Finest Working Headlamps of 2023 – iRunFar

When working at night time, you need the very best working headlamp attainable to mild your means down the path. Whether or not you’re on the lookout for one thing to maintain stashed in your pack for these days you don’t fairly make it again to the trailhead earlier than darkish or a headlamp that may illuminate each rock and root by way of a nighttime extremely; there’s an abundance of lighting options from which to decide on. Battery and lighting know-how enhancements have made headlamps brighter, lighter, and longer lasting. There are alternatives for all the pieces from ultralight headlamps preferrred for every day working in the dead of night to highly effective and long-lasting headlamps that may make it simpler to maneuver confidently over rugged terrain all through the night time.

Battery life, consolation, and obtainable lumens are all issues when choosing the proper headlamp to your working wants. We’ve scoured {the marketplace} for the very best of the very best, after which a small staff of iRunFar gear testers took them out for miles upon miles of dawn, sundown, and nighttime runs. Beneath, we’ve rounded up our prime suggestions for the very best headlamps for working.

For extra background info, see our shopping for recommendation, testing methodology, and often requested questions beneath the picks.

Finest Working Headlamps

Execs:

• Snug
• Light-weight
• Accepts AAA batteries along with the included rechargeable battery

Cons:

• The battery pack is awkward to alter out

The Petzl Iko Core checks all of our packing containers for the very best headlamp for working with its lighting know-how, weight, and luxury. With this headlamp, Petzl does what no different headlamp maker does by innovating in lighting and luxury. We’ve normally discovered one to come back on the compromise of the opposite. Not right here.

With 500 lumens, this high-quality headlamp creates clear and sharp, cool mild. It has two lighting beam choices — flood or combined — and three lighting ranges. We discovered the silicone band and battery cradle exceptionally comfy — we couldn’t even really feel the LED panel on the entrance. The general bundle is sufficiently light-weight for a path runner’s wants.

The one draw back with this headlamp is that switching out the battery is tough. Whereas it’s simple to hold a spare battery on an all-night run, getting it changed in the dead of night and whereas sleep-deprived is difficult.

Make sure to take a look at our in-depth Petzl Iko Core evaluation.

Precise Weight: 2.4 ounces (68 grams) | Most Mild Output: 500 lumens | Battery Supply(s): 1,250-milliampere-hour Petzl Core lithium-ion rechargeable (included) or three AAA/LR03s (not included)

Store the Petzl Iko Core

Execs:

• Snug
• Simple to alter batteries

Cons:

• Questionable sturdiness of the headscarf strings

We’ve to confess we have been skeptical once we noticed the Boa-style dial on the headscarf of the Fenix HL18R-T Rechargeable Headlamp. Nevertheless, after utilizing it, we needed to swallow our doubt and provides Fenix props for creating a fully comfy headband. The dial on the again permits sufficient micro-adjustment for actually dialing within the good match. The one extra modern headband on the market now could be the Petzl Iko Core reviewed above — although we expect this Fenix headband is extra comfy. One other benefit to this headlamp is that it’s tremendous simple to alter the battery on the go — and when you’re on the market lengthy sufficient to wish recent batteries, you want the method to be simple. Further headlamp options embrace a 500-lumen lamp with three brightness settings and an choice for highlight or floodlight.

Whereas we have been initially fearful about snapping the dial strings and rendering the headlamp ineffective within the subject, we’ve come to understand the click-and-twist headband adjustment. As we’ve racked up early mornings and late evenings with this headlamp, we’ve discovered no sturdiness points and found this to be a fantastic mild.

Precise weight: 3.2 ounces (92 grams) | Most mild output: 500 lumens | Battery supply(s): 1,300-milliampere-hour lithium-polymer rechargeable (included) or three AAA batteries (not included)

Store the Fenix HL18R-T Rechargeable Headlamp

Finest Working Headlamp for Trails — Runner-Up: Petzl Swift RL ($130)

Execs:

• Fabulous softshell materials on the headscarf
• Reactive lighting adjusts brightness robotically

Cons:

• It’s a variety of headlamp and spendy for an on a regular basis path working mild

Earlier than diving into this headlamp’s know-how, we’d prefer to take a second to understand the headscarf on the Petzl Swift RL. Its padded softshell materials on the entrance half is extremely comfy with out including a weight penalty. Actually, this is likely one of the most comfy headbands we’ve present in our seek for the very best working headlamps.

