Best Head Torches for Trail Running and Ultras
Buy the Petzl NAO RL for overnight ultras, the ACTIK CORE for everything else, or the Silva Trail Runner Free 2 Ultra if comfort is the problem. Seven more considered.
Affiliate disclosure: links to Amazon and Blacks in this guide are affiliate links. If you buy through one we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It makes no difference to which torch we tell you to buy. Product photos are supplied by Blacks.
The short version
Three torches cover almost every UK trail runner. Find the line that sounds like you and stop reading there if you want to.
Buy this: Petzl NAO RL — if you'll be out through a whole night, or on ground where a bad step matters. 1,500 lumens, reactive lighting that brightens and dims for you, and a rear battery so it stays put. It's the most expensive torch here and the one you stop thinking about, which at hour six is what you're paying for.
Spend less: Petzl ACTIK CORE — if you run dark evenings, need something for a mandatory-kit list, or aren't sure you need a torch at all yet. 625 lumens, 88g, runs on the rechargeable CORE pack or three AAAs, about a third of the price. The battery is at the front, so it's less balanced over a long night than the two either side of it.
If comfort is the problem: Silva Trail Runner Free 2 Ultra — if what puts you off head torches is a lamp pressing on your forehead for six hours. Cable built into the headband, battery at the back, designed around running rather than climbing. 550 lumens is enough for most trails and not enough for fast technical descents.
Still not sure? Want NAO brightness in something that fits a vest pocket: Petzl SWIFT RL. Hate elastic straps: Petzl IKO CORE. Prefer switches to a torch that thinks for you: Ledlenser NEO9R. All three are in the list further down.
We haven't tested all ten side by side. They're here because they're what UK runners actually buy and the figures hold up against the manufacturer's own, not against other people's lists. Batteries and specifications change between model years, so check the box before you plan a race around a runtime figure.
The three picks
Petzl NAO RL
1,500 lumens · 145g · rear rechargeable battery · reactive lighting
There is a reason you see more of these at the start of a night ultra than anything else. The reactive lighting reads the ground ahead and adjusts brightness for you, so you're not clicking through modes with cold hands, and the rear battery keeps the lamp balanced through a long night. On technical ground that combination gets closest to not having to think about your light at all.
Watch out for: it's the most expensive torch here, the battery is proprietary, and there is more to go wrong than on a simple three-mode lamp. Carry a spare battery or a second torch for anything overnight.
Check price on Amazon Check price at Blacks
Petzl ACTIK CORE
625 lumens · about 88g · CORE rechargeable pack or three AAAs
Light, simple and flexible. The hybrid battery is the point: run the rechargeable pack for normal training and keep three AAAs in the vest as the backup that every race kit list asks for. It's also the torch that does everything else, from the dog walk to the bothy, which is why most people who buy one never buy another.
Watch out for: the battery sits at the front. Over a couple of hours you won't notice; over a full night you will.
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Silva Trail Runner Free 2 Ultra
Up to 550 lumens · up to about 160g with the larger battery · rear rechargeable battery plus AAA case
The Silva is designed around running from the start: the cable runs inside the headband, the battery sits at the back, and the beam is a wide flood with a longer spot on top, which is how the ground looks when you're moving rather than standing still. The Ultra package adds the bigger battery and a AAA backup case for overnight use.
Watch out for: 550 lumens is enough for most trails but well short of the 1,000-plus models on a fast technical descent. If you race steep ground at night, that's the trade you're making for the comfort.
Also considered
Seven more that are good torches with a narrower case for buying them.
