Kids Headlamps are a great addition to your kid's backpacking gear, and they're even necessary for some kids. Whether you're going on a weekend camping trip with the kids or just want to have a headlamp as an emergency light in case of a power outage, there's a headlamp out there for every need!
In this Magic Bus article you will learn about:
- What headlamps are best for kids?
- What are the benefits of these headlamps?
- How do I choose the perfect headlamp for my children?
I got 2 nieces that go camping a lot and wear their headlights every night when they go out for a short walk or try to find their way to the bathrooms.
In this article, we'll discuss what kids headlamps are best for backpacking and camping. We'll also go over what features you should look at when picking one out. By reading this article, you'll be able to make an informed decision on which kids headlamp is right for your family!
What Is A Headlamp for Kids?
A headlamp for kids is a headlamp that young kids and older kids can wear. It's typically adjustable so children of all ages and sizes can use it, although kids headlamps are usually smaller than adult headlamps.
Headlamps provide kids safety by allowing them to see where they're going without holding something bright in their hand or fumbling around blindly with their arms stretched out ahead of them.
The best camping headlamp will be easy enough that your kids won't get frustrated trying to use it, yet durable so it lasts longer than just one camping trip!
Can Kids Use Adult Headlamps?
Yes, kids can use adult headlamps but headlamps for kids are usually smaller and easier to use. An adult headlamp might have too many features a child won't need and it sometimes is too bright for kids.
Kids' heads are much smaller than adults so the straps won't fit right without slipping off their faces or leaving red marks around their forehead and sides of their heads. Kids also have a shorter attention span than adults so they'll probably get tired of trying to adjust it after wearing it for only five minutes.
Plus, kids aren't as responsible as most adults when it comes to keeping track of personal belongings like flashlights! It's best not to take chances with your kid's safety by using an adult headlamp if you know they're going to be running around at night and be tempted by the idea of playing hide-and-seek in the dark.
If your kids will only need a headlamp for short periods, an adult one might work well but if you'll want them using it every night or even more than once over several days, headlamps for your kids can save on frustration and hassle!
If you do get an adult headlamp for your kids, make sure it's adjustable so your kids can grow with the headlamp and it doesn't weigh too much.
What Are The Benefits of A Kids Headlamp?
Camping headlamps for kids have many benefits like kids can see where they're going without holding a flashlight. They also provide kids with safety by allowing them to be more independent on camping trips and letting kids play at night without worrying about their little ones stumbling around blindly in the dark or getting lost.
Here are some of the benefits of a headlamp for kids:
- Kids headlamps provide kids with safety by allowing them to see where they're going.
- They also give kids independence on camping trips and help kids play at night worry-free!
- Headlamps for kids are usually adjustable so children of all ages and sizes.
What Are The Best Kids Headlamp
But which kids' headlamps are best? Whether you need one for nighttime hikes or to keep kids entertained at night, there are many different options available on the market today. To make it easier for you, we've compiled this list of the best kids' headlamps out there so that you don't have to spend hours researching before making a decision.
These tested headlamps for kids can be used by older kids and younger kids.
[amazon box="B07B4ZXX47" title="1. Foxelli USB Rechargeable Headlamp Flashlight" tracking_id="best-kids-headlamp0a-20"]
- Batteries: 1200Mah USB rechargeable
- Lumens: 180
- Settings: Low, high, strobe, red light, red strobe
- Colors: White, red light mode
- Battery life: 30 hours
- Tilt: Yes
The Foxelli headlamp is perfect for camping, fishing, jogging, hiking, and other outdoor adventures! It won't let you down in the dark with its 180 Lumen LED (200 feet beam) combined with 3 white & red light modes. You can tilt it to any angle for better light; it will withstand heavy rain, cold weather or even dropping on the ground. With IPX5 rating protection against splashing or spraying water from any angle and 2.4-ounce weight, these sturdy headlamps will be your best partner whenever you need some hands-free illumination! One of the best headlamps in its range.
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[amazon box="B0728LG4WQ" title="2. Black Diamond Equipment - Wiz Headlamp - Vibrant Orange" tracking_id="best-kids-headlamp0a-20"]
- Batteries: 2 AAA Batteries
- Lumens: 30
- Settings: dimmed, high, and strobe
- Colors: white
- Tilt: Yes
Travel the world in 30 lumens with this Black Diamond Wiz Headlamp. Two SinglePower LEDs provide a powerful, proximity-safe light no matter what mode you choose: full power, dimmed, or even strobe if some fun is called for on your adventure.
The head tilts in both directions so it's easy to see wherever you're going, even when put on upside down! Plus, the ultra-compact design makes its batteries accessible from the front and uses AAA batteries that last up to 120 hours of uninterrupted use. Now get out there and explore all night long!
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[amazon box="B005FEGYJC" title="3. LE LED Headlamp with Red Light Adjustable for Kids and Adults" tracking_id="best-kids-headlamp0a-20"]
- Batteries: AAA Batteries
- Lumens: 78
- Settings: 3 levels white + red flashing
- