Buying advice
Which headlamp is right for you? Our best-selling models, explained honestly: how bright they are, how long they last, what they’re good for and where their limits are. Find yours in six questions.
What do you need it for?
How much light do you need?
How long are you out in one go?
Rechargeable battery or batteries?
What else matters to you?
How much would you like to spend?
Our selectionSuits you
The Headlamps we took a close look at. Every answer narrows it down.
Faded ones no longer match your answers. At the end we show you the best three.
Strictly filtered, nothing fits completely. At the end we show you the three that come closest.
Your recommendation
Sorted by your answers
Weigh it up
Why it suits you
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All headlamps
15 Headlamps we took a close look at
Black DiamondSpot 400-R400 lm100 m116 gfrom €42.95The Spot 400-R shines with up to 400 lumens and reaches 100 m on the high setting and 60 m on the medium setting. With PowerTap, you switch to full power with a tap, while the red night-vision light can be dimmed. The built-in 1500-mAh battery charges via Micro-USB and provides up to 225 hours of runtime.
Item no. 15-BD6206760004ALL1 · as of 10 October 2026
SilvaExplore 6700 lm115 m116 gfrom €64.55The Explore 6 shines with 700 lumens and combines close-up and distance lighting through Silva Intelligent Light technology. The built-in battery charges via USB-C, and a four-level indicator shows the charge level. It also has red and orange light, a button lock and a helmet mount.
Item no. 1124-38459-ch · as of 10 October 2026
Black DiamondIcon 700700 lm140 m300 gfrom €74.85The Icon 700 shines with 700 lumens and is designed for mountain trips where bright light and a long beam matter. The night-vision mode offers red, green or blue light, a second switch quickly changes between lens modes, and PowerTap gives you full power with a tap. The lamp is waterproof to 1 metre, and three LEDs show the remaining battery power.
Item no. 15-BD6206540004ALL1 · as of 10 October 2026
SilvaExplore 7700 lm115 m116 gfrom €64.55The Explore 7 shines with 700 lumens and combines a long-range beam with close-up lighting. The built-in battery charges via USB-C, and the housing is dustproof and waterproof according to IP68. It also has red and orange light for night vision and a helmet mount.
Item no. 1124-38460-ch · as of 10 October 2026
Black DiamondAstro 300300 lm55 m75 gfrom €21.90The Astro 300 shines with 300 lumens and runs either on the BD-1500 battery or three AAA batteries. Dimming and flashing modes adjust the light, while a digital lock prevents it switching on in your pack. The compact, water-resistant housing also fits in small rucksack compartments.
Item no. 15-BD6206740004ALL1 · as of 10 October 2026
SilvaDiscover Hybrid500 lm80 m93 gfrom €58.75The Discover Hybrid shines up to 80 metres in Max mode with 500 lumens, and runs for up to 25 hours in Min mode with 15 lumens. It weighs 93 g with the battery and runs on the included Silva Hybrid battery or 3 AAA batteries. Red light preserves night vision, while orange light helps with map reading.
Item no. 1124-38453-ch · as of 10 October 2026
SilvaSmini Fly250 lm80 m38.5 gfrom €40.35The Smini Fly weighs 38.5 g including the 3 mm headband and shines with up to 250 lumens, reaching 80 m in Max mode. The built-in 700 mAh battery charges via USB-C in around three hours and lasts 20 hours in Min mode with 10 lumens. Red light preserves night vision, and the housing meets the IPX5 standard.
Item no. 1124-38464-ch · as of 10 October 2026
LupinePenta1,100 lm120 m110 gfrom €148.90The Penta shines with up to 1,100 lumens and reaches 120 metres according to the manufacturer. A lens system combines a focused spot beam with a wide flood beam, plus red light. The lamp head weighs 86 grams without the headband; you charge the battery via USB-C and can replace it when needed.
Item no. 2062-0755X-neutral-Onesize · as of 10 October 2026
Black DiamondAstro 300-R300 lm55 m100 gfrom €32.65The Astro 300-R shines with 300 lumens and reaches 55 metres on its highest setting according to the manufacturer. The built-in 1500 mAh battery charges via Micro-USB and lasts 140 hours on the lowest setting. A digital lock prevents it switching on in your pack.
Item no. 15-BD6206780004ALL1 · as of 10 October 2026
SilvaDiscover500 lm80 m68 gfrom €44.25The Discover shines with up to 500 lumens and reaches up to 80 metres. You can run it on a rechargeable battery or 3 AAA batteries, neither of which is included. It also has red and orange light, and lasts 25 hours in Super-Low mode with 15 lumens according to the manufacturer.
Item no. 1124-38494-ch · as of 10 October 2026
SilvaScout 3XT350 lm65 m76 gfrom €30.45The Scout 3XT shines with 350 lumens and has a red-light mode alongside white light. It runs on 3xAAA batteries or a Hybrid battery. You can operate the large switch while wearing gloves, and according to IPX5 it withstands heavy rain.
Item no. 1124-37976-ch · as of 10 October 2026
SilvaSeek 320320 lm82 m92 gfrom €24.99The Seek 320 shines with 320 lumens and reaches 82 metres on its highest setting according to the manufacturer. You can detach the lamp head, and the distance and close-up lights are combined. With AAA batteries it weighs 92 grams, and on the lowest setting with 10 lumens it lasts 110 hours.
