Best Tactical Headlamp Reviews With Buying Guide

My guess is that you’re most likely an avid outdoorsman looking for a handy illumination tool to aid you on your nocturnal ventures.

Well, look no further. We have done the fishing for you and are here to help on your quest to find the best tactical headlamp.

A tactical headlamp; technically just a fancy name of a light that you can wear on your head. However, it has more applications than you can imagine.

Depending on the setting, it can be a reading light, an outdoor light, or a cave light and much more.

Nevertheless, we’re going to review some of the finest tactical headlamps on the market in this post. So, let’s get started.

Our Top Reviews of Best Tactical Headlamp for 2020

After some rigorous screening, we’ve put together a shortlist of the best tactical headlamps out there. We have chosen these products based on durability, brightness, and fit among other factors. And I believe you’ll find your desired product among them.

1. GRDE Zoomable 3 Modes Super Bright LED Headlamp

Personally, I do find this one to be my favorite. It is relatively affordable, and it secures well on your head. And boy, does it burn bright!

It’s almost as if you’re walking through daylight. This thing boasts an output of fifteen hundred lumens of sheer luminosity. The brightness setting comes in three modes, namely bright, dim, and strobe. Moreover, the strobe is an SOS mode.

It is very well suited for fitting on the head and does not loosen and move around when you are engaging in some outdoor activity. In addition, the headlamp is waterproof and resists impact. It’s an ideal camping tool and a very useful asset that meets all requirements of the military user.

The batteries have a fair lasting time on the brightest setting but last much longer on low or strobe. However, you need not fret as the batteries are rechargeable. Not only that, the input system is very versatile. You can use AC input, auto, or USB so that you can charge it back up to maximum brightness in no time.

Maintenance is easy. However, the batteries do heat up a little. So, do take care of that. Other than that, it surely is a headlamp that checks out all other criteria and is an all rounding piece of equipment.

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2. SmartLife LED Flashlight – 6 White and Red Headlamp Modes

You can crank this one all the way up to a hundred and fifteen lumens, and it is a total of six different lighting modes. It also includes an SOS mode and a red lens night vision mode. Reorienting the light fixture is easy, and you can tilt it to your desired level. It’s quite an amazing product by SmartLife.

Just strap it on your head, and you can go hands-free. It has a headband to fit well. Also, it is suitable for outdoor activity such as runs and hikes as it does not bounce around and holds in place through all of it. As for camping gear, it can be very useful as well as it is immune to water splashes and hence rain.

This one also has good battery life. It is fitted with a single AA battery that will hold out for a significant amount to time. At the highest setting, the lamp can burn for up to ten hours. The single battery means replacing is not much of a hassle.

Only one battery contributes to its lightweight mass, in addition to its sleek design. It comes in four different colors and is quite resilient.

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3. PETZL – TACTIKKA 250 lumens, Ultra-Compact Headlamp

This compact little tool developed by PETZL has a good niche for being a camping tool. It has a bright light that runs at a maximum setting of two hundred and fifty lumens. Coupled with a stealthy red night light, it has three stages for the white light. Even the lowest setting is quite good enough for simple navigation.

The strap of the lamp bounds to your head just right and you don’t have to worry about it getting disoriented while you are moving. Hence it is quite an asset for rigorous camping physical activities such as running, hiking or jogging.

Switching it off and on is very easy; it can be done at the push of a button. However, it does have the issue of cycling through the different light modes. But its lightweight build and ease of controls make up for that in our opinion. The only drawback with this device is that it doesn’t do very well in turbulent weather.

Battery life on this little guy lasts quite a while. It runs on AAA 1.5-volt batteries, and we all know how available those are. Overall, this is a lightweight and easy to use the gadget with easy maintenance.

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4. LE LED Tactical Headlamp For Camping and Hiking, 4 Lighting Modes

Developed by Lighting EVER, this one is equipped with four lighting modes. Three of which are white lights descending from about a maximum of eighty lumens and a flashing pair of red lights.

You can easily alternate between the brightness levels. But I found it a little tedious to cycle through all four light modes to hit the off switch.

This model is very user-friendly. The hand’s free lamp fits tight and provides comfort with thick foam padding so that it doesn’t bear down on your head. In addition, the headlamp is adjustable and can be freely rotated up or down to your convenience. In fact, it can be locked into five different positions.

Its lower cost, great comfort, and usability have led it to find its way to more than just outdoorsmen. Its relatively lower brightness means that it can be more useful around the house, home improvement jobs, and for children as a reading light. In fact, you can afford it even if you have a very small budget.

