Best head torches for 2023: illuminate your adventures

A head torch is a must-have item when hiking any time of the year. If it’s time to replace yours, here are a range of head torches that impressed us in the mountains.

Photos of head torches being tested

by James Forrest |
Updated on

If there's one hiking accessory that you should always remember to pack in your sack, it's the humble head torch. You might think it's your walking poles, but it's a head torch. Even as the world's most accomplished mountaineer, if you find yourself out in the hills after dark and can't see anything, you're still basically screwed.

It doesn't matter what time of year it is, a head torch should always be in your pack. A headtorch is your illumination salvation. It's a vital bit of safety kit, not least because it can also be a useful way of signalling to Mountain Rescue in an emergency. If you're planning to wild camp in Fells, a dependable headtorch is a must.

A couple of must-dos: before venturing out, always make sure your headtorch works and that you've packed a set of spare batteries (or a fully juiced power bank and charging cable). And then consider taking a lightweight spare or backup headtorch.

Black Friday deals on head torches

Black Friday has officially kicked off, with some massive online deals from top hiking brands. Luckily for you, this means you've got even more chance to nab a high-value headtorch, waterproof jacket, tent, or any other hiking kit you've been eyeing up, at an affordable price tag. Here are some of the best headtorch deals we've spotted so far...

HALF PRICE: Silva Trail Runner Free H – 50% off on Sportsshoes

Save £122: Ledlenser H19R Core – 49% off on Amazon

Save £20: Petzl Nao RL – 15% off on AlpineTrek

Save £70: Silva Trail Speed 5R –35% off on Sportsshoes

Save £6: BioLite HeadLamp 325 – 12% off on Blacks

Find some of the best Black Friday hiking deals at these retailers: Sportsshoes | Decathlon | Inov-8 | Cotswold Outdoor | Amazon | Alpinetrek

Hiker reading a map at night while wearing a head torch
©Live For The Outdoors

Our favourite head torches at a glance:

Best head torch: Black Diamond Storm 500-R - View on blackdiamondequipment.com

Best value: Alpkit Qark - View on alpkit.com

Best head torch for sustainability: Silva Terra Scout H - View on cotswoldoutdoor.com

Today, the choice of hillwalking headtorches is greater than ever. The widespread adoption of the Light Emitting Diode (LED) and the lithium-ion battery have both revolutionised headtorch design. They are now lighter, brighter, more robust and longer lasting than ever before.

Reading with a head torch at dusk at Owain Glyndwr's Cave, Moel y Ogof with Snowdon in the distance
Nighttime navigation demands a head torch. You won't get far without one ©Live For The Outdoors

Best head torches 2023

Best overall head torch

Black Diamond Storm 500-R  head torch sitting on a rockLive For The Outdoors

Description

The powerful and multi-functional Storm 500-R is one of the brightest and best-equipped headlamps

Pros

  • Light modes for map reading
  • Very bright
  • Great weatherproofing
  • Good value

Cons

  • Ergonomics take getting used to
  • Hybrids can be more versatile

Best value

Alpkit Qark on a rockLive For The Outdoors
Price: £39.99

alpkit.com

Description

This Alpkit Qark head torch undercuts many rivals in terms of both performance and price. Despite

Pros

  • Good value
  • Lightweight
  • Comfortable

Cons

  • Not as tough as some
  • No battery level indicator

Best head torch for sustainability

Silva Terra Scout on a rockLive For The Outdoors

Description

Product sustainability is becoming more important in the outdoor industry, and increasingly this

Pros

  • Sustainably made
  • Lightweight
  • Easy to operate
  • Comfortable
  • USB-C charging

Cons

  • No dimming function or SOS strobe

Best head torch for running

Petzl NAO RL on a rockLive For The Outdoors

Description

The headline-grabbing 1500 lumens on offer here are eye-catching to be sure. But this is only for

Pros

  • Very bright output
  • Comfortable
  • Easy to use on the go

Cons

  • Overkill for many

Best for durability

Ledlenser MH10 head torchLive For The Outdoors

Rrp: £99.95

Price: £75.95
Alternative retailers
Decathlon£69.95View offer

Description

While some other headtorches can feel a bit plasticky and flimsy, the lasting impression

Pros

  • Long run time
  • Powerful
  • Durable

Cons

  • Relatively heavy
  • IP rating could be higher

Best basic head torch

Princeton Tec Byte LED 200 Lumen head torch on a rockLive For The Outdoors
Price: £35.72

Description

Perhaps predictably, our testing revealed this no-nonsense headtorch is a good option for more

Pros

  • Affordable
  • Lightweight
  • Good for campsite use

Cons

  • AAA only
  • Not suitable for night hiking

What to look for in a head torch

How much should I spend on a head torch?

