If you need a portable light for rummaging around in the shed, or to help with some DIY in a dark corner of the house, a head torch could be what you’re looking for. A head torch, also known as a headlamp or headlight, is great if you need a directional light while being able to use both your hands. They’re attached to your head by an elastic strap and use bright but efficient LED lights. In this post, we’ll show you some of top rated head torches that won’t cost you a fortune.
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Head Torches Featured
Top Pick | Top Pick | Top Pick | Top Pick | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
DeTake LED Head Torch | Gritin COB Headlamp 2 Pack | Victoper V1000 Head Light | Everbeam H6 Pro LED Head Torch | Energizer Vision Ultra HD Rechargeable | Nitecore NU25 Head Torch |
£6.99 | £8.99 | £11.99 | £19.99 | £21.48 | £34.97 |
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DeTake LED Head Torch
- 200 lumens
- 60 degree adjustable tilt angle
- 5 operating modes
- Red light
- Rechargeable 1000 mAh Li-ion battery
- USB cable included
- IPX5 rated
Includes
The DeTake is a rechargeable head torch that has a runtime of up to 6 hours on a full charge. Charging the 1000 mAh battery takes about 2.5 hours via USB and a battery indicator on the side of the head torch tells you when it’s done.
The LED light on the DeTake offers a maximum brightness of 200 lumens. There are 5 lighting modes which include spot and floodlight modes and there’s a red light in case you need it. The elastic head strap is adjustable and you can tilt the angle of the light up to 60 degrees. Finally, if you do plan on using the DeTake outdoors, you’ll be glad to know the enclosure is IPX5 rated, which means they have tested it to withstand jets of water.
At £6.99, the DeTake is a real bargain. The rechargeable battery offers a good amount of runtime and it’ll save you money in the long run. It also comes with a 2 year warranty for added peace of mind.
Check availability + priceGritin Super Bright LED Head Torch
- 100 lumens
- 45 degree adjustable tilt angle
- 3 operating modes
- Includes 6 x AAA batteries
- IPX4 rated
- No red light
- Not rechargeable
Includes
This pair of head torches from Gritin costs under a tenner which is very good value for money. It also comes with six AAA batteries. They’re not Duracell or a well-known brand, but at this price you can’t complain.
The Gritin head torches have a maximum brightness of 100 lumens. While this isn’t as bright as the DeTake, it’s more than enough light for DIY use. The one-click control is simple to use and makes cycling between high, low and strobe lighting modes a doddle. You’ll find the angle of the head torch is adjustable up to 45 degrees and the IPX4 rating means you can safely use it in the rain. However, potential buyers should be aware these torches have no red light.
To sum up, the Gritin head torches are easy to use and good value for money. The fact that they’re not rechargeable may put some people off, but if you already own rechargeable AAA batteries, this will make them an even more appealing buy.
Check availability + priceVictoper V1000 Head Light
- 650 lumens
- 60 degree adjustable tilt angle
- 5 operating modes
- Motion sensor
- Rechargeable 1000 mAh Li-ion battery
- USB cable included
- IPX5 rated
- No red light
Includes
The Victoper V1000 is one of the brightest head torches on our list. The main LED light offers 650 lumens of brightness and 150 meters of visibility. It weighs just 54 g, which makes it more comfortable to wear over long periods of time. However, it doesn’t have a red light which may put some people off.
The V1000 has 5 operating modes. This includes 4 light modes and a sensor mode that lets you turn the light on and off by waving your hand in front of it. It’s powered by a 1000 mAh rechargeable battery which takes roughly 3 hours to charge via USB. The head torch is adjustable to 60 degrees to allow you to focus the light on where you need it. Finally, the IPX5 rating makes it safe to use outside without worrying about the rain.
Overall, the Victoper V1000 is a bright and lightweight head torch that’s great for DIY and outdoor activities. The sensor mode is a cool feature to have, particularly when your hands are wet or dirty.
Check availability + priceEverbeam H6 Pro LED Head Torch
- 650 lumens
- 60 degree adjustable tilt angle
- 5 lighting modes
- Red light
- Rechargeable 1200 mAh Li-ion battery
- USB cable included
- Travel case included
- IPX4 rated
Includes
Thanks to a large 1200 mAh battery, the Everbeam H6 Pro offers up to 2.5 hours of continuous power at maximum brightness (650 lumens). The lithium-ion battery takes 3 hours to charge via USB and a charge indicator will turn green when it’s finished.
The H6 Pro has a tough plastic body that is IPX4 rated so you can use it safely outside. The elastic head strap is adjustable and you can tilt the head torch down to an angle of 60 degrees. Like the Victoper, the H6 Pro features a motion sensor so a small wave of your hand is all it takes to turn the main light on and off. The main light has two brightness levels and a strobe mode, while the two red lights on either side have just the one brightness level and a strobe mode.
