Best Running Headlamps of 2024

For most trail runners, a headlamp is an essential piece of gear. Whether logging pre-dawn miles or racing through the night during an ultra, a reliable headlamp can make the difference between an adventurous jaunt and stumbling down a dark trail. Fortunately, many great headlamp options are on the market, and this guide can help you choose the best running headlamp for your needs and budget.

As we researched headlamps, we compared battery life, brightness settings, weight, and comfort. We selected the best lights for everyday trail running, ultrarunning, and ultra-lightweight backup options. Our testing team then took these headlamps to the trails for sunrise runs, 100-mile races, and multi-day fastpacking outings. We consolidated our findings and rounded up the best headlamps for running below, ranking our top picks according to a few key categories.

For more background information, see our buying advice, testing methodology, and frequently asked questions below our picks.

Best Running Headlamps

• Best Running Headlamp for Trails: Petzl Iko Core
• Best Running Headlamp for Trails — Runners-Up: Fenix HL18R-T Rechargeable Headlamp and ZebraLight H600d Mk IV 18650 XHP50.2 5000K High CRI Headlamp
• Best Headlamp for Ultrarunning: Petzl Nao RL
• Best Headlamp for Ultrarunning — Runner-Up: Fenix HM65R Rechargeable Headlamp
• Best Waistlight: UltrAspire Lumen 600 5.0 Waist Light
• Best Ultralight Running Headlamp: Nitecore NU25 UL
• Best Ultralight Running Headlamp — Runner-Up: Petzl Bindi

Best Running Headlamp for Trails: Petzl Iko Core ($105)

Pros:

• Comfortable
• Lightweight
• Accepts AAA batteries in addition to the included rechargeable battery

Cons:

• The battery pack is awkward to change out

The Petzl Iko Core is our top pick among the best headlamps for running. We love its balance of lighting technology, weight, and comfort. Although brighter lights and longer battery life used to commonly come with compromises in weight and comfort, Petzl made no such compromises here.

This headlamp emits 500 lumens of clean, cool light with two lighting beam options — flood or mixed — and three lighting levels. Our testers found that the middle setting of 100 lumens was plenty for running at night, but we appreciated the 500-lumen setting when the trail got technical. The silicone band was exceptionally comfortable and held the battery cradle easily, and we couldn’t even feel the LED panel on the front. It folds up for storage, so you can easily fit the headlamp into a pocket on your pack when you don’t need it. Finally, this headlamp weighs less than 2.5 ounces and is sufficiently lightweight for a trail runner’s needs.

Our only complaint with this headlamp is that changing the battery during an all-night run can be difficult, especially when cold and sleep-deprived.

Be sure to check out our in-depth Petzl Iko Core review.

Actual Weight: 2.4 ounces (68 grams) | Maximum Light Output: 500 lumens | Battery Source(s): 1,250-milliampere-hour Petzl Core lithium-ion rechargeable (included) or three AAA/LR03s (not included)

Shop the Petzl Iko Core

Best Running Headlamp for Trails — Runner-Up: Fenix HL18R-T Rechargeable Headlamp ($72)

Pros:

• Comfortable
• Easy to change batteries
• Great price

Cons:

• None

We have to admit that we were initially skeptical when we saw the Boa-style dial on the headband of the Fenix HL18R-T Rechargeable Headlamp. We doubted that such a system would hold up to the rigors of countless hours on the trail or repeatedly stuffing it into a running vest. However, testing proved our doubts unfounded, and we give Fenix props for creating an absolutely comfortable headband that is easy to adjust.

This headlamp’s dial on the back allows enough micro-adjustment for literally dialing in the perfect fit. The only more innovative strap design right now is the Petzl Iko Core, as reviewed above, though we think this Fenix headband is actually more comfortable. Another advantage of this headlamp is that it’s super easy to change the battery on the go — and if you’re out there long enough to need fresh batteries, you need the process to be easy. Additional headlamp features include a 500-lumen lamp with three brightness settings of 70, 200, and 500 lumens, and it has an option for spotlight or floodlight.

You can lock this headlamp when unused so it doesn’t turn on accidentally. The battery indicator is also easy to see, so you can tell how much power you have left. This headlamp can run on AAA batteries or the included rechargeable lithium-polymer battery pack. On the very lowest setting, it will run for about 43 hours, though realistically, you’ll need to have it at its medium or high setting for trail running, when it will run for eight or three hours, respectively, on the rechargeable battery pack.

