If you’re training for an ultramarathon, the chances are you’re having to run early in the morning, or late at night. Maybe you just like to train during the darker hours. Whatever your reason for needing a high-quality headlamp for running, this 5 best headlamps for trail running guide is here to help. Because head torches can be expensive, It’s important to invest in a high-quality headlamp that will stand the test of time and of course, perform as expected without failing on you. A headlamp failure could be drastic if you’re out on the trails alone at night!
RELATED POST: The Best Trail Running Shoes of 2019 (so far…)
A high-quality headlamp can truly make or break a night run or race! Key reasons for a headlamp-related failed night-run may include:
- a dead battery
- an uncomfortable fit on your head
- feeling nauseous because of dim lighting or ineffective light spread/range
A great headlamp should:
- be comfortable on the forehead when worn for extended periods of time. For example, during Ultramarathons.
- have a long battery life
- have good light quality, including brightness and spread options.
- be durable if you intend to be out on the trails a lot and worn in the rain.
- be as lightweight as possible
With these features in mind, I’m here to help you find a headlamp that you’ll be happy with, that’s also going to be the best choice for you. This list of the ‘best headlamps for trail running’ is continually updated, so make sure you check back before buying your next trail running headlamp.
1. Petzl NAO+ Headlamp – [TOP PICK]
The Petzl NAO+ is a rechargeable headlamp that puts out a whopping 750 lumens, has multiple beam options, Bluetooth capabilities and automatic adjustment of the light intensity based on your needs.
Once set up with the free MyPetzl Light app, this headlamp is an excellent hands-off approach to sustainable lighting that’s effective and will last longer than most of the other options on this list (with respect to brightness output), 12 hours at 120 lumens, to be exact. If you need longer for a multi-day event, then I suggest buying an extra rechargeable battery which you can easily swap out when needed or look towards the Petzl Swift RL. The battery pack pictured above (to the right on desktop) attaches to the back of the headlamp which distributes the overall weight so that it’s not all towards the front, reducing the risk of ‘bounce’ and increasing the level of comfort. The battery pack also has a red flashing light on it for extra safety. Some mountain races require you to wear a red light so that you can be seen from behind, so having this feature built-in is great.
The MyPetzl Light app will also allow you to adjust beam patterns, burn time and brightness without ever needing to take the headlamp off your head. The app also shows the remaining burn time.
All these extra features though do come at the cost of a little extra weight, but the adjustable headband is comfortable and has an additional top strap for technical activities that will keep it steady and feeling comfortable during long runs. This is my top pick and the best headlamp for trail running.
- Weight with batteries: 6.5 oz.
- Battery Life: High=1.5 / low=12 hours
- Max Light Output: 750 lumens
- Beam distance: High=140 / low=65 meters
- Beam Type: Adjustable
- Water-Resistance Rating: IPX4 (Is resistant to water splashes from any direction)
Find the best price for the Petzl NAO+ Headlamp
 Amazon | $170.32 21 new from $164.99 | See Deal |
 Backcountry.com | $199.95 | See Deal |
 Rei.com | $199.95 | See Deal |
2. BioLite Headlamp 330 – [EDITOR’S CHOICE]
The BioLite Headlamp 330 has a really slim fit construction with 9mm front profile and is hyper-lightweight at 2.43 oz. (easily the lightest headlamp in this list), providing a bounce-free fit and experience while running or hiking. This also makes it the most comfortable headlamp on the list.
This headlamp really is excellent value for money with a 4-hour battery life on the highest setting which uses two beams, wide and focused, firing out 330 lumens of light. This headlamp is ideal for trail running and hiking.
The BioLite Headlamp 330 has multiple light modes too including dimmable spot, flood, spot+flood, red night vision, and strobe. Because each beam can be dimmed, you can actually run the headlamp for much longer than 4 hours but not at its brightest level. It also uses a rechargeable battery that can be charged via micro USB for convenience.
- Weight with batteries: 2.43 oz.
