Searching for the best head torch for sailing, Fox Morgan gathered together a hot selection of some of the most popular head lamps on the market and reveals which one really is the best.
What makes the best head torch for sailing? Is it the red light facility? How about the ability to dim the white light? Or do you want an ultra bright light for picking out mooring buoys in the dark? Does it really need to be waterproof?
I spend my life wearing a range of head torches for different purposes. They get put through some really harsh conditions sometimes too.
There’s a diverse range for all budgets and practical uses. From £20 to £120.
I get hands on with each our head torches and put them through comparative tests: style of illumination, their longevity and waterproofing, ease of use and eco credentials.
My top choices at a glance
Best for red light power – Exposure lights Raw Pro – Buy USE Raw Pro from Tweeks
Best head torch for sailing on test – Forclaz HL900 – Buy Forclaz HL900 from Decathlon
Best for spot light – Ledlenser MH5 – Buy Ledlenser MH5 from Go Outdoors
Ledlenser MH5
Best on test for spot light function – best head torch for sailing
Specifications
Weight: 94 g (including batteries
Batteries Required: 1 x 14500 lithium-ion rechargeable battery (included) / 1 x AA NiMH or 1 x AA alkaline battery
Charging Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
Water resistant to IP54 standards (IP54 Protected from limited dust ingress. Protected from water spray from any direction)
Warranty: 5 years standard or 7 years with product registration (torch), 2 years (battery)
Reasons to Buy
easy magnetic attached charger, detachable lamp with belt clip, bright spot beam
Reasons to Avoid
The beam focus ring is fiddly, not many brightness options (dim light isn’t very dim)
400 Lumen head torch
On full beam focused, the Led Lenser was able to easily illuminate a small target at 25m and far beyond it.
The front of the headtorch has a rotating ring which mechanically moves the lens forward or back away from or closer to the LED. This effectively changes the focus of the light from a flood light with a broader spread of overall light, to a much more focused, narrower light beam. What this does is it can help those 400 lumens light up a target much further away than other 400 Lumen head torches that I’ve tested. Obviously it comes with the compromise of a narrower beam, but in practice, this makes the torch a more viable option for sweeping the area ahead of you as you enter a trot of moorings in the dark and will illuminate buoys far enough away to either avoid them or line up to catch it.
I find myself going back to this head torch most of the time, especially when I have been working for long spells in a dark place, I just put it on charge while I sleep or while I am in the office in the day and pick it up fully charged again for night time. I have found it one of the more comfortable lamp backs for prolonged use.
Light Modes:
Mode One (white): 20 lumens (flood) – 35 hours
Mode Two (white): 20 lumens (spot) – 35 hours
Mode Three (white): 400 lumens (flood) – 4 hours
Mode Four (white): 400 lumens (spot) 180 meters – 4 hours
Mode Five (red): low level for night vision
Results of testing:
Battery life and recharging time 4/5
Full beam illumination 5/5
Low level light for reading 2/5
Red light 3/5
Water proofing 3/5
Eco (recyclable packaging and ability to replace head strap) 5/5
Weight and comfort 4/5
Read review of Ledlenser MH5 here
Buy Ledlenser MH5 from Go Outdoors
Petzl e+LITE Headlamp
Specifications
Brightness: 40 lumens (ANSI/PLATO FL 1)
Weight: 26 g
Beam pattern: Flood
Energy: 2 lithium CR2032 batteries (included)
Watertightness: IPX7 (waterproof in up to 1 meter of water for 30 minutes)
Reasons to Buy
Super lightweight, really easy to stow, really easy to navigate light settings, great waterproofing, perfect for grab bags and emergency kit bags
Reasons to avoid
This might not powerful enough be a day to day head torch, requires batteries that are not as easy to find in the shops
40 Lumens head torch
The Petzl Tikka is a lightweight but pretty powerful head torch. It easily illuminated a small target at 25m and the beam shape is a good flood shape illuminating a general area. The three power settings on white allow for a reading lamp, a medium brightness and a max brightness.
The red is low powered for night vision and can be use in strobe mode too.
The head torch is comfortable on the head and is contoured to remain comfortable for lengthy wear time. There’s no padding, but it uses the strap against the skin to avoid sweating too much and it slipping.
Whilst this isn’t waterproof, in my experience these torches can take quite a lot of rain and weather before you have to stop0 to dry the battery compartment.
In the battery compartment there’s 3 x AAA batteries. These could be swapped out for a Petzl core, which is a USB rechargeable power cell, this doesn’t come as standard with this budget range Tikka, but if you see one for sale with the “core” part in the name, then this means the head torch comes with the powercell.
I liked this head torch very much for its shape, weight and functionality. The glowing housing was a real plus point, making it easier to find in the dark.
