One of the best ways to be able to move or find items at night in a campground is by using a camping headlamp. You can also illuminate the path to the bathroom or to any place you would like if you have a good light. If you are searching for camping headlamps, you came to the right Internet site. These headlamps below are a few of the finest that I know of that can illuminate the trail and path during the night. I recommend these items all the time because they are fantastic. One thing I know is that you are going to be happy with your purchase since I don’t think there are any headlamps out there that is much better.
Best Camping Headlamps – Quick Chart
| Camping Headlamps | Weight | Lumen | Battery Type | Dimensions |
| 1. GearLight LED Head Lamp | 3 oz | 200 | 3 AAA | 6.5″ x 2.75″ x 2.25″ |
| 2. EverBrite 5-Pack LED Headlamp | 3 oz | 150 | 3 AAA | |
| 3. Petzl TIKKINA Headlamp | 3 oz | 150 | 3 AAA batteries | 2.5″ x 1.1″ x 0.5″ |
| 4. ENERGIZER LED Headlamp | 3.53 oz | 260 | 3 AAA | 4.29″ x 2.36″ x 1.93″ |
| 5. Foxelli Headlamp Flashlight | 3.2 oz | 165 | 3 AAA | 1.6″ x 2″ x 1.6″ |
| 6. Fenix HL60R 950 Lumens Headlamp | 4.2 oz | 950 | One rechargeable battery or two CR123A batteries | 3.4 x 2 x 1.8 inches |
| 7. Nitecore HC60 1000 Lumen USB Rechargeable LED Headlamp | 3.47 oz | 1200 | 1x 18650 or 2x CR123A | 9.1 x 4.7 x 2.2 inches |
| 8. Coast XPH30R 1000 Lumen USB-C Rechargeable Dual Power Headlamp | 11.3 oz | 1000 | Rechargeable Pack & 2 x CR123 | 7.24 x 2.91 x 2.48 inches |
| 9. ThruNite TH30 Rechargeable Headlamp | 8.8 oz | 3350 | Rechargeable 3100MAH 18650 IMR battery | 4.21 x 1.12 x 0.94 inches |
| 10. PETZL, ACTIK CORE Headlamp | 2.65 oz | 450 | CORE battery or 3 AAA | |
| 11. Fenix HP25R V2.0 CREE LED Headlamp | 8.4 oz | 1600 | 5000mAh Li-ion battery | 2.35″ x 1.85″ x 1.3″ |
| 12. Ledlenser, H19R Core Rechargeable Headlamp | 13.2 oz | 3500 | 2 Lithium ion batteries | 3.35 x 5.71 x 4.72 inches |
| 13. Acebeam H30 Headlamp | 0.5 lbs | 4000 | 21700 battery | 8.94 x 4.45 x 2.13 inches |
| 14. PETZL – NAO+ Headlamp | 0.41 lbs | 750 | AAA, E362002B | |
| 15. NITECORE HC35 Headlamp | 15 oz | 2700 | 1 Lithium ion battery | 11.54 x 10.13 x 2.36 inches |
How To Choose A Camping Headlamp
Types Of Lights Used In A Camping Trip
Flashlight
Flashlights are now very powerful and very compact. With recent advancement in bulbs, plastic, and batteries, flashlights these days can shine brighter than ever and more compact that ever. Flashlights can illuminate a campsite, a trail, a path or illuminate an object in the dark. Flashlights are often used in camping, backpacking and hunting.
Lantern
Lanterns are often used a lot in car camping. Lanterns are often put on top of a table to illuminate the area around it. Lanterns are great at allowing people prepare foods, cut ingredients, and cook foods while in the dark. Lanterns can illuminate a campsite rather easily.
Headlamp
Headlamps are great for backpacking and hiking. Headlamps these days are very powerful and can illuminate a wide area rather easily. Headlamps today are very compact, easy to use, and very lightweight. They are great for car camping, hiking and backpacking.
Reasons To Choose Headlamps Over Flashlights And Lanterns
Hand’s Free
Headlamps are mounted on the top of a person’s head. This will free up the hands. You can use your hands to hold hiking sticks, hold water bottles, drinks, maps or whatever. Unlike lanterns and flashlights where you cannot use your hands, headlamps allow you to use your hands because you do not need to hold the headlamp.
