8 Tips for Choosing a Headlamp for Camping or Backpacking

Last Updated on 11/2025 by Mom Goes Camping

The first time I went backpacking as an adult, I figured that my regular flashlight would be fine. But I ask you: Have you ever tried going to the bathroom outside in the dark while holding a flashlight in your hands?

I’ll leave the imagining of the logistics of digging a latrine, squatting, and toilet paper with one hand to you!

On that first camping trip, I was really envious of my friend who had brought a headlamp with him. He was able to walk around, find gear in his pack, and (yes) pee with ease because his hands were free.

So I decided to get myself a headlamp.

Years have passed since I bought my first headlamp (a cheap Coleman CHT 4 which I still love). Since then, I’ve tested numerous models across dozens of camping trips in varied conditions – from humid summer nights in the Pacific Northwest to crisp autumn evenings in the Rockies. I’ve learned what features actually matter in real-world camping scenarios and which ones are just marketing hype.

Whether you’re planning your first family camping adventure or you’re an experienced backpacker looking to upgrade your gear, here’s everything I’ve learned about choosing a headlamp that won’t let you down when you need it most.

Why Every Camper Needs a Quality Headlamp

Before diving into the buying tips, let me emphasize why a headlamp is one of the most essential pieces of camping gear you’ll own. Unlike a flashlight, a headlamp keeps both hands free for critical tasks like:

• Setting up your tent in fading daylight
• Cooking dinner at the campsite
• Reading bedtime stories to kids in the tent
• Emergency first aid situations
• Late-night bathroom trips (trust me on this one!)
• Early morning packing before sunrise

I’ve used headlamps in situations ranging from peaceful evening journaling sessions to that memorable night when I had to track down my daughter’s stuffed zebra on a dark trail. Each experience has taught me something new about what makes a headlamp truly reliable.

Tip #1: Don’t Buy One Of Those Super-Cheap Headlamps!

The first cheap headlamps I found (both online and in stores) were only about $10-$15. They all look something like this:

While the price tag was attractive, I know from experience that it doesn’t pay to buy cheap gear!

First, I’m going to let you in on a little secret. Those cheap headlamps actually come from drop shipping companies in China. They make loads of low-quality products, sell them in lots of around 100 at sites like AliExpress, and then buyers resell them at a huge markup.

The cheap headlamp that you see above – it originally cost about $191 for a lot of 50. That comes out to $3.82 per headlamp!

Here are the specific problems I’ve encountered with super cheap headlamps over the years:

Problems with Ultra-Budget Headlamps:

• Really Big and Bulky: With every step you take, you’ll feel that thing wobbling around on your head. I tried using one on a moderate hike and the constant shifting gave me a headache within an hour.
• You’ll Blow Through Batteries: The batteries run out in just 3 hours on most of those headlamps! That means carrying extra batteries, which adds weight and bulk to your pack.
• Cheap, Crappy Plastic: After one camping season, the elastic band stretched out and the hinge mechanism broke on mine. It might be okay to keep a $3 headlamp around the house in case of a power outage, but it is not something you want to rely on while camping in the wilderness.
• Inconsistent Light Output: The beam flickers and dims unpredictably, which is disorienting when you’re trying to navigate at night.
• No Customer Support: When these break (and they will), there’s nobody to contact for replacement parts or warranty claims.

That said, you don’t need to spend $100+ on a headlamp either. There’s a sweet spot around $20-$40 where you’ll find reliable, durable options that will serve you well for years.

Tip #2: Battery Life Matters More Than You Think

I’m an ultra-minimalist backpacker. Partly out of personal style. Partly out of necessity.

Because I have no car and go camping with my young daughter, I’ve got to carry almost all of the gear myself. I do not have extra space or strength for carrying around lots of extra batteries! The longer the batteries last, the fewer backup batteries you need to bring.

Long battery life is also a matter of safety.

What if you get lost and have to use your headlamp all night? What if an injury requires you to set up an emergency shelter after dark? You don’t want a headlamp that’s going to die on you when you need it most.

Through my own experiences and talking with fellow campers, I’ve learned that battery life varies dramatically based on how you use your headlamp:

• High/spotlight mode: Uses the most power but necessary for navigation and long-distance visibility
• Low/floodlight mode: Perfect for camp tasks and can extend battery life 3-5 times longer
• Red light mode: The most efficient setting, often lasting 50-100+ hours on a single set of batteries

I personally wouldn’t get any headlamp with a battery run time of less than 20 hours on high mode. Some great headlamps have impressive run times. Take the Black Diamond Icon headlamp which runs for 75 hours on high mode and 175 hours on low mode!

Pro Tip: Always bring one spare set of batteries, even if your headlamp has exceptional battery life. I learned this lesson the hard way on a three-day trip when I accidentally left my headlamp on in my pack during a long hike. Having backup batteries saved that camping trip.

