The Best Headlamps For Hunting In 2023

Top 5 Best Headlamps For Hunting 2023:

1. PETZL – TACTIKKA+ RGB Headlamp
2. BLACK DIAMOND Storm Headlamp
3. Browning Nitro Headlamp
4. Hunting Friends LED Headlamp
5. Streamlight Buckmasters Trident Headlamp

A headlamp is an integral part of every hunter’s gear.

Why?

The answer is simple. The best time to go out hunting is either in at dusk or at dawn, where the light conditions aren’t the best. This is why having a headlamp while out hunting is a must.

If you’re unfamiliar with these devices, you’d think that finding the best headlamp isn’t a big deal. However, you couldn’t be more wrong.

The market is flooded with models that on the surface look the same, and you can quickly end up buying a model that’s either not bright enough or will break down after a couple of days of use.

Thankfully, we’re here to help you in your quest! In this article, you can take a look at our selection of five best headlamps for hunting. 

And that’s not all! If you end up disagreeing with our selection, you can still learn how to pick the best model for your needs by reading our short buyers guide.

So, let’s jump right into it!

See Also: The Best AAA Flashlight

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5 Best Headlamps For Hunting In 2023: Detailed Reviews

Before we get into the guide, we’ve prepared this list of five best headlamps for hunting you can find on the current market.

We made sure to include all types of headlamps from every price point.

1. PETZL – TACTIKKA+ RGB Headlamp – Best Headlamp For Hunting

The first place on our list goes to a tiny headlamp that’s more than capable of illuminating your way when out hunting, the PETZL TACTIKKA+ RGB. This model is very similar to PETZL’s previous model Tactikka+, but it adds red, green and blue light options and can output more light.

The Tactikka+ RGB is an excellent all-around hunting headlamp. Even though it’s not the most powerful model out there when it comes to light output, the quality of the white light is unparalleled.

This headlamp puts out 350 lumens of perfectly focused, bright white light. You won’t have any trouble finding your way even at the dead of the night since this lamp comes with three light modes: proximity, movement, and distance – basically low, medium, and high.

On top of the great white light, the Tactikka also comes with the blue and red light. Both are excellent when tracking game because animals have a hard time picking up a blue or red light.

Another thing we were impressed by is the battery life. With just three AAA batteries, this headlamp can work up to 50 hours on medium and high settings. And if you only use it on low setting, you can expect the batteries to last up to 210 hours!

You also don’t have to worry about this lamp dying out in the rain because it has a water-resistance rating of IPX4.

2. BLACK DIAMOND Storm Headlamp – Runner up

If you’re a type of person who likes gear that’s capable of withstanding a nuclear strike, then you might be interested in our second pick. The Black Diamond Storm Headlamp is incredibly durable and comes with a couple of cool features that will make your hunting trip more pleasurable.

This headlamp can output 350 lumens, which is quite impressive for such a compact model. On top of that, the Black Diamond features powerful floodlights ensuring exceptional peripheral lighting. 

In addition to this, the Black Diamond also comes with red and blue LEDs and a strobe light function. Not only will you be able to track the game without spooking it, but you’ll also be able to alert your fellow hunters with the strobe light. 

The most impressive thing about this product is the additional features. There is a button lock that ensures the headlamp won’t turn on in your backpack by accident. Another cool feature is the PowerTap, which allows you to change the light intensity by just tapping the housing (also works with gloves).

And if that’s not enough, this headlamp also has an IP67 rating, which means it’s completely dustproof and waterproof.

The only issue we have with this product has a relatively short battery life of only 5 hours, even though it uses 4 AAA batteries for power.

3. Browning Nitro Headlamp – Most Comfortable

Browning is a well-known and well-respected hunting gear manufacturer, and the Nitro hunting headlamp embodies everything this company stands for. This headlamp is lightweight, comfortable, and has enough light output for most types of hunting.

The thing that impressed us the most about this headlamp is how comfortable it is. Even though the head strap is quite thick, it’s incredibly elastic, ensuring you won’t feel any discomfort while wearing this headlamp.

When it comes to light output, the Nitro is a bit lacking since it can output only 135 lumens. While this is not perfect for open spaces, it is ideal for more confined spaces such as woods or thick brushes.

For situations when tracking the game, you can switch from white light to red/green/blue light with just a tap of the button! This is most useful because the less time you spend fiddling with your headlamp, the more time you have to aim and shoot.

This headlamp uses CR123A Lithium-ion batters instead of regular batteries, which is quite commendable since they’re more eco-friendly. Unfortunately, the runtime of only 2.5 hours leaves a lot to be desired.

4. Hunting Friends LED Headlamp – Best Floodlight-style Headlamp

While our fourth pick might be a bit specific, we’re sure this headlamp will find a place in the heart of varmint hunters. The Hunting Friends LED headlamp will undoubtedly prove useful if you like hunting at dusk or night because it’s powerful floodlight won’t leave anything out of sight.

Usually, we’re not huge fans of rechargeable batteries, but it’s a bit different with this headlamp. Why? Well, you need quite a lot of juice to produce a 275-yard long beam of light!

Using regular batteries with this headlamp would quickly become expensive and wasteful, which is why the rechargeable method is sensible in this case.

With that said, you can get up to 20 hours of runtime out of a single charge! This is pretty damn impressive when you consider how powerful this headlamp is. 

Besides being able to produce incredibly bright light, this headlamp is incredibly durable too. It’s not just fully waterproof and dustproof, but it’s also explosion-proof! So if you ever find yourself in an explosive situation, you can rest assured this headlamp will stay in one piece!

5. Streamlight Buckmasters Trident Headlamp – Best Bang For The Buck

Looking for a headlamp for hunting that’s affordable and can also light up objects at a great distance? Look no further than Buckmaster Trident headlamp!

