Best Headlamps for Running in 2023

1. Black Diamond Spot 350

This headlamp is intuitive, comfortable, easy to use, and suitable for a wide variety of situations.

What We Like

The Black Diamond Spot 350 has a low-profile, lightweight design—just 3 ounces—that’s easy to wear while you run.

Just two buttons make the use of the headlamp quite intuitive. The larger one turns the headlamp on and off, dims the light when necessary, and starts the strobe.

You can cycle through 3 modes with the small button—white beam, peripheral white, and red light. You can use them in flood mode, spot mode, red light night mode, and strobe for emergencies or to let others see you while conserving battery.

Whatever mode you need, the light has a max output of 350 lumens. At its brightest in spotlight mode, the beam reaches 288 feet, illuminating more than enough space to see what’s coming.

Brightness Memory is a handy feature that reverts the headlamp back to whatever the last setting was when you used it.

The PowerTap feature allows you to go from fully powered to dim with just a double-tap on the side of the casing. This is handy if you need to dim or brighten in a hurry.

It uses AAA batteries instead of rechargeable. You can get close to 4 hours of use out of the batteries at full power. Depending on how long you want to run, you may need to carry extra.

At its lowest power—6 lumens—you can get 200 hours, but it won’t light your way effectively for running.

While it’s not the brightest headlamp on this list, it’s the best all-around and ideal for runners.

Why We Like It

This headlamp is small but mighty. It has more than enough lumens for use while running. It’s also extremely comfortable and lightweight to wear, with a battery life that should last a long time even on the brightest mode.

What’s New

The newest model is 25 lumens brighter than the previous one. The top buttons were also redesigned to make them more user-friendly.

2. Black Diamond Cosmo 300

Black Diamond makes excellent headlamps, and the Cosmo 300 is no exception. Its bright beam and friendly price make it our choice for best value headlamp.

What We Like

This headlamp also throws out 300 lumens of power on its maximum setting, more than enough to illuminate your way no matter where you’re running.

The high power beam reaches up to 242 feet ahead of you, while the lowest setting will light up about 26 feet in front of you.

It’s simple to cycle through the modes using the small top button. These include distance mode (high power), proximity mode (low power), dimming, strobe light, and red night vision mode.

All of these lighting modes can dim on the go so that you can get the right amount of light for the situation.

There’s also a lock mode when the headlamp isn’t in use. This prevents the headlamp from accidentally turning on while in a bag or pocket.

On 3 AAA batteries, you should get around 4 hours of light and up to 200 on the low mode. However, there’s no way to tell when your batteries are running low, so carry extras with you.

This little headlamp is also IPX8-rated, which means it’s fully waterproof and can withstand heavy rain, splashes, and even being submerged.

An adjustable headband allows you to get a perfect fit, and it’s comfortable enough for many hours of use in one sitting.

Why We Like It

The Black Diamond Cosmo 300 is an excellent headlamp for those on a budget. It’s affordable, offers plenty of light, and has a good run time. It’s also lightweight and slim, so it won’t feel heavy as you run.

What’s New

The Cosmo 300 got a small boost in brightness, from 250 lumens in the Cosmo 250 to 300 in this model. It also has a newly designed body that’s more compact.

3. Nathan Neutron Fire RX

If you’re on a budget but want a rechargeable headlamp, we recommend the Nathan Neutron Fire RX. It’s lightweight, illuminates well, and comes in at an excellent price.

What We Like

This compact headlamp is an excellent choice for those who want a rechargeable headlamp that won’t cost a fortune!

It runs off a USB-rechargeable battery. You can charge it directly from your laptop or wall charger.

This light is less intense than the others, but it still offers an effective 160 lumens on maximum power.

Aside from the LED lights, you can also choose to use the red, green, or blue strobe lights on the sides of the headlamp.

This helps others to see you in low light as well. It works with the reflective material around the headband to provide 360-degree visibility.

The only downside is that the more you tilt the headlamp down to illuminate closer to your feet, the bouncier it becomes because of the weight of the battery.

Why We Like It

The Nathan Neutron Fire RX is affordable, has good run times, and is easily rechargeable, removing any worry you may have about batteries on the go.

4. Petzl Bindi

This headlamp is exceptionally compact and lightweight, and has a bright beam and rechargeable battery.

What We Like

The Petzl Bindi is small, powerful, and extremely lightweight. It weighs just 1.2 oz, so you’ll hardly notice it while running.

