Best head torch 2024: hands-free illumination on the trail

Prepare to illuminate your outdoor adventures with our roundup of the best head torches, curated by me, T3's Active Editor. I found the head torches below the top beacon of light in the darkness, from nocturnal ninjas prowling the trails to just humble dog walkers navigating the pre-dawn hours.

I love the best torches (the handheld variety) like the next person, but when you need your hands free for important tasks like setting up camp or sifting through your backpack for that elusive snack, a head torch is your knight in shining armour.

From late-night garage tinkering to early-morning dog walks, these versatile tools are the unsung heroes of outdoor gear. Lightweight, well-balanced, and with enough lumens to make a lighthouse jealous, my top picks will have you lighting up the night like a pro.

My current favourite forehead-mounted illuminating device is Petzl's Swift RL 2; the updated Reactive Lighting does magic in balancing battery life and performance, and it's compact and lightweight enough not to bother you even after hours of wear. If weight is your top priority, the Silva Smini is your best option, weighing only 53g. My top choice for an affordable head beam is the Intensity 300 by Lifesystems.

Best head torches to buy right now

Best overall

The Petzl Swift RL 2 represents a significant upgrade from its predecessor, boasting enhancements that enhance both performance and usability. The most notable improvement is the increase in maximum light output, now reaching an impressive 1,100 lumens compared to the previous model's 900 lumens.

Better still, the Reactive Lighting technology has been refined to provide more consistent and efficient illumination. It automatically adjusts the light output based on ambient conditions and user activity, optimising battery life while ensuring optimal visibility at all times. There is also a red light mode that adds versatility, allowing you to preserve night vision and avoid disturbing others in camp settings.

Practical design enhancements have also been made to improve usability and convenience. The switch mechanism has been updated for easier operation, while the transition to USB-C charging offers faster and more efficient charging capabilities. The headlamp features a comfortable and adjustable headband design, ensuring a secure and ergonomic fit for extended wear.

Constructed with durability in mind, the Petzl Swift RL 2 maintains a robust build with an ingress protection rating of four (IPX4), making it resilient against outdoor elements. With its combination of advanced technology, practical design features, and reliable performance, the Petzl Swift RL 2 emerges as an exceptional choice for outdoor enthusiasts seeking dependable illumination in challenging conditions.

Read our full Petzl Swift RL 2 review.

Also consider: the headlamp's predecessor, the Petzl Swift RL, has an impressive 900-lumen output backed by solid performance. It offers 2 hours of 550-lumen light on standard settings and also features a reactive mode for adjusting brightness automatically.

Best lightweight

The Silva Smini is a compact, lightweight headlamp designed for urban runners, nighttime hikers, and everyday users seeking simplicity and efficiency. Weighing just 53 grams, it offers a maximum light output of 250 lumens, sufficient for most situations without causing glare to others.

Its 15mm adjustable headband, made from 65% recycled polyester and 35% latex, ensures a comfortable fit, while the lamp head, constructed from recycled plastic, can tilt up to 90 degrees for customisable lighting angles.

I found operating the Smini is straightforward. It features a single button that cycles through three brightness levels: 10 lumens (Min), 100 lumens (Med), and 250 lumens (Max). A red light function aids in preserving night vision and can be activated by holding the button for one second when the light is off. There is also a detachable rear safety light with solid and strobe modes enhances visibility from behind.

The headlamp is powered by a 700 mAh Li-Po battery, rechargeable via USB-C, offering up to 20 hours of use on the lowest setting. A full charge takes approximately three hours, which, while adequate, could benefit from faster charging capabilities. The Smini's modular and repairable design underscores its sustainability, aligning with Silva's commitment to circular design principles.

The Silva Smini provides a balance of performance, simplicity, and eco-friendliness, making it a commendable choice for those in need of a reliable headlamp for everyday adventures.

Read our full Silva Smini review.

Best budget

The Lifesystems Intensity 300 head torch offers affordability and functionality for outdoor adventures. With a three-bulb design and lithium-ion battery, it provides up to 38 hours of use on lower settings.

The simple single-button operation includes various light modes, including a red LED option for night vision preservation. Waterproof and adjustable, it's suitable for hiking, camping, and even kayaking.

While lacking advanced features like battery versatility and a lock function, its accessible price point and reliable performance make it ideal for occasional outdoor enthusiasts and school-age campers.

The Intensity 300's lightweight design and decent brightness offer practicality without excessive power, ensuring a reliable companion for nighttime excursions.

Read our full Lifesystems Intensity 300 LED Head Torch review.

Best for running

The lightweight Petzl Iko Core headlamp is an excellent choice for trail runners and hikers. It is one of the brightest head torches around, and its clever design makes it ideal for high-energy activities. The elastic tension strap thread keeps everything securely in place while you're on your way.

Rather than having the batteries and light in one place, the weight is distributed differently here. The heavier battery pack sits neatly on the back of the head while the LEDs are almost flush with the forehead. It's very comfortable to wear and will fit most heads (but not a helmet).

The design may look a little odd, but it sure does pack a punch. Using the Li-Ion power pack, you can boost brightness up to a blinding 500 lumens. The mid-setting is 100 lumens, offering a 45-meter beam for up to around 9hrs 30mins. There's a micro-USB port to enable you to charge it, or you can swap the rechargeable battery for 3x AAA if you prefer.

Read our full Petzl Iko Core head torch review.

Best battery life

If you need a head torch that'll keep going for hours on end and can deliver a dazzling beam of light on demand, the BioLite HeadLamp 750 is an absolute must. It can kick out a whopping 750 lumens when you really need it, but you're more likely to keep it set to 500, which it can maintain for seven hours of impressive illumination.

