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Waterproofing
Most head torches undergo IP testing, which determines their level of protection against dust and water. Our head torches vary from IPX4 (splashproof from any angle) to IPX8 (protected against water immersion).
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Navigating head torch options
Head torches are one of the most versatile pieces of kit you can own, providing a hands-free lighting solution. But do you know how many lumens to look for and what other factors to consider when choosing the head torch that best suits your needs? This buying guide will help you navigate the options.
The 3 main lighting performance metrics
Brightness
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Beam distance
Beam distance shows how far the light will reach. This is especially important for navigation and fast-paced activities.
Short distance: Close-up tasks like cooking or reading
Medium distance: General hiking and campsite use
Long distance: Navigation, trail running, and mountaineering
Burn time
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Industry standard (ANSI/PLATO)
Most major brands follow the ANSI/PLATO FL 1 standard. This is a consistent testing method used to measure brightness, beam distance, and burn time.
It allows for more reliable comparisons between products, as all are tested under the same conditions. However, real-world performance can still vary depending on temperature, battery type, and usage.
Beam shape
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Settings and reactive lighting
Most head torches include multiple lighting modes to suit different situations:
High, medium, and low brightness settings
Flashing or emergency modes
Red or coloured light modes, which help preserve night vision and reduce glare
Reactive lighting is a technology developed by Petzl. It automatically adjusts brightness based on your surroundings, reducing the need to manually change settings and helping to optimise battery life.
Power options
Rechargeable
Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries have a higher upfront cost but are more cost-effective over time and easier to reuse.
Traditional batteries
AA or AAA batteries are easy to replace, making them useful for longer trips where recharging may not be possible.
Hybrid systems
Many modern head torches support both rechargeable and disposable batteries, giving you flexibility depending on your trip.
Unregulated vs regulated output
A regulated torch will run at the same intensity until the battery is nearly dead, then it will enter a short, low-power backup mode until it’s out of charge.
An unregulated torch will work on full power when the batteries are new, but it will continuously dim at a slow pace until it’s completely dead.
Head torch features
Additional features
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Jargon buster
Lumens a measure of how much visible light a head torch produces; the higher the number, the brighter the beam
Burn time how long a head torch will run before the battery needs recharging or replacing
MAh short for millampere-hours, tells you how much charge a battery can store; a higher number means a higher potential run time
IP rating a code showing how resistant the head torch is to water and dust, the higher the number the better the protection
Beam pattern the shape and spread of the light beam
Beam distance: How far the light reaches
Final thoughts
Choosing the right head torch comes down to matching performance and features to your activity. Consider where and how you will use it, and balance brightness, distance, and battery life accordingly.
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