Greatest Working Headlamps of 2022 – iRunFar

In terms of working at evening, you need the perfect working headlamp potential.

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 allow you to see each rock and root, it’s actually a grand time to be a path runner or ultrarunner trying to find a headlamp. Not solely are there tried-and-true manufacturers which were making headlamps particularly for our class for a very long time, however there are additionally emergent manufacturers innovating, creating enhancements in each battery and lighting expertise.

Now there are alternatives for the whole lot from ultralight headlamps that are perfect for each day runs at nighttime to highly effective and long-lasting headlamps that may illuminate the path brightly all through your entire evening of a 100-mile race, making it simpler to maneuver with confidence over rugged terrain.

The correct headlamp in your wants can have sufficient battery life to get you thru your run, match in your head comfortably, and supply sufficient gentle in your working pace. We’ve scoured {the marketplace} for the perfect of the perfect, examined them over many miles of dawn, sundown, and nighttime runs, and rounded up our high suggestions on this information.

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

Use these hyperlinks to skip rapidly to the sorts of merchandise you’d prefer to study extra about.

The iRunFar workforce examined working headlamps on dozens of runs that can assist you discover the fitting one on this information. Right here, iRunFar’s Meghan Hicks preps for an early morning run. Picture: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi

The Petzl Iko Core checks all of our packing containers for the best path working headlamp with its lighting expertise, weight, and luxury. With this headlamp, Petzl does what no different headlamp maker is doing by innovating in each lighting and luxury. We’ve normally discovered one to come back at a compromise of the opposite. Not right here.

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

Our solely need is a neater technique to swap out the battery on the fly. This was awkward sufficient at residence, not to mention out on the path or mid-adventure after we have been succumbing to fatigue or sleep deprivation. A neater switch-out would permit us to hold a spare battery and use this headlamp for all-night runs.

Precise Weight: 2.4 ounces (68 grams)

Most Mild Output: 500 lumens

Battery Supply(s): 1,250-milliamp-hour Petzl CORE lithium-ion rechargeable (included) or three AAA/LR03s (not included)

Execs:

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

Cons:

• The battery pack is awkward to vary out

Store the Petzl Iko Core

We now have to confess, we smirked somewhat after 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 skepticism and provides Fenix props for creating a completely comfy headband that enables sufficient micro-adjustment for actually dialing within the excellent match. We apologize for these early giggles as a result of the one extra revolutionary headband on the market now could be the Petzl Iko Core reviewed above — although we expect this headband is definitely extra comfy. One other factor we love about this headlamp is that it’s tremendous straightforward to vary the battery on the go — and for those who’re on the market lengthy sufficient to wish recent batteries, you want the method to be straightforward. Extra options of this headlamp embody a 500-lumen lamp with three brightness settings and an possibility for highlight or floodlight.

Whereas we’ve come to understand the click-and-twist headband adjustment, we fear about snapping the dial strings and rendering the headlamp ineffective within the subject. This implies we’re unlikely to take it on any prolonged off-trail romps, and we’ll pack it rigorously in our gear baggage.

Precise weight: 3.2 ounces (92 grams)

Most gentle output: 500 lumens

Battery supply(s): 1,300-milliamp-hour lithium-polymer rechargeable (included) or three AAA batteries (not included)

Execs:

• Comfy
• Straightforward to vary batteries

Cons:

• Questionable sturdiness of the headscarf strings

Store the Fenix HL18R-T Rechargeable Headlamp

Greatest Headlamp for Path Working Third Place: Petzl Swift RL ($125)

We’d prefer to take a second to understand the headscarf on the Petzl Swift RL headlamp. Its padded softshell materials on the entrance half is simply so good. Different headlamp corporations: Take be aware, you are able to do this too and not using a horrible weight penalty.

Petzl’s revolutionary Reactive Lighting expertise units this headlamp aside from the remainder. Along with offering a constant stage of sunshine with 900 lumens, it can be set to adapt to the ambient lighting circumstances, rising dimmer the place there’s different gentle round and brighter the place there’s not. This expertise can also be discovered within the Petzt Nao+, our high headlamp selection for ultrarunning reviewed beneath.