The Everbeam H6 Pro is a good quality head torch that packs in plenty of useful features for the price. The rechargeable battery is the highest capacity on our list and a big plus in our books. It comes with a stylish travel case for storing the head torch when it’s not being used, a USB charging cable and a two-year warranty.
Check availability + priceEnergizer Vision Ultra HD Rechargeable Headlamp
- 400 lumens
- 60 degree adjustable tilt angle
- 7 operating modes
- Smart dimming
- Red light
- Green light
- Rechargeable Li-ion battery
- USB cable included
- IPX4 rated
Includes
Energizer is a brand that many people will be familiar with. The Energizer Vision Ultra HD Rechargeable is a 400 lumen head torch with a built-in Li-ion battery. Energizer doesn’t state its capacity but a full charge claims to offer four hours runtime at maximum brightness.
Vision Ultra HD has an IPX4 rated enclosure and four LED lights with shatterproof lenses. This includes two white, a red and a green LED. The Energizer has two cool features worth mentioning. VisionGuard protects your eyes by gradually increasing the brightness when you turn it on, so you limit the chances of accidentally blind yourself. Then there’s a smart dimming feature that lets you adjust the intensity of the white light from 10 to 100% simply by holding down the power button.
The Energizer Vision Ultra HD is a bright and durable head torch from a well trusted brand. The rechargeable battery offers a good amount of runtime and the smart dimming feature gives you much more control over the brightness.
Check availability + priceNitecore NU25 Head Torch
- 360 lumens
- 60 degree adjustable tilt angle
- 5 lighting modes
- Red light
- High CRI light
- 610 mAh Li-ion battery
- USB cable included
- IP66 rated
Includes
You may have noticed the Nitecore NU25 is pricier compared to the other head torches on our list. It isn’t the brightest, nor does it have the largest rechargeable battery. However, it is one of the most compact and lightweight head torches that you can buy. It also features three different light sources, and it’s IP66 rated.
The NU25 has a 360 lumen white light, a red light and a high CRI light. The high CRI light (20 lumens) is ideal for close-up activities like reading, where it will help prevent eye fatigue. Using the NU25 is easy and we like the fact that the white and red lights have their own buttons. The Nitecore’s 610 mAh battery offers up to 30 mins runtime on the maximum setting and up to 5 hours runtime on the high setting (190 lumens). You can also lock the headlamp to prevent accidental activation. Finally, the case is IP66 rated, which means it’s dust tight and can withstand powerful jets of water.
Overall, we’re really impressed by the Nitecore NU25 despite its higher price. If you’re looking for a compact head torch that’s well designed and made to a high standard, the Nitecore should top your shopping list.
Check availability + priceHead Torches Comparison Table
Top Pick | Top Pick | Top Pick | Top Pick | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DeTake LED Head Torch | Gritin COB Headlamp 2 Pack | Victoper V1000 Head Light | Everbeam H6 Pro LED Head Torch | Energizer Vision Ultra HD Rechargeable | Nitecore NU25 Head Torch |
|
Rating | ||||||
Max Brightness | 200 lumens | 100 lumens | 650 lumens | 650 lumens | 400 lumens | 360 lumens |
IP Rating | IPX5 | IPX4 | IPX5 | IPX4 | IPX4 | IP66 |
Battery Type | Li-ion | 3 x AAA | Li-ion | Li-ion | Li-ion | Li-ion |
Tilt Angle | 60° | 45° | 60° | 60° | 60° | 60° |
Motion Sensor | ||||||
Red Light | ||||||
Strobe Function | ||||||
Price | £6.99 | £8.99 | £11.99 | £19.99 | £21.48 | £34.97 |
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Head Torch Features To Look Out For
LED Brightness
The lumen is used to measure the brightness of a LED light. Head torches commonly have LED lights that range from 80 to 1,000 lumens.
Rechargeable Head Torches
Some head torches have built-in rechargeable batteries, while others use standard AAA batteries. Rechargeable batteries will save you money in the long run, but you have to remember to charge them!
Ingress Protection (IP) Codes
IP codes are used to rate the amount of protection provided by an enclosure against particles and liquids. The first digit (1 – 6) after IP refers to the enclosures particle protection and the second digit (1 – 9) to its liquid protection. An X means the enclosure has no data available to specify a rating. The list below highlights the IP ratings of the head torches featured in this post and what they mean.
- IPX4 – Protection against splashing of water.
- IPX5 – Protection against jets of water.
- IP66 – Dust tight and protection against powerful jets of water.