BEST BUY: Silva Terra Scout H

Price: £65
Weight: 76g
Best for: Backpacking, wild camping
Key attributes: Recycled plastic materials, hemp headband, rechargeable battery

With the new Terra range, Silva has introduced three new headtorches, the Scout X, Scout XT and range-topping Scout H. All use recycled plastic materials and a hemp headband to give a carbon footprint reduction of 90% compared to the previous models.

The three different models have maximum outputs of 300 lumens for the Scout X and 350 lumens for the Scout XT and Scout H. All use Silva’s Hybrid Technology, which means they can be powered either by standard AAA batteries or by Silva’s rechargeable 1.25Ah lithium-ion cell. The Scout H comes with one of these Hybrid batteries as standard, hence its slightly higher price point.

The Scout H is lightweight and comfortable overall, thanks to a soft, wide strap and an extremely slim, compact design. However, it’s still pretty powerful, with dual white LEDs that provide combined spot and flood lighting plus a secondary red LED for night vision use. The max output of the Scout H is a creditable 350 lumens, and Silva’s Intelligent Light technology delivers a good balance of beam spread and penetration. Operations are simple and straightforward via one big button on top of the headlamp, but you also get a battery level indicator and that hybrid battery technology. Unlike most others, the rechargeable battery pack has a USB-C port rather than the older micro-USB tech too, enabling faster charging.

Full Specifications

Recycled plastic materials / hemp headband / 350 lumen output / AAA battery and rechargeable 1.25Ah lithium-ion cell compatible /  spot and flood lighting / red LED light / battery level indicator / one button / USB-C port.

Selected for our Green Gear Guide 2023 – Read our full Silva Terra Scout H review.

BioLite HeadLamp 330

Price: £60
Weight: 69g
Best for: Long trail runs
Key attributes: Bright and lightweight, with a sleek design and efficient output. No rear red light for road running though.

BioLite’s Headlamp 330 runs off USB power and looks to move consumers away from an over-reliance on disposable batteries. This is by no means a new idea, but the unique thing with this is that BioLite have achieved all this in an impressively small and lightweight package.

Better still, the HeadLamp 330 also packs a punch when it comes to brightness, offering the wearer, you guessed it – 330 lumens. That’s 330 lumens at a weight of 69g, with an average burn time of 40 hours on the low setting and 3 hours 30 minutes on high – and all at the price of £60.

Comparing the HeadLamp 330 to its competitors is interesting. The Petzl Bindi for instance, while being around 20g lighter, only has a burn time of 2 hours. Then there’s the Black Diamond Iota which weighs the same as BioLite’s 330, but only offers 150 lumens.

Bringing all of this efficient, lightweight power together in such a sleek design is impressive. A small button on the top of the head torch is the sole function to switch light settings and although some may find it tricky to locate or compress with gloves on, it keeps up with the minimal design of the head torch.

The settings include a white spot, flood and strobe, along with a red spot setting for use in close proximity with others or for maintaining your night vision. At the bottom of the battery unit, which sits at the back of your head, is a micro USB port, covered by a water repellent seal. There’s also an indicator light that illuminates once the head torch is switched on.

Full Specifications

Max output 330 lumens / Red night vision mode / Adjustable front panel / 40 hour burn time on LO, 3.5 Hours on HIGH / Rechargeable via Micro-USB.

Selected for the 2019/20 Outdoor 100. Read our full review of the BioLite HeadLamp 330 here.

Black Diamond Spot 325

Price: £40
Weight: 86g
Best for: Trail runs and all-round outdoor use
Key attributes: IPX8 waterproofing, variable dimming modes, slim design.

The headline stat for the Spot 325 is that it is rated to IPX8 in terms of waterproofing. This means that you’ll be able to submerge it 1 metre underwater for up to 30 minutes and it’ll keep trucking on (though it’ll probably need drying out afterwards).

The headlamp does not support USB charging, instead it uses three AAA batteries, which give it 4 hours of burn time on its high setting (325 lumens), 8 hours on medium (160 lumens) and 200 hours on the lowest (6 lumens). These power modes can be changed via the single button on the top of the head torch, whilst a smaller button sits on the side to allow for changing between lens settings which include dimming, strobe, red night-vision and lock modes. Finally, a nice tap setting that Black Diamond have called ‘Power Tap’ sits on the side of the head torch, letting you change brightness settings with just a simple tap.

We tested this head torch in the Black Mountains of Wales and it proved to be a really good little companion for the trip. First of all, the adjustable strap is easy to use and lets you find the perfect fit, and it’s comfortable to wear all evening. Then there’s the versatility, and this is what really makes it stand out from other head torches. It has a lot of settings; from just a simple low beam for reading in a tent, through to a strobe for running in country lanes. The red night-vision is handy, as is the useful lock mode. Its credentials make it an impressive all-rounder for hiking, camping and running in the UK.

Full Specifications

Max output 325 lumens / PowerTap technology / Uses 3 x AAA batteries / Brightness Memory function / Proximity and distance modes, plus dimming, strobe, red night-vision and lock mode / IPX8 Waterproof-Tested to operate at least 1.1 meters underwater for 30 minutes.

Selected for the 2019/20 Outdoor 100. Read our full review of the Black Diamond Spot 325

Petzl Bindi

Price: £50
Weight: 35g
Best for: Fast and light runners, trail runs up to 2 hours
Key attributes: Extremely light and compact, good value, though operation is slightly fiddly.

This is a phenomenally light and compact head torch that will be barely noticeable in your backpack or even your jacket pocket. It’s also packs a surprisingly bright punch at 200 lumens on its maximum setting.

