Best Ultralight Headlamp for Backpacking and Thru-Hiking 2026

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I have used a headlamp for thousands of nights in ultralight tents, on dark pre-dawn starts, in rainy huts on the Te Araroa, and for night hiking across the Pacific Crest Trail, the Appalachian Trail, and the Continental Divide Trail. This guide to the best ultralight headlamps for backpacking and thru-hiking is written for hikers who care about real weight on the strap and real performance in the field, not lifestyle marketing.

I am a triple-crown thru-hiker, a long-distance bike tourer (Alaska to Ecuador), and a former outdoor retail store manager, and BikeHikeSafari is independently owned. I do not accept paid reviews. My current top pick is the PETZL Actik Core for its 600-lumen output, hybrid battery, and reliable beam, with the Nitecore NU25UL as the best ultralight headlamp for thru-hiking at 45 g. The core trade-off for a backpacking headlamp is brightness and battery life against grams on your head, and the picks below are the ones I would actually carry. 

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Quick Picks: Best Ultralight Headlamps

• Best Overall: PETZL Actik Core – 600 lumens, hybrid CORE rechargeable or AAA, reliable mixed beam, the headlamp I currently carry.
• Best Ultralight Headlamp: Nitecore NU25UL – 45 g with the UL headband and 400 lumens, the lamp I would put on a thru-hike where every gram counts.
• Best Ultralight and Ultra Bright Headlamp: Nitecore NU27 – 600 lumens at 2 oz with IP66, three white temperatures and red mode, the most capable lamp in the ultralight class.
• Best Budget Headlamp: PETZL Tikka – my go-to headlamp for six years across the PCT, AT, CDT, Te Araroa and a bike tour from Alaska to Ecuador.
• Lightweight and Reasonably Priced: Acebeam H16 – Cheaper and lighter can the Tikka and with enough burn time to be able to hike all night needed.
• Brightest for Serious Night Hiking: Acebeam H50 – up to 2000 lumens, for trail running and alpine starts.
• Best Waterproof Headlamp: Black Diamond Storm 500 R – IP67 and 500 lumens for wet shoulder-season, canyon and caving use. And a very good battery life.
• Best Emergency / Backup: Petzl e+lite – 26 g, lithium CR2032, lives in the lid of the pack for when the main lamp dies.

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Ultralight Headlamp Comparison Table

Brand	Weight	Lumens	Waterproof	Batery Life	Beam Length Max
PETZL Actik Core	3.1 oz	600	IPX4 (splashproof)	High: 2 hrs.; medium: 7 hrs.; low: 100 hrs.	115m
Nitecore NU25UL	1.6	400	IP66 (waterproof)	Battery Life	70m
Nitecore NU27	2 oz	600	IP66 (waterproof)	High: 3 hrs.; medium: 6.5 hrs.; low: 13 hrs.	123m
PETZL Tikka	3.4 oz	350	IPX4 (splashproof)	High: 2 hrs.; medium: 12 hrs.; low: 110 hrs.	70m
Black Diamond Storm 500 R	3.5 oz	500	IPX67 (waterproof)	High: 7 hrs.; medium: 19 hrs.; low: 350 hrs.	120m
Acebeam H16	2.5	650	IPX68 (waterproof)	High: 1.75 hrs.; medium: 8 hrs.; low: 58 hrs.	86m
Acebeam H50	5 oz	2000	IPX68 (waterproof)	High: 4 hrs.; medium: 30 hrs.; low: 16 days.	141m
Fenix HM50R V2.0	2.75 oz	700	IPX68 (waterproof)	High: 1 hrs.; medium: 8 hrs.; low: 42 hrs.	115m
Petzl e+lite	0.9 oz	40	IPX67 (waterproof)	High: 70 hrs.	Not specified

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How We Tested

The headlamps in this guide are researched and, where possible, field-tested by an experienced long-distance hiker and former outdoor retail store manager. Across thru-hikes of the Pacific Crest Trail, Appalachian Trail, Continental Divide Trail, Te Araroa, shoulder-season trips, and a bike tour from Alaska to Ecuador, I judge headlamps on weight on the strap, real lumen output, beam pattern, burn time, waterproofness, comfort over multiple nights, and value for serious backpacking. Some of the headlamps in this review were supplied by the manufacturer and some were purchased by the author. For more on how I research and review gear, see the Review Policy for further details.

