Choose the Right Headlamp for Your Next Adventure

Whether you're hiking, camping, or hunting, a quality headlamp is essential. It gets dark fast on the trail, and while sometime it's fun to ditch the artificial light and let your eyes adjust, stumbling on a rock or tree root is not as much fun.

For years, I treated headlamps as more or less disposable. After six months to a year, they would stop working, and I would just pop into CVS or Walmart and buy a new one -- along with more batteries. I burned through a lot of AAA batteries in my cheap headlamps over the years.

Even "better brand" headlamps from the Walmart sporting good section didn't last. My last two headlamps before my current one were Bushnell, which generally makes great high-quality products such as riflescopes and binoculars. But my last two Bushnnell headlamps each crapped out after a couple months.

Fortunately, there are some quality headlamps out there that will last a long time. One thing I learned in my research is that if you do shop at big-box retailer, try looking for headlamps in the hardware section instead of the sporting goods section. Headlamps sold to mechanics and plumbers tend to be heavier duty and higher quality than those sold to weekend campers.

I also learned that rechargeable headlamps have come a long way since I had one many years ago. Most have a USB port for convenient charging rather than annoying rechargeable batteries.

After seeking many recommendations, I went with the Black Diamond Equipment Storm 500-R Headlamp, and so far I'm very happy with it. I fully charged it before leaving for a week of summer camp with my scout troop, and the indicator showed that it was still fully charged at the end of the week. It has a few brightness modes and color settings that took some getting used to, but I soon got the hand of it. I especially like the touch button that easily transitions between full and dimmed power. Word is it's very durable and will last for years. Assuming I don't lose it, of course, which is always a strong possibility when I go camping.

I also received a lot of recommendations for the sofirn SP40 Rechargeable Headlamp. At 1200 lumens, it's brigher than anything I've ever owned. This rechargeable headlmap is versatile. The lamp detaches from the head strap, so you can wear it on your head, clip it to your shirt pocket, or carry it as a handheld flashlight.

If you're looking for something really lightweight, the Nitecore NU25 400 UL Ultra Lightweight Headlamp has a lot of fans. Instead of a traditional headband, it comes with a pair of paracord, which make NU25 even more lightweight, perfect for backpacking, biking, jogging and trekking. It's also rechargeable and and water-resistant.