Headlamps are the new flashlights and if you haven’t tried one out yet, then you are really missing out. Headlamps allow you to keep your hands free, if you are carrying gear or trying to hammer a tent stake, which is a real plus. Also, the light is shining in the right direction whether you are walking or reading a book inside the tent. Best of all, competition continues to bring the price down and the features up, giving you more for your money. Here are ten headlamps for under $30 that can replace that old flashlight.
MSRP: $29.95
Street Price: $29.95
Light Source: LED (3 White)
Lumens: 15
Illumination Control: Low, Medium, High (2 bulbs), Low, Medium, High (1 bulb), Strobe
Operating Time: 60 Hours on High (2 bulbs)
Power: 3x AAA
MSRP: $42.20
Street Price: $22
Light Source: LED (3 White, 1 Red)
Lumens: No spec
Illumination Control: Low, High, Red
Operating Time: 45 Hours on High
Power: 3x AAA
MSRP: $29.99
Street Price: $25
Light Source: LED (6 White)
Lumens: 10.8
Illumination Control: Low, High
Operating Time: 27 Hours on High
Power: 3x AAA
MSRP: $29.99
Street Price: $15
Light Source: LED (1 White, 1 Red)
Lumens: 45
Illumination Control: On/Off, Red
Operating Time: 25 Hours
Power: 3x AAA
MSRP: $24.95
Street Price: $24.95
Light Source: LED (3 White), Krypton
Lumens: 30 (LED), 10 (Krypton)
Illumination Control: LED Low, LED High, Krypton
Operating Time: 80 Hours on LED High, 3.5 Hours on Krypton
Power: 3x AAA
MSRP: $19.99
Street Price: $19.99
Light Source: LED (5 White, 2 Red)
Lumens: 45
Illumination Control: Spot, Flood, Max, Red
Operating Time: 16 Hours on Max
Power: 3x AAA
MSRP: $29.95
Street Price: $22
Light Source: LED (3 White)
Illumination Control: Low, High, Strobe
Lumens: 40
Operating Time: 90 Hours on High
Power: 3x AAA
MSRP: $26.99
Street Price: $20
Light Source: LED (4 White)
Lumens: 43
Illumination Control: Low, Medium, High, Strobe
Operating Time: 50 Hours on High
Power: 3x AAA
MSRP: $29.99
Street Price: $25
Light Source: LED (2 White, 1 Red, 1 Blue)
Lumens: 45
Illumination Control: Low (White, Red, Blue), High (White Only)
Operating Time: 2 Hours on High
Power: 1x AAA
MSRP: $38.00
Street Price: $25
Light Source: LED (3 White), Xenon
Lumens: 24 (LED), 12 (Xenon)
Illumination Control: Low, High, Xenon
Operating Time: 60 Hours on LED High, 2.25 Hours on Xenon
Power: 3x AAA
See also…
Stay updated on new posts by subscribing to my RSS feed. To get additional tips delivered right to your inbox, sign up for my free monthly newsletter, which also includes my free six-page guide to cold weather gear!
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
This is helpful. I have a couple of these, but this is a difficult item to decide which one to buy. Do you have any opinion on any in particular?
Shoot, I was afraid somebody was going to ask me that
Actually there are probably 4 on this list that I wouldn’t mind owning. As for the one that I do own, see my “Backcountry Essentials” article.
I have the Pietzl Tikka 2 and love it. Once you have a headlamp, you wonder what you ever did without it!
It’s true, Mel! I actually needed a flashlight for something, the other day, and couldn’t find one in the house with batteries. We just don’t use them, anymore.
I’ve got the Energizer headlamp for most uses but I have a smaller one with one of those tiny flat batteries for reading in the tent.
Oh and a Princeton Tec headlamp is up on SteepandCheap pretty often.
That’s not a bad idea – most of these are a bit overpowering for just reading. How long does the battery last?
Um not sure. I got it last year and have used it on 2 or 3 campouts and the battery is still goin strong!
I just recently purchased the Pietzl Tikka 2 Plus for a camping trip to Colorado next week. In addition to the white lights it also has a red light. I’ve already used it around the house a lot, like going up in the attic to get my camping equipment down. I also used it for some hands free plumbing repairs. It’s great!
I got a pretty cheap headlamp recently and it strobes. What’s the purpose of this?
It can be used for emergency signaling, if you become lost while hiking. You can also use it for walking or bicycling at night so others can see you.