All of that stated, it is a lot of headlamp — and lots of price — in your on a regular basis path working headlamp. You may 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 workforce likes this gentle a lot that they’ve been utilizing it often for nearly seven years, for each path working and ski touring. Aside from the headscarf stretching out a bit over time, principally from being worn over a helmet within the case of our tester, the headlamp continues to carry out flawlessly, making it a worthy funding.

Precise Weight: 3.6 ounces (100 grams)

Most Mild Output: 900 lumens

Battery Supply(s): 2,350-milliamp-hour lithium-ion rechargeable (included)

Execs:

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

Cons:

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

Store the Petzl Swift RL

With a runtime of six hours on its normal brightness setting, the Ledlenser Neo6R Rechargeable Headlamp is a good each day instrument for path runs that start or finish at nighttime. Some instruments are created to do lots of duties decently, and a few are created to do one job beautifully. The latter is true for this headlamp — it’s actually a specialty system for path working, and we like it for its simplicity. Rechargeable and compact, this little headlamp creates loads of gentle to be your path working companion, day in and time out.

Along with its normal 240-lumen setting, the headlamp has two different brightness settings — one which’s fairly dim and appropriate for faffing round on the trailhead and one other blinking setting for use if it’s worthwhile to be seen. This straightforward headlamp is a good worth for the associated fee.

Precise Weight: 3.4 ounces (96 grams)

Most Mild Output: 240 lumens

Battery Supply(s): 1,400-milliamp-hour lithium-ion rechargeable (included)

Execs:

• Light-weight and compact
• Comes with a further belt for carrying the sunshine in your chest
• Nice worth

Cons:

• Battery received’t final by means of the evening
• Could also be troublesome to search out within the U.S.

Store the Ledlenser Neo6R Rechargeable Headlamp

Group iRunFar has lengthy been a fan of what ZebraLight does for the lighting business, 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 residence with the directions earlier than you’re within the subject, the upside is that you just’ll get to intimately know your headlamp and can finally program it on the fly.

For such a easy headband, it’s extraordinarily smooth and comfy. Moreover, the batteries are straightforward to swap out on the run, making it straightforward for us to advocate this headlamp as a each day path working companion.

Usually talking, this is a little more battery than you want for a each day path working headlamp. We might have thought-about it for the ultrarunning class of this information, however it doesn’t have a candy spot of brightness and run time that works properly for a complete evening of working. So what which means is it is a headlamp with a very vibrant gentle that’ll go for a number of hours in your night or early morning path runs, however it received’t maintain regular all evening and not using a battery change. That stated, the primary draw back of this headlamp as a each day runner is its increased weight.

Precise Weight: 4.6 ounces (129 grams)

Most Mild Output: 1,616 lumens

Battery Supply(s): 2,600-milliamp-hour 18,650-size lithium-ion rechargeable (not included)

Execs:

• Programmable brightness settings
• Comfy headband
• Batteries are straightforward to vary within the subject

Cons:

• Heavy for a each day working headlamp
• Solely obtainable for buy within the U.S.

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

The Petzl Nao+ has been the go-to ultrarunning headlamp for a half-decade. There have been rumors and web leaks of an improve for this headlamp for over a 12 months, and Francois D’Haene simply wore a headlamp that appears the whole lot like a brand new model throughout the 2022 Hardrock 100. So whereas the considerably getting old Petzl Nao+ nonetheless takes the highest place for greatest ultrarunning headlamps, for those who’re on this one, buying persistence would possibly reward you with a candy improve.

There’s loads occurring on this headlamp. Firstly is its lighting, which presents each common and Reactive Lighting choices. The latter setting adapts to ambient gentle by rising dimmer when it’s lighter out and brighter when it will get darkish. If you happen to’re into this Reactive Lighting however don’t want such a sturdy package deal, take a look at the Petzl Swift RL, our runner-up in the perfect headlamp for path working class of this information.

Subsequent, the Nao+ has a Bluetooth connection that means that you can hyperlink to an app to set precisely how vibrant and dim you’d like your varied settings to be. This lets you create the precise sort of gentle you need in your run, and you’ll modify it on the fly for those who’re carrying your telephone with you. You may also use the app to see how a lot battery life you’ve received left.

