A headlamp is one of the most important 10 essentials for backpacking, hiking, fastpacking, trail running, climbing, and any other kind of outdoor adventure sport. Using your smartphone as a flashlight doesn’t cut it. But the days of carrying extra AA and AAA battery-powered headlamps are history. USB rechargeable headlamps have become ubiquitous and are very convenient because they can be recharged using the battery packs that most backpackers carry. Dual-power headlamps, ones that can be powered by a rechargeable battery or AA/AAA batteries, are handy if a “wall recharge” is not available.
Here are our top 10 picks for the best rechargeable headlamps for backpacking and hiking. While there are some familiar company names listed below, the companies that used to dominate the headlamp market have been eclipsed by smaller more innovative companies offering equivalent and higher-functioning products. You simply don’t have to pay an arm and a leg to get a great headlamp anymore. Be sure to check out our advice below about what to look for when buying a rechargeable headlamp for backpacking, hiking, and trail running or climbing.
1. Petzl Actik Core Rechargeable Headlamp
The Petzl Actik Core headlamp is a rechargeable, multi-beam headlamp that provides 600 lumens of power to light the way during dynamic outdoor activities like running, hiking, and backpacking. It comes with a 1250 mAh CORE rechargeable battery (included) and is also compatible with 3 AAA alkaline, lithium, or Ni-MH rechargeable batteries without the need for an adapter, which is a great convenience. It has 2 beam patterns (flood or mixed) and three white brightness levels, including a red lighting mode and lock and a center-mounted pivot that lets you orient the lamp in the desired direction. A battery charge indicator shows the battery level each time you turn the headlamp on or off. The headlamp has an average run time on high (600 lumens) for 2 hours and on low (7 lumens) for 120 hours.
The Black Diamond SPOT-R is a USB rechargeable 400-lumen LED headlamp good for hiking, trail running, and camping. Its settings include full strength in proximity and distance modes, dimming, strobe, red night vision, and digital lock mode. The SPOT-R provides up to 400 lumens on its max setting, 200 lumens on medium, and 6 lumens on low with a 1500 mAh battery that provides the light with an average run time on high at 4 hours; medium: 8 hours, and low: 225 hours. It has an integrated battery meter and digital lockout to prevent accidental power drain. But what sets the SPOT-R apart from other headlamps is its IPX8 waterproof rating, making it fully submersible so you use it or rain or drop it in a creek. A dual-power model (the SPOT) is also available that includes three AAA batteries and is compatible with a rechargeable BD 1500 Li-ion battery and charger (purchased separately) for maximum flexibility.
The Nitecore NU 33 is a very bright 700-lumen rechargeable headlamp with a larger-than-average 3000 mAh lithium-ion battery (equivalent to 9 AAA batteries) for long-lasting power. It has a primary white LED with 3 outputs, SOS, a beacon with a high CRI auxiliary LED, and auxiliary red LEDs with a tilt adjustment making it ideal for night hiking, trail running, and camping. The NU 33 has a built-in power indicator and lock to prevent accidental activation, it is IP66 water-resistant and includes a USB-C cable for recharging. It can run for 9 hours on high and 147 hours on ultra-low.
The LEDLenser MH10 is a 600-lumen headlamp with an intuitive focus system that allows the light to quickly go from a broad floodlight to a sharply focused long-distance beam with a twist of the light element. There are no complicated button sequences to remember. It also has a variable pivot mechanism that lets you adjust the lamp up or down to direct the light where you need it most. A red backlight is included so that you can also be seen from behind. The MH10 comes with a type 18650 rechargeable lithium-ion battery and is micro-USB compatible. The light includes a lock to prevent accidental discharge and a battery meter.
Black Diamond is not known for making headlamps with trivial (easy-to-remember) controls, but the new rechargeable Astro 300-R breaks the mold. This single-lens single-switch headlamp has a white lite and three brightness levels: high, medium, and low with full strength, dimming, and strobe modes. It’s powered by a 1500 mAh Lithium-ion rechargeable battery that recharges with a micro-US charge port and has an IPX4 rating stormproof to withstand rain and sleet from any angle. This headlamp also has a digital lockout to prevent accidental activation. The headlamp has an average run time on high (300 lumens) for 6 hours and on low (6 lumens) for 140 hours. A dual-power model (the Astro) is also available that includes three AAA batteries and is compatible with a rechargeable BD 1500 Li-ion battery and charger (purchased separately) for maximum flexibility.
The Fenix HM50R V2.0 is a high-powered LED headlamp that puts out 700 lumens of light. It comes with a removable 16340 lithium-ion battery with 700 mAh of power and an onboard USB-C compatible charger. If you want you can carry extra 16340 pre-charged batteries (or CR123A) and you also have the ability to recharge them in the field from a battery pack or solar panel. The tilt-capable headlamp can be removed from the headband and carried like a flashlight or used as a task light. The HM50R has four brightness modes: turbo, high, medium, and low, a battery indicator, and two beam types: spot and flood. The V2 version also has a new lock function and a red mode. The HM50R has a durable aluminum body (not plastic) and is waterproof.