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Backpacking Headlamps: Detailed Reviews

The Petzl Actik Core is the current rechargeable headlamp that I use and the best headlamp for backpacking on the market at the moment. I loved and used the previous model, and recently purchased the new model that has upgraded from 450 lumens to 600 lumens. There is a combination of super bright lighting power with a spot and flood light for good beam distance and a USB rechargeable battery makes this a great choice.

When I tested this headlamp, I liked the fit on my head and the spread of the beam when hiking.

Although this is not the cheapest backpacking headlamp in this review, the cost is representative of what you get for your money. My only wish was that this hiking headlamp was completely waterproof instead of splashproof.

The Petzl Actik Core battery is rechargeable and included in the purchase price of this headlamp. It is very easy to recharge in the field with a battery pack and a micro USB. Even without recharging, it has good battery life or burn time.

Overall, the Petzl Actik Core is the Best Backpacking Headlamp on the market in 2026.

The Nitecore NU25 comes in two models. The Nitecore NU25 with the wide elastic headband and the Nitecore NU25UL (ultralight) with dual elastic cords that are super narrow, making this the lightest headlamp for backpacking and thru-hiking. And with 400 lumens of light, this headlamp is super bright.

This light also offers high-CRI lighting, which means that you can more easily identify an object’s color when the light is on it. Something that would normally be very difficult to do in the dark.

The main light has a beam distance of about 70 meters in front of you, which is great for night hiking. It’s also impact-resistant and water-resistant.

In addition to the main light, there are also 2 other lights to choose from – an auxiliary white light with a high CRI, or an auxiliary red light. The Red light is great for around camp, reading maps at night, or inside huts at night, as it helps you to better retain your night vision.

When attached to the adjustable headband weighs only 1.6 oz / 45 grams. While the headband is not the most comfortable, the light weight makes it not so noticeable.

The Nitecore NU25UL headlamp is completely USB rechargeable, and it’s compatible with any USB power source, so it can be charged in the field with a battery pack. Plus, there’s a handy low battery power indicator.

When it comes to battery life, just be aware that it will not last as long as some other rechargeable headlamps, namely 2 hours and 40 minutes on the high setting, but more than 10 hours on the low setting.

Overall, if you are into ultralight thru-hiking and backpacking and want the lightest headlamp that is still bright enough for night hiking, then look no further than this one. While I use and prefer the Petzl Actik Core there is no denying the quality and lighter weight of the Nitecore NU25UL. And it is very reasonably priced.

The NU27 is the headlamp I would point most thru-hikers towards right now if they want one rechargeable lamp that does almost everything. It pairs a 600-lumen output with a comfortable, breathable headband and IP66 ingress protection, while still sitting at the ultralight end of the weight scale.

Three white temperatures and a separate red mode make a real difference at camp and on trail: warm white reads better at close range, cool white throws further on a dark path, and red keeps your night vision.

The trade-off versus the NU25 UL is roughly half an ounce of extra weight and a slightly steeper learning curve on the modes. Versus the Actik Core, you give up the AAA backup option but save weight and gain better waterproofing.

Trade-off: Slightly heavier than the NU25 UL for significantly more features and brightness.

Best for: Thru-hikers and backpackers who want one rechargeable lamp that night hikes, camps, and handles wet weather.

I used the Petzl Tikka headlamp for 6 years as my go-to headlamp when thru-hiking and bicycle touring.

This lightweight headlamp has been with me on the Pacific Crest Trail, Appalachian Trail, Continental Divide Trail, and Te Araroa Trail. It has also been part of my Bicycle Touring Gear List as I cycle from Alaska to Ecuador.

