A good headlamp is one of those pieces of gear you don't think about until you genuinely need it, and by then it's too late to realise you bought the wrong one. Whether you're setting up camp after dark, tackling an early alpine start, or just want a reliable hiking headlamp for whatever the trail throws at you, getting the right one comes down to a handful of genuine trade-offs. Here's how to choose, and how our Petzl and Black Diamond range compares.

What actually matters when choosing a hiking headlamp

Lumens measure brightness, but more isn't automatically better. A headlamp rated at 600+ lumens sounds impressive, but most hiking and camping use only calls on that top setting occasionally, for genuinely dark, technical terrain. For everyday use around camp or on well-formed trails, something in the 200-450 lumen range is often plenty, and drains the battery far more slowly.

Beam distance tells you how far the light actually reaches, which matters more than raw brightness if you're navigating technical terrain at night. A headlamp with a mixed beam pattern, combining a wide flood for close-up visibility with a focused spot for distance, tends to be more genuinely useful than one built purely around a single beam type.

Power source is a real decision point. Rechargeable headlamps are convenient and cost-effective over time, but you need access to power to recharge them. Battery-powered models (usually AAA) are easy to top up with spares on a longer trip, but cost more over time and create more waste. Hybrid designs that accept both give you the best of both worlds, useful if you want rechargeable convenience with battery backup for remote trips.

Weight and waterproofing round out the essentials. A few extra grams barely register for camping, but matter more for trail running or fast-paced use. If you're hiking somewhere with genuine rain exposure, check for an IP rating, IP67 or higher means the headlamp can handle real water exposure, not just light drizzle.

Comparing our Petzl and Black Diamond headlamp range

Petzl headlamps: our top picks

The Petzl Bindi 200 is genuinely one of the lightest headlamps we stock, weighing just 35g. With 200 lumens across three brightness settings plus a red night-vision mode, it's built for exactly the kind of everyday, dusk-and-dawn use most hikers actually need, without the bulk of a more powerful lamp.

The Petzl Actik 450 runs on 3x AAA batteries, making it a genuinely practical choice for longer trips where recharging isn't guaranteed, just pack spare batteries and you're covered. It delivers a dual-beam pattern combining wide and focused light for genuine versatility on the trail.

For hikers wanting the most capable option, the Petzl Actik Core 625 combines a rechargeable CORE battery with the flexibility to run on standard AAA batteries when needed. At 625 lumens with a beam reaching up to 115 metres, it's built for genuinely demanding conditions, hillwalking, mountaineering, and trail running alike, while still weighing a modest 88g.

Black Diamond headlamps: built for reliability

The Black Diamond Storm uses a dual-fuel design, running on the included AAA batteries or an optional rechargeable pack, giving you genuine flexibility depending on the trip. It's IP67 waterproof-tested, rated to operate submerged in a metre of water for 30 minutes, genuine reassurance in wet Australian conditions.

The Black Diamond Storm Plus steps things up with a higher-capacity rechargeable battery and Black Diamond's PowerTap technology, letting you instantly jump to full brightness with a single tap, genuinely useful when you need maximum light right now, not after cycling through settings. Both models include Brightness Memory, so the lamp remembers your preferred setting rather than defaulting back to full power every time you switch it on.

We've covered more of what makes Black Diamond worth trusting across their broader gear range in our guide, brand spotlight: Black Diamond.

So which headlamp should you actually buy?

If weight is your priority and you're mostly using it around dusk and dawn, the Petzl Bindi 200 is hard to beat. For general hiking and camping where easy battery swaps matter more than cutting-edge tech, the Petzl Actik 450 or Black Diamond Storm are both solid, dependable choices. If you want the most capable headlamp in the range for genuinely demanding conditions, the Petzl Actik Core 625 or Black Diamond Storm Plus are worth the investment.

Why shop with us at PAST Outdoors

We're a family-owned Australian outdoor retailer with a genuine passion for helping people get outdoors properly equipped. Our team tests and uses the gear we sell, so when we recommend a headlamp, it's based on real trail use, not just spec sheets. We're proud to stock trusted brands like Petzl and Black Diamond, and back every purchase with honest advice from people who actually spend time outdoors.

Thousands of hikers and campers across Australia have trusted us to kit them out properly, and our customers keep coming back because we get the details right. Browse our full range online today, or reach out to our team for personalised recommendations.

Frequently asked questions