It has eight light modes that you can switch between at the tap of a well-positioned button, including a red LED for tactical operations, and it fits beautifully and comfortably whether you're wearing it straight on your head or over a beanie or helmet. We particularly like how the battery pack is situated around the back so as to distribute weight evenly.

In all, the BioLite HeadLamp 750 is a solid high-end head torch that's easy to operate and good to wear for hours on end. It's rechargeable only, so you can't keep spare batteries on hand. However, you can take a separate battery pack with you in case you run out of juice. It offers a good balance of power and burns time, and whatever your preferred night-time activity, this is a solid contender that won't let you down.

Read our full BioLite HeadLamp 750 review.

Best mountaineering

The Black Diamond Storm 400 headlamp has a host of excellent all-rounder features, some of which make it ideal for mountaineering. Firstly, a big, glove-friendly button and a nice broad head strap make it easy to loop over a helmet in the dark. Brightness Memory means one touch will trigger the last brightness setting (no spooling through modes here).

Low-power peripheral white lighting is ideal for close-sight work like re-racking gear. A lock button means that it won't have been accidentally switched on inside your rucksack all day, and an IPX67 means it’s dust-proof and almost fully water sealed. A solid 400 lumens is enough to light up the ridge ahead, and at only 120g (4.2oz), it won’t slow you down either. There's a range of colours and patterns to choose from.

Best for emergencies

A bit of an outlier in this guide, the Black Diamond Flare is designed for emergencies. To that end, it's extremely lightweight yet robust and will withstand 30 minutes of full immersion in water up to 1m, as well as being dustproof. You use the knurled aluminium ring surrounding the bulbs to switch between lighting modes, a hinged backplate gives the lens 180 degrees of movement, and the bungee can be attached to pretty much anything you want. While the main beam is fairly underpowered, this torch does offer an ‘SOS’ setting that could be invaluable in a genuine emergency.

Read our full Black Diamond Flare review.

Best for adventuring

Alpkit has been refining its head torches for years, but this is one of the most robust, engineered from aluminium with a host of durable features. Dust-proof, drop-proof to two metres and water-proof to one metre, the Prism's Li-ion rechargeable battery can juice up from any micro USB input, and pumps out a 400 lumen beam in boost mode. It also boasts one-button easy operation, and has a 180-degree tilt to direct the light beam where you need it most. With a burn time of between 3–14 hours between charges, there's plenty of time to take on the trails and parks and be home in time for tea and biscuits.

Best for trail running

This durable and lightweight head torch for runners is suitable for both suburban and cross-country running, due to its three level power metre and multi-programmable beam pattern. On full beam, with a single battery, this running head torch will last an hour (more than enough time to power through some miles). Attach its support cell and you can extend that to around three hours use.

The only issue with adding the support cell is the weight increases to 121g (4.2oz) – still light by head torch standards, but it’s enough for you to feel the difference. The dimmer the brightness, the longer the battery power, so suburban runners will benefit from longer time periods without charging.

One of the best head torches for runners, the Exposure Verso packs in four different light modes enabling you to tailor the light to your running requirements. You can also opt for one of two brightness modes dependent on your surroundings. For the price, this head torch certainly packs in a lot of technical features, making it a great investment for regular runners.

Best mid-range

If you run in suburban areas, it’s more of a case of helping you to be seen and providing light in areas where street lighting is low, which is why this Ledlenser NEO9R head torch is perfect. There are four light modes, too, including White blink and Red blink. It’s cheap and cheerful, yes, but the battery life is decent if you use it on one of the lowest power settings. While it isn’t super-bright, even on high mode, it’s lightweight, which is great if you’re looking to forget that you’re wearing a headlight on your head.

How to choose the best head torch for you

When making your choice, as well as lumens you'll also want to consider size and weight. Bigger isn't always better when it comes to the best head torches, especially for high-energy pursuits. A big weight on your head gets annoying fast, and carting a heavy head torch around on a summer’s day hike, just for a few minutes' use when darkness falls, is a waste of pack weight.

Inevitably, extra features increase the weight of any headlamp, so be realistic about your needs and the overall burn time you actually need. Fortunately, modern LED technology has pretty much levelled the playing field, so AAA-powered head torches usually show pretty similar performance figures.

Moving up into rechargeable batteries will give you lumens for longer, but at the cost of having to find a wall outlet once battery life starts to fade. This is a particular issue if you’re planning on running or adventuring in winter or at high-altitudes, as cold discharges batteries fast.

If you're looking for more general-purpose torches, we also have dedicated guides to the best torch overall and the best camping lantern.

How we test the best head torches

Testing head torches involves assessing various factors to ensure their performance, reliability, and suitability for different outdoor activities.

Evaluating brightness is crucial, which includes testing different light modes and assessing the maximum lumen output to determine brightness levels for various environments, such as trail running at night or camping in the dark.

Battery life is a significant aspect, too, and testing it involves running the head torch on different settings for extended periods to gauge how long it lasts on a single charge. If possible, this includes assessing the duration of each light mode and how the battery performs over time, especially in colder conditions, which can affect battery life.

We test comfort and fit by wearing the head torch for extended periods to assess its comfort, weight distribution, and adjustability of the headband. This includes evaluating how well it stays in place during movement and whether it causes any discomfort or pressure points.

Durability and weather resistance are evaluated by exposing the head torch to various conditions, including rain, snow, and mud. Usability and features are assessed by testing functions such as beam adjustment, ease of switching between light modes, and any additional features like red light mode or strobe settings.

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