I’m a big fan of this headlamp, but over the last couple of years, many other manufacturers have improved their products while the plain old Tikka stayed the same. That is not a bad thing, why fix something that isn’t broken.

There are 3 lighting levels to choose from low, medium, and high. At the high level, it can throw out a very generous 300 lumens, which is bright enough for most situations.

There’s also a red light that can be used instead of the white to help preserve your vision at night. Great for around camp so as not to annoy other campers.

One good thing about this lightweight headlamp is the choice of colors. The headband features a phosphorescent reflector, which can help you to find it in the dark.

The Petzl Tikka comes with batteries already included, but it is better to spend some extra money and get the battery pack called the rechargeable core battery. It charges in about 3 hours and saves spending loads of money on batteries in the long run.

The Petzl Tikka runs up to 120 hours on a full charge, but that is on the low-light setting. It is a lot less on full power, but still enough for a week-long hiking trip with lots of battery life to spare.

It’s also very lightweight at just 3.4 oz / 96 grams. It has a water resistance rating of IPX4, which means it is water-resistant but not waterproof. Don’t drop it in the water.

Overall, the Petzl Tikka is a good budget, lightweight headlamp.

For a long time, the Black Diamond Storm range of headlamps has been the best waterproof headlamps. The updated Storm headlamps now feature the option of rechargeable batteries, which have moved them from good headlamps to great rechargeable headlamps.

When it comes to the best headlamp overall, there is little to separate the Petzl and the Black Diamond, either is a good choice. While the Storm 500 R has a better beam and longer battery life thanks to the 2400 mAh capacity. It is slightly heavier than the Petzl and more than twice the weight of the Nitecore.

The Storm series of headlamps also comes in a 400-lumen version, which is a little less bright but still suitable for backpacking and camping. And is still the best-in-class waterproof headlamp with the IPX 67 rating, which allows it to be submerged for 30 minutes to a depth of 1 meter. If you are caving, canyoning, or hiking in wet environments, then this is the best option for you.

Overall, the Black Diamond Storm 500 R is an awesome headlamp best suited to hikers, campers, and backpackers wanting a reliable and bright headlamp that is waterproof.

I recently tested the Acebeam H16 headlamp. It is not only a headlamp, but the light can be removed from the band and used as a flashlight. Add to that some very impressive specifications, and the brand new headlamp could be a winner.

I used and tested this headlamp on a series of night hikes and camping trips and was impressed with how it performed. It has a somewhat unique design that allows the lamp to be removed from the band to be used as a flashlight. While it is a little fiddly to remove and put back onto the band, it adds another layer of functionality that all the other headlamps in this review cannot match.

The Acebeam H16 is very bright with 650 lumens on the high setting, which will last for only 1 hour and 45 minutes, and can penetrate up to 86 meters thanks to the super wide spread of the beam. When I tested this for a long period, I found the lamp to get quite a bit hotter than some of the other models in this review. Not a bad thing, it is a testament to just how bright it is. On the lower setting of 100 lumens or 30 lumens, it is a much more functional beam and has a super-long battery life.

Its water resistance rating comes in at an impressive IPX68, making this the most waterproof headlamp in this review, even more so than the Black Diamond Storm. And it comes in at a good price, making it competitive as a budget headlamp.

It comes with an impressive rechargeable 950 mAh battery and can also use 1 x AA battery if you choose. There is also a comfortable headband with a strip of nonslip silicone and reflective strips to assist with being seen during the night.

Overall, there is so much to like about this Acebeam H16 Headlamp. It is the most waterproof headlamp, has a super bright 650 lumens lamp, and is one of the lightest headlamps in this review. A great option, but why is it not ranked higher? It is new to the market, and I would like to keep testing it for 12 months to test its reliability. Not unlike the situation that faced Nitecore a couple of years ago, where it took a while for people to trust the quality of the brand. In the next year or so, I suspect the Acebeam H16 could be the best ultralight headlamp!

