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Gear Guide Index » Gear Guide to LED Headlamps

GEAR GUIDE: LED Headlamps

Gear Guide Criteria:

Looking for a headlamp? Try one that uses light emitting diode (LED) bulbs. Key benefits of LED's include: low power consumption (i.e., long battery life), long bulb burn lifetime, and excellent shock resistance (i.e., no need to carry spare bulbs). The BackpackingLight.com Gear Guide to LED Headlamps gives you a snapshot of the key specifications of each lamp to help you guide your buying decisions.

Do you know of a product that is not in the Gear Guide but should be? Please Contact Us and provide a link to its specifications and a photo on the Web.
HIDEIMAGEMODELMSRPWEIGHT W/O BATTERIESWEIGHT W/BATTERIES#/TYPE OF BATTERIES# LED BULBS# OTHER BULBS# BRIGHTNESS MODESSTROBE MODE?BURN TIMEBEAM DISTANCEVOLTAGE REGULATION?BATTERY PACK LOCATIONFOCUS TYPETILT HOUSING?HEADBANDBACKPACKINGLIGHT.COM NOTES
Energizer Energizer LED EssentialsEnergizer
Energizer LED Essentials		$14.951.6 oz (48 g)2.9 oz (82 g)(3) AAA(2) LED*none2NO50 hours10 mNOFrontFixedYES Wrap
Notes: * +1 red LED
Brinkmann Brinkmann Focused Beam HeadlampBrinkmann
Brinkmann Focused Beam Headlamp		$16.994.4 oz (125 g)6.0 oz (170 g)(2) AA(1) LEDnone1NO20 hours15 mNORearFixedYESBucket
Notes:  
Black Diamond Black Diamond IonBlack Diamond
Black Diamond Ion		$19.950.9 oz (26 g)1.1 oz (31 g)(1) 6V(2) LEDnone1NO15 hours15 mNOFrontFixedYesWrap
Notes: Requires unique 6v battery.
Princeton Tec Princeton Tec ScoutPrinceton Tec
Princeton Tec Scout		$19.951.5 oz (43 g)1.9 oz (54 g)(4) 2032(2) LEDnone3YES (2)24-48 hours15 mNOFrontFixedYESWrap
Notes: Can be removed from headband & clipped to hat brim (weight w/o headband w/batteries = 0.94 oz / 27 g)
Petzl Petzl TikkinaPetzl
Petzl Tikkina		$22.001.5 oz (42 g)2.8 oz (78 g)(3) AAA(2) 5mm LEDnoneThreeYes140 hours23 mNoFrontFixedYesWrap
Notes: LED upgrade in 2006 claimed to be 80% brighter.
Petzl Petzl TikkaPetzl
Petzl Tikka		$25.951.5 oz (42 g)2.8 oz (78 g)(3) AAA(3) LEDnone1NO150 hours10 mNOFrontFixedNOWrap
Notes: LED upgrade in 2006 claimed to be 80% brighter. TACTIKKA version has flip-up red lens.
Petzl Petzl ZipkaPetzl
Petzl Zipka		$29.951.0 oz (28 g)2.3 oz (65 g)(3) AAA(3) LEDnone1NO120 hours27 mNOFrontFixedNORetractable cable wrap
Notes: LED upgrade in 2006 claimed to be 80% brighter.
Tektite Tektite AvalancheTektite
Tektite Avalanche		$29.954.2 oz (4.2 oz)6.6 oz (187 g)(3) AA(2) LEDnone1NO150 hours10 mNOFrontFixedYESBucket
Notes:  
Black Diamond Black Diamond CosmoBlack Diamond
Black Diamond Cosmo		$29.951.6 oz (44 g)2.8 oz (80 g)(3) AAAFourNoneThreeYes75-150 hours8-18 mNoFrontFixedYesWrap
Notes: IPX Rating: 4
Pelican Pelican HeadsUP Lite #2610Pelican
Pelican HeadsUP Lite #2610		$29.952.1 oz (60 g)3.4 oz (96 g)(3) AAA(3) LEDnone2NO80-150 hours5-15 mNOFrontFixedYESWrap
Notes:  
Princeton Tec Princeton Tec AuroraPrinceton Tec
Princeton Tec Aurora		$29.951.4 oz (40 g)2.7 oz (77 g)(3) AAA(3) LEDnone3YES (2)50-160 hours5-10mNOFrontFixedYESWrap
Notes:  
Petzl e+LITEPetzl
e+LITE		$30.000.8 oz (22 g)1.0 oz (28 g)Two CR2032(4) LEDNoneThreeYes35-45 hours19 mNoFrontFixedYesWrap
Notes: Has white (3 LEDs) and red (1 LED) modes, removable strap, hat clip, storage case, IPX 6 rating
Princeton Tec QuadPrinceton Tec
Quad		$30.002.2 oz (62 g)3.4 oz (96 g)(3) AAA4 (LED)none3YES50-100 hours12-28 mYESFrontFixedYESWrap
Notes: Immersible, has battery meter.
Petzl Petzl Tikka PlusPetzl
Petzl Tikka Plus		$32.951.5 oz (43 g)2.8 oz (78 g)(3) AAA(4) LEDnone3YES100-150 hours15-32 mNOFrontFixedYESWrap
Notes: LED upgrade in 2006 claimed to be 80% brighter. TACTIKKA Plus version has flip-up red lens.
Petzl Petzl Zipka PlusPetzl
Petzl Zipka Plus		$37.951.0 oz (28 g)2.3 oz (65 g)(3) AAA(4) 5mm LEDsnone3YES100-150 hours15-32 mNOFrontFixedNORetractable cable wrap
Notes: LED upgrade in 2006 claimed to be 80% brighter.
Princeton Tec Princeton Tec EOS LED HeadlampPrinceton Tec
Princeton Tec EOS LED Headlamp		$38.992.5 oz (71 g) 3.7 oz (105 g)(3)AAA(1) LEDnone3YES5.5 - 72 hoursNot publishedYESFrontFixedYESWrap
