43g / 380 lumen

Best for

Featherweight, stable lighting for trail running and ultralight hiking. 

Overview

The Swift LT headtorch weighs just 43g for 380 lumens of wide and diffuse light. It has three lighting levels: max burn time (7 lumens/60hr), standard (100 lumens/6hr) and max power (380 lumens/2hr), via a 880 mAh battery with 3hr USB-C charge time. It has a battery charge indicator and a water ingress rating of IPX4 (rainproof). The lighting module has a wide range of tilt and mounts via a nifty shockcord headband that is adjustable and reflective. It also has a red light (2 lumen/25hr) with 200hr strobe function.

Performance 

The Swift LT is so light and comfortable I actually forgot I was wearing it during one evening trail run. It’s very stable when on the move, and light and compact enough that you can carry it unobtrusively in a pocket. The standard (100 lumen) mode is bright enough for well-formed tracks, while the 380 lumen max power mode provides an even 70m throw for more technical ground. But when it came to off-track route finding or moving fast over really rough ground, I wished for the 600-plus lumens I’m used to with other torches. 

Operation is simple via a single button that cycles through the brightness modes from the lowest setting. A long press switches to red light, followed by a single click for strobe. It can also be locked in travel mode and has a wide range of up/down tilt to fine tune the beam angle. The 3hr charge time isn’t speedy, and it doesn’t have pass-through charging, so the limited burn times need to be accounted for on long runs or night tramps.  

What we like 

Ultralight, compact and stable, tiltable, easy to use.

Limitations 

Slow charge time, relatively short burn time on max power.

Why buy the Swift LT? 

This is an excellent torch for trail runners or ultralight hikers looking for stability and weight savings in exchange for limited lumens, but trampers expecting extended night hiking or route finding will want more brightness and burn time. Its tiny size and weight make it an appealing back-up light for anyone.