- Battery Life: High=4 hrs / low=40 hrs
- Max Light Output: 330 lumens
- Beam distance: High=75 meters / low=16 meters
- Beam Type: Flood / Spot
- Water-Resistance Rating: IPX4 (Is resistant to water splashes from any direction)
Find the best price for the BioLite Headlamp 330 Headlamp
UNTIL NOV 2019 ONLY – GET 15% OFF YOUR BIOLITEENERGY.COM ORDER WITH CODE: TRAILANDKALE15
| Amazon | $49.95 1 new from $49.95 | See Deal |
| Rei.com | $49.95 | See Deal |
| Backcountry.com | $49.95 | See Deal |
 Bioliteenergy.com | $49.95 | See Deal |
FULL REVIEW: Biolite HeadLamp 330 Full Review
3. Petzl SWIFT RL (BRIGHTEST)
Like the NAO+ this headlamp automatically adapts light intensity to the needs of the user, and with 900 lumens of max light output, the Petzl SWIFT RL offers a lightweight (only 100g), intelligent, rechargeable solution for hours of nighttime adventures with a super bright 900-lumen beam. This headlamp also has the MyPetzl Light app with similar options to the NAO+.
If you’re not where you need to be when night falls, you’re going to be in a lot of trouble without a headlamp to light your way for multiple hours at a time. The SWIFT RL can technically burn for up to 50hours in the low 100-lumens Reactive Lighting mode setting which is still just about bright enough to lead the way, although I would recommend using at least the 300-lumen setting to avoid any accidental trips. The beam can burn for 2-30 hours (reactive lighting) in the 900-lumen mode.
This is a very reliable, comfortable and high-quality headtorch for most nocturnal adventures.
- Weight with batteries: 3.5 oz.
- Battery Life: 900-lumen = 2h to 30h / 300-lumen = 5h to 40h / 100-lumen = 10h to 50h
- Max Light Output: 900 lumens
- Beam distance: High=150 / low=35
- Beam Type: Mixed / Flood
- Water-Resistance Rating: IPX4 (Is resistant to water splashes from any direction)
Find the best price for the Petzl SWIFT RL Headlamp
| Amazon | $114.10 8 new from $113.44 | See Deal |
| Backcountry.com | $119.95 | See Deal |
4. Fenix HL60R Rechargeable Headlamp – [BRIGHTEST & MOST WATERPROOF]
The Fenix HL60R rechargeable headlamp has the ability to cast an impressive 950 lumens of light on turbo mode, banishing any fears of the dark for good. On high mode, it will cast 400 lumens and last up to 3 hours.
The high mode would be your typical usage for this headlamp. The aluminum body is also impact resistant and can be submerged up to 2 meters and still work, impressive.
Although the headlamp runs on a single rechargeable 18650 battery (included); it can also operate on a CR123A battery as a backup without the recharging option. There’s also a handy power-level Indicator which displays battery level so you always know when it’s time to recharge.
- Weight with batteries: 4.9 oz.
- Battery Life: Turbo=48 min / high=3 hrs / eco=100 hrs
- Max Light Output: 950 lumens
- Beam distance: Turbo=116 / eco=8 meters
- Beam Type: Flood
- Water-Resistance Rating: IPX8 (underwater to 2 meters)
Find the best price for the Fenix HL60R Rechargeable Headlamp
| Rei.com | $74.95 | See Deal |
| Amazon | $75.95 4 new from $75.95 1 used from $67.45 | See Deal |
5. Petzl Actik Core Headlamp
The rechargeable Petzl Actik Core headlamp offers 350 lumens light output and mixed beam options. It’s ideal for running as well as other outdoor activities such as backpacking and mountaineering. The battery life to light beam output isn’t quite as good as the other options listed above but it’s a great entry level headlamp that will perform for shorter runs. If you need an all-night solution, look toward the Petzl NAO+ or Reactik+.
This headlamp comes equipped with a Core battery that is rechargeable via USB port but it’s also compatible with 3 standard AAA batteries (sold separately) without the need for an adapter. I also like that it offers wide and mixed beams with several lighting modes to meet the need for high-performance lighting for everything from cooking in camp to running at night. As well as these mixed beams, there’s red lighting too which preserves night vision and prevents blinding other members of your group.
It’s also, very cleverly equipped with an emergency whistle for rescue situations, and the Actik Core can also withstand rain showers
- Weight with batteries: 2.9 oz.