Tip #3: Take Lumens with a Grain of Salt

A headlamp with 160 lumens! It must be better than the headlamp with 60 lumens, right?

It turns out that lumens is really misleading.

The way that lumens is measured is with a device called an integrating sphere which measures the total amount of light put out by the bulbs or LEDs. But this doesn’t necessarily tell you how concentrated or smooth the light pattern will be.

I’m not an expert on optics, but I can tell you from real-world testing that some of those super high-lumen headlamps don’t illuminate camp any better than my 40 lumen Coleman headlamp does!

Here’s why: A headlamp with 200 lumens might spray light everywhere in an unfocused pattern, creating glare and not actually helping you see better. Meanwhile, a well-designed 60-lumen headlamp with quality optics can provide a cleaner, more usable beam that’s actually better for camp tasks.

Think of it like speakers – higher watts doesn’t always mean better sound quality. The engineering and design matter just as much as the raw power numbers.

Tip #4: Look At Beam Distance Instead

Instead of obsessing over lumens, look at the beam distance. To do this, you’ve got to understand that there are two types of lighting modes on good headlamps:

Floodlight Mode:

This is a dimmer, wider setting that creates a soft wash of light. It’s perfect for illuminating things in close proximity – like when I write in my notebook in the tent after Isabel has gone to bed, or when I’m cooking dinner at the picnic table. The wide beam means you can see everything in your immediate area without having to constantly turn your head. Really cheap headlamps will just have a floodlight and not a spotlight.

Spotlight Mode:

This is a much more focused beam of light that reaches farther distances. There are situations when having a super-long beam spotlight is genuinely helpful – like that time I got out of the tent in the middle of the night to see what was running up and down the trees. (Turns out it was just squirrels having a party, but in the moment, my imagination was running wild!)

A good spotlight is also essential for:

• Trail navigation: Seeing trail markers and obstacles 50-100 feet ahead
• Wildlife awareness: Spotting animals at a safe distance (especially important in bear country)
• Finding your way back to camp: When you’ve wandered off to use the bathroom or collect firewood
• Emergency signaling: A long-distance beam is more visible to search and rescue teams

Each of these lighting modes will have its own beam distance rating. Just like with lumens, the beam distance rating can be misleading. However, beam distance is a much better indicator of actual performance than lumens alone.

Plus, beam distance will tell you whether the headlamp is actually suited to your needs or not. For casual car camping where you’re mostly staying around your campsite, a 50-100 foot beam is plenty. For backcountry hiking or mountaineering, you’ll want 200+ feet of beam distance.

Tip #5: The Red Light Setting is Absolutely Essential

My Coleman CHT4 headlamp has a red light setting. My Petzl Tikka Pro does not.

After using both of these headlamps extensively, I can tell you that I will NEVER buy a headlamp without a red light setting again!

Here’s why the red light setting has become my most-used feature:

Why Red Light is a Game-Changer:

• You don’t blind people when looking at them: When camping with others, you can have conversations without constantly saying “sorry!” as your white light beam hits their eyes. This is especially important when camping with kids who are more sensitive to bright lights.
• The battery lasts incredibly long in this setting: Red LEDs use a fraction of the power compared to white LEDs. I’ve gotten 80+ hours of continuous use on a single set of batteries in red light mode.
• You won’t wake everyone up in the tent: Red light is much less disruptive when you need to get up in the middle of the night. My daughter barely stirs when I use red light, but the white light would wake her instantly.
• Preserves night vision: Red light doesn’t interfere with your eyes’ natural night adaptation. This means when you turn off your headlamp, you can still see reasonably well in the ambient light. With white light, you’re essentially blind for several minutes after turning it off.
• Better for wildlife watching: Animals are less spooked by red light, which has made our evening wildlife observations much more successful.

You can also find some headlamps with green and blue lights. Green is sometimes preferred for hunting and fishing, while blue can help with tracking and map reading. For most camping purposes, though, red light is the most versatile colored option.

Real-World Example: Last summer, I was organizing gear in the tent at 5:30 AM before a sunrise hike. Using red light, I could see everything I needed without waking my daughter who was sleeping peacefully next to me. That extra hour of sleep for her meant a much happier kid on the trail later!

Tip #6: Get the Same Type of Batteries As Your Other Gear

When shopping for a headlamp, pay attention to what type of batteries it uses. They will usually be either AA or AAA batteries (or occasionally rechargeable lithium-ion).

Make sure that all of your battery-operated gear uses the same type of batteries. This way you only have to bring one type of spare battery and can swap the batteries between gear in a pinch.