Although we were initially worried about snapping the dial strings and rendering the headlamp useless in the field, we’ve come to appreciate the click-and-twist headband adjustment. As we’ve racked up early morning and late evening miles with this headlamp, we’ve found no durability issues and discovered this to be a great light.

Actual weight: 3.2 ounces (92 grams) | Maximum light output: 500 lumens | Battery source(s): 1,300-milliampere-hour lithium-polymer rechargeable (included) or three AAA batteries (not included)

Shop the Fenix HL18R-T Rechargeable Headlamp

Best Running Headlamp for Trails — Runner-Up: ZebraLight H600d Mk IV 18650 XHP50.2 5000K High CRI Headlamp ($89)

Pros:

• Programmable brightness settings
• Comfortable headband
• Batteries are easy to change in the field

Cons:

• Heavy for a daily running headlamp
• Only available for purchase in the U.S.
• What a name!

Team iRunFar has long been a fan of what ZebraLight does in the lighting industry, and the ZebraLight H600d Mk IV 18650 XHP50.2 5000K High CRI Headlamp is another example of why we continue using products from this company. This brand has long been known for having a ton of programmable brightness settings in its lights. Although it’s a bit of a commitment to program your headlamp — and we recommend setting it up at home with the instructions before you’re in the field — the upside is that you’ll get to know your headlamp intimately and eventually learn to program it on the fly.

The headband is simple, soft, and comfortable, and the batteries are a breeze to swap out on the run, making this headlamp a great daily trail running companion. Just don’t ask us to say its name aloud five times fast.

We found that the battery is a bit more than most people need for a daily trail running headlamp. While we would have considered this headlamp for the ultrarunning category of this guide, it doesn’t have a sweet spot of brightness and run time that works well for a whole night of running on trails. Instead, this headlamp will be incredibly bright for several hours during a pre-dawn or post-dusk run. Unfortunately, if you keep this light at the brightness required to run trails, it will run out of charge before the night is up. If it weren’t for being a little heavier than we would like, we would call it an ideal daily runner.

Actual Weight: 4.6 ounces (129 grams) | Maximum Light Output: 1,616 lumens | Battery Source(s): 2,600-milliampere-hour 18650-size lithium-ion rechargeable (not included)

Shop the ZebraLight H600d Mk IV 18650 XHP50.2 5000K High CRI Headlamp

Best Headlamp for Ultrarunning: Petzl Nao RL ($180)

Pros:

• Reactive Lighting system automatically adapts to changing light conditions
• The battery will last through the night
• It is relatively easy to change out the battery

Cons:

• Not our top choice for comfort
• Pricey

The Petzl Nao RL is the updated version of the Petzl Nao+ — the go-to ultrarunning headlamp for a half-decade. As with its predecessor, this headlamp has a lot going on. First and foremost is its lighting, which comes in both regular and Reactive Lighting options. The latter setting adapts to ambient light by growing dimmer when it’s lighter out and brighter when it gets dark. This can extend battery life by dimming the bulb when there’s enough ambient light not to need full lighting.

This light has a red light in the back to keep you visible to approaching cars or other runners. It can illuminate as a solid red light or a strobe, and you can control it independently from the front light. The reflective headband also increases your visibility to others. This makes it an excellent choice for trail runners and people who regularly run on streets where nighttime visibility is paramount for safety.

When it comes to the battery, the whole package is not ultralight, but one battery will give you an entire night of decently lit trail running. We can say from experience that it’s probably worth the 4 a.m. battery switch-out to make the last hour or so of darkness a little brighter. On that note, switching batteries in the field is a relatively easy, two-step process.

This headlamp does have a couple of downsides. Its comfort is not amazing, especially if you have your hair in a ponytail. We recommend a buff or backward cap under it for a full night of running. Also, it’s expensive. But this is our favorite option if you’re looking for a headlamp with Reactive Lighting or one you can trust for all-night runs.

Be sure to check out our in-depth Petzl Nao RL review.