- Battery Life: High=2 hours / standard=7 hours
- Max Light Output: 350 lumens
- Beam distance: 95 meters
- Beam Type: Adjustable / Flood
- Water-Resistance Rating: IPX4 (Is resistant to water splashes from any direction)
Find the best price for the Petzl Actik Core Headlamp
| Backcountry.com | $55.99 | See Deal |
| Amazon | $59.00 9 new from $54.95 | See Deal |
| Rei.com | $69.95 | See Deal |
*BONUS – More lighting options for trail running… If headlamps make you feel nauseous
A. Kogalla RA (Single Bundle Pack)
The Kogalla RA shines brighter than most headlamps, runs longer than a rechargeable headlamp, and covers a wide area like a camping lantern. If you’re going to be mixing up your adventures like camping, hiking, or running at night, the Kogalla RA is a great option!
As you probably know by now, being able to clearly see the environment around you is key to staying safe and performing your best. Having a great lighting system could mean the difference between a PR and a DNF.
I love that each of Ra’s five lighting modules is as bright as a high-quality headlamp. But instead of lighting up a spot, Ra lights up an entire area, making it easier to navigate even the roughest of terrain.
With its magnetic fastening system, you can also get creative with how you attach the strip lights to your clothing or just strap it around your waist.
- Weight with batteries: 8.2 oz.
- Battery Life: 3 hours (800 lum.) / 8 hours (225 lum.) / 3 days (15 lum.)
- Max Light Output: 800 lumens
- Beam distance: –
- Beam Type: 20 brightness settings
- Waterproof
See this deal on Kogalla.com
B. UltrAspire Lumen 600 2.0 Waist Light
With the extra bright UltrAspire Lumen 600 2.0 rechargeable waist light you can avoid the “tunnel vision” effect of a focused beam of light, which will make nighttime running feel a little more like a daylight run.
Having the lower angle of a waist-mounted flood cone light increases the depth of field, providing greater detail on your path, e.g. rocks, or dips. The waist belt is adjustable so that is doesn’t bounce, and the light offers 4 settings: low, medium, high, strobe, with an average burn time on high of 8 hrs.
I like that the belt also has a rear pocket so you can carry things like your phone (up to the size of an iPhone® 6 Plus) or keys.
- Weight with batteries: 7.2 oz.
- Battery Life: 8 hours
- Max Light Output: 600 lumens
- Beam distance: –
- Beam Type: Adjustable / Flood
- Water-Resistance Rating: IPX6 (Can resist high-pressure, heavy sprays of water.)
Find the best price for the UltrAspire Lumen 600 2.0 Waist Light
| Amazon | $99.99 5 new from $99.99 | See Deal |
Version 3 is NOW available!
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- The Best Trail Running Shoes: The Ultimate Buyers Guide!
- The Best Waterproof Trail Running Shoes
- The Best Waterproof Running Jackets
- Best GPS Watches for Ultrarunning & Trail Running
- 5 Best Trail Running Poles: For Ultrarunning & Hiking too!
- 5 Best Headlamps for Trail Running & Ultrarunning in 2019 (So Far)
- 5 Best Running Hats: Technical caps for trail and ultra runners
- 5 Best Wireless Headphones for Running in 2019
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- 5 Best Survival Books; Improve Your Ultrarunning Mental Strength
What do you think of the Silva Trail 4x?
Hi Alexander,
The Silva Trail Runner 4x looks like a great headlamp too!
-Alastair
I tried the UltrAspire 3.0 and it blows. Battery life is way lower than expected and overall light quality is poor. Unless you look straight at it and it will blind you. But on the trail it casts a dim circle just not far enough.
Deciding between NAO and Swift. Any reason to pick NAO since Swift seems to have more or less similar specs but half the weight?
Hey Wayne,
The NAO + is heavier but has better weight distribution due to the battery pack being at the rear. There is also a red flashing light on the rear battery pack which is very useful. The Swift RL is also an excellent headlamp that has a brighter beam with a longer burn-time but it doesn’t have those other two features.
Thanks Alastair, much appreciated!
Hey Wayne,
The NAO + is heavier but has better weight distribution due to the battery pack being at the rear. There is also a red flashing light on the rear battery pack which is very useful. The Swift RL is also an excellent headlamp that has a brighter beam with a longer burn-time but it doesn’t have those other two features.