Last updated on January 25th, 2023 at 03:22 pm
Any outdoor enthusiast dedicated through all seasons will find themselves needing a headlamp to light the trail or campsite. For those wanting to brave a multi-day trip, or wanting to avoid charging, using one of the top 9 headlamps with the longest battery life will keep you safe, comfortable, and on task.
In this post, we compare the battery life of top headlamps on the market to pinpoint which of those have the best battery life.
The Headlamp With The Best Battery Life is...
After evaluating 9 headlamps to determine which ones had the best battery life there was one clear winner and two runner-ups:
Headlamp with Best Battery Life: Princeton Apex Extreme (200 hours)
Second Longest Battery Life: Princeton Tec Snap (162 hours)
Editors’ Choice Battery Life: Princeton Tec Remix (150 hours)
Note that every headlamps burn time is affected by the number of lumens the headlamp is pushing out. We use the expected battery life at the lowest light settings to compare the headlamps. It should be noted, however, that we have noted the other expected burn times for headlamps in the comparison table further on in this post.
Below we go into more detail on each of the three Headlamps with the longest battery lives, and we also provide a comparison table of the 9 headlamps we compared.
1. Specs for Our Winner: The Princeton Tec Apex Extreme
The Princeton Tec Apex Extreme has the longest battery life for any of the headlamps we researched. Providing up to 200 hours of burn time, the batteries in this headlamp can run a long time without needing a charge.
While many variables affect battery life, there is one big reason why this headlamp can keep running: The Princeton Tec Apex Extreme requires 8 AA Alkaline or Lithium batteries for normal operation. That is a lot of battery power for one headlamp. We would strongly encourage anyone purchasing a headlamp with standard batteries also consider purchasing a battery charger to keep them out of the landfill.
Because this headlamp requires a large number of batteries, it comes with a pouch unit that connects to the headlamp with a cord. Not a huge deal for hikers, campers, and hunters, but probably not an ideal set up for trail runners.
Regardless of how the design delivers battery power, there is no arguing that the Apex comes with substantial power and burn time.
Expected Burn Time at Different Settings
Like any headlamp worth a damn, the Princeton Apex Extreme has a number of settings to select from. As one might expect, each light setting has a different drain on the batteries, and as a result an impact on burn time.
| Light Setting | Distance | Burn Time |
|---|---|---|
| Spot Light (high) | 393 ft. | 100 hours |
| Spot Light (low) | 203 ft. | 130 hours |
| Flood Light (high) | 141 ft. | 160 hours |
| Flood Light (low) | 85 ft. | 200 hours |
There is technically a fifth setting for the Apex, but it is a mode that flashes/strobes so we left it out of the chart above. We did this primarily because headlamps set to their strobe setting typically have a longer burn time, and presenting this burn time would make it look like the headlamps can last longer than they can on a PRACTICAL setting.
For example, the Apex headlamp gets a 300 hour burn time in the strobe setting. While this is great for those that love flashing lights, it doesn’t really tell you how long you can expect to use the headlamp on a functional setting.
With various light settings, and size-able burn times at each, you may think the lamp doesn’t put out a lot of lumen. Of course there are multiple settings, but at its highest output the Apex Extreme has 550 max lumens. This is a very substantial light output, especially when the lamp can operate for 100 hours at that energy output.
Princeton Apex Extreme Type of Lamp
The type of lights a headlamp uses can directly impact burn time. The Apex Extreme comes with two types of lamps, both of which are LEDs:
- One Maxbright LED (regulated and dimmable)
- Four White Ultrabright LEDs
The above combination of lamps allows for different lamps to be used for different settings, which ultimately provides variation in energy requirements and can provide longer burn times.
Who is the Princeton Apex Extreme Perfect For?
The Priceton Tec Apex Extreme comes with a lot of burn time. It does also come with a lot extra to carry in the form of a battery pouch. This, and a bulky lamp apparatus, make this headlamp among the heaviest we researched at a total weight of 14.7 oz.
The heavy weight rules this headlamp out for trail runners, but it would be an awesome headlamp for camping, hiking, biking, mountaineering, rescue workers, and more.
2. Specs for Our Runner-up: The Princeton Tec Snap Modular Headlamp
The Princeton Tec Snap Modular Headlamp isn’t far behind our winner with a 162 hour burn time capacity. We go into expected burn times at all the light settings below.
Before we get into the various light settings, a general observation about what makes this headlamp so impressive is its ability to last so long without an additional battery pack like the Apex Extreme requires.
The Snap Modular Headlamp only relies on 3 AAA Batteries for operation. While these batteries are easily found at nearly any store, we highly encourage the use of a battery charger to limit the amount of batteries used through its life; here is a good battery charger for AAA batteries: Energizer Recharger
Expected Burn Time at Different Settings
There are only two main settings for the Princeton Tec Snap Modular Headlamp. Three settings if you count the flashing/strobe spot light setting, but as we stated earlier in this post, we aren’t counting the strobe setting burn times because they really aren’t the most functional settings. Below is a chart comparing the burn time at the main settings.
| Light Setting | Distance | Burn Time |
|---|---|---|
| Spot Light (high) | 118 ft. | 110 hours |
| Spot Light (low) | 22 ft. | 162 hours |
As you can see above, the headlamp can function at its two major settings for over 100 hours. That is a big deal when looking into the capacity of a headlamp
Pros of the Princeton Tec Snap Modular Headlamp
If you’re noticing the word “modular” in the name of this headlamp you are noticing one of the major benefits of this headlamp.