Beam Direction
The direction of the beam will always be in front of the user. This is very useful if you are hiking in the dark since the path or trail will always be illuminated. Great for cooking foods while backpacking also. Your hands are free and the beam direction is always pointing to the cookware or foods whenever you are looking at it.
Less Risk Of Breaking Due To Falls
The headlamp has less risk of breaking due to falls especially when compared to flashlights and lanterns. When you fall down, you will instinctively use your hands to soften the falls. If you are carrying a lantern or flashlight, these items will be in your hands. When you fall, they may break or you may end up throwing them away. Since headlamps are mounted on the head, they have less risk of breaking.
Multi-Purpose
Headlamps are very multipurpose. They can be used for hiking in the dark, car camping, cooking foods while backpacking, and more. They can be used at home, barbecuing at night and so on. This is a very good tool that can illuminate and brighten a big area.
Beam Type Of Your Headlamp
Strobe Or Flashing
Flashling lights are great if you are injured. This can attract people to your location. This can be seen from very far away also.
Flood
Flood lights are great for illuminating the trails or path while hiking at night. If you find yourself hiking at night, you can lighten up the path with a flood light. Most of the time, flood lights do not take up a lot of battery power so you can use this type of light for hours.
Focus
Focus beams allow the user to light up objects that are very far away. Not that useful for hiking, camping and backpacking but this is a very cool feature. You can temporarily blind people by focusing the headlamp on their eyes which is why you should be very careful on where you point the headlamp.
Red Light
This allows the user to see in the dark while allowing the eyes to be adjusted for the dark.
Main Characteristics And Features To Consider
Here are the main characteristics that I often want whenever I want a headlamp for hiking purposes.
Lumens
I like my headlamps to be very bright. I want my headlamp to have lots of lumens. I like power a lot. I want a portable sun if I can have that lol. A headlamp that is brighter than the sun hahahaha. In reality, you really do not need a very bright and high powered headlamp. In fact, people that I camp with hate high powered headlamps and flashlights. It blinds them and hurts their eyes. You will not use the lumens at all. Most of the time, your headlamp will be at the lowest settings.
Durable
Headlamps can cost a lot these days. It is best that you get something durable or you may end up wasting your money. A good durable headlamp can last for years. You really just need one. If that headlamp lasts for 5 or more years then you practically saved a lot of money since you never had to replace it or repair it.
Waterproof / Water Resistance
It is hard to predict the weather when you are hiking in the outdoors. Sometimes, the weather would be sunny then two hours later, it would rain. It would be cloudy then two hours later it would be clear or cloudless. It is best that our electronic devices that uses batteries to have water repellent capabilities. We do not want our gadgets and devices to get destroyed due to an unpredictable weather change.
Battery Life
There are many cases when you have to use the headlamp for an extended period of time. It is a good idea to know how long the battery can run before it needs to be recharged so that you are not stuck in the dark and cannot move because you do not have a light. So make sure that you know how long or how many hours the battery can run before its charge is depleted.
USB Rechargeable
I like that my headlamps can be charged using the USB so I can charge them using a power bank or charge them using my car. A lot better than having to go home or go to a hotel to be able to charge them.
Weight
Since I am hiking and backpacking, it is best that the headlamps are very lightweight. I like them to be less than one pound or around one pound. One pound is a lot of weight already and will require a lot of energy to be carried for miles.
Dimensions
It is best that the headlamp to be compact and easy to carry. Compact items will allow us to free space in our backpacks. We can carry more items if our backpacks have a lot of free space. Most people will only get compact items for backpacking and hiking purposes.
Price
I like the expensive headlamps which are around 80 to 100 dollars. However, you do not really need an expensive headlamp. You do not need a lot of lumens. A good 20-dollar headlamp works well for camping purposes. They can allow you to read, clean, prepare foods and so on. If you want an expensive headlamp, then go for it. I like my items with lots of lumens hahaha.
Options
So there are a lot of options that come with headlamps. You can set the item to project light in a wide angle, or on a normal focus straight line. You can have settings that decreases and increases the brightness. You can also have headlamps that can use different types of batteries. It is best to research the options that you want and need.
