How to Pick a Headlamp for Hunting, Fishing, and Camping

A headlamp keeps your hands free for tying knots, cooking dinner, or walking to a stand before dawn. The trouble is that the packages all look alike, and the biggest number on the box isn’t always the one that matters. Here’s how to pick a headlamp that fits the way you hunt, fish, and camp.

How bright does it need to be?

Brightness is measured in lumens. More lumens means more light, but brighter isn’t always better. A very bright beam drains the battery fast and blinds anyone you look at.

Most of the time, you’ll use a low or medium setting. As a rough guide:

• Around camp: cooking, reading, and finding gear in the tent only take a low setting.
• Walking a trail: a medium setting in the low hundreds of lumens is enough for most people.
• Scanning far off: the high setting helps you find a trail marker, a boat ramp, or reflectors across a field.

Be careful with the max number on the box. Many headlamps can only hold their top setting for a short time before they dim to save power or keep from overheating. Look at the run time listed for each setting, not just the peak brightness.

Many packages also list numbers tested to the ANSI FL1 standard. That means light output, beam distance, and run time were measured the same way. It makes comparing one lamp to another more fair.

Flood, spot, or both

The shape of the beam matters as much as brightness.

• Flood beam: a wide, even circle of light. It’s best for close work like tying on a hook, cleaning fish, or setting up a tent.
• Spot beam: a tight, focused beam that reaches farther. It’s good for walking trails and looking down the bank.
• Mixed beam: many headlamps have both, or let you switch. This is the easiest choice if you only want to own one.

For most hunters, anglers, and campers, a lamp with both a flood and a spot mode covers nearly everything.

Red light and other modes

A red light mode is worth having. Your eyes take a while to adjust to the dark, and a bright white light resets that. Red light is gentler, so you keep more of your night vision.

Red light is also easier on the people around you. At a campsite or on a boat, you won’t blind your friends every time you turn your head.

A few other features are handy:

• Lock mode: keeps the lamp from turning on in your pack and draining the battery.
• Starts on low: some lamps turn on at their brightest setting. One that starts low or on red won’t blast you in the eyes in a dark tent.
• Simple buttons: you’ll be using it in the dark, often with gloves on. Big buttons that are easy to find help a lot.

Batteries or rechargeable

This choice depends on how long you’re out and whether you’ll have a way to charge.

Regular batteries (often AAA) are easy to find at almost any store. You can swap in fresh ones in a minute. Alkaline batteries lose power in the cold, though. Lithium AAA batteries weigh less and hold up much better in cold weather.

Built-in rechargeable batteries cost less over time, and you can charge them from a USB cord or a power bank. The downside is that when the battery dies, you can’t swap it on the spot.

Hybrid headlamps take a rechargeable pack or regular batteries. They give you a backup plan either way.

Whatever you pick, carry spare power. That means a fresh set of batteries in a zip-top bag, or a charged power bank and cord. A small backup flashlight is also a good idea. In cold weather, keep spares in an inside pocket where your body heat keeps them warm.

If you store a headlamp for months between seasons, take the alkaline batteries out. Old batteries can leak and ruin the contacts.

What IPX water ratings mean

Many headlamps list a water rating like IPX4 or IPX7. The X means the lamp wasn’t rated for dust. The number after it tells you how much water it can handle. Higher is better.

• IPX4: handles splashes and rain from any direction. That’s fine for most camping.
• IPX7: can be dunked in water up to 1 meter (about 3 feet) deep for 30 minutes.
• IPX8: can go deeper or longer than IPX7. The maker sets the exact limits, so read the label.

For fishing, wading, or hunting in wet weather, IPX7 or better gives you peace of mind if your headlamp slips into the water.

Weight and fit

You might wear a headlamp for hours, so comfort counts. Lighter lamps are easier on your forehead. Bigger ones with a battery pack on the back of the head spread the weight out and stay put better on long walks.

Try it on with the hat you’ll really wear, like a knit cap or ball cap. The strap should adjust enough to fit over it without slipping. Also check that the lamp tilts down, so you can aim the light at your hands or your feet.

Before your first trip, use your new headlamp around the house at night for a few evenings. You’ll learn the buttons and modes, so you’re not guessing in the dark.