Best Camping Headlamps for Ultimate Illumination

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On those backcountry camping trips, everything is darker and more dangerous.

Visibility is key for hikers, which is why you need quality light sources for your entire campsite.

Camping headlamps also serve as personal, hands-free lighting devices. Discover a better way to light up the night with the top headlamps we’ve reviewed.

5 Best Camping Headlamps Reviewed

1. Black Diamond Spot Headlamp

You might overlook this impressive little headlight due to its simple design. In reality, this just might be the best headlamp for campers.

The Spot is an extremely capable model that has a no-frills appearance combined with some high-tech components. One quad-power LED and one double-power LED outfit the Spot, emitting a total of 300 lumens.

You also have the option to dim the spotlight when you don’t need as much brightness. This conserves battery life and will raise the 30-hour burn time (on full) to an impressive 175 hours.

This gem is perfect for any camper looking for a moderately bright, waterproof headlight with long-lasting battery life, a variety of modes, and a price tag of $30 or less.

This would be an excellent first—or a seasoned camper’s extra—headlamp to keep on hand. Its compact size also makes it the best backpacking headlight.

Pros

• All lights have an estimated 350 lumen brightness.
• Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries (wall or USB)
• Additional overhead straps for support.

Cons

• The headlamp is fairly heavy and bulky.
• No red light option

Product Information

• Power: 300 Lumen QuadPower LED
• Battery: 3x AA
• Burntime: 175 hours
• Weight: 88 grams
• Dimensions: 2.3″ x 1″ x 1.5″

2. Hargimix Camping Headlamp

Although it wasn’t able to beat the Black Diamond Spot, we feel that the HG Headlamp is worthy of an honorable mention.

The HG Headlamp’s official name on Amazon is a bit of a mouthful, but it’s quite a well-designed headlight for general use.

Its overall design is more complicated than standard LED headlamps, which might appeal to campers who like “techy” gear.

The HG Headlamp’s name, “4 Lighting Models,” refers to the four light modes it offers. These modes include Main Light, Side Lights, All Lights (a kind of floodlight mode), and Strobe.

The lights themselves are made up of four smaller sidelights that surround one main white light. Campers who desire a heavy-duty headlight with a unique design and a price under $30 are the target audience.

Although this model has an intriguing appearance, be aware that carrying it for extended periods may tire you.

Pros

• All lights have an estimated 350 lumen brightness.
• Rechargeable batteries (Li-ion, wall, or USB)
• Additional overhead straps for support.

Cons

• The headlamp is fairly heavy and bulky.
• No red light option

Product Information

• Power: 350 lumens
• Battery: 3 x AAA
• Burntime: 6 hours
• Weight: 340 grams

3. IKAAMA Camping Headlamp

When you need the brightest headlamp possible that’s still simple to wear and use, our choice is the IKAAMA Brightest High 6000 Lumen LED Headlamp.

Brightest isn’t always best for every situation, but for campers wanting maximum illumination, the IKAAMA is a definite winner.

There aren’t many headlamps that have 6000 lumens—or even close to it—which makes the IKAAMA look more like a tiny spotlight on your head than a standard headlight.

Despite its intensive lumen level, the IKAAMA is fairly compact and comfortable to wear. The design of this headlight includes a total of three LED lights, with one main light and two sidelights.

There are four light modes, which include High Beam (the main light, i.e., the flood beam), Low Beam (side lights), All Bright (all lights), and Strobe (all lights flashing).

Although it’s probably far too bright for inside tents, or if you’re not trying to wake up fellow campers, it’s ideal for activities like night hiking, gathering wood, setting up shelter, etc.

Anyone who values having the brightest headlamp possible will enjoy the IKAAMA. This thing’s light output is outrageous.

Pros

• 6000 lumen brightness is difficult to find.
• The rechargeable design saves batteries.
• Zooms in and out
• Average burn time: 4-6 hours
• Full charge within 8 hours
• IPX4 waterproof housing

Cons

• The beam may still be too bright for some uses (i.e., lighting a tent).
• No red lights

Product Information

• Power: 6000 lumens
• Battery: 2 lithium-ion
• Burntime: 4-6 hours
• Weight: 291 grams

3. Black Diamond Sprinter Camping Headlamp

When camping trips also involve high-movement activities like fishing, trail running, hiking, and more, we think this headlight will suit you well.

Black Diamond made our list again with the Sprinter Rechargeable Headlamp. The Sprinter is similar to the Spot but has a few key characteristics that make it perfect for all different types of activities.

The Sprinter has a single TriplePower LED, which puts out 200 lumens on the max light setting. Originally designed with runners in mind, the light projects an oval beam outward in front.

Located on the back of the Sprinter is another LED housing with a red strobe tail light. This will improve runner visibility and help campers stay safe.

BD also added an overhead strap to this headlamp to ensure that it stays in place while moving around. This is an important feature when you’re looking for a lightweight headlight that can handle bouncing around without sliding.

Campers who will be doing a lot of physical activity on their trip will find the Sprinter to be a fantastic choice.

Campers may use this headlamp for night running or jogging at home because it is the best. Its impressive 5-hour quick charge also makes it the best rechargeable headlamp.

