3 Of The Best Rechargeable Headlamps Available

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While having a rechargeable flashlights while hiking or camping is a good idea — as it can be a more sustainable option — you can take that convenience a step further and opt for a rechargeable headlamp. By strapping a flashlight to your forehead (or helmet), you free up both hands to do any number of things you may need to get done in the dark, whether it's resetting your circuit breaker, replacing a spark plug, or pitching a tent after the sun has already gone down.

There are a lot of things to consider when shopping for a headlamp such as brightness levels, how comfortable they are to wear on your head, and how long they'll last before needing to recharge. To help you decide which product is right for you, here are three of the best rechargeable headlamps currently available, based on positive reviews by those who have thoroughly tested them. More information on how these items were selected can be found at the end of this list.

The climbing equipment manufacturer Black Diamond makes some of the best headlamps on the market, which makes sense considering that hands-free lighting can be vitally important for climbers. The Black Diamond Storm 500-R offers 500 lumen illumination on its max setting and also can make adjustments to dim and strobe. It changes color from red, green and blue, and also has settings for proximity and distance. There's even a nifty lock mode to prevent it from switching on in your pocket or backpack. It can also remember the last setting you used so that it won't turn back on at full brightness if you don't want it to.

The 2,400 mAh Li-ion battery that powers the light is rechargeable via micro-USB. At its highest setting, it can last for seven hours and illuminate up to 120 meters. It's also rated IPX67 and can safely be submerged in a meter of water for 30 minutes.

Unlike some other Black Diamond headlamps, the 500-R doesn't allow you to use traditional batteries as a second power option — so if you forget to recharge the device, you'll be out of luck. One other drawback, according to Men's Journal, is that the unit is a little heavy when compared to other headlamps (120 grams). On Amazon, the Black Diamond Storm 500-R is priced between $74.88 and $89.95, depending on which of the four colors you go with (black, blue, yellow, and red).

If you're looking for a simple, affordable headlamp, you can opt for the Energizer Rechargeable Pro400. I own three headlamps and they're all made by Energizer — two use AA batteries and one is this rechargeable model. They're all comfortable to wear, easy to set up, and have big one-tap buttons that make switching them on and off a cinch. Unfortunately, there is no lock mode, so you have to be careful when storing and transporting the headlamp so that you don't accidentally turn it on and drain the battery. While I wish the Pro400 was just a tiny bit brighter (it maxes out at 380 lumens), it has become my go-to flashlight at home. The light can reach a distance of 80 meters.

Also known as the Energizer Vision Ultra HD, the headlamp is lightweight and has a shatterproof lens that is IPX4 water-resistant. It can also conveniently pivot downward from your forehead. It fully charges via micro-USB in four hours. There are two buttons on the Pro400: a power button and a mode button. You can toggle the headlamp between seven modes: red, green, flashing red, and low/high settings in normal and wide beams. You can purchase the Energizer Rechargeable Pro400 (in black) on Amazon for $25.98. An emerald green model is also available at a slightly higher price.

In its list of "the 9 best headlamps for 2024," Popular Mechanics named the Petzl Tikka the "easiest to use." After thoroughly testing many different devices, the publication also found that — despite the manufacturer listing its run time as two hours — the headlamp slowly dims rather than outright dies and that "it stayed on for over 24 hours, providing usable light" at its highest setting. Unlike many other rechargeable headlamps, you don't recharge the Tikka by directly plugging a USB cable into the device. Instead, you need to insert a rechargeable battery made by Petzl, which costs extra. This is a big drawback, though it also means you can use AAA batteries in a pinch as an alternate option, which is helpful.

The headlamp has a wide beam pattern and a respectable 350 lumen output. It also includes red light and strobe settings. The device weighs 94 grams and is compatible with both bike and helmet mounts, while the headband is detachable and washable. Other convenient features include a lock function, IPX4 weather-resistant rating, a battery charge indicator, a phosphorescent reflector that allows you to find it more easily in the dark, and a tilt plate that lets you angle the light, as well as a storage pouch that allows you use the headlamp as a lantern. The Petzl Tikka costs $34.95 and comes in brown and yellow.

In order to ensure that the recommended products on this list of the best rechargeable headlamps currently available on the market are actually worth spending your money on, only devices that have been thoroughly tested and positively reviewed by reputable publications were selected. These publications are known for their rigorous evaluation and expert reviews of either tech products, camping and outdoors gear, or both. They include Wirecutter, Popular Mechanics, Men's Journal, Clever Hiker, and GearJunkie.

Additionally, I have used one of the headlamps (the Energizer Rechargeable Pro400) for over two years. While I typically use it for emergencies or when I need to do some work in low-light conditions, I thoroughly inspected it and re-tested its features before including it on this list. Factors that were considered when comparing these headlamps with each other and with other products on the market include the lumen count and max beam range of each device, as well as battery life, light settings, special features, durability, comfort, style, and pricing.