Talking of the battery, the entire package deal will not be gentle, however one battery provides you with a complete summer time evening of decently lit path working. Although we will 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 somewhat brighter. And on that be aware, switching batteries within the subject is a comparatively straightforward, two-step course of.

Now for the downsides. This headlamp’s consolation will not be superb, and we advocate a buff underneath it for a full evening of working. Additionally, it’s costly. Lastly, it’s price noting that whereas this headlamp is due for an improve, so far as we will inform, there’s not one in sight but. All that stated, it’s nonetheless our favourite headlamp, bar none.

Precise Weight: 6.8 ounces (193 grams)

Most Mild Output: 750 lumens

Battery Supply(s): 3,100-milliamp-hour lithium-ion rechargeable (included)

Execs:

• Reactive Lighting system robotically adapts to altering gentle circumstances
• Bluetooth connection for checking battery and adjusting lighting on the fly
• The battery will final by means of the evening
• Comparatively straightforward to vary out the battery

Cons:

• Not our best choice for consolation
• Dear

Store the Petzl Nao+

If you happen to’re somebody who desires an important, vibrant headlamp for all-night ultrarunning however you simply don’t like carrying all that battery energy 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 — and not using a heavy ding on battery runtime. We’re actually having fun with this providing, for each the way in which it provides us somewhat additional peripheral imaginative and prescient even when it’s principally straight forward that we need to see, but additionally as a result of this appears to ease eye pressure over an extended evening of use, as your eyes don’t must preserve adjusting to the fast modifications in route {that a} long-throw gentle will make with a easy 10-degree tilt of your head.

We don’t love the headscarf, and we have been shocked by its stiffness given the model’s work in making the battery pack movable for elevated consolation. That stated, enjoying with it and utilizing it makes it much less stiff, so go forward and work it up a bunch, and luxury will improve as you break it in.

Precise Weight: 5.4 ounces (153 grams)

Most Mild Output: 400 lumens

Battery Supply(s): 4,000-milliamp-hour hour rechargeable (included) or three AAAs (not included)

Execs:

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

Cons:

• Headband is stiff at first and requires breaking in

Store the Silva Path Runner Free Extremely

The Ledlenser Neo10R is probably the most comfy tackle headlamps with a long term time that we’ve discovered thus far, putting it amongst our high selections for ultrarunning headlamps. This headlamp’s design locations the battery vertically on the again of the pinnacle and secures it with a curved cradle. There are additionally choices for getting the battery off your head and into your hydration pack utilizing an included longer twine. The sunshine on entrance swivels simply as you modify to modifications in your terrain. Moreover, the system comes with a chest harness that means that you can repair the lamp to your chest. Nevertheless, this setup is kind of ornate, and also you’d have to put on it beneath your hydration pack. Since this appears an unlikely selection for many ultrarunners, we didn’t take a look at this setup.

A little bit of a draw back with this headlamp is that there are solely three brightness settings. For a light-weight this large, we’d count on extra choices. That stated, this headlamp supplies a lot gentle for such a very long time in both the excessive or medium settings (10 hours on the 600-lumen setting or 15 hours with 250 lumens), you simply can’t complain when you get going. As an added bonus, the battery is a cinch to vary within the subject.

The first detractor with this headlamp is its weight and clunkiness issue. There’s lots of battery and lightweight energy right here and it takes a big holder and head cradle to place it comfortably. Notably, it’s additionally one of many few headlamps we’ve seen the place there isn’t a protecting cowl over the LED bulb itself, although this one is inset fairly a bit for cover. We’ll all the time pack this headlamp rigorously.

Precise Weight: 6.3 ounces (178 grams)

Most Mild Output: 600 lumens

Battery Supply(s): 2,600-milliamp-hour 18,650-size lithium-ion rechargeable (included)

Execs:

• Comfy
• Battery is simple to vary within the subject
• Headlamp is simple to swivel for adjusting focus route on the go

Cons:

• Heavier and clunkier than comparable headlamps
• No protecting cowl over LED bulb
• Solely three brightness settings

Store the Ledlenser Neo10R

The Fenix HM65R Rechargeable Headlamp presents fairly the feature-filled package deal, making it an important headlamp for ultrarunning. The headlamp contains each a highlight and floodlight 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 record. With a robust 18650 lithium-ion rechargeable battery and three lighting choices in each the floodlight and highlight settings, this headlamp presents loads of gentle for both a complete evening of tremendous brightly lit working or two nights with first rate lighting.

