Best Survival Headlamps | Tested & Reviewed
A headlamp is the most versatile light source you can have for emergencies and survival. Being able to have light while keeping both hands free is useful in any situation, really. Headlamps are used by first responders, the military, and law enforcement in extreme weather, so survival headlamps are proven tools useful for a variety of kits. There are several types and brands to pick from, so you have a few options when you decide to add them to your survival kit.
I’ve been testing headlamps for our reviews since 2021 and have been using them in my survival kits for even longer. I’ve used headlamps to recover downed aircraft in the military and on walks through the woods with my sons. For this review, I ran several tests on their brightness, durability, and performance.
My top recommendation is for the ThruNite TH20 Pro, which gives you a powerful light for a great price.
If you want something wide-angle for task work, the Liteband ACTIV 400 lights up a great perimeter around you. I also suggest an upgrade pick for those looking to use their survival headlamp frequently.
Contents (Jump to a Section)
This is an updated review of the best survival headlamps. We will continue to update as new products are released and as we test even more lights. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Disclosure»
Best Survival Headlamp
ThruNite TH20 Pro
Versatile, Long Battery Life, and Rugged
This waterproof and impact-resistant LED headlamp is durable enough to conquer any emergency in stride.
*Price at time of publishing; check for price changes or sales.
The ThruNite TH20 Pro Headlamp is the perfect balance of performance and value, through thoughtful design and the latest LED technology. The 1000+ Lumen LED has six adjustments for any situation, and a pivot casing so you can easily adjust the angle on the fly.
Specifications
- Lumens: 1010
- Distance: 141m
- Lux: 2740 (Measured with our light meter)
- Battery Capacity: 920 mAh
- Runtime: 432 hours
- Weight: 2.9 oz
It is IPX8 waterproof and shock-resistant, so it will hold up in your bag or on your head. The headband is plenty adjustable, and the casing is very lightweight, so it doesn’t move around, even if you’re running or jumping around.
You can find cheaper or more expensive headlamps, but the ThruNite TH20 Pro Headlamp is positioned at that optimal point where you are getting the best functionality without overspending.
Task Light Headlamp
Liteband ACTIV 400
Lightweight, Comfortable, and Convenient
A huge illumination field lights up large areas, making this headlamp perfect for camping and project work.
*Price at time of publishing; check for price changes or sales.
Do you ever knock your headlamp on something overhead? Or have to turn your head in a weird direction to be able to see what you actually want to see? Liteband has fixed all of this with their wide-illumination selection of headlamps that make it easy to get stuff done.
Specifications
- Lumens: 400
- Distance: 30m
- Lux: 305 (Measured with our light meter)
- Battery Capacity: 1800 mAh
- Runtime: 36 hours
- Weight: 4.0 oz
It’s the only headlamp I’ve put on and forgotten that I’m wearing it! It is perfectly balanced, with the battery positioned on the back of your head. The light is very flush but lights up a huge area around you, so you can see everything in your task area and your peripheral vision.
It only weighs 4 ounces, has 5 settings (including red and pulse), and has a 36-hour runtime. Even with the 210° illumination field, it still has a respectable throw distance without a reflector cone.
The Liteband ACTIV 400 headlamp is the most popular model and a great choice since it puts out some serious lumens (400L).
Upgrade Headlamp
Olight Perun 3 Mini
Ultralight, Lithium Powered, and High Output
The clear leader when it comes to headlamps, the Perun is the most powerful lightweight option we could find.
*Price at time of publishing; check for price changes or sales.
Also available to buy at Olight.
Olight at it again, this time with the Perun 3 mini headlamp. 1250 Lumens. 155-meter throw. 240 hours of runtime. Their signature magnetic charging. All of this in less than 3 ounces. As an engineer, I really appreciate how they fit high performance in such a compact design.
Specifications
- Lumens: 1250
- Distance: 155m
- Lux: 3840 (Measured with our light meter)
- Battery Capacity: 650 mAh
- Runtime: 240 hours
- Weight: 2.9 oz
The Perun 3 Mini headlamp is our upgrade pick after testing, as it easily outclasses all of our other tested headlamps with its performance and convenient features.
The headband itself was upgraded quite a bit in the transition from models 2 to 3, with a quick-release button and a breathable strap now coming standard.
Olight has a great history of innovation in lighting, and the Olight Perun Mini 3 Headlamp is another demonstration of this.