Even though this headlamp can only produce 80 lumens of light output, the light is bright and focused. So focused, in fact, it can cast a light beam 400-feet long. While this might not be enough for open spaces, it’s ideal for hunting in the woods or thick brush.

Along with the white LED, this headlamp also comes with a green LED. While in green light mode, this headlamp will suck up less power than usual and won’t impact your natural night vision.

However, we find it weird that the manufacturer decided to opt-in for a green light instead of red. It is well known that red is superior for night vision retention. The only logical reason we could think of is that green LEDs are cheaper than red ones.

Weird LED choices aside, the Trident is incredibly durable. This headlamp is IPX4 rated, which means it will continue working even if you drop it into a puddle of water.

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What Are Headlamps For Hunting And Why You Should Buy One?

Before we get into reasons why you need a headlamp for hunting, let’s explain what they are. 

Headlamps for hunting aren’t too dissimilar in function to those for hiking or working. However, headlamps that are specially designed for hunting come with a couple of features that make them extremely useful for this activity.

You can’t just buy the first lightweight model you run into and think you’ll be fine when you go out hunting. With a basic headlamp that has only a couple of LEDs won’t help you much. You won’t be able to see more than a couple of feet in front of you. On top of that, the white LEDs will alert any game you run into. 

This is why you should get yourself a high-powered headlamp that comes with a couple of different light modes and light colors. Ideally, you’d want to get a headlamp that can light up a spot in the clouds! Not only that, but it should also be able to produce green and red light, so you don’t scare off the game.

You might think that you’re better off with a regular torchlight, but that comes with its own set of problems. When out hunting, your hands are probably too busy holding the gun or bow. And if you add a torchlight to the mix, you can see how that complicates things.

So, as you can see, a headlamp is your best solution since it will free up your hands and let you focus on the most crucial part, hunting. 

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6 Factors You Should Consider When Buying A Headlamp For Hunting

When browsing for a new headlamp for hunting, there are a couple of factors you should keep in mind.

So, let’s go over these factors!

1. Light Color And Type

Way back in the olden days, headlamps utilized incandescent bulbs for a light source. However, technology has progressed a lot since that time.

Today, most headlamps use LEDs for a light source. LEDs are not just more energy-efficient than incandescent bulbs, but they’ve also allowed manufacturers to make headlamps more lightweight. Not to mention that LEDs are brighter than lightbulbs.

LED lights are also available in a wide range of configurations and colors, and a good headlamp can feature have half a dozen colors and settings. This is why you should be mindful of the following features and light types:

• Diffuse light – is a term that refers to how scattered the light beam is. Most modern headlamps come with diffuse light mode. The scattered light is perfect for situations when you’re up close and want to see things with your full range of vision.
• Focused Beam – Is the opposite of diffuse light. Focused beams are excellent when you need to see things at a great distance. Thanks to LED technology, most headlamps have excellent focused beam modes.
• Red Light – is excellent for nighttime hunting because it’s harder for the human eye to pick it up. Not only that, but the game also has difficulties picking up the red light.
• Blue Light – is excellent for reading maps at night. It also doesn’t affect your night vision, which means you’ll have less difficulty adjusting your eyes to the dark.
• Purple Light – is excellent for tracking blood trails; it makes it stand out from the surroundings.

2. Battery Type

When it comes to the type of battery a headlamp should use, it all depends on what type of hunter you are.

If you’re a type of hunter that likes getting back home each evening and plugging things in, a headlamp with rechargeable batteries is your best choice. 

On the other hand, if you’re a type of hunter that likes spending a couple of days in the field, you should go for a headlamp that uses replaceable batteries.

In any case, you should stay away from models that use watch-style batteries since they’re terribly inefficient and hold less charge than a AA battery.

3. Water Resistance

When it comes to hunting headlamps, there is no reason why you should go for a model that’s not waterproof.

Unfortunately, most cheap models claim they’re water-resistant or use other vague terms. This is why you should look for headlamps that have an IP rating since that’s the only credible way of determining how water-resistant a particular model is.

We recommend you find a model that has at least an IP54 rating.

4. Headbands

When it comes to headbands, the choice of color is totally up to you. What you should be careful about is the material.

We recommend you get a headlamp that comes with a siliconized headband since they’re excellent at holding the headlamp in place. On top of that, they’re usually more durable than other types of headbands.

One thing you should be aware of is that the headband is the first thing that breaks on the headlight. This is why you should regularly check it for damages and replace it as soon as you notice any tears.

5. Light Output

The amount of light a headlamp can produce is measured in lumens. The more lumens a particular model has, the brighter the light it produces.

Unfortunately, the lumen measurement isn’t the sole factor responsible for the intensity of the light beam. A headlamp can have excellent light output but have a terrible design that scatters the light.

When on the prowl for a new headlamp for hunting, we recommend you go for a model that can produce at least 300 lumens. Ideally, you should go for a model that has adjustable light output.

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Our Final Word

Before we let you go, let’s tally up the results.

If you’re looking for the best headlamp for hunting on the market, look no further than PETZL TACTIKKA+ RGB Headlamp. This product is not just durable, but can also produce 350 lumens of light and comes with blue and red LEDs.

If you want a headlamp that can withstand a nuclear attack and comes with a plethora of modern features, Black Diamond Storm Headlamp is the choice for you. This headlamp is not just durable, but it’s also compact and comes with several features that will help you focus more on shooting and less on fiddling with the light settings.

If you’re looking for a headlamp that offers the best value, Browning Nitro Headlamp should be on your shopping list. This product features the best mix of comfort, light output, and price of all the products we reviewed in this article.