It’s a rechargeable headlamp, using a micro-USB to charge. The battery meter gives you a simple indication of how much power is left before running out.

The maximum power of this light is 200 lumens. It has a red light and a white light mode. You can choose from 3 intensity settings on the white mode.

It will give you about 2 hours of use on its highest setting, which is less than most others. On medium, you can get 3 hours of use. The red light will give you around 30 hours on low-intensity and 200 on strobe.

The headlamp has both a digital and a physical lock mechanism to ensure that it doesn’t get switched on by mistake when not in use.

This headlamp is so lightweight because of the headband, which is a thin elasticated cord rather than a proper band. Some people may find this annoying – but it’s a personal preference.

Why We Like It

The Petzl Bindi is exceptionally lightweight and compact. No matter how fast you want to run on roads or technical terrain, you’ll hardly notice wearing it.

5. Black Diamond Sprinter 500

If brightness is what you need, the Black Diamond Sprinter 500 is one of the best headlamps for running when it’s fully dark!

What We Like

The Black Diamond Sprinter 500 gives off 500 lumens of light on its strongest setting – almost twice that of the previous version.

One of the best things about this headlamp is that it’s rechargeable via micro-USB, but you also can use 3 AAA batteries if you’d prefer or as a backup.

The headlamp is well-balanced, with the light in the front and the battery at the back to prevent bouncing. A red light at the back also offers extra safety and visibility.

A wraparound headband design offers maximum stability. There’s a removable strap on the top if you want more support.

The single-button design is easy to use to scroll through various settings. PowerTap technology allows you to instantly dim any light by tapping on the side of the compact unit.

It does take a long time to recharge. But you can use standard batteries if you are in a hurry (or in the midst of a long ultra).

Why We Like It

The Black Diamond Sprinter 500 is bright enough to light your way but without an increase in weight. We like the rechargeable battery backed up with standard batteries.

What’s New

The Sprinter 500 is almost twice as powerful as its predecessor.

6. Petzl Actik Core

If you need a headlamp with more than one beam option, we recommend the Petzl Actik Core. It’s compact and versatile enough for any adventure!

What We Like

The Petzl Actik Core gives you the choice of two beam patterns—flood or mixed. Combine this with 450 lumens and various brightness levels, and you have a versatile headlamp suitable for many situations.

There’s also a red light mode, which might not be helpful for running but it’s excellent for seeing what’s happening around you without blinding others, for example, if you’re getting ready to go for a run in a group.

The headlamp comes with a rechargeable battery, but their HYBRID design allows you to use AAA batteries if you want. You can also carry AAA batteries as a backup.

Choose your brightness and light color easily with a single push button. There’s a lock function to prevent it from being pushed accidentally while the headlamp isn’t used.

You can also detach the headband for washing, and the headlamp is compatible with several different mounting accessories that allow you to use it while wearing a helmet or as a bike lamp.

Why We Like It

This handy headlamp has two different beams to choose from, making it ideal for any late-night outdoor adventures. It’s also compatible with various mounting accessories for hands-free use.

What’s New

The updates to the Actik Core are subtle but helpful. A new locking mode has been added, the brightness increased, and it’s 0.5 oz lighter.

7. Black Diamond Onsight 375

If your running routes take you through waterfalls, puddles, or there’s just a chance of heavy rain during your run, then you may want to consider the Black Diamond Onsight 375 headlamp.

What We Like

The Black Diamond Onsight 375 is a fully waterproof headlamp, with a rating of IP67. This means it is completely submersible and resistant to dust.

On the maximum setting—Route-Finder Mode—the light gives off 375 lumens. Climbing Mode offers 300 lumens and a wider, softer beam.

PowerTap technology is built-in to easily switch between the two modes on the go by tapping the side of the unit’s housing.

You can use three AAA batteries—included with purchase—or a rechargeable Li-ion battery sold separately. They should last for 3 hours on the highest setting, 26 hours on medium, and 100 hours on low.

A perforated headband dries quickly and conforms to your head’s shape for a comfortable fit.

Other handy features include Brightness Memory, which reverts to the last brightness you selected, and a digital lock function that prevents it from being accidentally activated.

Why We Like It

This headlamp is entirely waterproof and can even handle being submerged. With a perforated headband, it also dries quickly if it gets wet. You can take this headband on many adventures safely!

8. PETZL NAO+

Trail runners need a headlamp that is robust and lights their way. The Petzl NAO+ is a rugged headlamp, ideal for taking on the trails.

