Best head torch 2023 for climbing, hiking, trail running and more

Equipping yourself with the best head torch might not feel like a necessity during summer, but as soon as the days become shorter – which is right now – you'll feel the need to buy one almost immediately, especially if you're a keen camper, climber, hiker or trail runner. The best headlamps can also be helpful for walking your dog early morning or tidying up your garage.

The best handheld torches are excellent options in some circumstances, but when you want to keep both hands free (to perform tasks such as operating a camping stove, putting up a tent, lacing up hiking boots or rummaging through a backpack), having the best head torch beaming out from the middle of your noggin makes things so much easier.  

Lightweight and well-balanced head torches are also excellent for evening running, especially in autumn and winter. They're also required for night fishing, caving and mountaineering. Read on for our pick of the best head torches around right now. This review focuses on the best head torch options for various uses – including running head torches, bright headlamps and more.

Matt Kollat

As the days get shorter, investing some money in a head torch feels more necessary than before, especially for those who prefer to exercise outdoors. Camping folks know full well how handy it is to have a head torch in your backpack, but even if you prefer to run in urban environments, a quality head torch can save you from spraining your ankle. Not to mention, it can make you more visible on the road.

The Top 3

Best head torches to buy right now

Best overall

Our top pick for the best head torch crown right now is the outstanding Petzl Swift RL. The maximum output of 900 lumens is brighter than a sun through a telescope. Petzl hasn't gone all-in on brightness and forgotten about performance, don't worry. You'll get 2 hours of 550-lumen light on the standard setting, which is pretty solid for a head torch. There's also a 'reactive' setting that'll automatically detect how much light you need and adjust accordingly, with the aim of not wasting battery power, although this can be annoying at times. 

While you can't use standard batteries, Petzl will let you swap the included battery pack over, so you can keep a spare in your bag. Other design touches – a practical headband that wraps around the lamp section for easy storage and a switch lock that prevents the batteries from running down while in your rucksack – help this headlamp really shine.

Read our full Petzl Swift RL head torch review.

Best for 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 for running

The lightweight Petzl Iko Core headlamp is an excellent choice for trail runners and hikers. Not only is it one of the very brightest head torches around, but the 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, here, the weight is distributed differently, with the heavier battery pack sitting 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 AAAs if you prefer.

Read our full Petzl Iko Core head torch review.

Best for 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 budget

BioLite’s latest headlamp, the Biolite HeadLamp 200 is one of the best running head torches around, for a bunch of good reasons. It’s bright, light, comfortable, easily adjusted, and has a decent battery life, all without costing the earth. A broad fabric headband at the front grips heads, hats and helmets alike, while the wide elasticated strap adjusts easily by pulling two glove-friendly sliders (particularly helpful for colder/longer outings). A small reflective panel on the back provides some rear visibility for night running escapades, and the entire lamp unit pivots one-handed, letting you switch from proximity light to distance in seconds.

BioLite's 'no bounce' design does what it says on the tin, and that distance is pretty good for most applications, with a spot out to 50m lighting the way in all but whiteout conditions. An easy-toggle multi-press on the main button flips between hi/lo beam, strobe and a red light for reading maps at night. Recharging the 700 mAh Lithium Ion battery is via a standard micro-usb, so easily juiced up at work, in the car, etc. In short, if you’re in the market for a running headlamp, get this, and even if you’re not running it’s well worth a look – especially paired with the optional stuff sack that doubles as a lantern.

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 for urban environments

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.

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