While there are a number of headlamp manufacturers in the market there are a couple that really standout. Brands like Black Diamond, Fenix, and Petzl always find their way to the best in class line up. Although headlamps have been around for a very long time only in the last couple years have they really up’d their game in my opinion.
Today’s lights offer so much more than the original generation lights with multi-color options, flood or spot light capability and rechargeable lithium batteries allowing remarkable run times. All these features and more lend thanks to LED lights consuming minimal power and lithium batteries that offer robust performance in a small footprint.
This article is going to cover a few of the top contenders in the headlamp space with features and specifications we believe at Charged Outdoors make them stand out units. I must point out all the headlamps featured are all rechargeable units as this is the technology we believe to be ideal for our outdoor ventures. It’s also worth noting I gravitate towards best in class products, so what I’m going to highlight in this write up are not the entry level or bargain options. I have lived long enough to know quality typically comes at a cost and if you want a product such as a headlamp that performs and give you years of service you should plan to spend accordingly.
Black Diamond
Black Diamond has been in the headlamp game for a long time and personally one of my favorites as I have owned multiple products from them. The flagship unit is the Storm R and features an integrated rechargeable 2400 mAh Li-ion battery with a mirco-USB charge port. While the Storm R is capable of producing a blinding 500 lumen max output the unit can also be dimmed to a lower brightness via a simple finger tap on the side of the frame. Settings include full strength in both proximity and distance modes, dimming, strobe, red, green and blue night-vision, and a lock mode. The Storm R is IP67 rated meaning waterproof confirmed by testing up to 1.0 meter underwater for 30 minutes.
The display weight of the Storm R comes in at 100 g, which is remarkably light. The elastic headband features comfortable next to skin Repreve fiber construction making the headlamp very comfortable fitted around the crown of the head.
Max Operating Distance: (High) 120 m (Medium) 60 m (Low) 12 m
The Storm R is a fantastic headlamp with all the features one would ask for. Check out the promotional video below offering a brief, but excellent product overview.
Fenix
Fenix
The Fenix HM65R-T is among the top performers in the line up. Now I will point out when I look at headlamps I want a unit that is bright, light weight and is long on operating time. While Fenix does offer other units that are serious performers, the HM65R-T is my top pick because it is unquestionably the lightest of the offerings at a slim 91g and does not require the additional over the head strap as a result.
Powered by an integrated 3400 mAh li-ion rechargeable battery the unit has a combined maximum lumen output of a mind blowing 1500 lumens. The remarkable lumen capability is the result of the SST40 LEDs that Fenix has sourced from the performance driven manufacturer, Luminus. The HMR65R-T offers multiple lighting modes with 3 brightness levels on spotlight and 3 brightness levels on floodlight. Max beam distance, as stated by Fenix, comes in at a staggering 558 feet (170 meters).
It’s worth noting this unit, if necessary, can operate on two CR123A batteries for those that insist on exploring the most remote areas of the World. Otherwise a quick charge via the USB Type-C port will recharge the integrated li-on battery. With an IP68 designation the HMR65R-T is submersible up to 2m underwater.
I really like the highly unique and patented SPORT headband offered on the HMR65R-T allowing a simple mechanism to tighten the headband on the fly. Using a simple rotating dial built into the headband a locking mechanism can tighten or loosen the headband when a more robust fitment is warranted.
Check out the video below showcasing the many features of the remarkable HMR65R-T by Fenix.
Petzel
The name Petzl has always been synonymous with extreme exploration and the products created by the French manufacturer since 1975 continue to live up to the grueling standards. It’s worth noting the pioneer himself, Fernand Petzl, created the first headlamp in 1973 out of necessity when his demanding mountaineering expeditions required a packable light source.
Fast forward to the present and the Actik Core headlamp features a top notch headlamp in the Petzl line. A versatile and comfortable unit, the Actik Core features 600 lumens and weighs in at a brisk 88 g. A single button operation allows for a quick and easy selection of brightness or light color.
The unit offers a standard white color and a red that allows for lighting that is meant to preserve night vision of the operator and those around you. A strobe feature is available should the operator need to convey an emergency situation to those beyond voice range. The Actik Core comes with a very clever storage pouch that can easily be converted into a lantern by placing the headlamp in the pouch while turned on.
The Actik Core offers both a wide and focused beam that can be operated independent of one another or in unison (flood and focused) for both proximity and distance illumination. Featuring three white light levels: Max Burn Time, Standard, or Max Power the operator can modulate the battery life to match the need for illumination.
Thanks to a Hybrid Concept design, the Actik Core can run on either the integrated battery or three AAA batteries based on the operators needs. The integrated li-ion battery consist of a 1250 mAh CORE rechargeable battery that can be fully charged in 3 hours.
Although the Actik Core may not offer the staggering lumens offered in the other units, the features are very comparable and the pedigree is without argument.
Check out the video below for more details on the Petzl Actik Core.
In conclusion, a quality headlamp can serve many purposes both indoor and outdoor and the units featured above are among the top of the line at the time this article was published. As I stated before, a quality headlamp must have three key features for me to even consider: bright (lumens), light weight, and long run times. While there are brighter units with longer run times available they are going to be significantly heavier and if we are compromising weight why even use a headlamp.