Petzl Camping and Hiking

How to Choose a Headlamp (6 min read) 

Brightness  

• Typically, the higher the number of lumens, the brighter the light.   

• A headlamp with a high lumens count will consume energy at a higher rate than one with a lower lumens number. 

• Most headlamps offer several brightness levels like low, mid and high (max). Others may offer an emergency strobe or red-light mode for nighttime vision. 

Consider the power source 

• Lithium battery–powered headlamps are a good choice for cold-weather use, since lithium batteries outperform alkaline batteries in cold conditions.

• Rechargeable batteries can be used repeatedly but tend to lose power when sitting idle.  

Understand headlamp beam type and distance 

• Flood (or wide): This spreads the beam wider and is for general, close tasks like cooking dinner or reading. 

• Spot (or focused or narrow). A tight beam for longer-distance viewing, such as navigating a trail at night. 

• Flood and spot: Adjustable headlamps are the most versatile.