Here’s my battery strategy for camping trips:

AA Batteries (My Preference):

• More common across camping gear (flashlights, lanterns, GPS units)
• Longer-lasting than AAA in most cases
• Available everywhere, even in remote areas
• Better cold-weather performance

AAA Batteries:

• Lighter and more compact
• Good for ultralight backpacking setups
• Works well for shorter trips

Rechargeable Batteries:

There are some headlamps with rechargeable lithium-ion or NiMH batteries. I’ve tested several of these and they’re increasingly practical for camping:

• Pros: Environmentally friendly, cost-effective over time, consistent power output, can be recharged with solar panels or portable battery banks
• Cons: Need to remember to charge before trips, limited recharge options in backcountry, typically heavier than disposable battery models

For weekend car camping trips where you have vehicle access, rechargeable headlamps are excellent. For extended backcountry trips, I still prefer headlamps that can use standard disposable batteries as a backup option.

Tip #7: Understanding Waterproof Ratings (IPX)

When it starts raining at camp, we usually just retreat to our tent to play Go Fish and watch the shadows of slugs sliming the rain fly. So, I don’t need a headlamp rated for severe water exposure. However, waterproofing is still important for several reasons.

The waterproofness of headlamps is rated in IPX. Here’s what you actually need to know:

IPX Rating Guide:

• IPX-4: Splash-resistant from any direction. This is the minimum I recommend. It will withstand rain, splashing while washing dishes, and general moisture from humid conditions.
• IPX-6: Protected against powerful water jets. Good for very wet conditions and heavy rain.
• IPX-7: Can withstand being submerged in water up to 1 meter for 30 minutes. Essential for kayak camping, river crossings, or if you’re clumsy like me and drop things in water regularly.
• IPX-8: Can be submerged beyond 1 meter. Only necessary for serious water sports or cave exploration.

My Recommendation: For general camping and backpacking, IPX-4 is perfectly adequate. I’ve used my IPX-4 rated Coleman in countless rainstorms without any issues. If you’re planning water-based activities or frequently camp in extremely wet conditions, invest in IPX-7.

One often-overlooked consideration: even if your headlamp isn’t waterproof, keeping it in a dry bag or ziplock bag when not in use provides excellent protection.

Tip #8: What Do You Need to See in the WORST CASE Scenario?

My daughter and I don’t do anything too crazy. We hike to camp during the day, set up everything by nightfall, and are asleep fairly early.

So, our basic 40-lumen, short-beam Coleman headlamp is good for most of our typical camping situations.

But there was that time that Isabel left her stuffed zebra on the trail and we had to go on a “rescue mission” to find it. Hiking at night is not something that I would normally do (sprained ankles suck), but we had to save Zebra! I was really glad to have a headlamp with a longer beam so we could see the trail ahead and avoid tripping hazards.

When choosing a headlamp, think about realistic worst-case scenarios you might face:

Common Worst-Case Scenarios to Consider:

• Medical Emergency: You need to hike out in the dark to get help or perform first aid with clear visibility
• Getting Lost: You need a headlamp that can last through an entire night while you wait for daylight or rescue
• Weather Emergency: Setting up emergency shelter in heavy rain or wind
• Unexpected Night Hike: Underestimating hiking time and finishing in the dark (happens more often than you’d think!)
• Equipment Failure: Your primary light source fails and you need your headlamp for extended use

For example, if you’re hiking in remote areas far from trailheads, a long-beam, high-battery-life headlamp becomes essential. If you’re car camping at established campgrounds with facilities nearby, a basic model is perfectly sufficient.

Think about these realistic worst-case scenarios based on your specific camping style, and you’ll be able to figure out which headlamp features you really need and which ones are just a luxury.

Additional Features Worth Considering

Beyond the core features I’ve discussed, here are some additional headlamp features I’ve found useful over the years:

Tiltable Head:

The ability to angle your light beam without tilting your entire head is surprisingly useful. When cooking or setting up gear, you can direct light exactly where you need it. This feature has saved me from blinding tent-mates countless times during conversations.

Lock Mode:

Some headlamps have a lock function that prevents accidental activation in your pack. I’ve had headlamps turn on during transit and drain batteries – now I always check for this feature.

Battery Indicator:

LED indicators that show remaining battery life eliminate the guessing game. You’ll know exactly when it’s time to swap batteries rather than being surprised by sudden dimming.

Comfortable Strap Design:

Look for wide, adjustable straps that won’t dig into your forehead or slip around. Some models include a top strap that helps distribute weight – especially useful for heavier, more powerful headlamps.

Regulated Power Output:

Better headlamps maintain consistent brightness as batteries drain, rather than gradually dimming. This might seem minor, but consistent light output makes a huge difference in usability.