Actual Weight: 5.2 ounces (146 grams) | Maximum Light Output: 1,500 lumens | Battery Source(s): 3,200-milliampere-hour lithium-ion rechargeable (included)

Shop the Petzl Nao RL

Best Headlamp for Ultrarunning — Runner-Up: Fenix HM65R Rechargeable Headlamp ($132)

Pros:

• Multiple lighting options with a maximum of 1,400 lumens
• Long battery run time (maximum 280 hours)
• A reasonable price for what you get

Cons:

• Heavier than comparable running headlamps
• Both the light and the battery are in the front

The Fenix HM65R Rechargeable Headlamp is a feature-filled package and an excellent headlamp for ultrarunning. The headlamp includes spotlight and floodlight modes that operate individually or combined for a maximum of 1,400 lumens of light, making it one of the brightest lights on our list. With a powerful 2,600-milliampere-hour 18650 lithium-ion rechargeable battery and three lighting options in both the floodlight and spotlight settings, this headlamp offers plenty of light for either a whole night of super brightly lit running or two nights with decent lighting without having to charge or change the battery.

Both the lights and the battery are stored on the front of the headlamp, which means a lot is going on up front, and you’ll want to wear a layer, like a folded neck gaiter or beanie, underneath it for all-night comfort. While it may look like you’re carrying a small alien on your forehead when you wear it, you’ll have a super high-quality headlamp made for being out for as long as your legs will carry you. If you’re someone who doesn’t want to worry about a headlamp dying in the middle of the night, the performance and batter of this light easily outweigh its drawbacks.

Note that Fenix recently updated this headlamp with a second version, the Fenix HM65R-T V2.0. We are currently testing this new light and will update this guide in the future based on testing feedback.

Actual Weight: 5.2 ounces (146 grams) | Maximum Light Output: 1,400 lumens | Battery Source(s): 2,600-milliampere-hour 18650 lithium-ion rechargeable (included) or two CR123As (not included)

Shop the Fenix HM65R Rechargeable Headlamp

Best Waistlight: UltrAspire Lumen 600 5.0 Waist Light ($140)

Pros:

• Comfortable fit across the belly
• The best option if you don’t like wearing a light on your head
• Easy to change batteries in the field

Cons:

• Heavy and bulky

There are many reasons to use a waistlight, like the UltrAspire Lumen 600 5.0 Waist Light, instead of or in addition to a traditional headlamp. Some people find that a waist-worn light gives them better depth perception on nighttime trails, while others simply dislike having a light attached to their head while running at night. Additionally, some runners like using both a waistlamp and a headlamp to maximize their vision at night. We’ve turned to the UltrAspire waistlight option for many years, and the brand continues to improve on this time-tested option.

Our team has been testing older versions of this waist light for many years, and it remains a favorite. The upgrades, like the upgraded USB Type-C port and cord on the 4.0 version, are minor. The 5.0 version now has a built-in zippered pocket for storage of small items. The charging system is also faster on this most recent version of the waist light.

This light is super comfortable around the waist and never pressed on our testers’ sensitive lower abdomens during ultras. It was easy to adjust both the belt and the angle of the light, and the buckle was easy to unclip with tired or cold hands. The light’s tilt mechanism makes it easy to adapt the beam on the fly for uphills, downhills, and flat terrain. It’s also easy to change this light’s battery in the field.

The main downside of this system is its weight and bulk. It’s not lightweight, and for those looking to shave grams, this can be a hefty load to bear. Similarly, the waistbelt makes this light bulkier than others, so it’s not one you can carry comfortably in your hand or easily stuff into your hydration vest when the sun comes up. However, this could be a great option if your priority is having a powerful waist-worn light to get you through a long night of running.

In our UltrAspire Lumen 600 3.0 Waist Light review, you can learn more about the previous version of this light, which is essentially the same as the current one except for the charging port and zippered pocket.

Claimed Weight: 5.1 ounces (145 grams) | Maximum Light Output: 600 lumens | Battery Source(s): 2,600-milliampere-hour 18650-size lithium-ion rechargeable (included)

Shop the UltrAspire Lumen 600 5.0 Waist Light

Best Ultralight Running Headlamp: Nitecore NU25 UL ($37)

Pros:

• It weighs less than two ounces
• Great value
• Good backup headlamp option

Cons:

• We don’t love the aesthetic

The Nitecore NU25 UL might be the niftiest little headlamp you didn’t know existed — or that you needed. But if you’re someone who has gotten caught out in the dark during a run that’s gone a little too long and wished you had something other than your phone to light your way back home, you’ll appreciate this little light that you can keep permanently stowed in your hydration vest.