As LED technology gets cheaper, it's also led to a proliferation of junk lights. In our experience, these promise incredible many features, but they invariably fall to pieces (figuratively, but sometimes literally) in bad weather or when they take a bit of a beating. That's why we've picked out the best hillwalking headtorches from various tried and tested brands that promise durability and reliability. These, in addition to balancing size, weight and real-world performance.

How many lumens should a head torch have?

For casual use around a campsite, 100 to 200 lumens is about right. With nighttime walking and navigation, you'll want to look at 200 to 500 lumens. Then for trail running, mountaineering, or skiing, you'll want to consider upwards of 500 lumens in order to get clear illumination of a wide area in front of you.

The brighter a head torch, often the greater its maximum distance. But a very long distance of hundreds of metres normally requires a focused beam. Consider how important this is for your outdoor pursuits.

Hiker wearing ahead torch next to their tent using a stove at dusk
Only 100 to 200 lumens are needed for the campsite ©Live For The Outdoors

What sort of battery life does a head torch have?

Size and settings influence run times. Head torches that allow you to turn down the brightness boost run time. Likewise, with a larger battery. But a bigger battery is heavier too, which is worth remembering.

Consider rechargeable versus standard batteries too. The former is very convenient but might require you to take a power bank with you. With AAA and AAA batteries, it's easy to take spares with you, and you can also get rechargeable ones these days too.

What IP rating should my head torch have?

A head torch's ruggedness is heavily influenced by its IP (ingress protection) rating. The IP is followed by two digits - the first determining dust protection (scale of 0 to 6), the second against moisture (scale of 0 to 9). Head torches don't often have a first digit in their IP rating, and instead, use an 'X'. This means they haven't been tested against dust protection, but this doesn't necessarily matter if the head torch has good moisture protection (IPX4 or more) because it should result in good dust proofing too.

How much should my head torch weigh?

This is mostly dependent on the battery size. So while a head torch with a bigger battery might be heavier, you'll get longer running time and/or brightness in return. And vice versa.

Hiker in their sleeping bag reading at night by using a head torch
A head torch is essential for night map reading...or just reading ©Live For The Outdoors

What light modes should my head torch have?

Beyond basic 'On' and 'Off' settings, flood lighting modes are good for illuminating the path directly ahead. Focused, spot beams are helpful for picking out objects at a distance, which is ideal for navigating. A strobe mode is useful for attracting attention. Red and green coloured beams help preserve your own night vision. Red is best for this, but green lets you see with greater clarity.

Head torches that have a lot of lumens and several light settings are very versatile. But the design of the buttons on the headtorch is very important here. You want to be able to use them while wearing the head torch and, therefore, to be intuitive. You may also want to be able to operate the buttons while wearing gloves.

What sort of strap is best?

A headband is the easiest to fit and adjust, even when wearing a helmet. But head torches with an overhead strap offer a more stable fit and are, therefore, better for activities like trail running, although they are more fiddly.

How we test

Head torches come with us every time we head out into the hills. We're testing them year-round in all sorts of conditions and in all sorts of scenarios, from bedtime reading to nighttime mountain navigation in winter.

We know that different people have different requirements when it comes to head torches, so we make sure to always recommend a range of options and price points. However, all head torches we recommend have tried and tested reliability.

Get half-price digital OS Maps. Trail and Country Walking magazine members get 50% off an annual subscription to OS Maps for 12 months. Find out more here.

Don't forget to subscribe to the Live For The Outdoors newsletter to get expert advice and outdoor inspiration delivered to your inbox!

James Forrest is a freelance gear tester for Live For The Outdoors and Trail Magazine. He's a prolific peak-bagger and wild camper who's climbed hundreds of mountains in the UK and abroad, James gives his gear a serious thrashing on every trip.

Just so you know, whilst we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website, we never allow this to influence product selections - read why you should trust us