Furthermore, Petzl’s modern Reactive Lighting know-how additionally units this headlamp aside. Along with offering a constant degree of sunshine with 900 lumens, it may be set to adapt to ambient lighting situations, rising dimmer the place there’s different mild round and brighter the place there’s not. This know-how can be discovered within the Petzt Nao RL, our prime headlamp selection for ultrarunning, reviewed beneath.

That stated, this can be a lot of headlamp — and a variety of value — to your on a regular basis path working headlamp. You’ll be able to very a lot take pleasure in working with a headlamp that’s half the price of this one. Nonetheless, one of many runners on our testing staff likes this mild a lot that they’ve been utilizing it recurrently for nearly eight years for each path working and ski touring. Apart from the headscarf stretching out from being worn over snowboarding and climbing helmets through the years, our tester confirms that this headlamp continues to carry out flawlessly, making it a worthy funding, particularly when you recurrently run in the dead of night.

Precise Weight: 3.6 ounces (100 grams) | Most Mild Output: 900 lumens | Battery Supply(s): 2,350-milliampere-hour lithium-ion rechargeable (included)

Store the Petzl Swift RL

Execs:

• Programmable brightness settings
• Snug headband
• Batteries are simple to alter within the subject

Cons:

• Heavy for a every day working headlamp
• Solely obtainable for buy within the U.S.
• We’d love a shorter and easier title for this headlamp

Workforce iRunFar has lengthy been a fan of what ZebraLight does for the lighting trade, and the ZebraLight H600d Mk IV 18650 XHP50.2 5000K Excessive CRI Headlamp is one other instance of why we proceed keeping track of this firm. One factor that ZebraLight has lengthy been identified for is having a ton of programmable brightness settings in its lights. Though it’s a little bit of a dedication to program your headlamp, that means we’d advocate setting it up at dwelling with the directions earlier than you’re within the subject, the upside is that you just’ll get to know your headlamp intimately and ultimately program it on the fly.

The headscarf is straightforward, gentle, and cozy, and the batteries are simple to swap out on the run, making it simple to advocate this headlamp as a every day path working companion. Simply don’t ask us to say its title aloud 5 occasions quick.

We discovered that the battery is a little more than most individuals want for a every day path working headlamp. Whereas we’d have thought-about this headlamp for the ultrarunning class of this information, it doesn’t have a candy spot of brightness and run time that works effectively for a complete night time of working on trails. As a substitute, this headlamp shall be extremely brilliant for a number of hours throughout a pre-dawn or post-dusk run. Sadly, it gained’t maintain regular all night time and not using a battery change. That stated, the primary draw back of this headlamp as a every day runner is its weight.

Precise Weight: 4.6 ounces (129 grams) | Most Mild Output: 1,616 lumens | Battery Supply(s): 2,600-milliampere-hour 18,650-size lithium-ion rechargeable (not included)

Store the ZebraLight H600d Mk IV 18650 XHP50.2 5000K Excessive CRI Headlamp

Execs:

• Reactive Lighting system robotically adapts to altering mild situations
• The battery will final by way of the night time
• Comparatively simple to alter out the battery

Cons:

• Not our best choice for consolation
• Expensive

The Petzl Nao RL is the extremely anticipated up to date model of the Nao+,  which has been the go-to ultrarunning headlamp for a half-decade.

As with its predecessor, this headlamp has loads occurring. In the beginning is its lighting, which is available in each common and Reactive Lighting choices. The latter setting adapts to ambient mild by rising dimmer when it’s lighter and brighter when it will get darkish. When you’re into this Reactive Lighting however don’t want such a strong bundle, take a look at the Petzl Swift RL above, our runner-up on this information’s greatest headlamp for the path working class.