This headlamp is an upgraded version of the original Nitecore NU25, which we learned about through the thru-hiking community that has known about this little gem for a long time. In addition to increasing the lumens and the size of the battery, the NU25 UL has a different headband than its predecessor. Additionally, its band is reflective, so it adds a little bit of visibility and safety if you’re running on roads in the dark.

Weighing under two ounces, this is a great backup or simple ultralight headlamp if you’re counting grams. It is a powerhouse of light for its weight, providing 400 lumens of light at its highest setting. Its 200-lumen setting is sufficient for a couple of hours of light for trail running, as long as the trail isn’t super technical. The dim settings will allow you to do chores around your campsite while consuming almost no battery power. The built-in lithium-ion battery charges easily with a USB-C cord.

Our only complaint with this headlamp is its aesthetic. We can hardly ding something so wonderful just on looks. However, it does remind us of a kid’s toy headlamp.

Actual Weight: 1.6 ounces (46 grams) | Maximum Light Output: 400 lumens | Battery Source(s): 650-milliampere-hour lithium-ion rechargeable (included)

Shop the Nitecore NU25 UL

Best Ultralight Running Headlamp — Runner-Up: Petzl Bindi ($50)

Pros:

• Great backup light
• Ultralight
• Comfortable

Cons:

• Not bright enough for technical trails

The small and sleek Petzl Bindi is an excellent backup headlamp to keep stashed in your hydration pack or running belt for those times you either forgot your regular light or forgot to charge it. Tiny and compact, this headlamp weighs barely more than an ounce, and it’s so comfortable that you could easily forget you’re wearing it. It’s shaped to fit the forehead and is a cinch to adjust (literally). The light has three modes and can be tilted up or down to light the trail ahead. It’s rechargeable via a micro USB port on the side, which indicates it’s fully charged with a green light. A lock switch can keep it from turning on accidentally in your pack. For a tiny little light, it has a lot going on.

Of course, the primary downside of the Bindi is that its brightness tops out at 200 lumens, and most runners want more light for extended nighttime running, especially on technical terrain. But it’s hard to beat as a backup light or for someone looking to shave weight. It’s also great for digging through your car or hydration vest for spare gloves at the trailhead or keeping in your tent for nighttime bathroom breaks.

Actual Weight: 1.2 ounces (35 grams) | Maximum Light Output: 200 lumens | Battery Source(s): 680-milliampere-hour lithium-ion rechargeable battery with micro USB port

Shop the Petzl Bindi

Comparing the Best Running Headlamps

HEADLAMP	PRICE	LIGHT OUTPUT	BEAM DISTANCE	AVERAGE RUN TIME
Petzl Iko Core	$105	500 lumens	100 meters	9 hours
Fenix HL18R-T Rechargeable Headlamp	$72	500 lumens	82 meters	8 hours
ZebraLight H600d Mk IV 18650 XHP50.2 5000K High CRI Headlamp	$89	1,616 lumens	Not listed	12.5 hours
Petzl Nao RL	$180	1,500 lumens	200 meters	5 hours
Fenix HM65R Rechargeable Headlamp	$132	1,400 lumens	163 meters	42 hours
UltrAspire Lumen 600 5.0 Waist Light	$140	600 lumens	Not listed	10 hours
Nitecore NU25 UL	$37	400 lumens	64 meters	5 hours
Petzl Bindi	$50	200 lumens	36 meters	3 hours

Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose a Running Headlamp

Brightness

For many runners, brightness is the top consideration when thinking about the best running headlamp. However, it’s worth noting that brighter is not necessarily better. Too much and too little light can cause eye strain over the long run. A better approach is to determine the right brightness level for your needs. Some factors worth considering when thinking about your ideal headlamp brightness include how long you’ll use the light (for an hour before dawn or through an entire night), what type of terrain you’ll be running (technical versus non-technical), how fast you’ll be moving, and weather.

