On Amazon
Energizer Vision HD+ 260
260 lm · up to 4 h on high · IPX4
7 modes including red, an 80 m beam on high and a 1 m drop test; 3 AAA batteries included.
£11.99 · as of 5 Nov, 11:37 GMT
Head torches
A head torch is the one light you will use every night at camp. Below: what the figures mean, then 6 head torches in two groups, compared on what their own listings say.
What to look for
- Lumens
- Brightness, as each listing gives it: 260 to 3,000 lumens on this page. We left out listings that claim tens of thousands of lumens for a few pounds.
- Battery life
- Listings give run time per mode, and the brightest setting runs shortest: the Silva lists 700 lumens for 2 to 3 hours and 15 lumens for 50 hours.
- Water rating
- IPX4 means protected against splashing water. IP67 and IP68 are dust-tight and protected against being submerged; the Silva listing says 1 m for at least 30 minutes.
- Batteries or USB
- AAA torches (Energizer, Black Diamond) take spare batteries you can buy anywhere. Rechargeable ones charge by USB (SerDa-Run, Ledlenser, Silva) or take a replaceable battery (Olight).
- Red light
- A red mode keeps your night vision and, in the Ledlenser listing's words, minimises disturbance. The Energizer, Black Diamond, Ledlenser, Silva and Olight list one.
Listed cheapest first by the price when we put the list together. Each line says why it is here, using the maker's own listing. We have not tested these products.
Battery (AAA)
Spare AAA batteries keep these going anywhere.
On Amazon
Black Diamond Cosmo 350
350 lm · IP67 · 3 × AAA
Dimming, strobe and red night-vision modes; runs on 3 AAA batteries (included) or Black Diamond's rechargeable BD 1500 battery; works after 30 minutes at 1 m under water.
£31.88 · as of 5 Nov, 11:37 GMT
Prices as of the time shown and may change. Details
Rechargeable
Charge by USB, or swap in a charged battery.
On Amazon
SerDa-Run wide-beam head torch
350 lm · up to 8 h on low, 3 h on high · IPX4
USB-rechargeable 80 g strip light with a 230° wide beam, 5 modes and a wave-to-switch sensor.
£11.99 · as of 5 Nov, 11:37 GMT
On Amazon
Ledlenser HF4R Core
500 lm · up to 35 h · IP68
72 g, spot-to-flood beam up to 130 m and a red light; USB-C magnetic charging in 180 minutes.
£30.05 · as of 5 Nov, 11:37 GMT
On Amazon
Silva Explore 5
700 lm for 2–3 h · 15 lm for 50 h · IP68
Combined spot and flood beam, white, red and orange LEDs and a 4-step battery indicator; USB-C charging.
£56.41 · as of 5 Nov, 11:37 GMT
On Amazon
Olight Perun 3
3,000 lm turbo · 20 days on moonlight · IP rating not given
Red light with 2 levels, a large metal side button for gloved hands and a replaceable battery; detaches to use as a right-angle torch.
£89.99 · as of 5 Nov, 11:37 GMT
Prices as of the time shown and may change. Details
Side by side
| Product | Type | Max brightness | Battery life | Water rating | Power | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Energizer Vision HD+ 260 | Battery (AAA) | 260 lm | Up to 4 h on high | IPX4 | 3 × AAA (included) | Not listed |
| Black Diamond Cosmo 350 | Battery (AAA) | 350 lm | Not listed | IP67 | 3 × AAA (included) or BD 1500 battery | Not listed |
| SerDa-Run wide-beam head torch | Rechargeable | 350 lm | Up to 8 h low, 3 h high | IPX4 | USB rechargeable | 80 g |
| Ledlenser HF4R Core | Rechargeable | 500 lm | Up to 35 h | IP68 | USB-C, built-in battery | 72 g |
| Silva Explore 5 | Rechargeable | 700 lm | 2–3 h at 700 lm, 50 h at 15 lm | IP68 | USB-C, built-in 2.0 Ah battery | Not listed |
| Olight Perun 3 | Rechargeable | 3,000 lm | 20 days on moonlight | Not listed | Replaceable rechargeable battery | Not listed |
More kit lists
Somewhere to use it
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