Notes: Uses a Luxeon collimated 1-watt LED that generates a pencil beam with a dim, surrounding halo.
Black Diamond NightRayBlack Diamond
NightRay		$39.953.6 oz (102 g)4.9 oz (139 g)(3) AAA5 3Yes40-120 hours22 mYesRearFixedYesBucket
Notes: Uses combinations of five, 5mm LEDs w/ one set in a reflective bezel.
Lightwave Lightwave IlluminatorLightwave
Lightwave Illuminator		$39.954.7 oz (133 g)7.1 oz (201 g)(3) AA(4) LEDnone1NO330 hours15 mNOFrontFixedYESBucket
Notes:  
Black Diamond SpotBlack Diamond
Spot		$42.951.8 oz (50 g)3.0 oz (85 g)(3) AAA(4) LEDnone2x3YES20-150 hours15-40 mNOFrontFixedYESWrap
Notes: Combines one, 1-watt Luxeon and three, 5 mm white LEDs, each mode offers three levels plus strobe.
Petzl Tikka XPPetzl
Tikka XP		$45.002.0 oz (59 g)3.4 oz (95 g)(3) AAA1 (LED)none4YES60-120 hours18-50 mNOFrontAdjustableYESWrap
Notes: Single 1-watt Luxeon has three levels plus short-term boost mode. Optical diffuser spreads pencil beam into a floodlight. Battery meter. TACTIKKA Adapt XP version has colored lens inserts, Adapt System mounting options.
Black Diamond Zenix IQBlack Diamond
Zenix IQ		$47.954 oz (112 g)5.7 oz (162 g)(2) AA3 3Yes8-180 hours35 mYesRearFixedYesBucket
Notes: Switches between one collimated hyperbright LED and two 5 mm LEDs; either option has three brightness modes.
Streamlight Streamlight SeptorStreamlight
Streamlight Septor		$49.953.7 oz (105 g)5.0 oz (142 g)(3) AAA(7) LEDnone3NO18-120 hours5-20 mNOFrontFixedYESBucket
Notes:  
Princeton Tec CoronaPrinceton Tec
Corona		$49.955.3 oz8.0 oz(3) AA(8) LEDNone8Yes8-35 hoursNot publishedYesRearFixedYesBucket
Notes: Offers four modes, each with two brightness and one flash setting.
Tektite Tektite Avalanche LSTektite
Tektite Avalanche LS		$59.954.2 oz (119 g)6.6 oz (187 g)(3) AA(1) LED*none1NO10 hours50 mNOFrontFixedYESBucket
Notes: 1 watt LED
Princeton Tec Princeton Tec Yukon HLPrinceton Tec
Princeton Tec Yukon HL		$59.955.6 oz (159 g)8.0 oz (227 g)(3) AA(4) LED*none2NO44-120 hours10-100 mNORearFixedYESBucket
Notes: Incl. (1) 1-Watt LED
Petzl MYO XPPetzl
MYO XP		$69.953.5 oz (100 g)5.9 oz (175 g)(3) AAOneNone3, plus "boost" modeYes70-170 hours45 mNoRearFixed, collimated w/ built-in diffuserYesBucket w/ removeable top strap
Notes: 3-watt LED headlamp includes brief boost mode approx. 150% brighter than high mode. Flip-up optical diffuser broadens pencil beam into floodlight. Battery life indicator, lockable power switch. MYOBelt XP version has remote battery pack and optional rechargeable, regulated battery pack.
Primus PrimeLite APrimus
PrimeLite A		$79.005.2 oz (149 g)6.4 oz (226 g)(3) AA7None4Yes15-180 hours55 ydNoRearFixedYesBucket
Notes: Has three modes: 2x red 5 mm LEDs, 4x white 5 mm LEDs and one 3-watt hyperbright LED, each with multiple levels. Includes diffuser-storage bag and battery pack neckstrap. The $90 AR model adds a remote control.
Photon Photon FusionPhoton
Photon Fusion		$81.953.7 oz (105 g)6.2 oz (178 g)(3) AA(7) LED*none9YES6-500 hours3-20 mYESFrontFixedYesBucket
Notes: 1 LED is red
Princeton Tec ApexPrinceton Tec
Apex		$84.007.5 oz (210 g)10 oz (279 g)(4) AA5 (LED)none2x3YES72-150 hours14-56 mYESRearFixedYESBucket (removeable top strap)
Notes: Combines one, 3-watt Luxeon and four, 5 mm white LEDs. Each mode has two levels plus strobe. Immersible & has battery meter.
FrontaLED FrontaLED AlpinistFrontaLED
FrontaLED Alpinist		$180.005.6 oz (159 g)8.8 oz (249 g)(4) AA(10) LEDnone2NO8-48 hours10-35 mYESBeltFixedYESBucket
Notes:  
FrontaLED FrontaLED TrekkerFrontaLED
FrontaLED Trekker		$180.005.3 oz (150 g)8.5 oz (241 g)(4) AA(10) LEDnone2NO8-48 hours10-35 mYESRearFixedYESBucket
Notes:  
Speleo Technics Speleo Technics NovaSpeleo Technics
Speleo Technics Nova		$180.00Varies depending on battery configurationVaries depending on battery configuration(4) AA or NiMH Rechargeable(1) LED**none5NO5-34 hours10-50 mYESRearFixedYESBucket
Notes: 5 Watt LED; optimum performance & battery life with NiMH batteries