This mild has a crimson mild within the again to maintain you seen to approaching vehicles or different runners. It could illuminate as a stable crimson mild or a strobe, and you may management it independently from the entrance mild. The reflective headband additionally will increase your visibility to others.

Relating to the battery, the entire bundle is just not ultralight, however one battery will provide you with a complete night time of decently lit path working, although we are able to say from expertise it’s in all probability well worth the 4 a.m. battery switch-out to make the final hour or so of darkness slightly brighter. And on that word, switching batteries within the subject is a comparatively simple, two-step course of.

Now for the downsides. This headlamp’s consolation is just not wonderful, and we advocate a buff or backwards cap below it for a full night time of working. Additionally, it’s costly.

Precise Weight: 5.2 ounces (146 grams) | Most Mild Output: 1,500 lumens | Battery Supply(s): 3,200-milliampere-hour lithium-ion rechargeable (included)

Store the Petzl Nao RL

Execs:

• A number of choices for carrying a battery pack
• Possibility for mixed flood and spot lighting

Cons:

• The headscarf is stiff at first and requires breaking in

In order for you the very best working headlamp for all-night efforts however don’t like carrying all that battery weight and bulk in your head, the Silva Path Runner Free Extremely headlamp is for you. Its battery pack could be carried both on the again of the pinnacle or in your hydration vest utilizing the included extra-long twine.

Silva is doing cool issues with the standard of its lighting, providing a mixture of each flood lighting and long-throw spotlighting in a single beam — what they name Clever Mild — with out compromising a lot on the battery runtime. This setting provides slightly additional peripheral imaginative and prescient even once we largely look straight forward. This appears to ease eye pressure over a protracted night time of use, as your eyes don’t should preserve adjusting to the fast modifications in path {that a} long-throw mild will make with a easy 10-degree head tilt.

This isn’t our favourite headband, and we have been shocked by its stiffness, given the model’s work in making the battery pack movable for elevated consolation. That stated, utilizing it makes it much less stiff, so give it a stable break-in interval earlier than judging its consolation.

Precise Weight: 5.4 ounces (153 grams) | Most Mild Output: 400 lumens | Battery Supply(s): 4,000-milliampere-hour hour rechargeable (included) or three AAAs (not included)

Store the Silva Path Runner Free Extremely

Execs:

• A number of lighting choices with a most of 1,400 lumens
• Lengthy battery run time (most 280 hours)
• An affordable value for what you get

Cons:

• Heavier than comparable working headlamps
• Each the sunshine and the battery are within the entrance

The Fenix HM65R Rechargeable Headlamp is a feature-filled bundle and a very good headlamp for ultrarunning. The headlamp consists of highlight and floodlight modes that may be operated individually or mixed for a most of 1,400 lumens of sunshine, making it one of many brightest lights on our listing. With a strong 2,600-milliampere-hour 18650 lithium-ion rechargeable battery and three lighting choices in each the floodlight and highlight settings, this headlamp gives loads of mild for both a complete night time of tremendous brightly lit working or two nights with first rate lighting with out having to cost or change the battery.

Each the lights and the battery are saved on the entrance of the headlamp, which implies loads is happening up entrance, and also you’ll wish to put on a layer, like a folded neck gaiter or beanie, beneath it for all-night consolation. Whereas it could seem like you’re carrying a small alien in your brow if you put on it, you’ll have an excellent high-quality headlamp made for being out for so long as your legs will carry you.

The first draw back of this headlamp is the consolation issue on account of having the entire weight on the entrance, however as we stated, this may be mitigated with a skinny gaiter or an identical layer beneath the headlamp.

Precise Weight: 5.2 ounces (146 grams) | Most Mild Output: 1,400 lumens | Battery Supply(s): 2,600-milliampere-hour 18650 lithium-ion rechargeable (included) or two CR123As (not included)

Store the Fenix HM65R Rechargeable Headlamp

Finest Headlamp for Ultrarunning — Runner-Up: Nitecore UT32 ($75)

Execs:

• Light-weight for its mild and battery energy
• Snug
• Nice worth

Cons:

• None — this can be a nice minimalist ultrarunning headlamp

Gram counters who need an ultrarunning-worthy headlamp ought to look to the Nitecore UT32, which is yet one more providing constructed on the highly effective 18650 lithium-ion rechargeable battery. This headlamp suggestions the scales at 144 grams whereas providing a highlight, floodlight, and as much as 1,100 lumens at its brightest setting. It could additionally present greater than 400 lumens for an evening and a half. If you should go longer, no downside — the battery is simple to alter within the subject. See what we imply in regards to the golden period of headlamp lighting and batteries? Living proof proper right here.

