The perfect headlamp is a thing of beauty: It should be bright, comfortable, not too heavy, and small enough to stash in your pocket or backpack for a quick trip. So we rounded up the best of the best. Here are our favorite ultralight headlamps; the 8 best headlamps for backpacking, climbing, late-night kayaking, you name it, all under 3 ounces.
Looking for more ultralight gear? Check out our top picks for ultralight trekking poles, tents and backpacks! Or check out our three fave sustainable camp lanterns to help light the night.
Ultralight Headlamps – Best Headlamps for Backpacking
BioLite Range 400
This shiny new rechargeable headlamp from sustainability-minded (and Certified Climate Neutral) brand BioLite has it all: a tiltable face, simple construction, new two-button functionality for ease of use, a bright but dimmable 400-lumen beam (there’s also a 200 and 500 available), even a red light to preserve your night vision. And it weighs in at only 2.6 oz (75 g). Plus, the snug, low-profile, no-bounce fit is heavenly and it’s USB-C fast rechargeable (80% in 30 minutes or less and an hour of light via an 8-minutes charge). It’s also IP67 waterproof and comes with a 3-year warranty. Order your own here.
Knog Bandicoot 250
At just 2.1 ounces, this 250-lumen headlamp still packs a pretty powerful punch. The stretchy and adjustable silicone band is comfortable to wear, the whole light module pops out of the band and plugs directly into a USB outlet for recharging (which means is doesn’t require a charging cable–huzzah for more weight savings!). Bonus: it has bright, broad, reading (!), and red light modes. The only downside? The two button functionality is a bit different and may take a few regular uses to learn. Snag one here.
Petzl Swift LT Headlamp
When we want the lightest of the light, we reach for the Petzl Swift LT headlamp. After all, with bungees instead of bulky straps, it weighs little and takes up almost no space in a pack or jacket pocket. Plus, we love how easy the strap is to adjust, even with gloves on! It’s not the brightest of the bunch–it maxes out at 380 lumens and it only lasts about 2 hours on high and 6 hours on low–but for weekend trips or thru-hikers who go to bed and rise with the sun, it’s a solid option. It has three brightness levels, a red light and a strobe, and is water resistant. Importantly, it weighs only 1.5 oz. It’s also rechargeable, made of 50% recycled materials, and comes in several colors. Order a Petzl Swift LT Headlamp here.
BioLite Headlamp 330
Just a smidge heavier than the BioLite 200, the BioLite 330 is a bit brighter (330 lumens), weighs in at 2.43 ounces, and includes a rechargeable battery that lasts up to 40 hours. It has 5 light functions, including two red light functions, and even has a small, tiltable face so you can direct the light while the straps stays flush with your forehead. Order the BioLite Headlamp 330 here.
Nite Ize Radiant RH2 Headlamp
One of the most versatile headlamps on this list (as far as power is concerned, anyway) is the Nite Ize Raidant RH2. Not only is it waterproof, stupid bright (700 lumens makes it the brightest on this list), has spot, flood and red light modes, tilts 90º, and stays put during activity, but the included battery is rechargeable AND it takes AAA batteries. That means if the lights go out when recharging isn’t feasible but grabbing a pack of batteries on the go is, this headlamp can still light their way. All for 2.65 ounces. Find the Radiant here.
Sandmarc Pro Headlamp
You might not expect such a feature-rich headlamp to also be a lightweight headlamp, but in the case of the Sandmarc Pro Headlamp, you’d be wrong. Because not only toes it have four brightness modes that range from 100-500 lumens plus a red light function, it tilts and in fact rotates a full 360º (so you’ll never blind your hiking buddies again) AND hinges outward for full dual-axis rotation. Bonus: You can easily remove the light body from the head strap. Why do this? The body has a magnet on the back so you can attach it to magnetic surfaces like your car hatchback or the bear locker at your campsite. It weighs in at just 1.9oz, so it’s pretty light. Plus it’s rechargeable via USB-C. Find the Sandmarc Pro Headlamp HERE.
Ultralight Headlamps Bottom Line
That enough ultralight headlamps to get you started? We thought so. Now get out there, light the night, and wander on.
