dust and waterproofing. This last characteristic is defined from an IP index which is composed of two digits, one indicating the level of protection against solid particles such as sand and dust (from 0 to 6) and the other communicating the resistance. with water (from 0 to 9).
• Comfort : it is better to opt for compact and light lamps (less than 150g). The more powerful a lamp, the heavier it is (because of its battery) and the more bands it includes. In addition, to assess its comfort, it is necessary to check its support, the adjustments of the bands as well as their capacity to eliminate perspiration. For better hygiene, be sure to choose washable equipment. Ergonomics also depends on the orientation of the unit as well as the ease of access to the button (s) (including with gloves).

NB: if you are looking for a specific bicycle accessory, know that we have a comparison dedicated to the best bicycle lights .

Sources

1. Business Insider, The best headlamps, 11 février 2021
2. Runner’s world, The Best Headlamps for Runners, 11 février 2021
3. T3, Best head torches 2020: headlamps for running, hiking, camping and fishing, 11 février 2021
4. Wirecutter, The Best Headlamp, 11 février 2021