That is to say, this headlamp is more than a headlamp, because the lamp itself can detach from the head band very easily and turn into a lamp for various other applications. Whether hooking the lamp to bike handles for a powerful bike headlight, or putting it on your key chain, it is a fantastic feature making this headlamp versatile.
One end of the lamp even acts as a magnet which you could set on metal objects in campsite to make building a fire, preparing dinner, or any other essential night time tasks.
Outside of the long burn time, and versatile usages, the Princeton Tec Snap Modular Headlamp is comparatively inexpensive for long lasting headlamps.
Cons of the Princeton Tec Snap Modular Headlamp
The main drawback of this headlamp is its lack of distance when maximum burn times are achieved.
To get the full 162 hours of burn time promised, this headlamp needs to be in the Low Spot Light setting. This setting only gets you 22 ft. of lit distance.
It should also be noted that the 162 hours of burn time is achieved in a mode where the light is very direct, hence the setting being a Spot Light setting. This just means the spread of the light is very minimal, and the light itself will be shot in a narrow path.
Who is the Princeton Tec Snap Modular Headlamp for?
None of these Cons listed above should necessarily be a deal breaker for this headlamp though. After all, it has a very long burn time even in its other light setting, and to be fair this headlamp is usually just about half the price of the Apex Extreme headlamp.
In other words, this headlamp is perfect for those wanting a long lasting headlamp that is more affordable than some of the alternatives on the market.
Due to its price point, this headlamp has become a popular choice for hunters, hikers, campers, and backpackers alike.
3. Specs For Third Place (and Editors Pick): Princeton Tec Remix
The Princeton Tec Remix appealing because of its maximum burn time of 150 hours, but its price is what really makes this headlamp appealing.
The lower cost, long burn time, and various setting options are what make this headlamp our Editor’s Choice. While the Priceton Tec Apex Extreme wins for overall burn time, its price needs to be factored into our decision for our editors’ choice. After all, the 150 hours of burn time the Princeton Tec Remix offers is still pretty amazing.
Powered by just 3 AAA batteries, this headlamp will surprise anyone using it.
Once again, we highly encourage the use of a battery charger so you can reuse your AAA batteries: Energizer Recharger
Expected Burn Time at Various Settings
Like the more expensive headlamps on the market the Princeton Tek Remix comes with four different settings. These settings allow you to conserve energy or reach far distances. Below we show what kind of burn time you can expect in each of the different light settings of this headlamp.
| Light Setting | Distance | Burn Time |
|---|---|---|
| Spot Light (high) | 147 ft. | 66 hours |
| Spot Light (low) | 85 ft. | 40 hours |
| Flood Light (high) | 85 ft. | 53 hours |
| Flood Light (low) | 32 ft. | 150 hours |
The four settings of this headlamp are all you should need to light your way.
Type of Lamp in the Princeton Tec Remix
As with other headlamps that have multiple light settings, the Princeton Tec Remix has four lights that make up its lamp:
- 1 Maxbright LED
- 3 Ultrabright LEDs
Between the three lights above the most efficient combination can be drawn from for different settings. This helps improve the battery life / burn time for this headlamp.
Our 4 Favorite Features of The Princeton Tek Remix
There are four major features of the Princeton Tek Remix that we feel help it stand above many other options.
1. The Max Burn Time is High
We already have covered how long the burn time can be for this headlamp. 150 hours is a long time for its lowest light setting, but it gets substantial hours even at its high spot light and high flood light setting.
2. It is Extremely Light Weight
While we primarily are focusing on burn time for this post, we can’t pretend the weight of this headlamp didn’t influence us in selecting it as our editors choice for our favorite headlamp with a long burn time.
The 2.9 oz weight of this headlamp means it is an excellent choice for trail runners.
3. It Has a Highly Effective Light Setting
Yes, various light settings are great. There is one light setting with this headlamp that makes us love it even more. The high Flood Light setting hits a distance of 85 ft. but still maintains a 53 hour burn time.
The reason this is a huge attribute has to do with how much area is lit with flood lighting. We love this, and the batteries last a long time even while this setting is being used.
4. It is Relatively Low Cost for Long Lasting Headlamp
Cost is a very important aspect of any purchase, and it is no coincidence we selected this long lasting headlamp to be our editors choice. This headlamp costs less than the other two headlamps with a long burn time.
Drawbacks of The Princeton Tec Remix
The main drawback of the Princeton Tec Remix is its limited distance in its longest lasting battery setting. 162 hours of burn time is great, but that burn time is only achieved in a light setting that gets a distance of 32 ft., which is a bit disappointing.
While 32 ft. isn’t a great distance, the battery life in other settings is just long enough to make up for it (in our opinion). This is ultimately why we still feel this headlamp provides the biggest bang for your buck when it comes to battery life.
Headlamp Burn Times Compared; a Chart
We already highlighted three headlamps with the longest battery life near the beginning of this post, but there are plenty of other headlamps we reviewed that might be more suited to your needs or budget.
Below is a breakdown of all the headlamps we evaluated. Key data points included in the chart are picture, brand name, battery life in various modes, and the Deeper Trails Score.
We could have included other criteria in the chart below (and this post in general), but for this particular article we wanted to focus primarily on the longest burn time / battery life for popular headlamps.
Click on any of the pictures or product names to view more specs, pictures, and current pricing on Amazon:
| Picture | Name / Link | Battery Life / Burn Time | Deeper Trails Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
 
