“And a star burns in the forehead ...”: TOP 5 excellent headlamps

Inexpensive travel flashlight with head mount Tramp TRA-186 will serve as a good help for simple hikes and orientation at dusk. The moisture-resistant housing made of durable green plastic is not afraid of falls from a height of 1 m and allows you to use the lamp in any weather conditions. The body is equipped with a swivel mechanism that lowers the lamp down by 45°, which makes it possible to illuminate not only the path ahead, but also better look under your feet. Adjustable elastic strap keeps the flashlight securely on your head even while running. The total weight of the equipped device is 77 g and does not cause any discomfort during prolonged wear.

This headband model uses one white COB type LED with a reflector and multiple emitters that have a common phosphor layer and a cooling ceramic substrate. This achieves a powerful luminous flux with a peak value of 100 lm and efficient heat dissipation. The luminaire allows you to simply switch between 2 brightness levels (economical and maximum) using a single button located on top. Both modes give a fairly wide beam with good dispersion, providing enough light at close range. The flashlight comes in a blister pack and does not come with 3 AAA batteries required for operation, which must be purchased separately. In terms of price / quality ratio, this is one of the best models of entry-level headbands on the market for travel accessories.

The versatile Black Diamond Astro outdoor headlamp is both an affordable and advanced solution for coping with darkness in the woods, caves, mountains, fishing or cycling. For a model costing about $20, the headlamp has a fairly wide range of functionality that more expensive flashlights do not always have. The model is made in an elegant plastic case in a compact format, which allows you to conveniently carry the lamp in a backpack and even in your pocket. And the moisture-proof design of the IPX4 housing makes it possible to use the flashlight during rain and sleet in the temperature range from -17 ° C to +43 ° C. The reflector LED is placed slightly to the side, and the elastic band of the head holder is the same color as the body. By the way, the flashlight is available in several colors and it is easy to choose the option that suits you best.

The flashlight is powered by 3 standard AAA alkaline batteries, which increase the weight of the device to 86 g. To conserve power sources, the device turns on by default at half power, which can be changed later. At maximum illumination, the battery capacity is enough for 20 hours of operation, and when operating in economy mode - up to 80 hours. The advantage of the model is a smooth LED brightness control (dimmer), which allows you to set the strength of the luminous flux in the range from 6 to 150 lm, providing sufficient illumination at a distance of 10 to 35 m. The strobe function will be useful when you need to scare away wild animals or if you get lost in the forest. The flashlight has a memory for the last brightness setting, which does not require frequent changes in settings. An additional function of blocking the control button prevents accidental reset of the selected settings. The model is covered by a 3-year manufacturer's warranty.

The Fenix HM23 compact headlamp has become a worthy replacement for the previous version of the device Fenix HL23 . The headband will appeal to cyclists, tourists, fishermen, as well as lovers of evening jogging and night picnics. The new model has become lighter, more powerful and more economical than the previous one, while retaining all its advantages and price. Despite the fact that the body is made entirely of aluminium alloy, it weighs only 43 g without a battery. Thanks to its impact-resistant properties, the flashlight is not afraid of falls from a height of 2 m, and silicone gaskets, which guarantee complete protection against moisture penetration (IP68), allow you to survive “bathing” in water at a depth of 2 meters without consequences. A convenient plastic holder attached to a head strap with reflective inscriptions makes it possible to rotate the “carcass” of the device along its axis as it pleases, providing different angles of the light flux.

The Cree XP-G2 (R5) neutral white LED with reflector has a long life of 50,000 hours and can be powered by 1 x 1.5V alkaline battery (included) or 1.2V Ni-Mh AA battery. The manufacturer does not recommend the use of 1.5V lithium batteries and prohibits the use of 3.7V lithium-ion batteries. The flashlight has 3 brightness adjustment modes, directly related to the autonomy of its work and the range of the light beam: 240 lm / 8 h / 53 m, 70 lm / 16 h / 30 m and 4 lm / 100 h / 9.5 m. As a bonus feature, which should be attributed to the pluses of the model, we note the function of monitoring the battery charge level. It is implemented by an automatic decrease in brightness when the battery charge is reduced and a light signal that warns of the need to replace the battery when the battery is critically low. Each copy of the device is provided with a unique alphanumeric code on the packaging and on the case, according to which you can confirm the official purchase of the device and receive a 5-year manufacturer's warranty on it.