What We Like

The Petzl NAO+ is a heavy-duty headlamp ideal for taking on the trails. The beam is bright, and it utilizes Reactive Technology to give you the best lighting at all times.

Reactive Technology changes the length and width of the beam and the brightness based on how close things are to it. This change ensures that what’s in front of you is always in your view.

This allows for hands-free, automatic adjustment that keeps you safer on the trails and saves battery as the light dims when you don’t need the brightest setting.

However, you can switch this feature off and use constant lighting mode if you want.

Download the MyPetzl app and you can use a customized beam pattern and create your own specific lighting profiles. You can also access 4 extra built-in lighting profiles.

Thanks to the minimalist design and even weight distribution, the headband is extremely comfortable. While the lamp is on the front, the battery pack rests at the back, distributing the weight evenly.

You can also buy an “extension kit,” which allows you to clip the battery to your belt or elsewhere for convenience.

Why We Like It

The Petzl NAO+ is quite robust and offers a large variety of lighting options through the app. Reactive Technology also makes running the trails much easier and saves battery life.

What’s New

The new NAO+, unfortunately, doesn’t have the option to use AAA batteries as a backup, which the old version did.

But it does have 200 more lumens, an extended battery life, a red safety strobe, and multiple adjustable modes through the MyPetzl app.

9. Black Diamond Revolt

The Black Diamond Revolt is a versatile headlamp that works well in almost any situation. It’s durable and easy to use.

What We Like

The Black Diamond Revolt is a robust headlamp. With 350 lumens of power, it’s enough to light up just about any road or trail.

Brightness Memory and PowerTap technology make it easy to get the correct settings at the tap of a finger.

No matter what you need, there’s a setting for you. Proximity and distance mode settings, red night vision mode, dimming features, and a strobe are all included.

Being IPX4, this headlamp can easily handle rain, so there’s no need to worry about being caught in a storm.

One of the most versatile things about this headlamp is that it can run either on the rechargeable battery pack or on 3 AAA batteries.

It also has a battery power indicator, which shines a different color to indicate the battery life left.

In addition, it has a slightly different battery meter. This indicates a problem with the battery, for example, if it’s not correctly in place or overheating.

Why We Like It

Whatever you might need a headlamp for, the Black Diamond Revolt can help you with it.

It’s storm-proof, gives you different lighting options, has two battery choices, and comes with a handy and comprehensive battery power meter.

What’s New

The Revolt has been redesigned for better output and increased user-friendliness. It now features 350 lumens on max power.

It also has a second switch used for lens selection. The battery power meter is also new.

10. Amphipod Versa-Light Max Headlamp

This headlamp can be used in various ways, a headlamp being just one of those ways! It clips onto a strap or any other part of your clothing, like a hat brim.

What We Like

This light is small and features only 160 lumens of power, but it’s still more powerful than you might expect. You can choose between full power or half power.

It weighs just 1.3 oz, so you can clip it anywhere and it won’t feel like it’s on the way. Clip it to your waistband, your collar, a backpack strap, or anywhere else where it points ahead of you.

But you can also use the headband, which offers a comfortable and personalized fit.

It has a white and a red beam with solid or flashing modes. You can expect up to 1.5 hours of run time on solid mode and up to 5 hours on flashing mode.

The only downfall is that the headlamp can’t tilt once it’s clipped onto something. This makes fine-tuning it to shine where you want a bit hard.

Why We Like It

This light may be small, but you can clip it to anything to light your way, which is extremely handy. You can still use it as a regular headlamp, too, if you wish.

11. Biolite Headlamp 200

Comfort is key when wearing a headlamp, and we’ve chosen the Biolite Headlamp as our most comfortable choice.

What We Like

The weight of this headband contributes to its comfort because at just 1.7 oz you’ll hardly notice it on your head.

There’s hardly any bounce when you’re running with such a light weight. It also doesn’t feel like it’s pulling on the headband.

The headband is soft and easy to adjust. You can tighten it adequately without it cutting into your skin.

This battery will last about 3 hours on 200 lumens, the brightest setting. If you press and hold the button, the light will dim, which will help to increase battery life.

You’ll find white and red solid light modes and strobe lights for both.

Why We Like It

This headlamp is very light and has a soft, comfortable headband that stays easily in place. You’ll find it comfortable on your head as you run as it also doesn’t bounce.