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Here's our roundup of all the best headlamps ideal when stargazing, to keep your hands free and give you visibility in the dark.

Here's our round-up of all the best headlamps as we shine a light on the very best models you can get on the market this year. We've included the best headlamp for different purposes, so no matter what you're intending to use yours for, or your budget, there's something for everyone.

The best headlamps on the market are vital tools for anyone who wants to dabble in astrophotography or stargazing. Those activities can require multitasking and fiddling around with various parts in the dark and a headlamp will give you visibility and keep your hands free. If you are on this page because of your interests in night sky viewing, then you should also check out our guides for the best telescopes, best binoculars and best cameras for astrophotography.

Why you can trust Space Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

For a very easy-on-the-wallet headlamp, this is a versatile and good-quality headlamp, what's more, it comes with a lifetime warranty for peace of mind. It is a two-pack and comes with a set of batteries which makes it even better value. The Vont Spark has seven different lighting settings, activated by cycling through them. The red light is activated by holding the button down for three seconds, and again, cycling between low, strobe or SOS mode. Once the selection has been made and left on for an extended period, the headlamp will allow the user to turn it off with one touch, meaning you don't have to cycle through all of the modes just to turn it off.

This headlamp has a comfortable headband and a 45-degree tilt so you can pivot the angle of the light beam to suit your preference. However, you will need 3 AAA batteries to power the headlamp, although they do last for a good amount of time. It's also waterproof, which is a huge plus, rated to IPX5, meaning it's protected against low-pressure streams from any angle — which includes rain. 

This is a dedicated night-vision preservation headlamp for activities and so is ideal for helping you navigate your astrophotography kit and finding your way to the perfect astronomy spot. As the light is almost invisible to wildlife it is perfect for watching or handling (e.g for research purposes) nocturnal animals. It also acts as an ideal reading headlamp. It can be used handheld or worn on the included headband.

This is a brilliant headlamp for those who want to see their local surroundings in the dark as there isn't a white light option, only red. By that, we mean the bulb is a true red light and not a white light with a red or pink cover. This means your night vision isn't ruined and although the light shines at full brightness by default, the low output is 100 lumens which isn't too bright. 

It only requires 1 x AA battery which can be of the rechargeable variety. It has optical grade, toughened glass, and a durable anodized finish so should last for years without corroding. It is waterproof to IPX7 meaning it could be underwater for 30 minutes at a depth of up to one meter. 

As stargazers, the HeadLamp 425 piqued our interest above the other models due to the red flood light, the glove-friendly power button, and the 'run forever' battery. We will discuss these and other improvements later.

In addition to the above astro-friendly elements and enhancements over the prior BioLite models (which we loved), the new versions offer increased beam distance, better run time and improved temperature use rating.

We also think it's important to highlight BioLite's mission to empower people and protect the planet through renewable energy. It's a bold mission to provide 20 million people with access to clean energy and avoid 3 million tons of CO2 emissions by 2025. But it seems that by purchasing a BioLite product, you're helping with that mission.

In the world of headlamps, Petzl is a known and trusted brand for quality and reliability, and you get exactly that with this headlamp. The manufacturer has been evolving their headlamps for over 40 years and you get a five-year lamp and a two-year (or 300 charging cycle) battery guarantee.

The headlamp has a rechargeable battery but can also take three regular AAA batteries. That is a handy feature, especially if you've forgotten to recharge before use. We like that we can plug the charger straight into the battery, without having to remove it from the case/strap. Less likelihood of losing something. The only downside is, you can't use the torch while charging, but that's a little detail and we are being super picky. 

It has an incredibly bright white beam to help you get to your location if out in the field, but if you long-press the single button, you'll get to the red light. The button is ergonomic and responsive, so it can easily be operated with gloves on cold nights. The torch will 'remember' the last setting you used too so you shouldn't need to worry about it turning on white when you want it red, providing red is the last setting you left it on.

We did a hands-on review of the Petzl Actik Core 450. Have a read to find out why we gave it five stars.

Note this is the same lamp as the TACTIKKA Headlamp (opens in new tab) , but that model is often found in more specialized fishing/hunting/military stores.

The brightest light on our list sits at 1750 lumens and gives you a 165m beam. It has been designed to preserve battery life and runs for 28 hours on a single charge on its lowest setting (50 lumens) as opposed to the predecessor HC65 (opens in new tab) , which ran for 16 hours on a single charge. It has five brightness levels and three light sources.

It uses a USB-C port for charging, which is now more common than the Micro USB found on other models, and it also charges more quickly. You can remove the battery, so you have the option of taking multiple charged batteries and swapping them if you need to.

It's at the more expensive end of this list but having full metal housing, a waterproof rating of IP68 (submersible) and impact-resistant qualities, it will last for years. What's more, it's ideal for those clumsier astronomers among us or those who partake in more extreme activities alongside astronomy and astrophotography.

The Storm 400 from Black Diamond is a versatile headlamp that uses PowerTap technology to allow the user to switch between max brightness and the dimmed setting with one movement. This sounds like it would be detrimental as you don't want to tap it and dazzle everyone around you accidentally, but in reality, the PowerTap feature requires around a second's worth of contact between your finger and the surface, so it shouldn't cause you any trouble. It also has a memory feature, so it will turn back on at the brightness level you left it.

The Storm 400 is IP67 rated, making it completely protected from dirt and dust ingress and is waterproof to a depth of one meter (in 30-minute test conditions). Ideal if you're a part-time hiker, caver, climber, or such. The three dimmable LEDs add versatility. The green light can make reading more straightforward, and this might be helpful if you have to read an instruction manual or a map to get to your location.