Each the lights and the battery are saved on the entrance of the headlamp, which suggests there’s loads occurring up entrance and also you’ll need to put on a layer, resembling a folded neck gaiter, beneath it for all-night consolation. If you may get over the sensation that there’s an alien in your brow, you’ll discover a tremendous 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 because of having the entire weight on the entrance, however as we stated, this may be mitigated with a skinny gaiter or an analogous layer beneath the headlamp.

Precise Weight: 5.2 ounces (146 grams)

Most Mild Output: 1400 lumens

Battery Supply(s): 2,600-milliamp-hour 18,650-size lithium-ion rechargeable (included) or two CR123As (not included)

Execs:

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

Cons:

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

Store the Fenix HM65R Rechargeable Headlamp

Greatest Headlamp for Ultrarunning Honorable Point out: Nitecore UT32 ($75)

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 rechargeable battery. This headlamp ideas the scales at 144 grams whereas providing each a highlight and a floodlight and as much as 1,100 lumens of sunshine at its brightest setting. It may well additionally present greater than 400 lumens for an evening and a half. If it’s worthwhile to go longer, no downside — the battery is very easy to vary within the subject. See what we imply in regards to the golden period of headlamp lighting and batteries? Working example proper right here.

There are not any bells and whistles with this headlamp, so to maneuver your beam up and all the way down to accommodate hills, you’ll must rotate the entire battery package deal within the O-ring pair that hosts it. Aside from that, we had no points with consolation, regardless that all the load is up entrance. If you happen to actually need to go minimalist, you’ll be able to take away the strap that goes excessive of the pinnacle to save lots of one other 20 grams — however then chances are you’ll begin to sacrifice some consolation. Proceed at your personal danger.

There are actually no downsides to report with this headlamp. That is an superior minimalist tackle supplying you with a great deal of gentle with a long-lasting battery.

Precise Weight: 5.1 ounces (144 grams)

Most Mild Output: 1,100 lumens

Battery Supply(s): 2,600-milliamp-hour 18,650-size lithium-ion rechargeable (included) or two CR123As (not included)

Execs:

• Light-weight for its gentle and battery energy
• Comfy

Cons:

• None — it is a nice minimalist ultrarunning headlamp

Store the Nitecore UT32

When circumstances or your preferences name for placing a light-weight in your waist, we name upon the UltrAspire Lumen 600 3.0 Waist Mild. Whereas it’s a bit on the heavier facet, it’s tremendous comfy across the waist, which suggests loads to these of us whose abdomens grow to be delicate throughout ultramarathons. It’s straightforward to regulate each the belt and the angle of the sunshine, and the buckle is simple to unclip with drained or chilly palms. The sunshine comes with a tilt mechanism to adapt the beam on the fly for uphills, downhills, and flats. It’s additionally straightforward to vary this gentle’s battery within the subject. This waistlight has a detachable pocket on the belt to retailer your telephone or some snacks, or depart it behind if you wish to shed a couple of grams. Lastly, altering the batteries on the go is a breeze.

The principle draw back of this technique is its weight. It’s not light-weight, and for these seeking to go quick and shave grams, this generally is a hefty load to bear. In case your precedence, nevertheless, is having a robust waist-worn gentle to get you thru an extended evening of working, then this waistlight is the one.

Precise Weight: 5.9 ounces (167 grams)

Most Mild Output: 600 lumens

Battery Supply(s): 2,600-milliamp-hour 18,650-size lithium-ion rechargeable (included)

Execs:

• Comfy match throughout the stomach
• The most suitable choice for those who don’t like carrying a light-weight in your head
• Straightforward to vary batteries within the subject

Cons:

Store the UltrAspire Lumen 600 3.0 Waist Mild

The Nightcore NU25 is the niftiest little headlamp you didn’t know existed — or that you just wanted. This can be a hat tip from the thru-hiking group, which has identified about this little gem for a very long time. It weighs underneath two ounces and makes an important backup headlamp or easy ultralight headlamp for those who’re counting grams. This headlamp is a powerhouse of sunshine for its weight. It’s enough for a few hours of sunshine for path working, so long as the path isn’t tremendous technical. When utilizing the actually dim settings, it’ll can help you do chores round your fastpacking campsite whereas consuming nearly no battery energy.

