Best head torches 2024 | Tested and reviewed

The Petzl Swift RL head torch is no stranger to LFTO awards, having won Best in Test and Gear of the Year awards from us in previous years. The new and updated Swift RL has also earned its place among our latest Gear of the Year winners.

The new Petzl Swift RL has evolved and improved on the old model. Firstly, its Reactive Lighting (RL) remains a standout feature, automatically adjusting brightness based on proximity to the object being illuminated. This intelligent functionality is not only convenient but also extends battery life.

Weighing approximately 100g, the Swift RL is also remarkably lightweight and boasts a comfortable headband with reflective elements. Adding to its versatility, the Swift RL includes a convenient pouch that transforms it into a versatile mini lantern.

Ease of use is another key feature of the Swift RL. Everything is controlled by a single button, including its lamp lock mechanism. Lamp lock was on the previous model too, but this one is better because it is now activated by holding the button instead of the previous switch-based version.

Read our full Petzl Swift RL review

The powerful, multi-functional, and well-priced Storm 500-R is one of the brightest and best-equipped headlamps in the Black Diamond range. For this reason, it's a former Gear of the Year award-winner and remains a current favourite.

It has an array of features, including a dimmable main spot beam with a piercing maximum output of 500 lumens. It also has a secondary white flood LED, plus red/green/blue light modes for map-reading and night vision use. There's also a button lock to prevent accidental operation and a battery level indicator.

However, the niftiest feature is Black Diamond's 'powertap' function. With this, you can instantly switch from your chosen light setting to maximum power (and back again) by simply tapping the side of the headlamp. This is great for night navigation when you want to check what's down the trail before returning quickly to your saved brightness setting.

The Storm is reasonably light and compact, with a soft and comfortable low-profile headband made from recycled fabric. It's powered by a built-in, high-capacity lithium battery that gives great burn times and is charged via a micro-USB port on the side of the light unit.

The two-button-plus-powertap method of operation takes some getting used to. The built-in battery also means it lacks the versatility of some hybrid rivals that allow either a rechargeable battery pack or AAAs.

Read our Black Diamond Storm 500-R review

This Alpkit Qark head torch undercuts many rivals in terms of both performance and price. Despite being the cheapest model here, it boasts an impressive output of 580 lumens.

We found the Qark is straightforward to operate, with a single button controlling all functions – just press to cycle through low, medium and high-power from the main white LED, plus red light and red strobe modes from the secondary LED. A rotating bezel allows you to adjust the spread and distance of the main beam from spot to flood. This design feature does add a little bulk, but it's extremely useful on the trail or in camp.

The headlamp's overall weight tips the scales at under 100g, and once properly adjusted. It felt very light to wear, and the three-point strap felt secure with minimal bounce. Usefully, it also has hybrid battery compatibility, so it can be powered by either 3x AAAs or the supplied rechargeable battery pack, which can be removed from the battery compartment and charged via a micro-USB port.

This is a solid performer for year-round camping, hiking and backpacking.

The light unit is made of a cheap feeling (and looking), hard plastic. The battery pack has a lower capacity than most rivals too. There's no dimming function and no battery level indicator, so we were sometimes plunged into darkness without warning.

Product sustainability is becoming more important in the outdoor industry, and increasingly this includes kit as well as clothing. Swedish brand Silva's new Terra Scout H headtorch uses recycled plastic and a hemp headband to give a carbon footprint reduction of 90% compared to the previous model.

But we found there is no performance trade-off, as that increasingly outdated stigma suggests. On test, the Terra Scout H was very comfy, thanks to a soft, wide strap and an extremely slim, compact design. Yet, it's still pretty powerful, with dual white LEDs that provide combined spot and flood lighting plus a secondary red LED for night vision use. The maximum output is a very respectable 350 lumens, which we found to be great for hiking and camping. Silva's Intelligent Light technology delivers a good balance of beam spread and penetration.

We liked the simple and straightforward operation via one big button on top of the headlamp, but you also get a battery level indicator and hybrid technology that enables the unit to run on either AAAs or the supplied rechargeable battery pack. Unlike most others, the battery pack has a USB-C port rather than the older micro-USB tech, too, enabling faster charging.

On the downside, there's no dimming option, no lock mode and no flashing beacon or SOS strobe. It can be tricky to remove the rechargeable battery pack from its compartment, too, as it's such a tight fit.

The headline-grabbing 1500 lumens on offer here are eye-catching to be sure. But this is only for its 'reactive' mode, which automatically adjusts the brightness. The NAO RL's standard mode, which is what we mainly used for trail running, delivers 900 lumens, which is still a heck of a lot. On either mode, we got a run time of about two hours.

There are further brightness settings that are less intense and extend the run time even further, which is quite handy. And we appreciate that it's still compatible with the Petzl Noctilight, which turns it (and all Petzl head torches) into a lantern.

We really like how comfortable the Petzl NAO RL is to wear. There isn't any bounce or front heaviness going on, which is crucial for long hikes or runs. Plus, it's easy to adjust on the move. The rear housing serves as the battery pack, and the inclusion of a red light with two modes is a big plus for visibility at night.

At 145g, this isn't the lightest head torch ever, but certainly no heavyweight, especially considering all its features. And although it's an expensive one, we believe the NAO RL is very cleverly designed and well-made. It's a worthwhile investment for enthusiast hikers, and trail runners in particular.

While some other headtorches can feel a bit plasticky and flimsy, the lasting impression Ledlenser’s MH10 had on us was how well built it felt. The MH10 is a workhorse of a headtorch: powerful, robust and good to go for hours.

Power comes from a large capacity, cylindrical-shaped 3400mAh rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which is housed in a casing at the back of the head. The front lamp throws out an impressive 600 lumens for 10 hours with a 150m beam distance. In mid power you get 250 lumens for 15 hours (100m beam) and in low it’s 10 lumens for 120 hours (20m beam).

Operation is via a single green button on the headlamp, while a bezel can be turned to focus the beam. On test, we could tell this head torch benefits from thoughtful design. From its transportation lock to the tilt function on the lamp, and a constant red back light on the rear battery unit, everything just worked properly. The MH10 even includes a carry case unit and two filter lenses (green and red).

The trade-ff of toughness is weight. At 162g it’s the heaviest headtorch in our test. We think it’s overkill for most basic tasks and the extra weight/bulk probably can’t be justified for many users. The carry case (28g) and two lenses (19g) add weight and may be surplus to requirements.

Perhaps predictably, our testing revealed this no-nonsense headtorch is a good option for more basic tasks. It’s also the cheapest torch in this round-up and the lightest too, clocking in at just 65g.

We liked how comfy and simple to use it was, with decent stats for the price. The other important thing to remember is that this head torch, though a low-cost model, still comes from a reputable lighting specialist that makes all its products in the US.

In high-power mode you get a max output of 200 lumens for 3.4 hours with a 39m beam distance. In low you get 50 lumens for 11 hours, with a 23m beam. In ‘red high’ the lamp delivers 3 lumens for 66 hours (3m beam) and in ‘red low’ it’s 1 lumen for 140 hours (1m beam). Power comes from 2x AAA batteries, an old-school approach with some benefits – simply carry spare batteries for extra juice when required.

The lamp unit gave us a good range of tilting, up and down, and the headband was minimalist and comfy enough. A single button offered an intuitive user experience, unlike some other brands’ over-complicated systems.

The AAA battery approach is somewhat outdated and doesn’t permit recharging via a power bank during multi-day trips. Burn times aren’t the best and the maximum 200 lumens output may be too low for some users. Really, the overall battery life and brightness are not suited to night walking, more for campsite use.