Timothy Gorbold, Product Design Engineer and veteran ultrarunner, put it this way: “Ideal brightness is a perfect “Well, it depends” question. Generally, 300 lumens with the ability to adjust up to 500 or 800 lumens is a solid compromise between lighting the surroundings, creating the shadows needed for confident foot placement, and headlamp runtime.”

Our testing team loves the Petzl Nao RL’s reactive lighting setting, which automatically optimizes brightness according to ambient light.

Type of Light

Headlamps with multiple light settings usually offer two types of lighting — flood and long-throw — or a combination of the two. Floodlighting casts a broad cone of light over a shorter distance and is ideal for digging something out of your pack, reading a map, or setting up camp in the dark. The human eyes can see in about a 100-degree cone in front of the face, and most floodlighting illuminates that area.

Long-throw light, also called spotlight, is the most common type of lighting used on the trail. It casts a narrower beam out in front of you, lighting up the trail ahead at the expense of your peripheral vision. Many runners appreciate using both types of lighting at once to help reduce strain on their eyes during the long dark hours of the night.

Having enough light on the trail directly ahead will be most important for runners, though having multiple light options is a bonus. Fortunately, most headlamps nowadays offer both types of lighting, and some — like the Petzl Iko Core and Fenix HM65R Rechargeable Headlamp — also have a setting that provides both flood and long-throw light simultaneously. This will drain your battery quickly if used all the time but could come in handy if you lose sight of the trail in the dark or are navigating off-trail and need all the help you can get.

Type of Battery

Headlamps generally use rechargeable batteries or AAA or AA batteries. There are a few varieties of rechargeable batteries, including Petzl’s proprietary Core rechargeable battery and the 18650 lithium-ion rechargeable battery found in many of the headlamps above. The commonly used 2,600-milliampere-hour 18650 battery is popular for its reliability, energy density-to-weight ratio, and ability to recharge many times — valuable features to a trail runner.

“I’m a big fan of rechargeable batteries and love the energy density to weight ratio of lithium-ion battery packs that are either external to the headlamp or easily swappable if they run out of juice, or I’m going on longer runs in the dark,” says Gorbold. He adds, “Having a spare battery pack is a worthwhile investment because I’ve certainly forgotten to charge one before a training session in the dark.”

Generally, we recommend choosing a headlamp with a rechargeable battery since it’s more efficient, convenient, and better for the environment. Some headlamps, like the Fenix HL18R-T Rechargeable Headlamp, come with a rechargeable battery and can also run on AA or AAA batteries. This is ideal for situations where you may not have access to an outlet or battery bank to charge your headlamp, such as on an extended backpacking trip. Carrying a few spare AA or AAA batteries in your pack is often easier than a power bank.

Battery Life

Battery life is one of the most important considerations when choosing a headlamp. The best running headlamp is the one that won’t unexpectedly die on you. No one wants to be stuck on a ridgeline or descend a steep scree slope with a headlamp that’s out of juice.

Gorbold, a design engineer who’s developed lighting solutions for outdoor adventures, says there’s good news on the lighting technology front. He shares, “The recent advancements in both LED component and control circuit technology has revolutionized the efficiency and reliability of headlamps. The LED (Light Emitting Diode) efficiency has dramatically improved over the last decade, at an increase of about four lumens/watt every year, and now averages about 100 lumens/watt. This means that less battery is needed to produce the same amount of light output.”

Continuing, Gorbold explains, “Additionally, a lot of work has been done to refine the LED driver circuitry, which now includes functionality like switching and current regulation that both prolong the runtime of the LED light and make the light output more consistent over time as the battery starts to drain.” In summary, modern LED lights are more consistent and efficient than those of even a decade ago. 

Some advanced lamps, such as the Petzl Nao RL, have Reactive Lighting technology that senses the available light and adjusts the brightness accordingly. This helps optimize battery life while providing enough light to see.

Fit and Comfort

As something you’re going to wear on your head, potentially for hours at a time, a headlamp should be comfortable. Pick out a light with enough padding that won’t cut into your forehead and is secure enough that you don’t have to crank it down incredibly tight. A tight headlamp can cause headaches and divots in your forehead. You’ll also want a strap that won’t snare your hair and is easy to adjust on the move. We found that the head harness of the Petzl Iko Core was incredibly comfortable and didn’t require us to tighten it too much for it to stay stable.

