10 Best Rechargeable Headlamps of 2018-2019

A headlamp is one of the most important 10 essentials for backpacking, hiking, and any kind of outdoor adventure sport. But traditional battery-powered headlamps are rapidly being replaced by rechargeable headlamps which are more convenient and less wasteful to use because you don't need to throw out dead batteries. While you should alway charge your headlamp at home before a hike or trip, most people carry portable USB-compatible battery chargers in the backcountry now to recharge their phones and other electronics. Being able to recharge from a single shared battery helps you save weight, reduces toxic waste, and simplifies the use of electronics in the backcountry.

Here are our top 10 picks for the best rechargeable headlamps for backpacking and hiking. While there are some familiar company names listed below, popular outdoor gear manufacturers have been slow to make USB rechargeable headlamps. Smaller, innovative companies that specialize in lighting have filled the void and make very competitive products. Be sure to check out our advice below about what to look for when buying a rechargeable headlamp for backpacking and hiking.

Make / Model	Lumens	Lock	Red Mode	Weight (oz)	Price
Black Diamond Revolt	175	Yes	Yes	3.4	$60
Fenix HL 12R	400	Yes	Yes	2.6	$61
LED Lenser SEO 7R	220	Yes	Yes	3.2	$90
Nitecore NU 25	360	Yes	Yes	1.1	$37
Nitecore NU 10	160	Yes	Yes	2.3	$25
Nite Ize Radiant 250	250	No	Yes	3.2	$50
Petzl Actik Core	300	Yes	Yes	2.9	$69
Petzl Bindi	200	Yes	Yes	1.2	$60
Princeton Tec Axis Rechargeable	250	Yes	Yes	2.9	$60
UST Brila 580	580	No	Yes	3.4	$45

1. Black Diamond ReVolt

The Black Diamond ReVolt is a dual power headlamp that can be run using regular AAA batteries (alkaline or lithium) or the included Black Diamond AAA rechargeable batteries. These are recharged directly in the unit using a micro-USB cord. The ReVolt has a flood and spot light capability with 6 lighting modes including full strength in proximity and distance modes, dimming, strobe, red night-vision and lock mod. It has a lock mode to prevent accidental activation and a built-in battery meter.

Check for the latest price at:
REI | Moosejaw | Amazon

2. Petzl Actik Core

The Petzl Actik Core is another dual power headlamp that can be used with regular AAA batteries or the Petzl Core battery. The Core battery can be recharged with a micro-USB cord and is also swappable between different Petzl "Core" headlamps. With a maximum of 300 lumens, the Actik has three white lighting modes: proximity, movement, and distance vision; in addition to red mode lighting in continuous or strobe modes. If you've had poor luck with headlamp durability, the Actik also comes with an impressive 5 year warranty.

Check for the latest price at:
REI | Moosejaw | Amazon

3. Princeton Tec Axis Rechargeable

The Princeton Tec Axis has a built-in battery that is rechargeable with a micro-USB cord. It had four lighting modes: dual beam, spot, flood, and red night lighting, with a max light output of 200 lumens. We particularly like the twist style dimming switch on the side of the headlamp since it's so intuitive to use. The Axis also has a digital lock to prevent accidental activation and a battery meter which flashes during recharging. The product has excellent documentation and comes with a 5 year warranty.

Check for the latest price at
REI | Amazon

4. Nitecore NU 25

The Nitecore NU 25 is a light weight (1 ounce) state-of-the-art, multi-function headlamp available at a low price. With a max light output of 360 lumens, it has a built-in rechargeable micro-USB compatible battery. There are three LED light sources: a main white light, a softer white light for close-up tasks, and a night vision-preserving red mode, with four brightness modes: turbo, high, mid, low, as well as an SOS beacon. The NU 25 has a digital lock to prevent accidental activation and a battery meter. All of the button-press options can be a bit hard to remember, so check out the simpler Nitecore NU10, listed below.

Check for the latest price at
Amazon

5. Nitecore NU 10

The Nitecore NU10 has a max light output of 160 lumens and 5 high output LEDs, including white and red light modes. It has three brightness levels: high, mid, and ultra low, along with two special modes including a flashing SOS. The NU10 provides a 170 degree wide field of illumination, making it ideal for night hiking and trail running. It also has a lock-out mode to prevent accidental activation as well as a battery indicator. Recharging requires a micro-USB cord (included).

Check for the latest price at:
Amazon

6. Fenix HL 12R LED Rechargeable Headlamp

Weighing just 2.6 ounces, the Fenix HL 12R has 4 brightness levels in white, and a three modes in red including a reading mode, strobe and flash. The HL 12R has a maximum of 400 lumens for quick blasts of light and up to 110 hours of runtime on a single charge. Containing a built-in battery, this headlamp is USB rechargeable with a battery indicator so you'll always know when charging is needed. The unit also has a digital lockout mode to prevent accidental activation.

