What’s the Best Headlamp for Camping?

 

Here’s a question I get quite often… “What’s the best headlamp for camping?”

First of all… that’s a loaded question because everyone has their own opinion on what they like and what they need.

I’ll give you what headlamps I’m currently using and why I use them.

There are 3 things you have to consider when shopping for headlamps:

  1. How will you be using the headlamp – backpacking, car camping, bug out bag or for everyday use?
  2. What Lumens do you need – How bright do you need it to be?
  3. What is the weight you need – Are you an Ultra-Light Backpacker or are you gritty enough not to worry about how much your backpack weighs, like me! 🙂 

I personally use two different headlamps…

One that is dedicated for backpacking only.

One that I use for home use and I have stored in my vehicles.

The reason I use two different headlamps is… I like having one that is rechargeable and one that has old school batteries.

When backpacking, I use the one that uses old school batteries because they are more reliable.

I use the rechargeable headlamp around the house, so I’m not buying so many batteries.

I will give you a breakdown of both brands I personally use.

The first headlamp is the one I use for backpacking and camping.

I really like the Black Diamond Brand. I’ve tried different brands and I like it the best.

I think Black Diamond is a bit more durable, I’ve dropped mine 100’s of times and I’ve never had any problems. I’ve never had any issues with water or fogging of the lens.

Currently, I’m packing with the Black Diamond Spot 325. It has 325 lumens which, I’ve found to be bright enough for camping and backpacking. Here are the specs:

  • Synthetic Strap
  • Power Tap Technology allows instant transitioning between full and dimmed power.
  • Compact, low-profile design uses three AAA batteries, included. Brightness Memory allows you to turn the light on and off at a chosen brightness without reverting back to full or mid-power.
  • Settings include full strength in proximity and distance modes, dimming, strobe, red night-vision and lock mode.
  • Multifaceted optical lens design IPX8: Waterproof-Tested to operate at least 1.1 meters underwater for 30 minutes. If submerged, water may enter the battery compartment and it will still operate; it should be completely dried out after use in wet conditions.”
  • Lumens : [High] 325: [Medium] 160: [Low] 6. Weight With Batteries: 86g (3oz). Max Distances: [High] 80 m: [Medium] 60 m: [Low] 8 m.
  • Max Burn Time: [High] 4 H: [Medium] 8 H: [Low] 200 H.

My Second headlamp is for everyday use around the house and what I keep in my vehicles is the Nitecore NU25 360 Lumen, it’s rechargeable.

I ike this headlamp because of the USB rechargeable battery. Which means I can recharge it at home or in my vehicles when I’m out on the road. It’s very lightweight and the light beam is great. There are no issues with the brightness of this headlamp. Here are the specs:

  • 360 LUMEN WIDE BEAM – Featuring a CREE XP-G2 S3 LED for a primary output, the NU25 is capable of 360 lumen max output and 88 yards of throw, perfect for biking, jogging and trekking.
  • AUXILIARY HIGH CRI AND RED LED LIGHTS – The high CRI auxiliary light produces richer more natural looking colors over standard LEDs making it a great tool for up close tasks requiring fine detail while the auxiliary red LED is great for preserving night vision.
  • COMPACT AND LIGHTWEIGHT – Weighing less than an ounce and small enough to fit in a pocket, the NU25 is comfortable for daily use and long excursions.
  • NO CHARGER NEEDED – The headlamp is great for travel and daily use because it uses a built-in micro-USB battery can easily be charged on-the-go using a micro-USB charging cable connected to any USB power source.
  • PACKAGE CONTENTS – NITECORE NU25, Headband, USB Cable, LumenTac adapter

That’s the breakdown on what I’m using right now as a headlamp when I’m in the backcountry or at home being gritty.

Below is a link to both of the headlamps.

Thanks for reading this short post and be sure to get outside and have an adventure because life is short!