It takes a whopping 4 x AAA batteries, so we'd recommend getting yourself a charger and some rechargeable batteries to keep long-term costs down. It has a useful battery life indicator (green 100%-50%, yellow 50%-25% and red 25%- 0%) so you don't get caught out.

This headlamp is so tiny you'll soon forget you have it on. It fits flat to the forehead and is a 'no bounce' design, which is predominately handy for runners but also means it won't be in the way of you peering into a scope or viewfinder.

Its fabric is made from an absorbent wicking material to keep your forehead comfortable and dry. Again, this is a design that is most intended for runners but will make extended use more comfortable for anyone.

The reflective strip on the headband will make you more visible to others and will also make it easier to find in the dark. The front bezel of the headlamp articulates to adjust the light to your desired angle.

It is rechargeable via Micro-USB, which we love, and also has a battery indicator to show how much power remains, so you don't get caught out and find yourself left in the dark. You can charge it while using it, which is a bonus, especially if you're retiring back to your dark tent, as you can continue using it while you charge it with a power bank. The lock button is a great feature of this headlamp too; you can use it to stop the headlamp from being accidentally turned on while in the battery, thus preserving battery life.

Knog is known for its best-in-class bike lights, but this is coined as the world's most powerful silicone headlamp. Like the Black Diamond Storm 400, the Knog Bilby 400 has an IP67 rating, so it is dustproof and waterproof up to one meter. When we reviewed the Knog Bilby headlamp, it had no problems being submerged in a sink full of water with the tap running at full pressure. On full power, the headlamp runs for an impressive 5 hours and this extends to 105 hours on the lowest power setting.

It is the only silicone headlamp on this list and is made from medical-grade silicone to provide comfort and won't absorb sweat or odors. You can adjust it from 11.8 to 26 inches. To recharge the lamp, remove it from the headband to expose the male USB and plug it into a plug or battery pack. It charges from flat in four hours.

The headlamp features two elliptical beams for mid and wide-beam coverage and a red light for astro or reading downlights to preserve your night vision. Within each mode there are four brightness settings, on the brightest, the range is a whopping 100 meters.

A unique feature of this headlamp is the 'ModeMaker app,' which allows users to add more modes to the headlamp and customize its operating order. Read more about that in our review.

If you need an extra burst of light for any reason, switch on the 'boost mode' for maximum output from two LEDs for ten minutes.

Here we have another exclusively red light headlamp and despite some of the questionable grammar on Amazon, this is just poor translation, and this headtorch shouldn't be overlooked.

Unlike some of the other models where you have to remove the batteries to charge them, the WindFire has a slot for USB charging, meaning you can change it from a power bank, car or mains before your trip.

It has a generous 90-degree pivoting mount which helps you see the ground right in front of you; no one wants to trip when carrying expensive astrophotography equipment. The beam is zoomable, so you can adjust it as necessary for close-up work or finding your way back to your vehicle. WindFire offers a 30-day full refund and a 12-month warranty for extra assurance.

In order to guarantee you’re getting honest, up-to-date recommendations on the best headlamps to buy here at Space.com we make sure to put every headlamp through a rigorous review to fully test each device. Each headlamp is reviewed based on a multitude of aspects, from its construction and design, to how well it functions and its performance in the field.

Each headlamp is carefully tested by either our expert staff or knowledgeable freelance contributors who know their subject areas in depth. This ensures fair reviewing is backed by personal, hands-on experience with each headlamp and is judged based on its price point, class and destined use.

We look at how easy the headlamps are to set up, whether they're water or dust proof and we make suggestions if a particular headlamp would benefit from any additional kit to give you the best experience possible.

With complete editorial independence, we at Space.com are here to ensure you get the best buying advice on headlamps, whether you should purchase a device or not, making our buying guides and reviews reliable and transparent.

There is variation when it comes to the best headlamps - they aren't all the same. Some feature long-reaching, super bright beams, some feature extra straps for support and some feature a red light as well as a white one, which helps with your night vision. 

These different features help in different scenarios, for example, you'll need the extra straps if you running or climbing. Red light is also interesting as the rods in our eyes are responsible for our ability to see in the dark, but they don't detect color. It takes ages for us to adapt to seeing in the dark but even a millisecond of white light can stimulate the rods and ruin your night vision, so the red light allows you to see but doesn't affect your ability to see in the dark once you turn it off.

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Headlamps can also be waterproof to different levels and have different styles of buttons and straps, which suit different preferences. Below, we've selected all the best headlamps on the market so no matter what you're intended use is, you're sure to find something to suit you.

Any of these headlamps can be used as an excellent skywatching or astrophotography companion, thanks to each of them having crucial red lights and dimmable modes. The other features and specifications come down to personal preference and budget, although our chosen models aren't miles apart in these respects. Personally, we'd insist on rechargeable batteries, as both are environmentally and economically better options.

Comfort is also key, and having tried on numerous headlamps in different conditions, we'd recommend having a material that is absorbent and breathable wicking, wipe clean or hand washable, as all of the above are, and a headband that is fully adjustable in size.

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Tantse Walter is a photographer and adventurer that's spent seven years facilitating global adventurous expeditions. She loves getting into the nitty-gritty of sourcing and planning trips. Whether that be for astrophotography location scouting, or just for the love of exploration. Tantse enjoys taking creative, bright and bold photos of people, places, animals and the night sky. Tantse’s photos have been purchased by notable companies such as Ford and Cross Country Trains as well as an upcoming book about the songs, rituals and musical history of Capoeira.

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