My Favorite Headlamps for Camping and Backpacking

Based on years of personal use in various camping conditions, here are the headlamps I actually recommend to friends and family:

#1: Coleman CHT 4 Headlamp

This was my first headlamp. After 3 years and many trips, I still use it regularly. I love it because it’s affordable, has 3 useful settings (high, low, red), and the lamp tilts so you don’t blind people when talking to them. The lumens rating is low but the light quality is genuinely excellent for camp tasks.

Features:

• Modes: High, Low, Red
• Lumens: 40 lumens high, 23 lumens low
• Beam Length: 104 feet
• Battery life: 20 hours on high, 35 hours on low
• Other: Red light setting, Pivoting head, 2 AA batteries
• Best For: People who want a durable, functional camping headlamp on a very small budget

Buy Here

#2: Coast HL7 Focusing Headlamp

This headlamp lacks a red light setting, which is my main complaint if you’re camping with other people and don’t want to wake them. But it makes up for this with its super-bright and impressive long-distance beam. I’ve used this for serious night hiking situations.

Features:

• Modes: High, Low
• Lumens: 285 lumens high, 4 lumens low
• Beam Length: 390 feet high, 13 feet low
• Battery Life: 90 minutes high, 70 hours low
• Other: Pivoting head, 3 AAA batteries
• Best For: Backpackers who need to see far distances in the night, such as when night hiking or navigating difficult terrain

Buy Here

#3: Black Diamond Icon Headlamp

The Black Diamond Icon is one of the most popular headlamps among serious outdoor enthusiasts because it has features for virtually every outdoor use and is priced very well (at least compared to other headlamps with similar features). The only trade-off is that it requires 4 AA batteries, which makes it rather heavy and bulky – but that’s the price you pay for exceptional battery life and versatility.

Features:

• Modes: Spotlight (called “QuadPower”), Proximity (called “2x SinglePower”), Red, Strobe. PLUS the QuadPower, SinglePower and Red Light are Dimmable!
• Lumens: 200 lumens full QuadPower, 4 lumens dimmed QuadPower, 35 lumens full SinglePower, 4 lumens dimmed SinglePower
• Beam Length: 328 feet high, 115 feet low
• Battery Life: 75 hours full QuadPower, 250 hours dimmed SinglePower
• Other: IPX 7 waterproof rating, Lock Mode prevents light from turning on in pack, Battery Indicator shows remaining battery life
• Best For: People who go backpacking or mountaineering regularly and are ready for a more serious, feature-rich headlamp

Buy Here

#4: Black Diamond ReVolt

Here is another excellent headlamp by Black Diamond. What makes the ReVolt unique is that it has rechargeable batteries. You can recharge them by plugging the headlamp into your car’s cigarette lighter or with a solar charger (if you’re bringing one with you). You can also use standard AAA batteries with the ReVolt, which provides excellent flexibility. I also love that there is an indicator (as with the Black Diamond Icon) that tells you how much battery life is left – no more guessing!

Features:

• Modes: High (called TriplePower), Low (called SinglePower), Red, Dimmable
• Lumens: 110 lumens high with Alkaline batteries, 25 lumens low with Alkaline batteries, 4 lumens dimmed
• Beam Length: 70 meters high, 9 meters low
• Battery Length: 70 hours high, 300 hours low
• Other: IPX 4 water resistance, Rechargeable NiMH batteries or standard AAA batteries, Battery life indicator
• Best For: People who are sick of worrying about replacement batteries for their headlamp and want an environmentally-friendly option

Buy Here

Final Thoughts: Choose the Right Headlamp for YOUR Camping Style

After testing dozens of headlamps over hundreds of camping nights, I’ve learned that there’s no single “best” headlamp for everyone. The ideal choice depends entirely on your specific camping style, destinations, and needs.

For casual car campers and families with young kids, a simple, affordable model with red light and decent battery life (like the Coleman CHT 4) is absolutely sufficient. You’ll appreciate the simplicity and won’t miss features you don’t actually need.

For serious backpackers and mountaineers tackling challenging terrain in remote areas, investing in a premium model with long beam distance, exceptional battery life, and advanced features (like the Black Diamond Icon) is worth every penny.

The key questions to ask yourself:

• How far from civilization will I be camping?
• Will I need to navigate trails at night?
• Am I camping alone or with others?
• How many consecutive nights will I be camping?
• What’s my realistic worst-case scenario?

Answer these honestly, and you’ll quickly identify which features truly matter for your adventures.

Remember, a headlamp is one of those pieces of gear that you’ll use on every single camping trip. It’s worth spending a bit more for quality and reliability rather than constantly replacing cheap models that fail when you need them most.

Now that you’re equipped with this knowledge, you’re ready to choose a headlamp that will serve you well for years of camping adventures. Don’t forget to check out our complete camping gear checklist to make sure you have everything you need for a safe and enjoyable outdoor experience!

Happy camping, and may your batteries never die at an inconvenient moment!