As a veteran ultrarunner and lighting engineer, Gorbold shares his strategy for lighting his runs. “For overnight ultra runs, I always use a headlamp with an over-the-top strap and remote battery so that I can relax the tightness of the straps just a little and still have good light stability when running.” 

We recommend playing around with the fit of your headlamp to figure out what works best for your running needs, especially if you plan to use your headlamp through an entire night during an ultra. “It’s like sunglasses that pinch just a little too tightly over my ears,” Gorbold says of a poorly fitting headlamp. “It feels fine for an hour, but six hours later, I’ll have a headache.”

Some headlamps use a soft, sweat-wicking material for the band, while others use minimalistic cord-like structures. Lighter straps, like those on the Petzl Bindi, may appeal to the gram counters, but they also hold the headlamp less securely, and you may end up with a bouncing beam of light as you run down the trail. This can cause eye fatigue as the hours rack up. If you are using the light in the winter or for a more technical outing, look for one that will be comfortable over a running hat or helmet.

The Fenix HL18R-T Rechargeable Headlamp has an incredibly comfortable strap and is easy to wear for long stretches.

Portability

Whether you’re looking for a headlamp that will always live in your pack as a just-in-case option or one that you can use regularly for morning and evening runs, you’ll want one that is easy to carry. Headlamps like the Petzl Bindi with minimalist straps fit the most easily into hydration vest pockets but often compromise on fit, comfort, and stability. Among the options with robust strap designs, we found that the Petzl Iko Core will fold up and fit easily into a running vest.

There are situations where you’ll want or need to carry a backup headlamp, like during a long ultra with many hours of running at night or during a race that requires a second headlamp as part of mandatory gear kits. The Nitecore NU25 UL’s small size and bright light make it a great headlamp option, especially if you don’t anticipate having to use it regularly.

In general, it’s also a good idea to have a backup light source in your pack whenever you head out into the backcountry.

Weight

While it may seem that the slight differences in weight between headlamps won’t make a difference, you have to remember that you’re carrying that weight on your head. Over many hours of concentrating on the trail, even a tiny amount of extra weight can add additional strain on your neck.

The distribution of the headlamp’s weight is also important. Too much weight on the front of a headlamp can make it uncomfortable for long runs. The Petzl Iko Core is not only an incredibly light headlamp, but the weight is distributed between the front and back, making it even more comfortable.

While getting the lightest headlamp possible may be tempting, you’ll compromise on brightness and battery life. Much of a headlamp’s weight comes from the battery, so you’ll want to think carefully about how much light and run time you need and then consider weight after you’ve decided on those factors.

Why You Should Trust Us

We run far at iRunFar, which often includes running in the dark during 100-mile races, multi-day fastpack adventures, or during pre-dawn or post-dark times. Our testers have experience running on their local trails in the dark and at premiere long-distance races like the Hardrock 100, UTMB, and Tor des Géants, where it’s common for some finishers to endure more than one dark night on the trail.

Our extensive testing process ensures you get the best headlamp for running for your money and the specific headlamp that fits your needs. As ultra-long distance runs and races have become more mainstream, battery life has become even more important. Even if you’re not racing through the dark but running regularly in the mornings and evenings, you’ll want a high-quality headlamp. For this guide, we’ve identified both heritage brands and new innovative companies bringing light to the trail, and we put each of the lights above through the paces — testing their durability, versatility, fit, and battery life — to ensure that you won’t be caught in the dark out on the trail.

For this guide’s How to Choose and FAQ sections, we consulted Timothy Gorbold, a Product Design Engineer who has researched and developed lighting solutions. Timothy is a semi-retired ultra-endurance racer and lifetime adventurer with three decades of technical product design and development experience. He is passionate about performance gear and amazing experiences outdoors. His company, Backstitch, Inc., develops outdoor-inspired accessible products to help people experience nature.

Frequently Asked Questions About Running Headlamps

What is a lumen?

A lumen is the International System of Units (SI) unit for the “measure of the total quantity of visible light emitted by a source per unit of time.” In runner terms, this tells us how bright a headlamp is. In general, the brighter the light, the further you can see onto the trail, though there are differences depending on how the headlamp disperses the amount of light — whether in flood mode or spotlight mode. The average headlamp provides 300 to 600 lumens, but most modern lights have multiple brightness settings. The Petzl Iko Core maxes out at 500 lumens, which is plenty for most trail running applications.