Light Modes
Mode One (White): 20 lumens – 13 metres – 9.5 hours
Mode Two (White): 40 lumens – 15 metres – 3.5 hours
Mode Three (White strobe): 15 lumens – visible at 100 metres – 95 hours
Mode Four (Red strobe): 2 lumens – visible at 100 metres – 70 hours
Mode Five (Red constant): 2 lumens – visible at 100 metres – 15 hours
Results of testing:
Battery life and recharging time 4/5
Full beam illumination 1/5
Low level light for reading 5/5
Red light 4/5
Water proofing 5/5
Eco (recyclable packaging and ability to replace head strap) 5/5
Weight and comfort 5/5
Petzl Tikka Head Torch
Specifications
Weight: 82g
Beam Pattern: Flood
Energy: Three AAA/LR03 batteries (included)
Water Rating: IPX4 (IPX4 – Protects from splashing water, no matter the direction)
Reasons to Buy
Lightweight, lamp housing glows in dark, easy to replace head strap
Reasons to avoid
Not fully waterproof, uses disposable batteries as standard.
300 Lumens head torch
The Petzl Tikka is a lightweight but pretty powerful head torch. It easily illuminated a small target at 25m and the beam shape is a good flood shape illuminating a general area. The three power settings on white allow for a reading lamp, a medium brightness and a max brightness.
The red is low powered for night vision and can be use in strobe mode too.
The head torch is comfortable on the head and is contoured to remain comfortable for lengthy wear time. There’s no padding, but it uses the strap against the skin to avoid sweating too much and it slipping.
Whilst this isn’t waterproof, in my experience these torches can take quite a lot of rain and weather before you have to stop0 to dry the battery compartment.
In the battery compartment there’s 3 x AAA batteries. These could be swapped out for a Petzl core, which is a USB rechargeable power cell, this doesn’t come as standard with this budget range Tikka, but if you see one for sale with the “core” part in the name, then this means the head torch comes with the powercell.
I liked this head torch very much for its shape, weight and functionality. The glowing housing was a real plus point, making it easier to find in the dark.
Light Modes
Mode One (White): 6 lumens – 10 metres – 120 hours
Mode Two (White): 100 lumens – 40 metres – 9 hours
Mode Three (White): 300 lumens – 65 metres – 2 hours
Mode Four (Red): 2 lumens – 5 metres – 60 hours
Mode Five (Red): strobe – 700 metres – 400 hours
Results of testing:
Battery life and recharging time 4/5
Full beam illumination 4/5
Low level light for reading 4/5
Red light 4/5
Water proofing 3/5
Eco (recyclable packaging and ability to replace head strap) 5/5
Weight and comfort 5/5
Buy Petzl Tikka Head Torch from Wiggle
Exposure Lights Raw Pro Head Torch
Best on test for red light functions : best head torch for sailing
Specifications
4 x XQE LEDs
Battery 700 mAh Li-Ion
Charging Time 3 Hours
Runtime 1 – 25 Hours
Aluminium casing
Weight 76g
2 year warranty
Lifetime LED guarantee
IP rating IPX8 (IPX8 – Protects when immersed in water over 3 feet)
Reasons to Buy
Red light optimised, USB rechargeable, robust and very waterproof
Reasons to Avoid
Not very powerful white beam, fiddly recharging, easy to lose when unclipped
Light Modes:
Mode one: Red – 2 lumens, 25 hours
Mode two: Red – 15 lumens, 6 hours
Mode three Red – 50 lumens, 1 hour
Mode four White – 15 lumens, 10 hours
Mode five White – 50 lumens, 3 hours
Mode Six White – 200 lumens, 1 hour
Mode seven -White strobe 200 lumens, 5 hours
Results of testing:
Battery life and recharging time 2/5
Full beam illumination 2/5
Low level light for reading 5/5
Red light 5/5
Water proofing 5/5
Eco (recyclable packaging and ability to replace head strap) 5/5
Weight and comfort 4/5
Read the review of Raw Pro Head torch here
RECHARGEABLE HEAD TORCH – 400 LUMEN – HL900 USB V2
Best on test overall: best head torch for sailing
Specifications
Weight: 102g
Batteries Required: 3x AAA if not using the rechargeable power cell supplied.
3 hours charge time
waterproofing IPX7 (IPX7 – Protects in water up to 3 feet (1 meter)
Reasons to Buy
waterproof, good range of beams and power, rechargeable and has ability to use 3 x AAA batteries, excellent value for money
Reasons to Avoid
none
The Forclaz HL900 is great value for money offering features usually only found in more expensive models, especially the level waterproofing on this means it is fully submersible.
Hit the plus button and you get red, followed by low white, then a brighter white, then full beam at 200 lumens and finally 400 lumens “call the aliens from space” power level.