This headlamp has no bells and whistles, so to maneuver your beam up and all the way down to accommodate hills, you’ll should rotate the entire battery bundle within the O-ring pair that hosts it. Apart from that, we had no points with consolation, regardless that all the load is up entrance. When you actually wish to go minimalist, you’ll be able to take away the strap that goes excessive of the pinnacle to avoid wasting one other 20 grams — however then you could begin to sacrifice some consolation. Proceed at your personal threat.

There are not any downsides to report with this headlamp. It is a incredible minimalist tackle supplying you with a great deal of mild with a long-lasting battery.

Precise Weight: 5.1 ounces (144 grams) | Most Mild Output: 1,100 lumens | Battery Supply(s): 2,600-milliampere-hour 18650-size lithium-ion rechargeable (included) or two CR123As (not included)

Store the Nitecore UT32

Execs:

• Snug match throughout the stomach
• The best choice when you don’t like carrying a lightweight in your head
• Simple to alter batteries within the subject

Cons:

Some individuals discover {that a} waist-worn mild provides them higher depth notion on nighttime trails, whereas others merely dislike having a lightweight connected to their head whereas working at night time, and a few individuals like having each a waistlamp and a headlamp to maximise their imaginative and prescient at night time. When situations or your preferences name for placing a lightweight in your waist, we advocate the UltrAspire Lumen 600 4.0 Waist Mild. Whereas our staff is presently testing this new model, we put the earlier model of this waistlight, the UltrAspire Lumen 600 3.0 Waist Mild, by way of rigorous testing to name it our favourite waistlight. This replace solely improves on the earlier model, altering the aesthetics barely and including a USB Sort-C charging port for quicker charging. Whereas the earlier model was a bit heavier, it was tremendous comfy across the waist, which meant loads to these of us whose abdomens change into delicate throughout ultramarathons. It was simple to regulate each the belt and the angle of the sunshine, and the buckle was simple to unclip with drained or chilly fingers. The sunshine got here with a tilt mechanism to adapt the beam on the fly for uphills, downhills, and flats. It was additionally simple to alter this mild’s battery within the subject. The outdated and new model of this waistlight has a detachable pocket on the belt to retailer your telephone or some snacks or go away it behind if you wish to shed just a few grams.

The primary draw back of this technique is its weight and bulk. It’s not light-weight, and for these trying to shave grams, this generally is a hefty load to bear. Equally, the waistbelt makes this mild bulkier than others when the solar comes up, and also you wish to stuff it into your hydration vest. Nevertheless, this could possibly be a fantastic choice in case your precedence is having a strong waist-worn mild to get you thru a protracted night time of working.

You’ll be able to study extra with our in-depth UltrAspire Lumen 600 3.0 Waist Mild evaluation.

Claimed Weight: 5.1 ounces (145 grams) | Most Mild Output: 600 lumens | Battery Supply(s): 2,600-milliampere-hour 18650-size lithium-ion rechargeable (included)

Store the UltrAspire Lumen 600 4.0 Waist Mild

Execs:

• It weighs lower than two ounces
• Nice worth
• Good backup headlamp choice

Cons:

• We don’t love the aesthetic

The Nitecore NU25UL could be the niftiest little headlamp you didn’t know existed — or that you just wanted. However when you’re somebody who has gotten caught out in the dead of night throughout a run that’s gone slightly too lengthy and wished you had one thing apart from your telephone to mild your means again dwelling, you’ll respect this little mild that you could preserve completely stowed away in your pack.