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

Precise Weight: 1.8 ounces (53 grams)

Most Mild Output: 360 lumens

Battery Supply(s): 610-milliamp-hour lithium-ion rechargeable (included)

Execs:

• Weighs lower than two ounces
• Nice worth
• Good backup headlamp possibility

Cons:

• We don’t love the aesthetic

Store the Nightcore NU25

The Fenix E-Lite Mini Flashlight is one we advocate retaining in your pack as a “simply in case” possibility. Each working pack ought to have a backup gentle supply for these instances while you meant to get again to the trailhead earlier than darkish, however didn’t, otherwise you forgot to cost your common gentle. To be honest, this isn’t a real headlamp. To save lots of weight, it’s meant to clip to the brim of a hat or the like in lieu of being on a strap like a standard headlamp. We’ve discovered it clips completely on our GPS watch band, too.

This isn’t the tremendous vibrant gentle that we’ve grow to be accustomed to for path working, don’t get us incorrect, however it’ll do exactly effective for straightforward jogging again to the trailhead while you’ve overshot your time plan by a bit. A giant bonus is its extra crimson and blue stable and blinking lights, which are sometimes required on the again of your pack at European ultramarathons for visibility.

You’ve received all of it on this tiny package deal. And we imply tiny — it’s lower than two inches in size and weighs underneath an oz.. Along with being an important backup possibility, you can additionally clip it to your canine’s collar in case your greatest furry coaching companion will get caught at nighttime with you. Actually, the choices are countless.

Clearly, this headlamp has its limitations, which is why we advocate it as a backup slightly than a each day working headlamp. That stated, it’s positively one price retaining in your equipment.

Precise Weight: 0.6 ounces (17 grams)

Most Mild Output: 150 lumens

Battery Supply(s): 275-milliamp-hour rechargeable lithium-polymer battery (included)

Execs:

• Extraordinarily light-weight and compact
• A number of lighting choices add to its versatility
• Nice worth

Cons:

• Technically not a headlamp (no strap)
• Not vibrant sufficient for each day working software

Store the Fenix E-Lite Mini Flashlight

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

If you happen to’ve ever wished for a motorcycle gentle 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, it’s the settings that present 800 lumens for 3 hours or 270 lumens for all-night runs which can be 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 received your self a setup for an evening of working on a brightly lit path.

The principle draw back of this headlamp is consolation. Since all the load sits in your brow, you completely want some material beneath to padding for longtime put on. The aesthetic can also be actually one thing to, ahem, see. We predict 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-milliamp-hour 21,700-size lithium-ion rechargeable (included), one 18,650-size lithium-ion rechargeable (not included), or two CR123As (not included)

Execs:

• Exceptionally vibrant
• Straightforward to vary batteries within the subject

Cons:

• Not comfy and requires material padding beneath
• We don’t love the aesthetic

Store the Nitecore HC35

Purchaser’s Information: Learn how to Select a Working Headlamp

Brightness

For a lot of runners, brightness is a very powerful consider selecting between headlamps. Nevertheless, it’s price noting that brighter will not be essentially higher. We imagine there may be such a factor as too vibrant, and we’ve discovered each an excessive amount of gentle and too little gentle will trigger eye pressure. Moreover, an excessive amount of gentle can blind your fellow path customers.

Our opinion is that 200 lumens is loads for easy path working on developed trails and 300 lumens will get you 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 Ledlenser Neo10R, the Petzl Iko Core, the Petzl Swift RL, and the Petzl Nao+ on this information — that means that you can look farther for path indicators, course markers, or to see what’s going bump within the evening on the facet of the path.

Sort of Mild

Headlamps with a number of gentle settings normally supply two forms 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 or establishing camp at nighttime. Lengthy-throw, additionally known as highlight, goes to 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.