After being super impressed with the Acebeam H16, I decided to try one of the brightest headlamps in the world the Acebeam H50. With 2000 lumens of light it is so bright that if you shined this into someone’s eyes at night they would not be able to see much for a while. Great if an intruder comes to your camp in the middle of the night.

When I tested this headlamp, I liked how solid it is. Made with ultralight metal and the same high-quality band as the H16 mentioned above. I also noticed that it did feel a bit heavier than all the other headlamps at 5 oz / 143 grams. This is to be expected for a 2000 lumens headlamp that has a high capacity 3100 mAh battery which has the highest charge of any on this review.

It comes with 3 lamps that offer spotlight and floodlight beams, and all three lamps can be used at the same time for a super bright beam distance of 141 meters.

For people who venture into wet canyons or caves, this headlamp is waterproof to 2 meters with an IPX8 rating.

Overall, the Acebeam H50 is one of the brightest headlamps available. With 2000 lumens of light, it is super bright, and if that is not enough for you, there is a 4000 lumens model. With a good blend of being lightweight, super bright, and good battery life, this is the brightest headlamp for 2026.

The Fenix HM50R V2.0 Rechargeable Headlamp has a very long beam distance of 115 meters / 377 feet when used in Turbo Mode. The Turbo Mode pumps out 700 lumens and lasts for one hour. When the mode is switched to low, it will last 42 hours. So a combination of a good rechargeable battery and a strong beam with high lumens makes this a good choice.

It is also housed in a watertight compartment sealed by an O-ring and has an IPX68 rating.

Overall, the Fenix HM50R V2.0 Rechargeable Headlamp has a very good beam distance for anyone heading out at night who may need it. It is also completely waterproof to 2 meters.

The Petzl e+lite is a minimalist headlamp that is an ultralight and very small headlamp. It has a very low 40 lumens output that is good enough for emergency use or for someone who wants the lightest headlamp only. The light output is not enough for hiking and is only good enough for close-up things around camp or reading.

Overall, this is a minimalist headlamp for emergency use only, but having said that, it weighs very little and could be easily thrown into any backpack or emergency kit in the car or at home.

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Headlamps not tested yet

Here are some of the Headlamps that are not in this review but are still super awesome. Some are being reviewed at the moment and will be added to the list above very soon.

• Black Diamond Astro 300 – The Black Diamond Astro 300 is a good budget headlamp for those on a tight budget.
• Petzl Swift RL – up to 1100 lumens with reactive lighting, for trail running and alpine starts.
• BioLite Range 400 – IP67, dimmable, eight minutes of charging buys an hour of run time. Looks impressive, ye to be tested.
• Petzl Swift LT – 1.5 oz, USB-C, three brightness levels and red light, a strong ultralight pick if you prefer Petzl.

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Headlamp Buyers Guide

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Brightness and Lumens: How Bright Do You Actually Need?

• Under 10 lumens: Camp chores, reading, nighttime bathroom trips.
• 80–150 lumens: General night hiking on easy trail.
• 200–400 lumens: Long-range spotting, technical ground, looking for trail markers.
• 400 lumens and above: Trail running, alpine starts, dedicated night hiking.

Beam quality matters as much as raw lumens. A well-shaped 400-lumen beam outperforms a poorly focused 700.

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Beam Pattern: Spot, Flood, and Combined

Combined

 What most backpackers want. The Actik Core, NU25 UL, NU27 and Spot 400 all combine the two.

Spot

The spotlight is the main light used when hiking at night. It allows you to see far into the distance. The beam is narrow, concentrated, for long-range visibility.

Flood

The floodlight feature is a nice, wide beam that is best suited for all close-up things in the tent or while cooking. the beam is wide and diffuse, for close-range tasks like cooking and packing.

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Red Light and Other Lighting Modes

Red Light

Many hiking headlamps have a Red Light Feature. Red light preserves night vision, conserves battery, attracts fewer insects, and avoids blinding tent-mates.