There are five settings altogether – low, medium, high, a red light and a flashing strobe – all of which are cycled between by just the one button. If you’re running it constantly on its top setting it’ll last 2 hours which is still pretty good considering the 200-lumen brightness. It’s not absolutely waterproof but it does have an IPX 4 rating, meaning it can face up to splashes or rain from any direction.

As such, this ticks all the right boxes: it’s light, compact, bright (for its size), the battery life is decent and its price isn’t too bad either. The bungee might not look secure or comfortable, but you’d be surprised. In fact, when you haven’t got it switched on, it’s easy to forget you’re wearing it. The only downside is that the button can be slightly hard to press with cold fingers or when you’re wearing gloves.

Full Specifications

Max output 200 lumens / Reflective headband / Rechargeable via micro USB port, with charge indicator / 3 lighting modes: proximity, movement and distance / Red lighting night vision mode and lock function / IPX4 rated (weather-resistant).

Read our full Petzl Bindi review

Petzl Tikka RXP

Price: £59
Weight: 115g
Best for: Short-ish evening runs
Key attributes: Reactive lighting, USB rechargeable, programmable with Petzl OS. But fiddly and confusing controls that are difficult to operate with gloves.

The RXP uses Petzl’s Reactive Lighting system which alters the output according to the ambient light conditions. In Reactive mode the RXP gives plenty of light when looking at the ground in front and powers itself up when looking up at more distant objects.

This is a really useful function for night navigation as you don’t get dazzled when looking at your map and should also eke out battery life by only giving you as much light as you need.  There is a very slight delay in this transition as the torch reacts. Three settings allow you to choose power levels depending on the amount of light needed which for running is either maximum or standard and will give between 2 ½  and 5 hours of battery.

It is also possible to switch the torch to constant lighting, again with 3 power levels. The RXP can also be used with 3 AAA batteries but you need to purchase a separate adaptor for this. The USB rechargeable battery can also be tweaked with different power levels using Petzl’s free OS software and a computer.

The downside of the torch is that it is complicated to use. Two very small buttons are difficult to locate with gloved hands and the sequence of presses to cycle through the various settings is confusing. With gloves on it’s also different to tell the difference between the buttons and the flap over the USB port. With use you’d probably get more accustomed to it, but it’s not an intuitive control system – the single knob on the Nao is a lot easier to use.

The battery is in the head unit making it quite bulky and meaning all the weight is up front.  As a result the RXP bobs slightly when running quickly although the headband with a double strap at the back of the head goes some way to prevent this.

The RXP will suit runners looking for Reactive Lighting at an affordable price and who don’t need too much battery life. But using it whilst wearing gloves is likely to make you wish you’d spent a little bit more on its big brother the Nao. Overall, it has decent light output and the Reactive Lighting system is a really neat idea. Unfortunately the Tikka RXP is let down by an over-complicated control system with hard to use buttons and odd sequences. We’d suggest splashing out a little more for the Nao.

Full Specifications

Max output 215 lumens / Reactive or constant light modes / Wide, focused or mixed beams / Locking on-off switch / Rechargeable 1800 mAh Lithium-Ion battery.

Petzl Swift RL

Price: £97
Weight: 100g
Best for: Trail running, mountaineering and skiing
Key attributes: Reactive lighting, impressive 900-lumen max output, relatively lightweight given its power.

The Swift RL’s ‘Reactive Lighting’ technology results in a longer burn time (or battery life), and requires less manual adjustment. The light sensor automatically adjusts brightness and beam pattern depending on the current level of light in the environment. This optimises battery usage and keeps the head torch going for longer. But if you’d prefer something a bit more traditional, you can switch to a ‘Standard Lighting’ mode.

The Swift RL is a fine example of an ultra-bright head torch coming in a lightweight, extremely convenient, body. An impressive 900 lumens from a 100g item will definitely appeal to fast and light trail runners. With an ergonomic adjustable headband, with two-part Petzl patent construction, this has a really comfortable fit and will stay fixed on your head even when you’re moving over rough and broken terrain. Speaking of the headband, it’s reflective for heightened night-time visibility.

Full Specifications

Max output 900 lumens / Reactive or constant light modes / Proximity vision, movement and distance vision / Reflective headband / Rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery via micro USB port, with battery charge indicator / Lock function / Rated IPX4 (weather-resistant).

Selected for the Outdoor 100 2020/21. Read our full review of the Petzl Swift RL Headlamp here.

LEDLenser MH3

Price: £35
Weight: 190g
Best for: All-round outdoor use.
Key attributes: Simple yet functional, although rather heavy.

The MH3 can be worn on the head or chest, which makes it a pretty versatile beast. Powered by a single AA battery and with a low battery indicator to keep you up to speed, this headlamp delivers up to 200 lumens max output. This light can be focused with a simple, intuitive, twist of the bezel. It can also be tilted within a 60° angle and has a maximum light distance of 130 metres (at a real stretch). The optimum light distance is about 40 metres, meaning the way ahead is still well lit whichever setting you have it on. The head torch has a maximum burn time of 35 hours, with the lowest settings activated, and a minimum burn time of 4.5 hours.

Weighing in at 190g, the MH3 LED from LEDLenser isn’t the lightest. Its IPX4 rating means it is splashproof, but not submersible. It’s not a Rolls Royce by any stretch of the imagination, but it will serve you very well when the sun goes down.

Full Specifications

Max output 200 lumens / Power, low power functions / Max beam distance: 130m, Min: 40m / Max burn time: 35h, Min: 4.5h / IPX4 rated (splashproof) / Advanced Focus System, Rapid Focus and Smart Light Technology.

Selected for the Outdoor 100 2020/21. Read our full LEDLenser MH3 review.