For runners, having sufficient gentle on the path immediately in entrance goes to be most vital, although having a number of gentle choices is an added bonus. Fortuitously, most headlamps these days supply each forms of lighting, and a few — just like the Petlz Iko Core and Fenix HM65R Rechargeable Headlamp — even have a combined setting that gives each flood and long-throw gentle on the identical time. This may drain your battery rapidly if used on a regular basis, however might turn out to be useful for those who lose sight of the path at nighttime.

The Fenix HM65R is a good ultrarunning headlamp. Picture: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi

Sort of Battery

Headlamps usually use rechargeable batteries or single-use AAA or AA batteries. There are a couple of forms of rechargeable batteries, together with Petzl’s proprietary Core rechargeable battery, the 18650 lithium-ion rechargeable battery present in most of the headlamps above, and different forms of lithium-ion rechargeable batteries. The generally used 2,600-milliampere hour 18650 battery is standard for its reliability, long term time, and talent to be recharged many, many instances — all of that are helpful 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 surroundings. Some headlamps, just like the Petzl Swift RL, Silva Path Runner Free Extremely, and Fenix HL18R-T Rechargeable Headlamp include a chargeable battery and also can run on disposable batteries. That is perfect for conditions the place chances are you’ll not have entry to energy, resembling on an prolonged backpacking journey, or while you merely need that additional versatility.

Battery Life

Finally a very powerful factor in selecting a headlamp for the paths is battery life. Nobody desires to be caught on a ridgeline or descending a steep scree slope with a lifeless battery — regardless that it has occurred to the perfect of us. For the sake of your ankles, it’s greatest to decide on a headlamp with an extended battery life. Some superior lamps, such because the Petzl Nao+ and the Petzl Swift RL, have Reactive Lighting expertise — the flexibility for the lamp to sense the obtainable gentle and modify the brightness accordingly, which saves battery life.

Match and Consolation

If one thing is happening your head, doubtlessly for hours at a time, it must be comfy. Pick a lamp that received’t trigger complications, that received’t snare your hair, and that’s straightforward to regulate on the transfer. Some headlamps use materials that’s smooth and sweat-wicking, others use minimalistic cord-like buildings. If you happen to’ll be utilizing the sunshine within the winter or for a extra technical outing, search for a lamp that will probably be comfy over a hat or helmet.

The Fenix HL18R-T was our choose for a high path working headlamp due to its lighting and battery options mixed with its revolutionary and comfy headband. Picture: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi

Portability

There are conditions the place you’ll both be carrying a backup headlamp, like throughout an extended extremely with many hours run at evening, or stowing away the only gentle you introduced throughout a pre-dawn run that extends previous dawn. It’s good to have a headlamp that stows away simply in a shorts pocket or hydration vest with out creating undue strain on some a part of your physique.

Weight

Whereas weight is arguably one of many much less vital components when selecting a headlamp, a mix of minimal weight and maximal battery life is perfect. Whereas a couple of ounces don’t look like they’d matter, weight performs into general consolation — these added ounces in your head over many hours of concentrating on the path can add additional pressure in your neck.

The UltrAspire Lumen 600 3.0 Waist Mild is iRunFar’s choose for the perfect waistlight for working. Picture: iRunFar/Bryon Powell

Our intensive testing course of ensures you get not solely the perfect headlamp in your cash, but additionally the precise headlamp that matches your wants. As ultra-long distance runs and races have grow to be extra mainstream, so has the necessity for the on a regular basis runner to have a high-quality headlamp. We establish each heritage manufacturers and new revolutionary corporations bringing the sunshine to the path and put the lights by means of the paces — testing their sturdiness, versatility, match, and battery life — to make sure that you received’t be light-less out on the path.

Sadly, we have been unable to acquire and take a look at the Mild of Eärendil, “a light-weight for you in darkish locations, when all different lights exit.” So, preserve your batteries charged and a backup gentle available!

As runners, we would like a light-weight that’s vibrant sufficient to gentle 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 means of your entire evening. And we don’t need our headlamps to weigh an excessive amount of. However for those who really need as a lot gentle as potential, the Nitecore HC35 has a turbo mode the place you’ll be able to outshine the moon at 2,700 lumens for 45 minutes.

