While you’re looking for the best headlamps, there are many factors to consider before making a purchase. You want to make sure that the headlamp is waterproof enough to withstand a heavy downpour, you need the lamp to be bright enough to illuminate the space, and the headband needs to be comfortable so you can wear it for long periods of time.
We’ve reviewed dozens of headlamps to try and find ones that meet all of these expectations, and it wasn’t easy. There are many products out there, but not too many of them meet our needs. Following the research, we were able to narrow down this list to the top five best headlamps that provide everything you need and don’t break the bank. All of these choices are available for purchase online from Amazon.
We chose the Elmchee Rechargeable Headlamp as our number one pick because it checks all of our boxes. We wanted something that was waterproof, rechargeable, bright enough, and affordable enough for people of most budgets. This is the headlamp you’ll want to check out and find more details on if you’re in the market for one.
The 5 Top-Rated Headlamps
| Editor's Picks | Brand | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Best Headlamp Overall | Elmchee Rechargeable Headlamp | 4.7 |
| Best Storm Headlamp | Black Diamond Storm Headlamp | 4.5 |
| Best Budget Headlamp | GearLight LED Headlamp | 4.7 |
| Best Multi-Pack Headlamp | EverBrite LED Headlamp | 4.5 |
| Best Runners Headlamp | Black Diamond Sprinter Rechargeable Headlamp | 4.6 |
*Ratings are from Amazon at the time of publication and can change
Best Headlamp Overall: Elmchee Rechargeable Headlamp
Our top pick is the Elmchee Rechargeable Headlamp. We picked this one as our favorite for a few different reasons. First it’s a hands-free headlamp that does not require you to do anything other than press a button on the side. It comes with eight different modes which is ideal for any situation and you can set up different colors and modes to appeal to outdoor or indoor needs.
The headlamp comes with a long-lasting and high quality 1500mAh battery and six super bright LED bulbs to go along with it. The lifetime of these bulbs is more than 100,000 hours.
As for water resistance, this one protects against splashing, rain, and snow. It’s also dustproof and shockproof, so you never have to worry about using it outdoor in the elements.
Overall, this headlamp exceeds our expectations because it checks the boxes we wanted, and there are some additional benefits as well, such as the rotating head, red safety light, and simple charging process with a USB.
Elmchee Rechargeable Headlamp Key Features:
- Hands-free
- 100,000 hour bulb life
- Waterproof and rotatable
Best Storm Headlamp: Black Diamond Storm Headlamp
The second choice is the Black Diamond Storm Headlamp and this one offers a few different sizes and colors to choose from which is a cool feature. It maximizes comfort by ensuring you get the right size for your needs. It’s powered by a quad power LED and a double power white LED with 350 lumens total.
The settings allow you to change the strange, proximity, and distance of the light while also customizing the dim and color. It is both waterproof and dustproof with sealed housing that can withstand complete water immersion for up to 30 minutes.
If you’re in a profession where you’re required to be outside in the extreme elements, this is the headlamp you want to have on your head at all times. This one runs on four AAA batteries.
Black Diamond Storm Headlamp Key Features:
- Meant for heavy duty downpours
- 350 lumens
- Can stay in the water for up to 30 minutes
Best Budget Headlamp: GearLight LED Headlamp
We chose this one as our budget pick for a few different reasons. First, it comes with two headlamps, and they’re both well recommended online, so you can’t go wrong there. Second, they use a powerful LED light that allows for a 45-hour runtime on low and a 3-hour runtime on high. The high powered runtime is not that much, but if you’re looking for extra life out of these, you will want to run them on low.
The GearLight LED Headlamp is weather and shock resistant as well. You can drop these into the harshest of conditions whether it be snow, rain, sleet, or whatever and they’ll hold up.
The head comes with seven different light modes, including a white and red beam. If you’re looking for a multi-purpose headlamp that doesn’t drain your wallet, then these are a great option. You’ll always have a backup!
GearLight LED Headlamp Key Features:
- Comes with two
- Water and shock resistant (But not waterproof)
- Lightweight and runs on 3 AAA batteries
Best Multi-Pack Headlamp: EverBrite LED Headlamp
There are times when you need a headlamp for the whole family and that’s when the EverBrite LED Headlamp comes into play. This purchase provides you with five headlamps so it’s an ideal choice for camping, hiking, family outings, and scouting experiences.
They’re bright with eight LEDs and a total lifespan of 100,000 hours. The headlamps come with a distance of up to 60 feet so you can see everything in front of you no matter how dark it is outside. This makes these lamps ideal for nighttime hiking and adventuring.
The best multi-pack choice has four light modes, which shuffles between the number of bulbs the lamp uses. These are incredibly lightweight as well, so you don’t even know they’re on your head. This factor makes these headlamps a great choice for children and teenagers as well.
If it couldn’t get any better, the lamps come with 15 AAA batteries, so you don’t need to go out and purchase a whole bunch of batteries for these. We would suggest carrying some extras on you though because you never know when you’ll need them!
EverBrite LED Headlamp Key Features:
- Comes in a 5-pack
- Four lighting modes
- Comes with batteries for each lamp
Best Runners Headlamp: Black Diamond Sprinter Rechargeable Headlamp
This running headlamp is a great choice for those who enjoy running after dark. the Black Diamond Sprinter Rechargeable Headlamp is made in the USA with a Triple Power LED and 200 lumens of light. It comes with a red taillight on the back for your safety so people can see you whether they’re in front of back. This feature is also ideal for if you’re running at night when it’s raining. Vehicles will be able to see you sooner.
The headlamp is powered by a lithium polymer rechargeable battery, so there are no disposable batteries needed. Once you get back home after your run, you’ll hook this guy up, and he’ll charge in five hours.
We would have liked battery power to be an option with these because you never know where life will take you, but unfortunately, you’re limited to the rechargeable option only. Overall this a comfortable headlamp, and it provides exceptional visibility for oncoming vehicles and for you as the runner.
Black Diamond Sprinter Rechargeable Headlamp Key Features:
- Rechargeable battery
- Red taillight ideal for runners
- Storm proof and water resistant
While you’re out running or at the campsite you never know what can happen and it pays to “overprepare.” We would suggest backing up your new headlamp with one of the best flashlights as well. Having a high-quality, bright, and reliable flashlight will ensure that you’re never in the dark.
Some of these are small and portable enough to fit inside a pocket without even being noticed so they won’t become intrusive.
Overall, we understand that many situations call for a headlamp. When you need to light up the area around you, but you also need both your hands for hiking, camping, or running, it’s important to have the best headlamp to help you with that.
We highly recommend any of the options reviewed above, and we suggest taking a deeper look into them, so you make the right purchase for your needs.