Overall, it’s a great option if you are an infrequent user and just need it on occasions. It’s light, flexible and has impressive battery life. The lower light levels can pose an issue if you’re a professional whose occupation needs illumination. But if you just want to use this for navigation, then it can be a great choice.

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5. Northbound Train Bright LED Headlamp

Geared for more personal use, the model by Northbound Train has a light with a humble intensity of ninety lumens, which has two stages of brightness control.

If you fancy reading, you’ll be pleased to know this has a reading mode built in with two smaller light fixtures. It is one of the best red lens headlamps that facilitate nighttime biking.

The device is hands-free and fits well with the use of the stretchy elastic head strap. You should not underestimate its plastic build as it is made to be lightweight.  But despite the plastic build, it is quite durable. It can be used in all weather conditions and in a wide variety of places, including outdoors sports.

Operating the device is quite easy. One of the peeves of these types of headlamps is that you have to switch through all the levels of brightness to get to the off switch. But this model is designed to instantly switch off, which a lot of us found to be rather convenient.

However, you should be a little careful as the button is a bit too sensitive.

It has an enduring battery life, so you don’t have to worry about it extinguishing mid work or journey. Do take care of the battery box though, it isn’t the most secure.

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6. DanForce Brightest Waterproof Headlamp

This headlamp from DanForce comes in various different skins and is a very versatile instrument for both indoor and outdoor activities. It’s bright, and at maximum setting can churn out over a thousand lumens. You can even toggle between diverging and parallel beam, depending on what you want.

In terms of versatility, it is surely one of the top-tier devices with which you can brave any weather. It has adequate waterproofing and durability to aid your vision in a wide variety of circumstances.

Whether you’re fishing, going camping, riding a bicycle at night, or working as military personnel, this model can be your trusty aide through it all. And the intensity controls let you adjust the brightness at your whim, albeit its minimum brightness was a little too bright for some of us.

Despite being made of plastic, its high-density polymer design grants it good durability. The light fixture also is rotatable and easy to reorient.

Its state-of-the-art LED light fixtures to emit light efficiently, and its batteries can run for hours with one full charging session. The rubber band for head fits well and is easily adjustable.

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Things To Consider Before You Buy Tactical Headlamp

Here are some of the features that you need to consider before investing your money in a tactical headlamp.

• Brightness

Off the top of the hat, this is obviously the factor that matters the most. You might think that more is always better here, but bright lights come with two costs. First off, it can do some minor damage to your eyes. Or at least irritate your eyes and hinder your vision, particularly when used indoors.

The second is that it costs you power. So, don’t be surprised if you are running low on battery after you have blasted a thousand lumens for three hours. So, you need to know the brightness you need.

Indoor use requires less intensity. So, if you intend to use it as such, maybe save some money and get one within a few hundred lumens.

• Red Lens Function

Many of you wouldn’t really need a red lens. This feature is more geared towards hunters and military personnel.

So, unless you are going to use it, you can easily omit this feature and again maybe save a few bucks. If you are going to really use it, look for one that gives you good visibility but at the same time is dim enough to conceal you.

• Secureness of Headband

You would not want a lamp that loosens while you are cycling, climbing or running. It can lead to a mild annoyance or actually be dangerous. Although it is a minor thing, it can prove to be a reason you abandon your headlamp for.

• Controls and Setting

The controls should be user-friendly and easy to understand. One of most heard complaints from consumers is that you have to toggle through all the light settings to get to the off button. Some lamps do have a direct off button, and that may tip the balance towards them.

Also, you have to consider the setting of brightness available. Some may have more options when it comes to brightness levels. You might want an indoors and outdoors lamp which would require a wider range of brightness control.

• Battery Life

You would expect the light to last for a reasonable number of hours and look that up before you buy. Some last only a few hours, while others can last a dozen.

While it’s important to carry spare batteries, your device should support you for at least a couple of hours, especially if are going to be utilizing it outdoors for extended periods of time.

Rechargeability is a particularly valuable asset in this regard. Rather than getting new batteries, you could just plug it in, and you’re back to peak performance.

• Resiliency

This comprises of two things, physical durability and resistance to weather conditions. It will all depend on your occupation, and also your purpose for use. Typically, physical durability is just dependent on use. If you’re diving or in the military, you might need a better performance lamp.

Safety Tips For Tactical Headlamp, You Need to Follow:

Conclusion

I end this by saying that the choices are up to you.

We are only here to present the facts as they are. Hopefully, these best tactical headlamp reviews do help you to get a better understanding of the lamps and aid you to make the right decision.

Also, if you come across any difficulties while choosing a lamp, you can take the help of the provided buying guide to make the right pick. Gracias!