Nitecore makes nice working headlamps, and this Nitecore NU25 received our award for greatest ultralight headlamp. Picture: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi

How vibrant ought to my headlamp be for path working?

We advocate utilizing a headlamp with 200 to 300 lumens for path working. If you happen to’ll be on technical terrain, going off path, or on a path that’s troublesome to observe, you would possibly take into account a headlamp with a brighter setting so to bump up the brightness while you want it. Nevertheless, there may be such a factor as too vibrant. Headlamps which can be both too dim or too vibrant can pressure the eyes, particularly over the course of the evening, resembling in a 100-mile race.

What forms of batteries do headlamps use?

Most headlamps can run off of both rechargeable battery packs or disposable AA or AAA batteries. The vast majority of up to date headlamps use some kind of rechargeable battery pack — and may usually accommodate disposable batteries as properly for those who don’t have entry to an influence supply to recharge the battery pack. This versatility makes it straightforward to swap out batteries on the go.

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

The best battery energy, and thus run time, is determined by your supposed use of a headlamp. If you happen to principally run throughout daylight however often begin or end at nighttime, battery energy will probably be much less vital than for somebody who persistently runs by means of the evening throughout coaching runs or races.

For traditional path working, a headlamp with sufficient energy to final 4 to 6 hours at 200 to 300 lumens will do the trick. For ultrarunning, search for a headlamp with sufficient energy to final eight to 12 hours and that has a straightforward mechanism for swapping batteries.

iRunFar’s Meghan Hicks makes use of a headlamp to pack a fastpack at daybreak. Picture: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi

Does dimension matter?

The bodily dimension of the headlamp issues much less compared to ergonomic consolation, ease of button entry, and battery life. Nevertheless, a heavier headlamp might trigger neck fatigue and could also be harder to stow right into a pack when you don’t want it anymore.

What are the completely different modes on headlamps?

Most headlamps have a couple of common modes: a relentless or flashing white gentle and a relentless or flashing crimson gentle.  Extra advanced lamps permit for extra changes: the lumens of the white gentle could be turned up or down, affecting battery life, the width of the beam can widen or slim, generally robotically with Petze’s Reactive Lighting expertise, and superior headlamps just like the Petzl Nao+ may even be programmed by way of an app in your telephone.

When ought to I take advantage of another gentle supply like a waistlight?

Whereas headlamps are by far the most typical kind of sunshine in use, corporations like Kogalla and UltrAspire have come out with waistlights. These corporations declare the lighting offered by a waistlight presents 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. If you happen to don’t need one thing additional in your head, want the broader visual field, or would really like the benefit of a number of gentle sources, a waistlight would be the answer for you.

iRunFar’s Meghan Hicks wears a Black Diamond headlamp alongside together with her fastpacking gear on a cold morning. Picture: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi

My head begins to harm when carrying a headlamp all evening, how can I make it extra comfy?

In case your headlamp is persistently inflicting discomfort after a couple of hours, there are some things you’ll be able to attempt. One is including a layer of material beneath your headlamp band, as we advised with the Fenix HM65R Rechargeable Headlamp. A smooth layer of material may also help take up the strain of the band towards your head. A second possibility is to decide on a headlamp with multiple strap to assist disperse the strain – just like the ZebraLight H600d Mk IV 18650 XHP50.2 5000K Excessive CRI Headlamp, which we discovered to be extraordinarily comfy, or the Ledlenser Neo6R Rechargeable Headlamp, which additionally comes with a chest strap. Equally, making an attempt a lighter weight headlamp or one with the battery pack on the again, such because the Petzl Iko Core, may also alleviate discomfort. If all else fails, we’d advocate going with a waistlight, such because the UltrAspire Lumen 600 3.0 Waist Mild.

My headlamp battery ran out on the path, how do I stop this from occurring subsequent time?

One of the best ways to keep away from getting caught at nighttime is to hold spare batteries or a backup headlamp that’s totally charged or has recent batteries, or each. We additionally advocate often charging your every-day headlamp and ensuring to high it off earlier than any large adventures that may start or finish in darkness. Lastly, for those who’re nervous about your headlamp’s energy stage, retaining it on the bottom potential brightness setting will assist lengthen its run time.

Name for Feedback

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