As lumens increase, power usage increases, and battery run time drops. Thus, there’s a fine line between having a bright light that will run long enough and having to carry around a heavy battery on your head.

As runners, we want a headlamp bright enough to illuminate rocks and other terrain features underfoot. However, we also want enough battery power to last until we get where we’re going — whether back to the trailhead or through the entire night. However, we also don’t want our headlamps to weigh too much. Therefore, we always seek the right balance to meet our specific needs.

For everyday trail running, where you only need a few hours of light at a time, we love the Fenix HL18R-T Rechargeable Headlamp because it provides plenty of light and doesn’t weigh a lot. When we need a headlamp that shines brightly through the night, our top pick is the Petzl Nao RL.

How bright should my headlamp be for trail running?

The ideal headlamp brightness for trail running depends on multiple factors, but 200 to 300 lumens is a good starting point. The Fenix HL18R-T Rechargeable Headlamp offers 500 lumens, while the Petzl Bindi maxes out at 200 lumens.

Timothy Gorbold, a Product Design Engineer with decades of experience in ultrarunning and ultra-distance orienteering events, recommends choosing a lamp with 300 lumens that adjusts up to 500 or 800 lumens for technical trails, poor weather, or extra dark forests. To help you decide, Gorbold poses the following: “What are the conditions you’re anticipating on your run: open terrain, any ambient or moonlight, forested trails, rough roots and rocks, smooth rolling, stormy rain, fog, winter snow, singletrack, forest roads? Also, what is your confidence and comfort level, running speed, and duration of run?” All of these factors can help steer you toward the best light for your needs. 

More light, up to a point, will help you move faster, especially over technical terrain. Our testers found that the Petzl Iko Core provided the right light for running on most trails.

What types of batteries do headlamps use?

Most headlamps use rechargeable battery packs or AA or AAA batteries. This versatility makes it easy to swap out batteries on the go. Many Petzl lights, including the Petzl Iko Core, use a proprietary rechargeable battery. Rechargeable batteries can be more environmentally friendly and keep you from having to run through potentially dozens, if not hundreds, of disposable batteries over the lifespan of a headlamp. The other advantage of a headlamp with a rechargeable battery is that you can always start a long night run with a full charge without wondering how much power a set of disposable batteries has left.

Most rechargeable batteries can have enough charge cycles that you don’t have to worry about decreased performance over time. All of the headlamps with rechargeable batteries in this guide are charged with some sort of USB cable and will charge from empty to full within a few hours.

How much battery power do I need on my trail running headlamp?

The ideal battery power, and thus run time, depends on your intended headlamp use. If you primarily run during daylight but occasionally start or finish in the dark, battery power will be less important than for someone who consistently runs far into the night during training runs or races.

For standard trail running, the best running headlamp will have enough power to last four to six hours at 200 to 300 lumens. For ultrarunning, look for a headlamp with enough power to last eight to 12 hours and an easy mechanism for changing settings and swapping batteries. Larger batteries, such as the one used by the Petzl Nao RL, can provide nearly two nights of reasonable lighting.

If your headlamp has a rechargeable battery, all you need to do is ensure it’s fully charged before you head into the night. If it takes disposable batteries, it’s worth putting in a fresh set before any long nights and always keeping some spare batteries in your pack, just in case. The Fenix HL18R-T Rechargeable Headlamp can run off a rechargeable battery or AAA.

“My personal general guideline is to take enough battery capacity for double my planned run duration,” says Gorbold. “If I’m heading out on a training run that will be three hours in the dark and I’m comfortable on the medium setting of my headlamp that puts out 300 lumens, I’m taking my battery pack that will last for six hours, just in case.” Gorbold notes, “Most good-quality headlamp brands supply a table that outlines the headlamp settings along with lumens output and the anticipated runtime for each. With standardized testing, the data tables for the headlamps have become quite reliable and consistent, which is hugely helpful when deciding on how to illuminate your nighttime adventures.”

What are the different modes of headlamps?

