Headlamp Buying Guide
A headlamp is the most-used piece of gear on almost any camping trip. You'll use it to cook, read, find the tent zipper and hike out after sunset. Here's what the numbers on the box actually mean.
How many lumens you need
Lumens measure how much light the headlamp puts out. More isn't always better: max brightness drains batteries fast, and most of the time you'll use a low setting.
- Around camp: 100–200 lumens is plenty for cooking and chores.
- Night hiking: 200–400 lumens to see the trail and pick out obstacles.
- Running, scrambling or route-finding: 400+ lumens.
Spot vs. flood beams
A spot beam is focused and reaches far, which is good for seeing down the trail. A flood beam is wide and even, which is better for tasks up close like cooking or setting up a tent. Most good headlamps offer both, and that flexibility is worth having.
Why red light matters
Red light preserves your night vision and doesn't blind your campmates when you look at them. It's ideal for reading in the tent, late-night bathroom trips and stargazing. Look for a red mode you can turn on without flashing white light first.
Batteries vs. rechargeable
Rechargeable headlamps save money and waste, and many charge over USB-C from a phone power bank. Disposable AAA batteries are easy to find anywhere and swap in seconds, which is handy on long trips with no way to charge.
Hybrid headlamps take either a rechargeable pack or standard AAAs, giving you the best of both.
- Cold drains batteries faster. Keep the headlamp in your sleeping bag on cold nights.
- A lockout mode stops it switching on in your pack and draining overnight.
Water resistance and comfort
Water resistance is rated with an IPX number. IPX4 handles rain and splashes, which is enough for most people. IPX7 and above survive brief submersion, if you paddle or hike in heavy, constant rain.
Comfort matters for long wear. Lighter headlamps (under about 3 oz) bounce less, and a wide, soft strap stops pressure points. Buttons you can use with gloves on are a bonus in the cold.
Do you need a lantern too?
A headlamp lights wherever you look; a lantern lights the whole campsite. For car camping, a rechargeable lantern on the picnic table makes evenings far more pleasant and saves everyone from blinding each other with headlamps. For backpacking, a headlamp alone is usually enough.
See where our lanterns & headlamps testing stands