The Biolite Headlamp 800 Pro is a powerful rechargeable headlamp capable of throwing out a maximum of 800 lumens with a maximum 150-hour burn time, making it ideal for long-range activities like mountaineering, winter backpacking, or night hiking when you need hours of continuous performance. It has a massive 3000 mAh USB rechargeable battery, an electronic lock, and red light mode for long-lasting power and maximum flexibility. Its slim-fit construction sits flush on your forehead or attached to a helmet without bouncing or slipping. It can also be run directly from a USB battery (not included), even in extreme cold (-20°C). That’s a rare but very valuable feature for cold weather use.
The Nitecore NU 25 UL is a 400-lumen ultra-lightweight headlamp with three beam types (spotlight, floodlight, auxiliary red) optimized for outdoor use. It has a built-in 650mAh rechargeable battery that can achieve a maximum runtime of 45 hours (6 lumens) with an integrated USB-C port that fast charges to full in only one and a half hours. A power indicator tells you when it’s time to charge while lockout mode prevents accidental activation. The ultralight band is highly reflective for enhanced visibility, including glow-in-the-dark bands for visibility without ambient light.
Ultralight but mighty, the Coast FL1R Micro Headlamp packs 300-lumen power into a super-compact and low-weight micro-USB rechargeable lighting solution. Weighing just 1.7 oz, it has three light modes—high, low, and red, with a battery meter and lock-out to prevent accidental power drainage when packed away. The integrated 630 mAh lithium polymer battery provides an average run time of 4 hrs. 45 min on the low, 160-lumen setting. We really like the clip feature integrated into the headlamp that lets you remove the strap and attach the light to a stationary object or hat bill for task lightning. Coast headlamps are exceptionally high quality and come with a lifetime warranty.
When grams matter, the Petzl Bindi Ultralight Headlamp is the champ. Weighing just 1.2 oz (35 g), this rechargeable 200 lumen light also has some unique options worth considering. The cord headband lets you wear it on your head or around your neck so you can work in the dark. It can also be tilted upward, which is useful when climbing or working on your basement ceiling. While small, it is still super functional with three lighting modes, a red light (continuous or strobe), and two lockout modes to prevent accidental discharge. It also sports a 680 mAh micro-USB-rechargeable battery that makes it easy to keep it powered for your daily training runs, with a max burn time of 50 hours.
Here are the most important features and considerations to evaluate when comparing different rechargeable headlamps.
Battery Capacity
Check the capacity of the headlamps you’re interested in to see how much power, measured in mAh, they can hold. If you plan on using a headlamp on a multi-day trip, it’s useful to bring one with a large battery capacity so you don’t have to recharge it from a portable power pack. Smaller-capacity batteries are fine for short runs, but you will also have to recharge them more frequently, which can be a hassle if you use them a lot.
Dual Power Headlamps
Most rechargeable headlamps bundle in a cold-resistant lithium-ion battery, although there are also dual-power headlamps that can also be powered by old-school alkaline or lithium-ion batteries. If you already carry a USB-enabled power pack to charge your other electronic devices, then the latter is probably unnecessary, although it might be useful if your power pack runs out of juice and you can’t recharge it. This isn’t a priority for me, but some people prefer having the ability to switch to regular batteries as a contingency.
Headlamp Headbands
All of the headlamps listed above have battery packs that are integrated with their light sources, so a single headband strap is all that is needed to wear them. Multi-strap headlamp headbands are only necessary for very heavy headlamps or ones with remote battery packs that are carried separately from the light source and linked by an external wire.
Headlamp Tilt
If you plan to trail run or hike at night, it’s important to get a headlamp that tilts in its strap bracket so you can direct the spot or floodlight onto the ground and out front, ahead of you.
Lumens/Light Output
The latest generation of LED lights available in headlamps are very powerful and the lumen outputs often exceed what’s required for nighttime use in camp or even for nighttime running. Anything headlamp with 150 lumens or more should be sufficient for general-purpose backpacking and hiking. When purchasing a headlamp, the maximum light output is much less important than the length of time the headlamp can burn on low power, since that’s the setting you’ll use most often in camp or in your tent.
Red Light Mode
Headlamps with a red light mode are good for preserving your night vision if you want to read in your tent or star gaze. They also help you avoid blinding your companions in camp or around the campfire. The red light mode also uses far less energy than white light modes and is a good way to conserve your battery power between charges.
Headlamp Weight
While gear weight is important, it’s often less important than a headlamp’s features, efficiency, or battery life. For example, if you need to carry a heavier power pack to recharge a lighter weight headlamp more frequently, you probably haven’t saved as much weight overall as you might like. Focus on your needs, if you know them, and let that guide your decision as to which headlamp you select.
On-Off Lock
Headlamps with manual or digital on-off locks are useful to prevent the accidental activation of a headlamp when it’s packed. I won’t buy a headlamp without one, but that’s just my personal preference.
Battery Indicator
Some sort of battery indicator is useful on a rechargeable headlamp so you know when to recharge the battery and when it’s finished recharging. Without it, you’re more likely to try to use a headlamp that is out of power when you need it.
Check Out All of SectionHiker’s Gear Guides!
SectionHiker is reader-supported. We independently research, test, and rate the best products. We only make money if you purchase a product through our affiliate links. Help us continue to test and write unsponsored and independent gear reviews, beginner FAQs, and free hiking guides.
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
Cookie
Duration
Description
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional
11 months
The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy
11 months
The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