Best Camping Headlamps
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1. GearLight LED Head Lamp
Weight: 3 oz
Lumen: 200
Battery Type: 3 AAA batteries
Dimensions: 6.5 x 2.75 x 2.25 inches
Feature Summary: Premium head lights are designed with a 45 degree adjustable head, water resistant and shockproof, the S500 headlamp flashlight is suitable for rain or snow, generate a brilliant, long-lasting beam with daylight color and definition
Short Review: This camping headlamp is one of the very best that I am aware of. This is very good while also having a very affordable price. You actually get two for a low price tag. This works well for hiking purposes as it can light up the path rather well. Great for car camping as well. If you don’t want to spend a lot of money on a headlamp then you should consider this one. This can be used in a lot of ways also. It doesn’t have to be just for hiking purposes. Can be used for work, at home, or for emergency purposes. It uses three AAA batteries which means you can also get the rechargeable ones so don’t have to keep buying batteries over and over.
2. EverBrite 5-Pack LED Headlamp
Weight: 3 oz
Lumen: 150
Battery Type: 3 x AAA
Dimensions:
Feature Summary: Rotate the head from 0 to 90 degrees, design is ergonomic and built with high-end materials to make it durable and able to withstand harsh conditions, can be used at home, in garage or in case of emergency like sudden power outage, hurricane
Short Review: This set of headlamps is amazing and can be used in a lot of ways. I often recommend items that have an inexpensive price or really low-priced. You get five headlamps for a very cheap price on this one. It comes with batteries as well. The headlamps work well and they can light up the trails rather easily for hiking or for car camping trips. If you need headlamps for a lot of tasks or purposes then this is a good way to go. The headlamps are very durable also. You can store the others when not in use or you can put one in your car, one in your emergency bag, one for hiking, one for work, one for your backyard and so on.
3. PETZL, TIKKINA Outdoor Headlamp
Weight: 4 Ounces
Lumen: 250
Battery Type: AAA batteries or CORE rechargeable battery
Dimensions: 5 x 5 x 2 inches
Feature Summary: Close range light is ideal for activities like a sunrise hike or camping with the family, longest burn time at 220 hours, compatible with the CORE rechargeable battery
Short Review: If you are looking for an excellent camping headlamp, then this is a good choice to try. This is among the highest quality items and a lot of people are buying this. A pretty good headlamp for car camping purposes as it allows you to cook at night and see in the dark. This is a very versatile item to have for camping and other outdoor activities. This is very resilient also and I love that this is so affordable Can be used for jogging or running at night also. A pretty good headlamp that can be used in a lot of ways.
4. ENERGIZER LED Headlamp
Weight: 3.53 Ounces
Lumen: 260
Battery Type: 3 AAA batteries
Dimensions: 4.29 x 2.36 x 1.93 inches
Feature Summary: 250 lumens with state-of-the-art LED technology, 4 light modes: spot light, flood light, spot and flood light combined, adjustable, washable band and includes a pivoting headlight, red light for night vision
Short Review: This is an amazing headlamp for camping. I am very impressed considering that this is superb. I am glad I discovered this accidentally. This is a high quality item that is pretty sturdy. It is true, there are lots of things I like about this high quality item and I know that you will really like this too. This is pretty affordable just like the other items that I am recommending. This is very easy to use also and there’s no complicated instructions.
5. Foxelli Headlamp Flashlight
Weight: 3.2 oz
Lumen: 165
Battery Type: 3 AAA batteries
Dimensions: 1.6 x 2 x 1.6 inches
Feature Summary: Super bright cree-3w led technology, waterproof and durable, MX20 is built to last. It is rated to IPX5, adjustable, ergonomically designed elastic headband
Short Review: This is another amazing and affordable camping headlamp that I love. I really like that this is intuitive and does not require a lot of directions to make use of. Press a button and it lights up. Simple and easy to use. There is absolutely no time like the present to buy this item because of the low price tag. It is very durable and works well for hiking and camping purposes. It uses 3 AAA batteries and the adjustable strap fits snugly on the head. The headlamp is also waterproof which means that it is usable when it is raining. It is not going to break due to rain.
