Finding the best torch can be a bit of a pain – especially with so many different companies throwing their hat into the ring.
Picture this – you’re on a fantastic hill walk, enjoying your time in the countryside. You got out the door a little bit later than you would have liked this morning, but the route is only supposed to take a few hours and you’ll be back before dark.
In an ideal world, everything goes to plan and you’re back to the car before you run out of daylight. In the real world, you’re stumbling down semi-technical terrain as the daylight rapidly fades and you wish you had something other than an iPhone 7 lighting the way. It’s a situation that we’ve pretty much all managed to get into at one time or another.
Nobody needs a head torch until they really need a head torch. It’s unlikely that you’ll get caught out more than once without one of these inexpensive headlights – we all learn our lesson after the first. Packing away a simple head torch in your hiking rucksack is something that we always recommend, regardless of the time of year.
So which head torch should you buy and what should you be looking for when searching for the best head torch to complete your list of essential hill walking kit?
A powerful head torch perfect for lightweight adventures. The Black Diamond Storm 500-r is a reliable, rechargeable, waterproof headlamp with multiple light modes and an elastic headband.
A waterproof, rechargeable headlamp ready for any adventure – the Black Diamond Storm 500-r is our top head torch pick for the Great British outdoors.
The feature-rich head torch uses a BD 2400 Li-ion battery – charged by a micro-USB. Used correctly (fully charged after each adventure), you’ll never run out of juice on a descent again.
Multiple modes including full strength in proximity and distance modes, dimming, strobe, red, green and blue night-vision make this a highly featured headlamp. A max burn time of 350 hours at 6 lumens or a max output of 500 lumens for 7 hours is seriously impressive.
The sustainable elastic headband, made from recycled Repreve fabric, helps you prioritise both comfort and the planet. With four colours to choose from (Black, Azul, Octane and Optical Yellow), you’ll look great while doing it.
There are a handful of important features that you are going to want to skim through and check off as you search for the best head torch to fit your needs.
The brightness of a head torch, given in lumens, is probably the most important feature that you’re going to want to look for in a head torch.
The number of lumens varies between models with a range of around 100 to 1000 covered in our list of the best below. The average maximum lumens of a head torch sits around the 300 mark and offers ample light for most walkers and hikers.
The maximum burn time, given in hours, is the maximum amount of time that the head torch can emit light before a recharge is required.
Most head torches offer a low light mode that is good for reading at night or making your way around the tent. The maximum burn times can range between 20 and 200 hours although some head torches are easier to recharge than others.
The majority of head torches available today come with multiple lighting options, with the bulk of torches at least offering a maximum and minimum brightness.
Other lighting options that may be included in a head torch package include a red light mode, useful for preserving your night vision, and a strobe mode for emergency situations. Typically, it’s good to have a range of different brightness options as well as these additional modes for maximum flexibility in lighting.
The ingress protection rating, given as IPX4 (for example), is the figure that highlights just how resistant a head torch is to dust, dirt and water.
For walkers and hikers in the UK, this rating is particularly important thanks to our less than ideal, shall we say, climate. With rain often coming in sideways when we least expect it, the last thing that you want is for your head torch to decide it likes the weather less than you do.
We would recommend going for a rating of IPX8 where possible as this ensures that the devices can be fully submerged underwater although this is a rare trait of the humble head torch. IPX6 and IPX4 aren’t quite as capable as the elite-level IPX8, but should suffice in the majority of situations in the UK.
There are a range of other important features (and not so important features) that can be considered when choosing the best head torch.
This can include the weight of the accessory, the type of power source (batteries vs. rechargeable), the band material, colour choice and of course, budget. You can view our top head torches for hiking, climbing, running and whatever else you like to do in the great outdoors below!
The iconic choice for trail running and ultra-racing. The auto-adjusting, uber-powerful NAO RL is the ultimate in headlamp technology.
Automatic reactive lighting, ultra-powerful 1500-lumen maximum output and a perfectly balanced design. The rechargeable Petzl NAO RL boasts the ultimate headtorch technology.
The iconic Petzl NAO RL is the ultimate headtorch for serious trail runners and ultra-racers.
An ergonomic design features a rear-mounted battery pack, an additional supporting top strap and high levels of adjustability making for a highly balanced piece of kit. At 145g, the lamp isn’t the lightest option – but with careful balancing, it’s one of the most stable on the market.
The headlamp is ultra-powerful with 1500 lumens of brightness on tap. A wide (close proximity) or mixed beam (close proximity and distance) pattern can be used with three white light modes (Max Burn Time, Standard And Max Power). A rear-facing red light (solid or strobe) and reflective headband allows you to remain visible when racing or road-running at night.
Petzl’s Reactive Lightning technology automatically adjusts the lamp’s ambient brightness. Not only is burn time optimized, but manual operations are reduced – allowing you to focus on your footwork.
A lightweight, powerful rechargeable head torch with weather resistance and red lighting.
A fantastic alternative to the Black Diamond Storm 500-r. The rechargeable Petzl Actik Core 600L is a powerful lightweight head torch for dynamic outdoor activities.
A powerful head torch with plenty of performance. The Petzl Actik Core is a versatile, lightweight head torch perfect for minimalist adventures.
At only 88g, the Actik Core is an easy-to-use headlamp great for hiking, camping, backpacking and bikepacking. With 600 lumens and 115m maximum distance to play with, the Actik Core packs a real punch. It’s a great all-rounder.
The reflective headband is both detachable and washable. A symmetrical design makes for foolproof adjustment for a comfortable fit. The Actik Core is compatible with both the HELMET ADAPT and BIKE ADAPT 2 mounts. This allows the versatile lamp to be attached to both helmets and bicycles.
The Actik can be used as a lantern when camping thanks to the handy storage pouch. A phosphorescent reflector, great for finding the head torch in a dark tent, is a useful addition.
Fantastic for dog walking, late camp nights and sunset hikes. A great all-rounder that doesn’t break the bank.
A compact, comfortable headtorch that’s perfect for light to moderate use. It’s a simple, easy-to-use lamp covering everything you need and nothing you don’t.
Celebrating more than 20 years on the market, the Petzl Tikka is the head torch that started it all. It’s a simple, easy-to-use lamp covering everything you need and nothing you don’t.
The head torch uses a simple three-setting configuration (Max Burn Time, Standard and Max Power). Red and strobe modes are also offered and a lock option prevents the lamp from turning on in transit. When camping, the Tikka can be transformed into a lantern thanks to the handy storage pouch.
The headlamp uses 3x AAA batteries (included). A battery-level display lets you know when to replace them. To boost performance, use the CORE rechargeable battery to elevate the headlamp.
A 350-lumen maximum brightness may be on the low side. But the 70m maximum distance is plenty for most adventures for light to moderate use.
Whether it’s a lightweight lamp, a trail-running companion or fantastic all-rounder you’re looking for – a good head torch is always a worthwhile investment.
Have a question about the best head torches for UK hiking? Check out our FAQ below.
The Black Diamond Storm 500-r is our favourite overall head torch for UK adventures.
At 1500 lumens, the Petzl NAO RL is the brightest recommended head torch.
With a clever balanced, ergonomic design the Petzl NAO RL is the best head torch for trail running and ultra-racing.
Red light is used on a head torch as this preserves your night vision whilst still allowing a light source to illuminate your surroundings.
Still not managed to solve your issue? Don’t be afraid to reach out and send us a message on one of our socials – we’re always happy to help!
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