|
Princeton Apex Extreme | 100 / 160 / 200 Hours | First Place |
 
|
Princeton Tec Snap | 110 / 160 Hours | Second Place |
 
|
Princeton Tec Remix | 40 / 53/ 66 /150 Hours | Third Place |
 
|
Princeton Tec Sync | 72 / 97 / 113 /144 Hours | Great |
 
|
Petzl Actik | 2 / 12 / 120 Hours | Great |
 
|
Petzl Swift RL | 2 / 5 / 100 Hours | Good |
 
|
Black Diamond Spot Lite 160 | 2 / 14 / 60 Hours | Good |
 
|
Black Diamond Sprinter | 4 / 42 Hours | Okay |
 
|
Biolite 330 | 3.5 / 40 Hours | Okay |
Best Headlamp Brand for Battery Life
Princeton Tec has a number of headlamps on our list of headlamps with the best battery life. It is not an accident; Princeton Tec has focused on excelling at burn time as a major attribute of their headlamps. As a result, Priceton Tec headlamps control the top three spots in our list comparing battery life.
Princeton Tec has seemed to focus on improving the efficiency of the headlamps through the use of standard AA and AAA batteries instead of migrating to USB rechargeable batteries. There are pros and cons to the use of standard batteries, but there is no arguing that they perform well in various Princeton Tec headlamps.
Headlamps are Vital Safety Tools
If you are a lover of the outdoors, or find yourself obsessed with adventure based activities you will find yourself needing a headlamp. While you may be able to get by without a headlamp a few times, it truly is a safety issue to hike, camp, run, or mountaineer in the dark without the aid of a headlamp. Furthermore, check out our Best Headlamps for Trail Running post if you’re a trail runner.
Since wearing a headlamp is a safety issue, it is important to factor battery life and burn time into your purchase decision. Whether on a mountain, in a campsite, or on a trail, having the confidence your headlamp will get you through the dark is important. Not only for piece of mind, but to ensure you and your group are as safe as possible.
About the Author
Todd Alexander
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