Comparison Table
| Survival Headlamp | Recommendation | Price* | Lumens | Distance | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thrunite TH20 Pro | Best Overall | $20 | 1010 | 141m | 2.9 oz |
| Liteband ACTIV 400 | Best for Task Work | $17 | 400 | 30m | 4.9 oz |
| Olight Perun 3 Mini | Best for Frequent Use | $65 | 1250 | 155m | 2.9 oz |
| Energizer Vision | $8 | 125 | 40m | 3.1 oz | |
| Vont Spark | $12 | 200 | 50m | 3.0 oz | |
| Black Diamond Astro 300 | $20 | 300 | 55m | 2.6 oz | |
| Petzl Takkina | $20 | 300 | 65m | 3.2 oz | |
| Coast RL10R | $30 | 750 | 36m | 3.8 oz | |
| Nitecore NU25 UL | $37 | 400 | 70m | 1.6 oz | |
| Olight Perun 2 Mini | $59 | 1100 | 150m | 2.9 oz | |
| Black Diamond Spot 400-R | $65 | 400 | 100m | 3.0 oz | |
| Petzl Actik CORE | $71 | 350 | 90m | 3.1 oz | |
| Fenix HM70R | $100 | 1600 | 186m | 7.3 oz |
How I Tested
Practically testing the headlamps was easy- I took them with me on hikes, walks, runs, and camping excursions. My two boys used them regularly as well, which helped test durability because they don’t go easy on tools and gear. We used them during brief power outages and in dark areas of our home, like the attic and crawlspace.
Testing the survival headlamps with equipment was more involved:
- Light Meter and Trap – We’ve made a light trap to test all of our light gear without external interference. After putting each headlamp in the trap, I measured the brightness in Lux using a light meter.
- Cold Battery Performance – I put each headlamp in a freezer to reduce the temperature to 5°F and measured how that affected battery performance compared to the manufacturing specs.
- Waterproofing – I tested each headlamp’s function after submerging it in a tub of water for one minute.
- Weight – I measured the weight in ounces with the band and batteries on a small scale.
Higher weight isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as we’ll get into more in the analysis and test results section, because it can be distributed and balanced on your head.
Why Trust TruePrepper
Being able to light up dark areas is important during emergencies, and a headlamp is one of the most versatile tools you can have to stay out of the dark. I’m Sean Gold, and I’ve been testing headlamps under a survival scope for several years now. I’ve been using headlamps for a wide range of tasks most of my life, whether it’s in the crawlspace of my home, going for runs/hikes in the woods, or inspecting heavy machinery in my time as an industrial engineer.
I keep headlamps in most of my survival kits- their versatility outmatches regular flashlights and lanterns by quite a bit. I have them in my kids’ bug out bags, and their hands-free functionality is extremely useful there, too.
While I have a lot of experience with headlamps and did even more practical testing for this review, I also did some worst-case testing to push the gear to its limits. Finding out where the gear fails and its limitations is important for survival.
Analysis & Test Results
The best headlamps have several important features to look for:
- Value
- Brightness
- Runtime
- Battery Type
- Comfort
When you get the right blend of these, you can find a solid headlamp without breaking the bank. Below, we break down what each of these means for a great headlamp.
Value: Cost vs. Benefit
In a world full of cheap headlamps, you usually get what you pay for. In the US, imports of cheap tools and flashlights have gone way up recently. This means that there is a lot of crappy gear out there, but there is also steep competition. In order to stand out, manufacturers have to be both price-sensitive and aware of their quality and service.
You also don’t want to spend too much money on one resource, like a headlamp. Using your money to get the most functionality and versatility out of your survival kit is the smart way to go. There is a sweet spot where you get high value out of the best functionality with not too high a price, which is where our top pick sits.
Brightness
Two important features of a headlamp are the lumen output and the throw distance. You want our headlamp to be powerful enough to light an area and have enough reach to see at a respectable distance.
Overall brightness matters too- usually measured in candelas or lux. Luminous intensity is one of the most important measures of a flashlight’s brightness, and I use a light trap and light meter to measure this for each headlamp.
Runtime
You want your survival headlamp to have a long runtime, as you may need it all night if you find yourself in a bind. With the improvements in batteries over the years, it would be tough to find a headlamp that doesn’t last overnight with its runtime.
