Best Ultralight Headlamps, Ranked by the Data

This ranking leads with the lowest weight, full stop. It still gates on brightness, so a lamp that is light only because it is dim does not take the top spot on grams alone.

Top 3 picksUltralight headlamps, ranked by GearScore. Updates live as you tune the algorithm or filter.

92score PetzlBindi 200 lmLumens1.2 ozWeight$45Price View specs & breakdown → 91score Black DiamondDeploy 325 325 lmLumens1.3 ozWeight$70Price View specs & breakdown → 89score PetzlSwift LT 380 lmLumens1.5 ozWeight$55Price View specs & breakdown →

Headlamps | Gear Matrix

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Product	GearScore (Ultralight)	Battery	Lumens	Weight	Beam	Runtime	Price	Water
PetzlTop pickBindi	92	Rechargeable	200 lm	1.2 oz	36 m	50 h	$45	IPX4
Black DiamondDeploy 325	91	Rechargeable	325 lm	1.3 oz	52 m	30 h	$70	IPX4
PetzlSwift LT	89	Rechargeable	380 lm	1.5 oz	70 m	60 h	$55	IPX4
4NitecoreNU25 UL	88	Rechargeable	400 lm	1.6 oz	132 m	160 h	$37	IP66
5OlightPerun 2 Mini	86	Rechargeable	1100 lm	1.9 oz	150 m	240 h	$59	IPX8
6NitecoreNU27	85	Rechargeable	600 lm	2.0 oz	123 m	57 h	$45	n/s
7Princeton TecByte	82	AAA	200 lm	2.3 oz	39 m	140 h	$31	IPX4
8Petzle+LITE	80	Coin	100 lm	1.0 oz	31 m	n/s	$30	IPX7
9Black DiamondAstro 300	79	AAA	300 lm	2.6 oz	55 m	140 h	$20	IPX4
10BioLiteRange 400	79	Rechargeable	400 lm	2.6 oz	90 m	200 h	$60	IP67
11NitecoreUT27 Pro	79	Rechargeable	800 lm	2.6 oz	183 m	n/s	$60	IP66
12Black DiamondCosmo 350	78	AAA	350 lm	2.7 oz	70 m	200 h	$30	IPX8
13BioLiteDash 450	78	Rechargeable	450 lm	2.8 oz	90 m	60 h	$70	IPX4
14BioLiteHeadLamp 425	78	Rechargeable	425 lm	2.8 oz	85 m	60 h	$60	IPX4
15PetzlIko Core	77	Hybrid	500 lm	2.8 oz	100 m	100 h	$100	IPX4
16FenixHM50R V2.0	77	Hybrid	700 lm	2.8 oz	115 m	42 h	$60	IP68
17Princeton TecAxis	77	Rechargeable	450 lm	2.9 oz	35 m	50 h	$80	IPX4
18Black DiamondSpot 400	75	AAA	400 lm	3.0 oz	100 m	200 h	$50	IPX8
19Black DiamondSpot 400-R	75	Rechargeable	400 lm	3.0 oz	100 m	225 h	$80	IP67
20PetzlTikka	75	AAA	350 lm	3.0 oz	65 m	120 h	$35	IPX4
21PetzlActik Core	75	Hybrid	600 lm	3.1 oz	115 m	130 h	$85	IPX4
22PetzlTikkina	74	AAA	300 lm	3.2 oz	65 m	120 h	$20	IPX4
23Black DiamondStorm 450	73	Hybrid	450 lm	3.2 oz	120 m	175 h	$60	IP67
24Princeton TecVizz	73	AAA	550 lm	3.2 oz	85 m	135 h	$52	IPX7
25LedlenserMH5	73	Hybrid	400 lm	3.3 oz	180 m	35 h	n/s	IP54
26NitecoreHC33	72	Hybrid	1800 lm	3.4 oz	187 m	n/s	$65	IP68
27NitecoreNU31	72	Rechargeable	550 lm	3.4 oz	145 m	147 h	$40	IP66
28PetzlActik	71	Hybrid	450 lm	3.5 oz	100 m	100 h	$65	IPX4
29PetzlSwift RL	71	Rechargeable	1100 lm	3.5 oz	155 m	n/s	$130	IPX4
30CoastFL75R	69	Hybrid	1000 lm	3.7 oz	168 m	14 h	$50	n/s
31Black DiamondDistance LT 1100	68	Rechargeable	1100 lm	3.8 oz	125 m	120 h	$150	IP67
32Black DiamondSprinter 500	66	Hybrid	500 lm	4.0 oz	50 m	n/s	$100	IPX4
33Black DiamondStorm 500-R	64	Rechargeable	500 lm	4.2 oz	120 m	350 h	$75	IPX7
34CoastFL97R	64	Hybrid	1250 lm	4.2 oz	225 m	15 h	$60	n/s
35LedlenserHF6R Signature	59	Rechargeable	1000 lm	4.8 oz	170 m	60 h	$90	IP68
36FenixHM65R-T V2.0	57	Rechargeable	1600 lm	5.0 oz	185 m	n/s	$105	IP68
37PetzlNao RL	56	Rechargeable	1500 lm	5.1 oz	200 m	40 h	$200	IPX4
38BioLiteHeadLamp 800 Pro	54	Rechargeable	800 lm	5.3 oz	135 m	150 h	$120	n/s
39FenixHM60R V2.0	52	Hybrid	1300 lm	5.5 oz	120 m	300 h	$85	IP68
40OlightPerun 2	51	Rechargeable	2500 lm	5.7 oz	166 m	300 h	$81	IPX8
41LedlenserMH11	45	Rechargeable	1000 lm	6.3 oz	320 m	100 h	$220	IP54
42LedlenserHF8R Core	40	Rechargeable	1600 lm	6.8 oz	210 m	90 h	$120	IP68
43FenixHM70R	36	Rechargeable	1600 lm	7.3 oz	186 m	100 h	$100	IP68
44Black DiamondDistance 1500	34	Rechargeable	1500 lm	7.5 oz	117 m	40 h	$250	IP67