Pros

• Minimalistic design isn’t distracting.
• Rechargeable lithium polymer battery
• A quick 5-hour charge time
• Water resistance (IPX4)
• Full charge within 8 hours
• 42-hour burn time on low settings

Cons

• Higher prices than competitors
• Low lumen power vs. price

Product Information

• Power: 200 lumens
• Battery: Lithium polymer battery
• Burntime: 42 hours
• Weight: N/A

5. EverBrite Camping Headlamp

New or backup headlight campers. Because they are extremely budget-friendly, they’re an inexpensive choice for campers who aren’t yet sure how much use their headlamp will get.

They are useful for emergencies in your car, RV, and around your home. Quality camping headlights don’t have to cost a lot to be useful for all levels of campers. If you’re on a budget, we recommend the following:

Finding a well-designed headlamp that’s under $20 can be tough. But not only did we find a worthy model that’s less than $11—it also comes in a 2-pack!

The EverBright 2-Pack Headlamp boasts an abundance of features, bolstered by a 12-month warranty. We’ve found that these headlamps are surprisingly tough and simple to use, while still being lightweight and fully adjustable.

EveryBright decided to use 30 lumen LEDs for these headlights, and though that may seem very low, it’s perfect for up-close activities (cooking or reading a map) and to use inside tents.

There are a total of 8 LED bulbs inside the housing, with four different lighting modes. Brightness modes include Low (2 bulbs), Medium (4 bulbs), High (all 8 bulbs for maximum brightness), and Strobe.

These headlamps use 3 AAA alkaline batteries, which offer 5 hours of run time. The overall lifespan of the bulbs is 100,000 hours.

Pros

• Light, comfortable, and adjustable down to kid’s sizes
• A simple single-button light control
• 90-degree light swiveling and rotation
• Great for camping and at-home/emergency use

Cons

• Not designed for heavy-duty use
• Low lumen limits usability.

Product Information

• Power: 3 x 30 lumens (LED).
• Battery: 3 AAA
• Burn time: 5 hours
• Weight: 125 grams

Things to Consider Before Buying

You can buy the first headlamp you see, but we recommend doing some research.

Just as you wouldn’t buy a tent without brushing up on the basics, spending a little time learning about headlight options is a beneficial idea.

Size

Headlamps aren’t categorized strictly in terms of size, but the activity the headlight was designed for will generally influence how big or small it is.

Headlamps designed for backpackers will be the most compact and lightweight, even more so than headlamps designed strictly for casual campers.

Because backpackers need to conserve weight as much as possible, headlamps designed for at-home use, car work, construction, and similar uses tend to be larger overall in terms of bulk and weight.

Depending on what you plan on doing while wearing your headlamp while camping, these options might be a bit overboard in terms of size.

Most campers will do best with compact headlights and smaller lighting housings.

Brightness

LED bulbs almost always feature in headlamp designs for camping. LED bulb brightness is measured in lumens, which is a term used to describe the amount of light the bulbs emit.

The higher the lumen level, the brighter the light is. How much brightness you need is a personal choice, but consider that the brightest headlamp isn’t always the best.

While you’re camping, you’ll likely be using your headlight for up-close tasks such as meal prep, cooking, reading, and similar activities.

Too bright of a headlamp can make it quite impossible to easily view what’s right in front of your face. Super bright headlamps can also be an annoyance for your fellow campers.

Being abruptly awakened by a harsh light in your tent because your partner needs to make a trip to the bathroom isn’t pleasant for anyone.

For general use, stick with a lumen level that’s between 100 and 300, and look for headlamps that allow dimming.

Durability

Durability is important for any piece of gear you take out camping, and headlights are no exception.

You should select a headlamp that is strong enough to handle accidental drops, with either a metal or strong plastic housing.

The acrylic barrier directly in front of the LED bulbs should also be crack-resistant.

Although it isn’t an absolute must, we strongly recommend selecting a water-resistant headlamp.

That way, a sudden rainfall or an accidental drop in a puddle or creek won’t mean the end of your headlight.

Adjustability

A variety of factors determine the overall adjustability of a headlamp. Firstly, the strap adjustability will be important, particularly for petite women and children.

The majority of headlamps use elastic straps to help get a snug but comfortable fit on your head. Before purchasing, you want to double-check how well those straps adjust. Secondly, consider the brightness levels’ adjustability.

As mentioned earlier, if you go with a high-lumen headlight, you’re going to need to be able to dim it. Other light adjustment features include strobe flashing, as well as a red light for night vision and proximity. You really can’t go wrong with having plenty of light adjustability.

The light housing’s adjustability is the final aspect to consider. Some headlamps feature a fixed light, which may require you to adjust your head position or remove the light to use it as a flashlight, thereby defeating the purpose of wearing a headlamp.

We recommend buying headlamps that have at least a 90-degree downward rotation option so you can see what’s in front of your feet or hands.

FAQs

Wrap-Up

Headlamps are a universally useful tool, and that means there are a dizzying number of different models and types to sort through to find the right one for you.

Even if you didn’t quite find the right model for your needs in our guide, you’ll still have come away with important knowledge on types of headlights and how to select one based on important features to help with your search.