Strobe

Strobe is useful for emergencies. The pulsing strobe light will make things a little easier for search and rescue to locate lost or injured hikers. A green or blue mode is a nice-to-have for some hunting and night-navigation use cases.

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Comfort: Headband, Fit, and Weight Distribution

Look for adjustable elastic, moisture-wicking material, and ideally no separate rear battery pack. Reflective threads in the headband are a small but worthwhile safety feature for road sections.

Ideally, you want your headlamp to be so lightweight and comfortable that you could even forget you’re wearing it and have your hands free. That’s a given.

But you also need to think about the size. Headlamps are mainly aimed at adults, which is understandable. But even adults can differ in head size. The best kids headlamps usually have a smaller headband and are usually made with bright colors.

So, if in any doubt about size and fitting, it’s best to get a headlamp with an adjustable strap. Especially if you intend to take turns wearing it.

For comfort, it’s best to get a headlamp that will feel secure, such as an elastic one, but won’t chafe your skin.

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Weight: How Light Should a Backpacking Headlamp Be?

For ultralight backpacking and thru-hiking, target three ounces (85 g) or less including the battery. Genuine ultralight headlamps weigh under two ounces. A heavier mainstream lamp at 3.5–5 oz is fine for weekend trips but will feel like dead weight on month six of a thru-hike. Minimalist headbands and integrated batteries (no rear battery pack) save the most grams.

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Waterproofness and IP Ratings

A headlamp is something that is primarily used outdoors, so having some form of weather resistance is important. The first digit (e.g., IP6x) covers dust ingress. The second (e.g., IPx7) covers water. “X” means it has not been formally rated for that category. The international standard used to measure weather resistance is known as the IPX rating. For headlamps, we will look at the base standards of IPX4, IPX7, and IPX8.

IPX 4 Rating

The IPX4 rating for headlamps refers to something that is splash-resistant, shock-resistant, and dustproof. Essentially all the headlamps on this list are rated to at least this level and can withstand rain and snow.

IPX 7 Rating

The IPX7 Rating has a higher level of weather resistance. Essentially, it is waterproof to 1 meter for 30 minutes.

IPX 8 Rating

The IPX8 Rating is even more waterproof than IPX7 as it can be rated deeper than 1 meter of water.

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Batteries: Rechargeable, AAA, and Hybrid

• USB-C rechargeable: Lightest and most modern. Best for thru-hikes where you carry a backpacking battery power bank.
• AAA: Heavier but available worldwide. Best for long international trips, bike touring, and remote areas.
• Hybrid (CORE / BD 1500): The Actik Core and BD Spot family let you swap between rechargeable and AAA in the field. The most flexible choice for long trails.

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Burn Time and the ANSI FL1 Standard

Burn time is measured to the point the lamp drops to 10 percent of initial output (ANSI FL1). Manufacturer numbers are usually quoted on low. Plan for shorter real-world run times on high and carry a power bank if you night hike.

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Locking Feature

A lock function stops the lamp turning on inside the pack and draining the battery before you reach camp. On AAA lamps without a lock, the workaround is to flip one battery backwards. Every lamp on this list except the Tikka and Tikkina has a true lock.

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Reactive Lighting (Worth It?)

Petzl’s reactive lighting (Swift RL and similar) uses a sensor to dim and brighten the beam automatically. On technical night hiking and trail running it noticeably extends battery life and removes a click-to-adjust step. For camp use and casual night hiking it adds cost without much benefit.

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Conclusion

The Best Hiking Headlamps of 2026 are:

• Best Overall: PETZL Actik Core
• Best Ultralight Headlamp: Nitecore NU25UL
• Best Feature-Packed Ultralight: Nitecore NU27
• Best Budget Headlamp: PETZL Tikka
• Lightweight and Reasonably Priced: Acebeam H16
• Brightest for Serious Night Hiking: Acebeam H50
• Best Waterproof Headlamp: Black Diamond Storm 500 R
• Best Emergency / Backup: Petzl e+lite

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Frequently Asked Questions

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