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6. Fenix HL60R 950 Lumens Headlamp
Weight: 4.2 oz
Lumen: 950
Battery Type: One rechargeable battery or two CR123A batteries
Dimensions: 3.4 x 2 x 1.8 inches
Feature Summary: light can stay in Turbo mode for nearly an hour and in Eco mode for over 100 hours, neutral white LED bulb means superior definition and penetration in high-humidity environments, all-metal housing and ANSI rated
Short Review: I am very satisfied that I bought this since this is a really excellent camping headlamp. If you are planning on camping or doing outdoor activities for years to come then may as well get something that has lots of functionalities, pretty high end, and has a reasonable price tag like this one. Fenix is an amazing company that has a lot of headlamps, flashlight and other similar items. This one is great for car camping, backpacking, hiking and other outdoor activities. There are a great deal of people that like this item considering that this is exceptionally high quality and this received a large amount of good reviews.
7. Nitecore HC60 1200 Lumen USB Rechargeable LED Headlamp
Weight: 3.47 oz
Lumen: 1200
Battery Type: 1x 18650 or 2x CR123A
Dimensions: 9.1 x 4.7 x 2.2 inches
Feature Summary: Remarkably wide 100° beam angle for more even illumination, easy-to-use single switch interface allows for easy one-hand operation, memory function saves last used brightness level
Short Review: This is an extraordinary headlamp that I have grown to like a lot. A very versatile item that gives lots of usefulness while camping and makes camping more fun. Ideal item to have for the outdoors. Constantly think about the characteristics of this item especially the price tag. Some of the greatest things about this item are that it is really sturdy with lots of features and functionality. This is pretty bright, while having a very reasonable price tag. It is very powerful but you don’t really need the highest setting. Simple to use and no complicated instructions.
8. Coast XPH30R 1000 Lumen USB-C Rechargeable Dual Power Headlamp
Weight: 11.3 ounces
Lumen: 1000
Battery Type: Rechargeable Pack & 2 x CR123
Dimensions: 7.24 x 2.91 x 2.48 inches
Feature Summary: Pack two powerful beams into one and seamlessly twist focus system, patented focusing technology adapts to your need, headlamp body also easily detaches from the head
Short Review: I am loving this superb headlamp for the outdoors. This company developed a versatile and useful design that outdoor enthusiasts would love. The company who produced this is popular for their remarkable designs. I like this item. My friends really like this also. This is fantastic. The head strap is adjustable and feels good on the head. The headlamp shines very brightly and I can dim the light rather easily so no problems there. Pretty good item that works well for camping and other outdoor adventures.
9. ThruNite TH30 Rechargeable Headlamp
Weight: 8.8 ounces
Lumen: 3350
Battery Type: Rechargeable 3100MAH 18650 IMR battery
Dimensions: 4.21 x 1.12 x 0.94 inches
Feature Summary: Settings include full strength in proximity and distance modes, dimming, strobe, red night-vision and lock mode, brightness Memory allows you to turn the light on and off at a chosen brightness without reverting back to full power
Short Review: I really like this headlamp for backpacking and many people love it as well. One of the best items to have for outdoor purposes because this makes camping a lot easier. This item is excellent to work with and even better to look at. Thrunite is a pretty popular company and they make pretty good flashlights as well. This one is very powerful, at the highest setting it can output 3350 lumens for some time. It is too much for car camping purposes but it is nice to know that you have a powerful headlamp. This is among the finest because of affordability and sturdiness. I can only say good things concerning this item considering that I have no problems about it.
10. PETZL, ACTIK CORE Headlamp
Weight: 2.65 oz
Lumen: 450
Battery Type: CORE battery or 3 AAA
Dimensions:
Feature Summary: multi-beam design, 3 brightness levels and a red light mode, this headlamp provides the right light for any situation, single-button design is intuitive and easy to operate, equipped with a detachable, washable headband
Short Review: The top quality components used to create this headlamp for car camping made it amazing. This is a wonderful item that can illuminate the trail and path during the night plus it is very good and really inexpensive. Great for car camping also as it can allow people to do tasks during night time. We all like high quality items like this one considering that there are way way too many worthless items on the market today. Petzl continuously create high quality headlamps for a long time now. This looks cool also and can be used for jogging, running and other outdoor activities that you want to do at night.