The full beam white was very bright with a relatively focused beam which lit up a small target at 25m on the pontoon easily. It can be switched off at any point by holding down the minus button. If you want the white strobe function, then simply hold the plus button down until it activates.
If you need to lock the head torch to avoid it being accidentally switched on then hold both plus and minus buttons together and it will flash red briefly to acknowledge it’s locked.
Light Modes:
Mode One : Red light, 3 lumen , 24hours
Mode Two : White, 30 lumen, 20 hours
Mode Three : White, 80 lumen, 8 hours
Mode Four : White, 200 lumen, 3 hours
Mode Five : white, 400 lumen, 10 minutes
Mode Six : white strobe, 400 lumen, 28 hours
Results of testing:
Battery life and recharging time 5/5
Full beam illumination 5/5
Low level light for reading 4/5
Red light 4/5
Water proofing 5/5
Eco (recyclable packaging and ability to replace head strap) 5/5
Weight and comfort 4/5
Read the Forclaz HL900 review here
Buy Forclaz HL900 from Decathlon
Nebo Einstein 1500 Flex Rechargeable Head Torch
Specifications
750 Lumen head torch (with 1500 turbo)
Water resistant IPX4 (Protects from splashing water, no matter the direction)
Powered by 1x Li-ion 18650 2200mAh 3.7v or 2xCR123A batteries
weight 165g
Reasons to Buy
Powerful boost light, slim profile, rechargeable
Reasons to Avoid
non-user replaceable head strap, fiddly recharging, easy to be blinded by bright white light accidentally between modes
The style of LED strip in this head torch has a less focused beam and more of an all over flood light which means this is great for lighting up your near proximity very brightly but you can’t really see very far with it.
Toggling through the light modes is also a little fraught with night blindness danger as it is very easy to accidentally put this thing on full white beam when switching modes.
It is primary white first. Starting with the brightest light (750 lumens), then gradually dimming with each press until you reach red and then off. Press again and you start with the 750 white and gradually decreasing light.
You can access red directly with a slightly longer single press from off. But beware, if you try to turn the torch off by pressing it again it goes to white. If you hold down the button while on red it goes to boost white 1500 lumen mode! Invariably I end up dazzled by this torch and several times while writing this test and review I’ve had to work through purple spots in my eyes as I’ve accidentally blinded myself with it multiple times.
Light Modes
Mode one: Turbo (1500 lumens): 30 seconds / 64 meters
Mode two: High (750 lumens): 2 hours / 35 meters
Mode three: Medium (250 lumens): 6 hours / 25 meters
Mode four: Low (10 lumens): 18 hours / 8 meters
Mode five: Red COB (5 lumens): 12 hours / 1 meters
*Runtime is reduced by about 20% when using 2 x CR123A batteries
Results of testing:
Battery life and recharging time 4/5
Full beam illumination 4/5
Low level light for reading 2/5
Red light 3/5
Water proofing 3/5
Eco (recyclable packaging and ability to replace head strap) 1/5
Weight and comfort 2/5
Read the review of Nebo Einstein Flex 1500 head torch
Buy Nebo Einstien 1500 Flex from Cotswold Outdoors
Forclaz HL500 USB
Specifications
200 Lumen head torch
Weight 89g
waterproofing IPX 5 (IPX5 – Protects from water jets at any direction)
USB rechargeable built in battery
Reasons to Buy
Good level of waterproofing, easy USB charging, great value for money
Reasons to Avoid
may lack sophistication of more powerful head torches
This budget friendly Forclaz HL500 is remarkably robust and simple to use.
It has an easy to navigate light cycle using a plus and minus button. Starting with red first, followed by low level white and then a brighter white and then one more level up to 200 lumens. Press minus button to scroll back down through the brightness back to red and then off, or hold the minus button down to switch off at any point.
Pressing and holding the plus button at any time will activate the white strobe light.
Holding down both plus and minus buttons will lock the torch to avoid it accidentally being switched on in a kit bag which is a really handy feature to have and especially more so at this price.
Charging is equally very easy, though it uses a micro USB not USB C cable. It comes with the required cable though so you don’t have go scrabbling around for an older micro USB cable for it.
Light Modes:
Mode One : Red light, 4 lumen , 40 hours
Mode Two : White, 20 lumen, 30 hours
Mode Three : White, 80 lumen, 8 hours
Mode Four : White, 200 lumen, 3 hours
Mode Five : white strobe, 200 lumen, 20 hours
Results of testing:
Battery life and recharging time 5/5
Full beam illumination 4/5
Low level light for reading 4/5
Red light 3/5
Water proofing 4/5
Eco (recyclable packaging and ability to replace head strap) 5/5
Weight and comfort 4/5