At a glance
Pluses: Comfortable, lightweight, rechargeable, decent range of light settings
Minuses: Not overly bright, pricey

200 lumens / 50m range / 50g

Features: This lightweight lamp has an internal rechargeable lithium-ion battery that provides 3hr of burn time on its highest 200-lumen setting, and 40hr on its lowest 5-lumen setting. It recharges via micro USB. A single button cycles through five light modes, including strobe and red light, and restarts on the last-used setting. A lock-out mode prevents the lamp from turning on accidentally, and an indicator shows how much battery charge is left. 

Comfort: The most comfortable headlamp I’ve used, bar none. At 50g, you barely feel it on your forehead, and can run, jump, or skip if you wish, without bounce. Its low weight allows users to wear the straps comfortably – not tight. 

In use: It’s not the brightest headlamp on the shelf, but the BioLite should suit trampers and runners for general purpose. I personally like a bit more oomph for nighttime exploration, but for walking at night, hut or tent use, it’s adequate.

The strap adjustments are easy and you can tighten up on the go in seconds, provided you have two hands to spare. The back of the strap is reflective too – a nice safety touch for urban users.

The lamp tilts down, but not up, and casts a dispersed – though not altogether powerful – white beam. Controls are simple and intuitive – push the on/off button rapidly to cycle through modes, and push and hold for dimming. 

Value: There are brighter – and slightly heavier – headlamps available for a cheaper price, but you’re paying for comfort with the HeadLamp 200. 

Verdict: So comfortable, you’ll forget you’re wearing it, but less weight-conscious trampers may opt for a higher-performing model.