Skip to content
Trailkit Outdoor
A plain headlamp on a damp log in the right half, beam in the mist, darker forest on the left

Lights

Headlamps

Low modes, a lock, and a second light. Box lumens are not hours of camp light.

Thirty lumens cooks dinner. A few hundred finds the trail for a few minutes. A thousand-lumen claim is mostly marketing for hiking. The lamp you want has a stable low mode and a lock so it does not switch on in the pack.

Rechargeable lamps are better if you have a car or a power bank. Replaceable cells are better if you forget to charge. Carry a second small light on any overnight.

How to choose

  • Learn the lock before the trip.
  • Red light is courtesy in camp, not a safety requirement.
  • A lantern is nicer at a picnic table. A headlamp keeps hands free.

Roundups

A headlamp resting on a rock throwing a beam through light mist across a dark tent site at blue hourROUNDUP · LIGHTINGR-01
Best headlampsCook on a low mode, and lock the lamp in the pack. Actik Core and Spot are the defaults. Carry a second light.

6 picks · updated OCT 2026 · start here Petzl Actik Core

A compact first-overnight kit beside a small pitched tent near a wooded trailhead: pack, rolled pad, stove, headlampROUNDUP · PLANNINGR-02
Best gear for a first overnightUse a two-person freestanding tent even if you hike alone. Practice the pitch, and leave the camp chair in the car.

7 picks · updated OCT 2026 · start here REI Co-op Half Dome 2 Plus

Gear in this category

A compact rechargeable headlamp on a rock at blue hour
LightsPetzl Actik CoreWeekends with USB charging and a usable low modeRechargeable CORE · Light · MidOn Amazon
A rechargeable headlamp with a squarer body on a rock at blue hour
LightsBlack Diamond Spot 400-RCamp chores and short night hikingAbout 400 lumens claimed · Light · MidOn Amazon
A tiny lightweight headlamp on a rock at blue hour
LightsNitecore NU25Gram countersWeight · Very light · Lower midOn Amazon
A slim flush headlamp with a rear light on a rock at blue hour
LightsBioLite HeadLamp 330Road walks and group campsRear red · Moderate · Mid
A tiny camp headlamp with a cord band on a rock at blue hour
LightsPetzl BindiIn-camp tasks, not night hikingCamp · Very light · Lower midOn Amazon
A bright rechargeable headlamp on a rock at blue hour
LightsBlack Diamond Storm 500-RCampers who want a brighter all-rounderRechargeable · About 3.5 oz · MidOn Amazon
A simple battery headlamp on a rock at blue hour
LightsPrinceton Tec RemixAA batteries and a simple switchAAA or AA by version · About 3 oz · BudgetOn Amazon
An inflatable solar lantern glowing on a rock at blue hour
LightsMPOWERD LuciPicnic tables, not trail findingLantern · About 4 oz · BudgetOn Amazon

Related guides

A first-night kit laid out on a tent footprint: shelter, pad, bag, headlamp, stove
Guide · 8 minFirst overnight hike packing listA first overnight hike packing list: shelter, sleep, kitchen, rain, light, and what to leave in the car.Leads to → Best gear for a first overnight
A standing-height camp table with a two-burner stove, wash bins and a cooler at a forest site
Guide · 6 minCar camping kitchen setupA practical car camping kitchen: two burners, a standing table, wash bins, and a cooler that holds ice.Leads to → Best car camping gear