That is an upgraded model of the unique Nitecore NU25 (hat tip to the thru-hiking group, which has identified about this little gem for a very long time). Along with growing the lumens and the scale of the battery, the NU25 UL has a unique headband than its predecessor.

Weighing below two ounces,  this can be a nice backup or easy ultralight headlamp when you’re counting grams. This headlamp is a powerhouse of sunshine for its weight. It’s ample for a few hours of sunshine for path working, so long as the path isn’t tremendous technical. The dim settings will help you do chores round your fastpacking campsite whereas consuming nearly no battery energy.

Our solely grievance with this headlamp is its aesthetic. We are able to hardly ding one thing so great simply on appears to be like. Nevertheless, it does remind us of a child’s toy headlamp.

Precise Weight: 1.6 ounces (46 grams) | Most Mild Output: 400 lumens | Battery Supply(s): 650-milliampere-hour lithium-ion rechargeable (included)

Store the Nitecore NU25UL

Finest Ultralight Working Headlamp — Runner-Up: Petzl Bindi ($45)

Execs:

• Nice backup mild
• Ultralight
• Snug

Cons:

• Not brilliant sufficient for technical trails

The small and smooth Petzl Bindi is a good headlamp to maintain stashed in your hydration pack or working belt for these occasions you both forgot your common mild or forgot to cost it. Tiny and compact, this headlamp weighs barely greater than an oz., and it’s so comfy that you would simply overlook you’re carrying it. It’s formed to suit the brow and is well adjustable. The sunshine has three modes and could be tilted up or all the way down to mild the path higher forward. It’s rechargeable by way of a micro USB port on the facet and signifies with a inexperienced mild when it’s absolutely charged. Briefly, a variety of know-how and performance is packed into this little mild, making it a superb worth for the worth.

After all, the first draw back of the Bindi is that its brightness tops out at 200 lumens, and most runners need extra mild for prolonged nighttime working, particularly on technical terrain that requires extra mild distinction to navigate it effectively. That’s why we love this as a backup mild; it’s additionally nice for digging by way of your automotive or hydration vest for spare gloves on the trailhead, preserving in your tent for nighttime lavatory breaks, or comparable “in-a-pinch” makes use of.

Precise Weight: 1.2 ounces (35 grams) | Most Mild Output: 200 lumens | Battery Supply(s): 680-milliampere-hour lithium-ion rechargeable battery with micro USB port

Store the Petzl Bindi

Most Ridiculously Vibrant Working Headlamp We’ve Seen: Nitecore HC35 ($100)

Execs:

• Exceptionally brilliant
• Simple to alter batteries within the subject

Cons:

• It isn’t comfy and requires cloth padding beneath
• Heavy
• We don’t love the aesthetic

When you’ve ever wished for a motorcycle mild for path working, then the Nitecore HC35 is your headlamp. This headlamp’s highly effective beam pumps out 2,700 lumens for 45 minutes. Spectacular as that’s, the settings that present 800 lumens for 3 hours or 270 lumens for all-night runs are probably the most sensible and, due to this fact, seize our consideration as runners. Add in the truth that you’ll be able to fairly simply change the battery within the subject and preserve going, and also you’ve bought a setup for an evening of working on a brightly lit path.

The primary draw back of this headlamp is consolation. Since all the load sits in your brow, you want some cloth beneath as padding for prolonged put on. Lastly, the aesthetic differs from a lot of the different headlamps we examined, and we expect it appears to be like fairly alien-like.

Precise Weight: 7.6 ounces (217 grams) | Most Mild Output: 2,700 lumens | Battery Supply(s): 4,000-milliampere-hour 21700-size lithium-ion rechargeable (included), one 18650-size lithium-ion rechargeable (not included), or two CR123As (not included)

Store the Nitecore HC35

Evaluating the Finest Working Headlamps

Purchaser’s Information: Easy methods to Select a Working Headlamp

Brightness

For a lot of runners, brightness is the highest consideration when discovering the very best working headlamp. Nevertheless, it’s price noting that brighter is just not essentially higher. We imagine there’s such a factor as too brilliant, and we’ve discovered each an excessive amount of mild and too little mild will trigger eye pressure. Moreover, an excessive amount of mild can blind your fellow path customers.