Check for the latest price at
Amazon

7. Petzl Bindi Headlamp

The 200 lumen Peztl Bindi is a 1.2 oz rechargeable headlamp with white and red lights. The white light has three power setting: high, medium, and low, while the red light has two modes: low and a strobe. The Bindi has a battery meter and a lock out function to prevent accidental activation. It also has a reserve power mode that kicks in to keep the light burning at 3 lumens for 90 minutes when you're almost out of power. Battery capacity is limited however, so expect to recharge the Bindi often. Some people dislike the minimal head strap, but the Bindi is so lightweight, you soon forget about it.

Check for the latest price at
Moosejaw | Amazon

8. Ultimate Survival Technologies (UST) Brila 580 Dual Power

The UST Brila 580 is a dual power headlamp that can be powered by a removable USB rechargeable lithium-ion battery or 3 x AAA batteries (not included.) It has a maximum light output of 580 lumens but can run on low for up to 18 hours at 30 lumens. The Brila 580 has three white light modes: high, medium, and low; and two red modes: steady and SOS flashing. It has a manual focus control that provides a long-distance spot beam or broad flood beam. The Brila does not have a lock out mode, but you can remove the battery to prevent accidental activation in your pack.

Check for the latest price at
Amazon

9. LED Lensor SEO 7R

The LED Lensor SEO 7R is a dual power and dual color (white and red) headlamp that can be powered with a removable USB-rechargeable battery (included) or.3 AAA alkaline batteries. It has a maximum light output of 220 lumens with up to 20 hours of runtime at 20 lumens. The white light has four modes: high, low, auto dim, and flashing, while the red light has two modes: regular and blinking. There's a manual focus adjustment that lets you switch between a spot or flood focus and a smart dimming capability that saves battery power by automatically reducing light intensity when it's not needed. The SEO 7R has a built-in travel lock to prevent accidental activation and comes with a 5 year guarantee. The company is a division of Leatherman.

Check for the latest price at
Amazon

10. Nite Ize Radiant 250

The micro-USB rechargeable Nite Ize Radiant 250 headlamp has a white light red mode capability with a max light output of 250 lumens. It has two switches that give you five lighting options: a white LED switch with high/low spot and high/low flood, and a red LED switch in flood to preserve night vision. It does not have a lock out capability to prevent accidental activation, but a battery indicator light is provided to signal when power is low. Charge time is very fast for a headlamp, at just 2 hours.

Check for the latest price at
Amazon

How to Choose a Rechargeable Headlamp

Here are the most important features and considerations to evaluate when comparing different rechargeable headlamps.

Batteries

Most rechargeable headlamps bundle in a cold-resistant lithium-ion battery, although there are also dual-power headlamps that can also be powered by alkaline batteries. If you already carry a USB-enabled power pack to charge your other electronic devices, then the latter is probably unnecessary, although it might be useful if your power pack runs out of juice and you can't recharge it.

Headlamp Head Bands

All of the headlamps listed above have battery packs that are integrated with their light sources, so a single headband strap is all that is needed to wear them. Multi-strap headlamp head bands are only necessary for very heavy headlamps or ones with remote battery packs that are carries separate from the light source and linked by an external wire.

Lumens/Light Output

The latest generation of LED lights available in headlamps are very powerful and the lumen outputs often exceed what's required for nighttime use in camp or even for nighttime running. Anything headlamp with 100 lumens or more should be sufficient for general purpose backpacking and hiking. When purchasing a headlamp, the maximum light output is much less important than the length of time the headlamp can burn on low power, since that's the setting you'll use most often in camp or in your tent.

Red Light Mode

Headlamps with a red light modes are good for preserving your night vision if you want to read in your tent or star gaze. They also help you avoid blinding your companions in camp or around the camp fire. The red light mode also uses far less energy than white light modes and is a good way to converse your battery power between charges.

Weight

While gear weight is important, it's often less important than a headlamp's features, efficiency, or battery life. For example, if you need to carry a heavier power pack to recharge a lighter weight headlamp more frequently, you probably haven't saved as much weight overall as you might like. Focus on your needs, if you know them, and let that guide your decision as to which headlamp you select.

On-Off Lock

Head lamps with manual or digital on-off locks are useful to prevent the accidental activation of a light when it's packed. I won't buy a headlamp without one, but that's just my personal preference.

Battery Indicator

Some sort of battery indicator is useful on a recharageable headlamp so you know when to recharge the battery and when it's finished recharging. Without it, you're more likely to try to use a headlamp that is out of power when you need it.

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