The Nitecore HC30 semi-professional headlamp belongs to the category of heavy-duty lamps that use the 18650 battery format, popular among tourists and vapers, for power supply. The only rechargeable battery with a nominal voltage of 3.7V and a capacity of 3200 mAh ensures the autonomy of the device at minimum brightness for 330 hours, which is beyond the power of conventional batteries, and an acceptable replacement of the battery with a couple of CR123 cells reduces the operating time by almost half. The device driver is equipped with reverse polarity protection, and the power circuit has digital current stabilization. The body of the device is made of aerospace aluminium alloy and received a high-quality anodized coating applied using military technology HAIII. Protection against moisture penetration class IP68 will not allow the lamp to "drown" when immersed in water to a depth of 2 m, and the device accidentally dropped to the ground will not break. The special "L-shaped" shape of the body and the side position of the control button allows you to use the flashlight not only as a head-mounted device, but also as a standard pocket device.

Cree XM-L2 U2 LED flashlight with Precision Digital Optics Technology reflector features an optimal combination of brightness and power consumption. The LED is protected by a tempered mineral glass lens with an anti-reflective coating. The control board with temperature control (ATR) dynamically adjusts the brightness of the light beam and prevents the flashlight from overheating during operation. The model has 5 brightness levels and 3 additional emergency modes(beacon, strobe and SOS). Among the main brightness modes are minimum (1 lm), low (70 lm), medium (210 lm), high (400 lm) and turbo ( 1000 lm). At maximum power, the flashlight hits a distance of 162 m, but it can work no more than an hour, so you should not abuse the turbo mode to save battery power. With its small dimensions of 24x98 mm and light weight of 40 g (without batteries), the device will not burden the traveler's backpack. The model is completed with an elastic strap, a spare button, a sealing ring and a clip for wearing.

The Led Lenser MH10 headlamp is designed for outdoor use and will stand out from the crowd with its well-thought-out design, many functions and ease of use. The model received a separated optical and battery packs, placed on the strap, respectively, in front and behind. From the battery pack, which has a bayonet lid, a wire with a small twisted section runs to the head of the flashlight. Despite the unusual appearance, the connecting wire does not interfere with the adjustment of the belt at all, and the device itself sits comfortably on the head. The flashlight is powered by a branded Li-Ion 18650 Ledlenser 3400 mAh battery, which is charged with a special cable via the built-in USB port. The battery pack is equipped with a battery charge indicator, and a red signal lamp is located at the back, showing not only the charging status, but also giving a guide to pedestrians and vehicles moving behind. The safe operation of the device is ensured by protection against overheating, and a blocking lock is provided to prevent accidental switching on of the lamp during transportation.

The key element of the device is the original Xtreme LED with a resource of 100 thousand hours, hidden together with a reflector in a plastic light head. The complex profile lens is made of borosilicate glass, and the movable focus control sleeve is equipped with a powerful aluminium rim (bezel). The optical axis of the lamp has a default tilt of 35°, but it can be adjusted by setting one of 5 fixed positions. The front switch button for one-handed operation is easily located on the top of the head by touch. Smart Light technology allows you to control 3 levels of lighting brightness, as well as programme individual lighting modes. The patented AFS provides a smooth transition from wide close-range illumination to narrow high-beam illumination, while the Rapid Focus adjusts the light cone in an instant. The optical system of the flashlight gives a maximum luminous flux of 600 liters at a lighting range of 150 m, and the autonomy of the device during operation at 2% brightness is 120 hours.

The model has a dust and water protection class IP54, sufficient for confident operation in rain and snow. A flashlight equipped with a battery weighs 158 g, but, thanks to the correct “weight distribution”, it is not felt at all on the head. The device is sold in a gift box and, in addition to the head strap, battery and charging cable, it is equipped with 2 light filters (red and green) with a nozzle, a convenient belt pouch and a user manual. This model comes with a 7 year warranty.