Most listed runtimes are for the lowest mode available on the headlamp, so the ones in the hundreds are very low lumen output. This can be good enough to read maps or navigate a tent at night, but not great for moving quickly outdoors.
Battery Type
Small batteries that pack some power are the secret to a good headlamp, but they also need to be easily found (stocked) or rechargeable for survival situations. AAAs, common button batteries, and lithium-ion rechargeable batteries are your best bet here.
Some manufacturers get creative with battery placement: the Litebands have battery storage on the back of the headband, allowing for increased runtime with higher output while maintaining comfort with a balanced weight.
Durability
Cheap headlamps can break easily in your kit or while you are using them, and you don’t want to be dealing with that in a survival situation. Besides seeing the durability first-hand during practical testing, I also submerged the flashlights to test their waterproofing.
Comfort
The size and weight contribute to the comfort of a headlamp, but there are other factors as well. Padding and adjustability will let you wear a headlamp longer. Headlamps that are lighter weight can be held in place with just one strap around the head, but heavier ones will need an additional strap across the top.
Headlamps with top straps are becoming less common because you can now get great power out of a small light casing with better LED and battery technology.
Weight and a quality strap are the largest contributors to comfort in our tests. Any of our picks, with proper adjustment of the strap, will be very comfortable on your head, even without top straps.
How to Use a Headlamp
Headlamps are pretty simple to use, but they are also surprisingly versatile. To use a headlamp to generate light right in front of you while keeping your hands free (the main use, of course), you just adjust the strap to fit your head, put the headlamp on, and turn it on. This makes headlamps pretty great in and of themselves, but their alternate uses are really what push them to the top of prepper lists. Here is a quick list of just a few of the many uses:
- Flashlight: Hold your headlamp in your hand to easily direct the light. Pretty simple, but still versatile.
- Lantern: You can wrap a headlamp around a clear water bottle or gallon of water, turn the headlamp inward, and turn it on to make a lantern.
- Signal Device: Click the headlamp on and off to send light signals. Knowing Morse code or common light signals can help.
- Map Reading: Use a headlamp to keep your hands free for map charting and reading with compasses and other tools. Throw a tarp or large parka over yourself to do this without light pollution.
You can also use headlamps for plenty of everyday activities, like running, camping, biking, reading, home repairs, and truck maintenance.
Who Needs a Survival Headlamp?
Headlamps are such a versatile lighting tool that they are found in almost every type of survival kit. Keeping your hands free and your surroundings well-lit is a huge advantage during emergencies. Headlamps are also useful every day- from doing chores and maintenance in your crawlspace or attic, keeping your hands free on a camping trip, or just a quick jog at dusk or dawn.
Headlamps are an integral and essential part of these kits:
Headlamps are a suggested addition to these kits:
No matter what threats could come your way, a headlamp is one of the best light solutions you can have for a survival situation.
Sources & References
An objective look at the best headlamp is useless without sources and references. We leaned on these for the book knowledge that we paired with our practical military experience and prepping acumen.
DelCore, A., et al. (2015). Sustainable solar headlamp: An open-source consumer medical device. IEEE International Conference on Consumer Electronics (ICCE). Pages 395 – 397. (Source).
Rakes, P. (1999). Technology in Transition: The Dilemmas of Early Twentieth-Century Coal Mining. Journal of Appalachian Studies. Volume 5. Issue 1. Pages 27 – 60. (Source).
NMAH. (2021). Mining Lights and Hats. Smithsonian. (Source).
Conclusion
A headlamp may seem like a small and insignificant light source, but they are the ultimate light when you need it. Being able to see in the dark and at night is very important for survival and emergencies.
Besides headlamps, there are a few other light sources you can consider for survival:
- Best Survival Flashlight for Emergencies and Bug Out
- Best Lantern for Prepping and Survival
- Bug Out Bag List | 44 Essentials
Be sure to know how to use your headlamp. Don’t let it sit in your bag or kit indefinitely- get it out and get familiar with it by using it.
See more of our expert-written guides, resources, and reviews in your search results – add TruePrepper as a preferred source.
Prepping Your Way
No judgement and no imperatives. Prepare the way you want to with the trusted source millions of modern preppers have relied on.Our newsletter fires out every Monday where you can expect:
- Practical prepping guides and tips
- Thorough survival gear reviews
- Noticeably absent spam and popups
- < 0.4% of people unsubscribe