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11. Fenix HP25R V2.0 CREE LED Headlamp
Weight: 8.4 oz
Lumen: 1600
Battery Type: 5000mAh Li-ion battery
Dimensions: 2.35″ x 1.85″ x 1.3″
Feature Summary: Amazing company specializes in lots of items, 1600 lumen maximum output with versatile spotlight and floodlight combination and 4 brightness levels, cool white for high brightness, neutral white for wide angle visibility
Short Review: This is an awesome camping headlamp that I have grown to like a lot. This is very bright and very powerful. It can output 1600 lumens for an extended amount of time. Do we need that kind of power for car camping purposes? No, we don’t but it feels good to know that you have a powerful headlamp. Like most headlamps, this has a flood and spot type of setting. You can also dim or increase the brightness. The battery is around 5000 mAh which lasts for a very long time. You can buy more batteries if you want so that you have a spare. This is among the finest which explains why this has plenty of positive customer feedback. This really does wonders for my circumstance. The company did an excellent job designing this item.
12. Ledlenser, H19R Core Rechargeable Headlamp
Weight: 13.2 ounces
Lumen: 3500
Battery Type: 2 Lithium ion batteries
Dimensions: 3.35 x 5.71 x 4.72 inches
Feature Summary: Lights up any situation with ease, true multipurpose headlamp ready for any challenge, Fusion Beam technology allows you to individually adjust flood and spot lighting
Short Review: This outdoor headlamp can be one of the very best things that you have ever ordered. This headlamp is just very beautiful and very powerful at the same time. It looks cool also. It outputs 3500 lumens rather easily. Enough brightness to blind people temporarily. Do we really need that kind of power for car camping purposes? No, we don’t but it is nice to know we can create a portable sun if we wanted to. This headlamp can be used for various purposes and various tasks. Can be used for work or at home as well. Pretty good headlamp that is very powerful.
13. Acebeam H30 Headlamp
Weight: 0.5 lbs
Lumen: 4000
Battery Type: 21700 battery
Dimensions: 8.94 x 4.45 x 2.13 inches
Feature Summary: Designed the lightweight adjustable strap, high quality material-Reflective headband design with sweat channels, all Aluminum alloy shell, more durable, IPX8 water-resistant material
Short Review: This headlamp for backpacking is pretty affordable and it has lots of satisfied consumers. This is one of the best items I’ve ever tried which is why I really like that this is really durable and works well. This is great for the outdoors and performs very well and this is very versatile as well. Ideal item to have for camping and this will provide lots of usefulness. This item is one of the best that can be obtained right this moment plus this has lots of amazing characteristics. One of the greatest I’ve ever tried and this can illuminate the trail and path during the night. I wasn’t even searching for something like this, but it came up in the results and I saw how high the rating was.
14. PETZL – NAO+ Headlamp
Weight: 0.41 lbs
Lumen: 750
Battery Type: AAA, E362002B
Dimensions:
Feature Summary: Comfortable, adjustable headband, povides up to 750 lumens and shines up to 140m, senses light levels and automatically adjusts the brightness
Short Review: I know that you’re going to like this headlamp because it is wonderful. This is a pretty cool headlamp and that it looks very futuristic. It is meant for athletes and people who train at night. They either jog, run or do some form of activity when it is dark. The item can be used for car camping and other types of outdoor activity as well. It is very lightweight and very durable at the same time. It outputs around 750 lumens which is powerful enough for a lot of tasks. A pretty solidly built headlamp that is very bright and powerful.
15. NITECORE HC35 Headlamp
Weight: 15 oz
Lumen: 2700
Battery Type: 1 Lithium ion battery
Dimensions: 11.54 x 10.13 x 2.36 inches
Feature Summary: capable of 2700 lumens at over 146 yards, quick detach bracket, used as a handheld flashlight or work light with a magnetic tail cap and pocket clip
Short Review: This outdoor headlamp not only will perform incredibly well, but the effective capacity or abilities of this item is outstanding. Another item from Nitecore that I would like to list. This is a pretty powerful headlamp that can put out an amazing 2700 lumens at maximum setting. We don’t really need that much power for car camping purposes but it is nice to know we can create a very intense beam. Looks great for photography also. I do not mind recommending this item simply because this is superb and simple to use. Another amazing headlamp from Nitecore that should lasts for many years to come since it is very durable.