We imagine 200 lumens are a lot for simple path working on developed trails, and 300 lumens will provide you with nice brightness for extra rugged trails. It’s good to have a setting the place a headlamp can produce 500 or extra lumens — discovered within the Fenix HL18R-T Rechargeable Headlamp, the Petzl Iko Core, the Petzl Swift RL, and the Petzl Nao RL on this information — that lets you look farther for path indicators, course markers, or to see what’s going bump within the night time within the surrounding bushes.

Sort of Mild

Headlamps with a number of mild settings normally supply two varieties of lighting — flood and long-throw — or a mix of the 2. Floodlighting casts a broad cone of sunshine over a shorter distance and is good for digging one thing out of your pack, studying a map, or organising camp in the dead of night. Lengthy-throw, additionally referred to as highlight, would be the most typical kind of sunshine used on the path. It casts a narrower beam out in entrance of you, lighting up the path forward. Many runners respect utilizing each varieties of lighting without delay to assist scale back pressure on their eyes throughout the lengthy darkish hours of the night time.

Having sufficient mild on the path straight in entrance shall be most necessary for runners, although having a number of mild choices is a bonus. Luckily, most headlamps these days supply each varieties of lighting, and a few — just like the Petzl Iko Core and Fenix HM65R Rechargeable Headlamp — even have a setting that gives each flood and long-throw mild concurrently. This may drain your battery rapidly if used on a regular basis however may come in useful when you lose sight of the path in the dead of night.

Sort of Battery

Headlamps typically use rechargeable batteries or single-use AAA or AA batteries. There are just a few sorts of rechargeable batteries, together with Petzl’s proprietary Core rechargeable battery, the 18650 lithium-ion rechargeable battery present in lots of the headlamps above, and different varieties of lithium-ion rechargeable batteries. The generally used 2,600-milliampere hour 18650 battery is well-liked for its reliability, future time, and skill to be recharged many occasions — all of that are priceless to a path runner.

Usually, we advocate selecting a headlamp with a chargeable battery because it’s extra environment friendly, handy, and higher for the setting. Some headlamps, just like the Petzl Swift RL, Silva Path Runner Free Extremely, and Fenix HL18R-T Rechargeable Headlamp, include a chargeable battery and might run on disposable batteries. That is preferrred for conditions the place you could not have entry to energy, comparable to on an prolonged backpacking journey, or if you need that additional versatility.

Battery Life

Battery life is likely one of the most necessary issues when selecting a headlamp. The very best working headlamp is the one which gained’t die on you unexpectedly. Nobody needs to be caught on a ridgeline or descend a steep scree slope with a useless battery — regardless that it looks like the very best of us have been caught out earlier than. For the sake of your ankles, it’s greatest to decide on a headlamp with a protracted battery life. Some superior lamps, such because the Petzl Nao RL and the Petzl Swift RL, have Reactive Lighting know-how — the power for the lamp to sense the obtainable mild and regulate the brightness accordingly, which saves battery life.

Match and Consolation

It ought to be comfy if one thing is happening your head, probably for hours at a time. Pick a lamp that gained’t trigger complications, that gained’t snare your hair, and that’s simple to regulate on the transfer. Some headlamps use a cloth that’s gentle and sweat-wicking, whereas others use minimalistic cord-like constructions. In case you are utilizing the sunshine within the winter or for a extra technical outing, search for a lamp that shall be comfy over a working hat or helmet. The Petzl Swift RL has an extremely comfy strap and is comfy to put on for lengthy intervals.

Portability

There are conditions the place you’ll carry a backup headlamp, like throughout a protracted extremely with many hours run at night time, or stow away the one mild you introduced throughout a pre-dawn run that extends previous dawn. Having a headlamp that stows away simply in a working shorts pocket or hydration vest with out creating undue strain on some a part of your physique is good. It’s additionally a good suggestion to have a backup mild supply in your pack everytime you head out into the mountains when you return later than anticipated. The small dimension and brilliant mild of the Nitecore NU25 UL and Petzl Bindi make them nice “just-in-case” choices.

