Home : Hike : Backpacking
Doesn’t matter if you’re hiking, camping, backpacking or just needing some light around the house. Headlamps are the absolute best way to see what you’re doing and have both hands free to do it. When it comes to headlamps weight and comfort are important but brightness and battery life rule supreme. Below are our favorite headlamps to keep you form getting lost in the dark.
Trail Trialed’s Best Headlamps
1 Black Diamond Spot 400-R
The Black Diamond spot 400 R is a rechargeable headlamp that packs a punch into a small package. At 400 lumens it bright enough to just about anything around camp. Or around the house when not on the trail. The integrated lithium ion battery provides an average of 4 hours on high, 8 on medium, and an astounding 225 hours on low. But at 6 lumens low isn’t enough for most tasks. With a beam distance of 100 meters the spot 400 is enough to see down the trail and know what’s coming up. But the beam isn’t going to reach across a field on a dark night. Overall the Spot 400 R is the best package for all around outdoor adventures. Small and light enough to slip in the pocket just in case a late afternoon walk goes long. But strong enough there’s no need to carry an additional flashlight on a backpacking trip.
2 Black Diamond Distance LT 1100
While to spot 400 is a great all around lamp the distance LT 1100 has the power. At 1100 lumins you have the light to reach out and touch someone. Or at least see the trail 125 meters out on a night trail run. That extra range and illumination can be essential should you find yourself in an emergcy situtaion. Wither you are searching for someone or needing that extra range to find the trail again if you are lost the distance LT 1100 has it. ANd best of all the battery time is close to the spot. High, 4.25 hours, medium 14 hours, low 120 hours unfortunaly high wont give you the entire 1100 lumins. That Power is under boost and will be less than 4 hours. This power and battery life come ata cost thought the distance is on the bigger side and weighs almost 4 ounces. DIspite the weight it is the best option if you need a little daylight at midnight.
3 Petzl Bindi Ultralight
The Petzl Bindi is for those that cant have any extra weight. It is as bare bones a headlamp can be. It also makes for a great emargeny light that can live in a day pack just in case. At 200 lumins it has enough light to do most things around camp easily. Hiking at night or trail running will start to be difficult depednign on your personal night or low light vision. The 200 lumin beam can reach 36 meters and last 2 hours which will require diligent use to no run low on anything other than a pre-dawn start day hike.
4 Petzl Actik Core
The petzl Actik Core is a good all around headlamp that is suited for most outdoor activities. While it comes with a rechargeable battery its hybrid design allows for the use of AAA batteries. This is a great feature for longer trips or all night missions when recharging isn’t an option. At 600 lumins and 115 meters of beam distance this lamp is perfectly capable of activities around camp and hiking in the dark. The battery life does leave something to be desired with only 2 hours on high you will need some extra batteries. But despite this short coming, the actik core is comfortable on the head and light at only 3.1 oz so carrying it along on a day hike is easy.