Item no. 1124-38546-ch · as of 10 October 2026
LupinePenta Pro 4SC 5700 K1,400 lm140 m60 gfrom €288.90The Penta Pro shines with up to 1,400 lumens and reaches 140 metres. A brightness sensor adjusts the light to the surroundings, while a tilt sensor dims it when you look down. The external 3.5 amp-hour battery can be changed quickly and lasts 625 hours on the lowest setting; the lamp head alone weighs 60 grams.
Item no. 2062-0600X-neutral-Onesize · as of 10 October 2026
LupineBlika BT X 4SC2,400 lm255 m85 gfrom €468.90The Blika BT X shines with 2,400 lumens, and its focused spot reaches up to 255 metres according to the manufacturer. Alongside the main light, it has red and green light, and you can control it via Bluetooth remote, app or the buttons on the lamp head. The battery is external; the FrontClick and FastClick systems let you change the lamp head and battery quickly. The housing is water-resistant according to IPX7.
Item no. 2062-2200X-neutral-Onesize · as of 10 October 2026
LupinePiko BT X 4SC2,100 lm215 m60 gfrom €418.90The Piko BT X delivers 2,100 lumens with just 60 grams of weight on your head; the SmartCore battery sits externally on the headband. A dual-lens system combines spot and flood beams, and the light reaches up to 215 metres according to the manufacturer. You can operate it via button or Bluetooth; the housing is water-resistant according to IPX7.
Item no. 2062-2400X-neutral-Onesize · as of 10 October 2026
Nothing matches these filters. Try removing one.
H Values marked H come from the manufacturers.
The beam
How far you really see roots, path and outlines depends on how the beam is focused. The beam view shows it on a forest path at night, headlamp beside headlamp.
More lumens doesn't mean further: Black Diamond Astro 300 has 300 lm and reaches 55 m, Silva Smini Fly has 250 lm and reaches 80 m.
A forest path with no moon, seen from above. How far do you see the roots, how far the path, and what stays in the dark?
Roots clear (10 lux)Path visible (1 lux)Outlines only (0.25 lux, about full moon)
Lumens are not beam distanceLumens are the amount of light. How far it reaches depends on the focus.
At the end it's moonlightBeam distance ends at 0.25 lux. You see the path to about half of it.
Longer runtime, shorter beamThe selector shows the brightest mode with at least 1, 2 or 4 hours of runtime. Without its own beam distance we derive it from the brightest mode (≈).
Calculated from the beam distance according to ANSI/PLATO FL1. Fog, terrain and stray light are left out.
Good to know
If you want to dig deeper
For a tent, hut and map, 50 to 100 lumens is enough. For walking on woodland paths, 200 to 300 lumens is comfortable. If you run in the dark or move quickly over rough terrain, 400 lumens or more is better, as you need to spot roots earlier when moving fast.
More lumens does not automatically mean better visibility. The figure describes the total amount of light, not where it falls. Full power often lasts only a few hours.
| Use | Guide value | What to look for |
|---|---|---|
| Tent, hut, reading | 50 to 100 lm | wide beam, red light |
| Hiking on paths | 200 to 300 lm | weight, battery or rechargeable battery |
| Running in the dark | from 400 lm | secure fit, beam distance |
| Mountains and rough terrain | from 500 lm | beam distance, operation with gloves |
Beam distance indicates how far the beam still delivers 0.25 lux to the ground. That is as bright as a full-moon night. This was defined by the ANSI/PLATO FL1 standard, which many manufacturers use for their measurements.
At the end of the stated beam distance, you can therefore only see outlines. For walking at a brisk pace, the bright area in front of you matters. A lamp with a focused beam reaches further at the same number of lumens than one with a wide beam.
The longest run time in the specifications almost always applies to the lowest setting. Under FL1, measurement continues until only ten per cent of the initial brightness remains. At full power, many lamps manage two to six hours.
Cold makes a difference too. Rechargeable batteries and disposable batteries deliver noticeably less in freezing conditions. For long winter nights, it is worth carrying a spare battery in an inside pocket or using a lamp with a battery as a backup.
A built-in battery charges conveniently via USB and is practical for an evening walk. On multi-day trips without a power socket, AAA batteries have the advantage because you can buy them almost anywhere. Hybrid lamps accept both.
Red light is less dazzling. Your eyes stay adjusted to the dark, and if you are sitting in a tent or with a group, you do not shine the light into other people’s faces.
Lumens describe how much light a lamp gives out; beam distance describes how far the beam reaches. For running on trails, both matter; for a tent or hut, less light with a wide beam is enough.
A rechargeable battery is convenient to charge via USB. Batteries can be replaced on the go when there’s no socket nearby. Some lamps can use both.
For runs in the dark, 400 lumens is a good starting point; on rough ground, you’ll probably want more. It’s also important that the lamp doesn’t wobble while you run.
That’s what the protection rating tells you. IPX4 protects against splashes and rain; IPX7 withstands brief immersion. Every lamp on this page shows the rating if the shop or manufacturer provides it.
The longest runtime usually applies to the lowest setting. At full power and in cold weather, the battery runs out considerably faster.
Manufacturer information: Black Diamond Icon 700 · Black Diamond Astro 300 · Silva Discover Hybrid · Lupine Penta · Black Diamond Astro 300-R · Silva Discover · Silva Seek 320 · Lupine Blika BT X 4SC · Lupine Piko BT X 4SC · as of 7 October 2026. Product details from the product pages on sportfits.eu.