Petzl SWIFT RL
Around 1,100 lumens and about 100g, with the same reactive lighting as the NAO in a package that fits a vest pocket. The compact choice for fast evening runs and mountain days that finish after dark. Front-loaded weight and high-output runtime make it a weaker pick than the NAO for a full winter night. Amazon · Blacks
Ledlenser NEO9R
Up to 1,200 lumens on boost, about 199g, rear battery, a red rear light and a wide near-field beam. Built for running, and the pick if you'd rather control the light yourself than have it adjust for you. Heavier than the ACTIK or the Silva, and the top output is a short boost rather than an all-night setting. Amazon
Black Diamond Distance LT 1100
1,100 lumens at about 108g with a conventional control layout, for runners who want NAO-level output without Petzl's reactive system. Check UK stock and spare-battery arrangements before you rely on it for an all-night race. Amazon · Blacks
Petzl IKO CORE
500 lumens and about 79g on an Airfit frame rather than an elastic strap, so the weight is spread around the head and there's almost nothing at the forehead. The one to try if straps give you a headache. The frame is awkward under some hats and doesn't stuff into a small pocket. Amazon · Blacks
Silva Trail Runner Free 2 Hybrid
The same running beam and cable-free headband as the Ultra with a smaller battery. Right for training runs of a few hours and runners who want less weight at the back; for an overnight race, buy the Ultra package instead. Amazon
Ledlenser NEO5R
Smaller and cheaper than the NEO9R, with the same stable running fit. Suits commuting, park trails and shorter winter sessions where the ground isn't technical. Not the first choice for remote ground or a full night out. Amazon
Fenix HM65R-T V2.0
Flood and spot beams, a tough body and a replaceable 18650 cell, which is the appeal: if you already run other kit on standard rechargeable cells, spares are cheap and interchangeable. Heavier and more industrial on the head than the Petzl and Silva running models. Amazon
All ten at a glance
| Head torch | Best for | Maximum output | Weight | Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petzl NAO RL | Overnight ultras, technical ground | 1,500 lumens | 145g | Rear rechargeable, reactive lighting |
| Petzl ACTIK CORE | Evening runs, mandatory kit, everything else | 625 lumens | About 88g | CORE pack or AAA |
| Silva Trail Runner Free 2 Ultra | Comfort over long hours | Up to 550 lumens | Up to about 160g | Rear rechargeable plus AAA case |
| Petzl SWIFT RL | Compact and bright | Around 1,100 lumens | About 100g | Front rechargeable, reactive lighting |
| Ledlenser NEO9R | Powerful, manual control | Up to 1,200-lumen boost | About 199g | Rear rechargeable |
| Black Diamond Distance LT 1100 | High output, conventional controls | 1,100 lumens | About 108g | Rechargeable |
| Petzl IKO CORE | Runners who hate straps | 500 lumens | About 79g | CORE pack or AAA |
| Silva Trail Runner Free 2 Hybrid | Lighter Silva for training | Up to 550 lumens | Lighter than the Ultra | Small rechargeable plus AAA case |
| Ledlenser NEO5R | Road to trail, short sessions | Moderate | Light | Rechargeable |
| Fenix HM65R-T V2.0 | Durability, standard cells | High, dual beam | Heavier | Replaceable 18650 |
What actually matters
Lumens. Around 300 to 500 useful lumens is enough for most runnable trails. Fast technical descending, rain and route-finding all want more. The number on the box is a peak; what matters is how long the torch holds a setting you can actually run by.
Battery. Read the runtime table, not the headline. Cold cuts battery performance hard. For anything overnight, carry a spare battery or a second torch you can switch to without stopping.
Beam. A wide flood shows the ground at your feet; a spot shows the trail ahead. Running torches that do both feel natural; a narrow walking beam doesn't.
Weight and where it sits. A rear battery balances the lamp and stops the bounce. A front battery is simpler and packs smaller. Over two hours it barely matters; over ten it's the difference between a torch you forget and one you keep adjusting.
Mandatory kit. Most UK races that run into darkness require a working spare torch and spare power, and some check. Read the exact wording. A phone torch does not count and shouldn't.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best head torch for trail running?
Petzl NAO RL if you're running through the night or on technical ground: 1,500 lumens, reactive lighting that adjusts to the trail ahead, and a rear battery that stays balanced. For most runners the cheaper Petzl ACTIK CORE is enough, and the Silva Trail Runner Free 2 Ultra is the more comfortable choice over many hours.
Is 300 lumens enough for trail running?
On familiar, non-technical trails, yes. Faster or rougher ground benefits from a stronger setting you can sustain, not just a higher peak.
Do I need a rear battery?
No, but it balances the weight and improves comfort over several hours. Front-battery torches are simpler and easier to pack.
What head torch is best for an ultra?
One with a comfortable rear battery, useful all-night runtime, controls you can work in gloves and a realistic spare-power plan. The Petzl NAO RL and the Silva Trail Runner Free 2 Ultra both fit that brief.
Should I carry two head torches?
For remote night running and most races that run into darkness, yes. A second working torch is safer than a spare battery, because you don't have to stop and change anything in the dark.