Best headlamp? | 16 tested - budget, running & overall top picks

A head torch is arguably the most useful torch you can own. They’re useful for camping, fishing, walking and running but they’re also great for working on the bike or car and general DIY tasks, especially in winter with the shorter days.

I’ve hand picked 16 head torches from all the big brands. I have budget torches starting at under £20 to more specialised torches that cost over £150.

I’ve thoroughly tested all of them over the last 3 months and scored them in a number of categories to try and help you choose the right one for you. I’m scoring each head torch out of 10 in 8 categories for a total score out of 80 which I’ll convert to a percentage.

I’ll choose a winner in three categories: best budget head torch, best running head torch and best all round head torch.

If you want to skip forward or back at any time in this video, please use the chapter markers YouTube creates from the timestamps down below and in the pinned comment.
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Any company offers:

Outside of the sale you can get 10% off using my code *TTM10* at checkout which helps support the channel and my website. For the Perun 2 Mini (and Marauder Mini, Seeker 3 Pro, Baton 3 Pro, and i5R) use *TOP20* for 20% off (the TOP20 code is valid until June 2023).

Wuben also have their 3rd Anniversary sale running until April 2023:

1. Buy one get one free on some torches (including the Wuben H1 head torch)
2. Up to 70% discount on the G2
3. 25% discount coupon code: wuben25

As an Amazon affiliate, I get a small commission from purchases made via any Amazon links.

Amazon links:

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You can find most of the recent tech I've reviewed recently all in one place on my Amazon page. I also have a list some of my recommended tech and my current camera equipment for filming:
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Music in video from:
Epidemic Sound:
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Timestamps:
0:00 Introduction
1:06 1. Comfort
3:26 2. Ease of use
5:59 3. Output
9:30 4. Battery
10:11 5. Build quality
11:00 6. Quality of light
11:52 7. Extra features
12:56 8. Value
13:18 Top picks: budget, running, overall
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#headlamps #flashlight #olight #fenix #thrunite #nitecore #petzl #silva

[logsdonfred]

U r so awesome and thorough. I wish u could do this with every product. Thank you so much. You were super helpful ❤

[aussieexpatwatches]

Incredible video. Really great detail, real world results, no table top only BS.

[Nordkapp]

Perun 2 mini, in NW, so good I bought a second one that arrived today. Light, great UI and simple to charge. Red light mode and power charge level as well as size sold it for me.
I used it for a night hike earlier in February and it lasted the 6 hours in various modes.

[christopherknight]

incredible indepth reviews man, enjoyed every minute of this and i really like how you go indepth wiht every feature. i think like many, we wished you could review every single thing on this planet like this!:)

[ericlafrance]

Armytek Wizard Pro and Pro Max has been my go-to a little heavy but worth the weight ... i have tried olight h2r, perun 2, milwaukee, and by far, armytek Wizard Pro and Pro Max is my favorite snap back in place quickly without having to struggle with the rubber secure strap. And i have seen a Wizard light last over 6 years of heavy mechanic use. Keep up the good work 👌

[stefanp]

The most important thing for users of headlamps for a long time is stable power for a few / several hours. Turbo mode is always a quick drop. However, it is forgotten that in High mode there are also BIG power drops, but in 20-30 minutes, as in the case of the overrated Fenix ​​hm65r / t. Power decrease in about 20-30 minutes by 60%. A $105 headlamp maintains around 140lm. I recommend testing on the "zeroair" or "candlepowerforums" sites. I also recommend the instructor to read it.

[-A.n.d.r.e.w-]

Nice review and a great selection of headlamps! I know I'm a year late to the party but a great one to include would be the Skilhunt H150. It's one of the very lightest headlamps available, has excellent beam and CRI thanks to the Nachia 519a, decent power for a 14500, a fantastic button and placement, and if you chuck a Vapcell F12 in it, great run times for a tiny torch. It's my pick for ultralight hiking and trail running.

[spaceman]

Im part of a caving community, the popular favorite is Zebalight

[stefanp]

Angle flashlights are the best when it comes to stable power. For example, the Fenix ​​hm61r V2 maintains a stable power of 600lm (according to the Fenix ​​chart), which would correspond to a working time of about 3 hours (according to Fenix ​​data). So if someone wants a constant power of 400-800lm, let them look for tests of this type of flashlights / headlamps. For longer trips, I recommend something for 18650, avoid 21700 - because they are too heavy. It's better to take a spare battery in your pocket than to carry a heavy flashlight on your head.

[yes-niod]

Thank you for doing this, we need more people like you measuring, and fact checking consumer products with real data

[Juraj]

wow didn't expect that. I commented on one of your other videos hoping to see Fenix hm65rt, and I mentioned how much I loved mine. love to see it come in first place. it isn't cheap but definitely very very worth the extra bucks. keep up the good work.

[MooseMan]

I enjoyed and learned a little from this comparison video. I prefer the Nitecore NU25 UL for camping/hiking and the Nitecore UT 27 for trail running.
I would enjoy a comparison of K9 collar lights and rechargeable LED reflective collars. Also maybe small packable rechargeable camp/tent/hammock lights (UCO, Niteize, Nitecore, Goal Zero etc) just to name a few. Thanks for your research and sharing

[dcentral]

You should try a Zebralight. Zebra uses proprietary PID regulation which gives super efficient runtimes at extreme outputs while their lights remain super small form-factor.

[gelisob]

I got myself a year ago GP discovery CH35 for working. It is similar to Perun 2 and I wanted to add, that things with magnet are also good for storing small metal things like screws or bolts while working on something. I put like 5-10 screws on the magnet and easy to take from there. I removed the top strap, didnt need to cut any seams I think.

[piproa]

Love my Fenix MH65r-T for trail running. I've added some padding between the strap and the plastic backing at the front which allows me to wear it a little tighter to prevent any bouncing without impacting confort.

[barronhelmutschnitzelnazi]

I own a Sofrin HS20 and Coast XPH304R which are very similar to those type of headlamps. I've noticed that you didn't include the headlamps with the big reflectors. I know they're not comfortable to wear especially during running due to being big and bulky but they're great spotting headlamps when you're walking around and wanting to see things further away. Most of them also tend to come with big battery packs with three 18650 or two 21700. Most known brands don't make headlamps with large reflectors from what I can see. I own a Superfire HL60 and that thing is probably the best long range headlamp I've seen around the market just around $50. Great spill/flood, far beam shot and power lasts pretty long(running two Molicel P42A). There's the Lumonite Leader at 6, 500 lumens and LedX SpotCobra/Cobra also rated 6, 500 lumens. They're very expensive at a few hundred dollars but I wonder if the price is worth it.

[trnqulizr]

Thank u for ur data gathering mr scientist!

[lassei]

you have missed the one above them all. The Ranceo PH9R.. It does have a red led at the rear and for all runners, cyclists ect. its a crusial and great feature. But thx for the big comparison you've made.

[mariusengelsen]

PETZL NAO! I have used the first model since it came out. Wanting to replace it for the newer models, but I have not, because it it so extremely good!
The smooth transitions between the spot, spill and dark, in combination with the reactive lightning, makes your night vision work really well as you do not blind yourself when lighting up objects near you.
And with the reactive lighting the battery times are insane, really!

The older versions is also easy to operate with thick mittens, and the lense does not gather snow wich can be difficult to dig out.

Great light, with the capabilities for emercency AAA batteries when needed 👍

[joshjennings]

The night buddy may be a great option.