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Scatter plot

Plot any spec against any other to see the tradeoffs. Point color is the GearScore; size and shape are yours to assign. Hover any point for the details.

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The full picture

Ultralight is about the fewest grams on your head that still does the job, so this list rewards the lamps that deliver a usable output for the lowest weight. Weight is the headline metric, and this is where the compact rechargeables and coin-cell lamps pull ahead: 200 to 400 lumens in a lamp that weighs 25 to 50 grams with its battery, small enough to forget in a pocket.

The lightest number does not automatically win. A tiny emergency light that only musters a few dozen lumens cannot light a camp, so brightness still gates the score and the top picks pair a very low weight with a real, useful output. Beam distance and price stay in view so the ranking does not chase grams off a cliff. Every spec is the manufacturer figure, and an unpublished one shows "n/s" and is never scored as a zero.

Two things to know when you go this light. The lightest lamps use small built-in cells, so runtime at full output is short: plan to run them on lower settings and top up often. And a minimalist lamp trades features like a long throw or a rear light for weight. If you want the lightest lamp that still throws a real beam for running, the running preset keeps beam in the lead; if pure grams is all that matters, this is your list.

Common questions

What is the lightest usable headlamp?

The lightest genuinely useful headlamps weigh around 25 to 50 grams with batteries and still put out 200 to 400 lumens, enough to light a camp and a trail. Below that you get emergency and coin-cell lights that are lighter still but too dim for real tasks. This page ranks by weight while gating on brightness, so the featherweights on top are the ones that still do the job.

Do ultralight headlamps sacrifice brightness?

Somewhat. The lightest lamps use small cells, so their max output and full-power runtime are lower than a heavier lamp. But the best ultralight models still deliver a very usable 200 to 400 lumens, which is plenty for camp and most trail use. The ranking gates on brightness so a lamp that is light only because it is dim cannot top the list.

How long do ultralight headlamps last on a charge?

It depends on the setting. On low, small-cell lamps can run for many hours; on full output they drain fast because the battery is tiny. Plan to use lower settings for most tasks and top up often, and carry a small battery pack on longer trips. Runtime is shown on every row for context, though it is not scored because makers publish it at different levels.

How are ultralight headlamps ranked?

The list leads with the lowest weight, keeps beam distance and price in view, and gates on brightness so a too-dim light cannot win on grams alone. Every spec is published and sourced, unpublished ones show "n/s" and are never scored as zero, and you can re-weight any factor.

Bang for Your Buck

Dollars per point of GearScore. The lower the number, the more quality you get for your money. Each bar carries both metrics at once: a solid bar for the highlighted one over a faded ghost of the other. Sorted to the best value first, and always scored by the algorithm you've set above.

Value Index ($/point, longer bar = better value) GearScore (0 to 100, red→green) solid bar = highlighted · faded bar = comparison · hover a row for the numbers

GearScore Algorithm

A GearScore ranks products on objective, published specs only, never opinions. It starts on a pre-tuned default; make it yours below, or pick a "Best for" preset up top.

Customize your algorithm

Answer a few quick questions, or grab the sliders yourself. Nothing changes the ranking until you apply it. Then everything re-sorts.