Most headlamps have a few general modes: a constant or flashing white light and a constant or flashing red light. More complex lamps allow for more adjustments, including the number of lumens of the white light and the beam width. Petzl’s Reactive Lighting technology — featured on the Petzl Nao RL — adjusts the brightness of the light automatically depending on the amount of ambient light available.

When should I use an alternative light source like a waistlight?

While headlamps are the most common type of light for trail runners, some waistlight options, like the UltrAspire Lumen 600 5.0 Waist Light, are becoming more popular — especially among ultrarunners racing 100 to 200-plus miles. Waist-worn lights emit their beam at a different angle than a headlamp, which may be preferable for some runners. Gorbold explains: “Waist-worn lights have the advantage of casting the light at a lower angle, which enhances the shadows made by obstacles on the trail.”

Waistlights are further advantageous during inclement weather: “Similar to fog lights on your car, if it is snowing or raining, it is a lot more visually comfortable to have the light lower down and not reflecting off the drops and flakes right in front of your eyes,” says Gorbold. 

Finally, some runners simply don’t like wearing a device on their heads for hours at a time. Gorbold points out, “There is also the advantage of getting the additional weight and batteries off from your head and down lower on your waist where it can be more comfortable.” Our testing team appreciated that the UltrAspire Lumen 600 5.0 Waist Light did not put any pressure on their sometimes-sensitive lower abdomens. 

If you don’t want something extra on your head, prefer a wider field of vision, or want the advantage of multiple light sources, a waistlight may be the solution. Some ultrarunners will use a waistlight and a headlamp during full-night adventures like 100-mile races to have one light shining on the trail and another shining in whatever direction their head turns as they take in their surroundings. The Petzl Iko Core is quite light, and our testers found that the somewhat rigid head harness made it so that the light didn’t have to be tight around their head to keep from bouncing around.

My head starts to hurt when wearing a headlamp all night. How can I make it more comfortable?

If your headlamp is consistently causing discomfort after a few hours, you can try a few things. One is adding a layer of fabric underneath your headlamp band, as we suggested with the Fenix HM65R Rechargeable Headlamp. A soft layer of fabric can help reduce the band’s pressure against your head and keep it from making imprints on your forehead.

A second option is to choose a headlamp with more than one strap to help disperse the pressure — like the ZebraLight H600d Mk IV 18650 XHP50.2 5000K High CRI Headlamp, which we found extremely comfortable. Similarly, trying a lighter headlamp or one with a battery pack on the back, such as the Petzl Iko Core, might also alleviate discomfort. If all else fails, we recommend trying a waistlight, such as the UltrAspire Lumen 600 5.0 Waist Light.

Do I need both a front and rear light?

If you frequently run on roads in the dark, a rear-facing light can help cars see you. Some headlamps, like the Petzl Nao RL, have a built-in red light on the head strap, but you can always carry a small additional red light to provide a flashing light for visibility. An extra light for increased visibility can also be useful if you’re running on popular trails in the dark. They can make your presence known to other trail users coming up behind you and help avoid collisions or startling each other. Check out our Best Reflective Running Gear guide if you’re concerned about nighttime visibility.

My headlamp battery ran out on the trail. How do I prevent this from happening next time?

The best way to avoid getting caught in the dark is to carry spare batteries, a backup headlamp that’s fully charged, has fresh batteries, or both. We also recommend regularly charging your everyday headlamp and topping it off before any big adventures that will begin or end in darkness. See the sections above about batteries to learn more tips from lighting design expert and ultrarunner Timothy Gorbold.

It’s also important to take precautions to prevent your headlamp from accidentally turning on in your pack and depleting the battery. Many headlamps, including the Fenix HL18R-T Rechargeable Headlamp, have a locking mechanism to prevent this.

If you’re worried about your headlamp’s power level, keeping it on the lowest possible brightness setting will help extend its run time. However, if you run out of battery on the trail, you’ll appreciate having a small backup light, like the Nitecore NU25 UL or Petzl Bindi, to get you back to the trailhead. Unfortunately, we’ve yet to obtain and test the Light of Eärendil, “a light for you in dark places when all other lights go out.” So, keep your batteries charged and a backup light on hand!

Call for Comments

• What’s your favorite running headlamp?
• Trail runners, what headlamp do you use the most on the trails?
• What is your prized running headlamp for all-night ultrarunning?

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