Weight

Whereas weight is arguably one of many much less necessary parts when selecting a headlamp, minimal weight and maximal battery life are optimum. Whereas just a few ounces don’t look like they might matter, weight performs into total consolation — these added ounces in your head over many hours of concentrating on the path can add additional pressure in your neck. The distribution of the load on the headlamp can be necessary. An excessive amount of weight on the entrance of a headlamp could make it uncomfortable for lengthy runs. The Silva Path Runner Free Extremely lets you place the battery pack on the again of your head or in a pack, which takes the load off your head.

Why You Ought to Belief Us

We run far at iRunFar, which frequently consists of working in the dead of night throughout 100-mile races, multi-day fastpack adventures, or pre-dawn begin occasions. Our testers have expertise working on their native trails in the dead of night and at premiere long-distance races just like the Hardrock 100, UTMB, and Tor des Géants, the place it’s frequent for some finishers to endure a couple of darkish night time on the path.

Our intensive testing course of ensures you get not solely the very best headlamp for working to your cash but additionally the precise headlamp that matches your wants. As ultra-long distance runs and races have change into extra mainstream, the on a regular basis runner must have a high-quality headlamp. For this information, we’ve recognized each heritage manufacturers and new modern corporations bringing mild to the path, and we put every of the lights above by way of the paces — testing their sturdiness, versatility, match, and battery life — to make sure that you gained’t be caught in the dead of night out on the path.

Sadly, we’ve but to acquire and check the Mild of Eärendil, “a lightweight for you in darkish locations when all different lights exit.” So, preserve your batteries charged and a backup mild available!

Please word that product fashions are routinely discontinued within the lighting world, whereas new ones often come to market. On the similar time, we right here at iRunFar usually preserve utilizing our prime picks in our every day working … they’re our prime picks, in spite of everything! Generally, that continued use ends in uncovering product failures. With all this — product discontinuations, product introductions, and product failures — in thoughts, we routinely replace our purchaser’s guides primarily based on previous and ongoing testing and analysis by our authors and editorial staff. Whereas these updates can seem like us pushing the latest product, it’s something however that. After we replace any purchaser’s information, most merchandise will seemingly stay the identical. That matches our purpose: to get you in the very best gear you’ll use for a very long time.

Continuously Requested Questions About Working Headlamps

What’s a lumen?

Okay, bear with us. The official definition of the lumen is: “Worldwide Commonplace Unit of luminous flux, a measure of the entire amount of seen mild emitted by a supply per unit of time.” In runner phrases, this tells us how brilliant a headlamp is. The brighter the sunshine, the additional you’ll be able to see onto the path. The typical headlamp maxes out at 300 to 600 lumens. That’s as a result of as lumens improve, energy utilization will increase, and battery run time drops.

As runners, we wish a headlamp that’s brilliant sufficient to mild up rocks and different terrain options underfoot, but we additionally need sufficient battery energy to final till we get the place we’re going — whether or not that’s again to the trailhead or by way of your complete night time. And we don’t need our headlamps to weigh an excessive amount of. Nevertheless, in order for you as a lot mild as attainable, the Nitecore HC35 has a turbo mode the place you’ll be able to outshine the moon at 2,700 lumens for 45 minutes.

How brilliant ought to my headlamp be for path working?

We advocate utilizing a headlamp with 200 to 300 lumens for path working. In case you are on technical terrain, going off path, or on a path that’s tough to observe, you may take into account a headlamp with a brighter setting to bump up the brightness when wanted. Nevertheless, there’s such a factor as too brilliant. Headlamps which might be both too dim or too brilliant can pressure the eyes, particularly all through the night time, comparable to in a 100-mile race. Our testers discovered that the Petzl Iko Core offered the correct amount of sunshine for working on all varieties of trails.

What varieties of batteries do headlamps use?

Most headlamps can run from rechargeable battery packs or disposable AA or AAA batteries. Most modern headlamps use some rechargeable battery pack — and might usually accommodate disposable batteries when you don’t have entry to an influence supply to recharge the battery pack. This versatility makes it simple to swap out batteries on the go. Many Petzl lights, together with the Petzl Iko Core, use a proprietary battery.

