Guide: Choose the right headlamp for hiking & outdoors

HEADLAMP GUIDE

Hiking & outdoors

Choose the right headlamp for Hiking & outdoors

A headlamp for hiking and outdoor adventures needs to withstand the elements – from water resistance to full dust- and waterproofing depending on where you are. When camping, a low light level is enough for pitching your tent, cooking, or reading. On day hikes along marked trails, you also don’t need much brightness, so go for something light and simple. For multi-day treks, long battery life is essential, and if you’ll be navigating, make sure your lamp has a map-reading mode for use in the dark.

Tips when choosing a headlamp for Hiking & outdoors

BRIGHTNESS

250–400 lumens is plenty to light up a marked trail. 450–700 lumens is suitable for hilly or more technical terrain. Around 250 lumens is sufficient for practical tasks like setting up camp or cooking.

BURN TIME & WEIGHT

Choose a lightweight lamp with a smaller battery for day hikes. For longer treks you’ll need a larger battery with extended burn time, especially if you’ll be using the lamp on several nights in a row. For camping, long battery life is more important than low weight – pick a model with an extra-low light mode that lasts longer.

MAP-READING MODE

Some of our models have a red light setting that preserves your night vision, and an orange setting that is optimal for map reading as it reduces glare and reflections.