How a lot battery energy do I want on my path working headlamp?

The best battery energy, and thus run time, relies on your supposed headlamp use. When you primarily run throughout daylight however often begin or end in the dead of night, battery energy shall be much less necessary than for somebody who persistently runs by way of the night time throughout coaching runs or races.

For normal path working, the very best working headlamp can have sufficient energy to final 4 to 6 hours at 200 to 300 lumens. For ultrarunning, search for a headlamp with sufficient energy to final eight to 12 hours and has a simple mechanism for swapping batteries. Bigger batteries, such because the Fenix HM65R Rechargeable Headlamp, can present practically two nights of cheap lighting.

What are the totally different modes of headlamps?

Most headlamps have just a few normal modes: a relentless or flashing white mild and a relentless or flashing crimson mild. Extra advanced lamps enable for extra changes: the lumens of the white mild could be turned up or down, affecting battery life, and the width of the beam can widen or slim, generally robotically, as with Petzl’s Reactive Lighting know-how, which could be discovered on the Petzl Swift RL and the Petzl Nao RL.

When ought to I exploit an alternate mild supply like a waistlight?

Whereas headlamps are the most typical kind of sunshine, some waistlight choices, just like the UltrAspire Lumen 600 4.0 Waist Mild, are rising in popularity. Kogalla additionally makes a waistlight for runners. These corporations declare the lighting offered by a waistlight gives a wider beam of sunshine at a greater angle, enabling runners to see extra shadows and have a greater depth of view of their working path. When you don’t need one thing additional in your head, desire a wider visual field, or need the benefit of a number of mild sources, a waistlight will be the answer.

My head begins to harm when carrying a headlamp all night time. How can I make it extra comfy?

In case your headlamp is persistently inflicting discomfort after just a few hours, you’ll be able to attempt just a few issues. One is including a layer of cloth beneath your headlamp band, as we instructed with the Fenix HM65R Rechargeable Headlamp. A gentle layer of cloth may also help take up the band’s strain towards your head. A second choice is to decide on a headlamp with a couple of strap to assist disperse the strain – just like the ZebraLight H600d Mk IV 18650 XHP50.2 5000K Excessive CRI Headlamp, which we discovered extraordinarily comfy. Equally, attempting a lighter-weight headlamp or one with a battery pack on the again, such because the Petzl Iko Core, may additionally alleviate discomfort. If all else fails, we advocate attempting a waistlight, such because the UltrAspire Lumen 600 4.0 Waist Mild.

My headlamp battery ran out on the path. How do I forestall this from occurring subsequent time?

One of the best ways to keep away from getting caught in the dead of night is to hold spare batteries, a backup headlamp that’s absolutely charged or has recent batteries, or each. We additionally advocate recurrently charging your on a regular basis headlamp and ensuring to prime it off earlier than any massive adventures that may start or finish in darkness. It’s additionally necessary to take precautions to maintain your headlamp from turning on unintentionally in your pack and depleting the battery. Lastly, when you’re fearful about your headlamp’s energy degree, preserving it on the bottom attainable brightness setting will assist prolong its run time. When you run out of battery on the path, you’ll respect having a small backup mild, just like the Nitecore NU25 UL or Petzl Bindi, to get you again to the trailhead.

Do I want each a entrance and rear mild?

When you often run on roads in the dead of night, a rear-facing mild may also help vehicles see you. Some headlamps, just like the Petzl Nao RL, have a built-in crimson mild on the pinnacle strap, however you’ll be able to at all times carry a small further crimson mild to offer a flashing mild for visibility. An additional mild for elevated visibility can be helpful when you’re working on well-liked trails in the dead of night. They will make your presence identified to different path customers arising behind you and assist keep away from collisions or startling one another.

Name for Feedback

• What’s your favourite working headlamp?
• Path runners, what headlamp do you employ probably the most on the paths?
• What’s your prized working headlamp for all-night ultrarunning?

Again to Our Prime Working Headlamps Picks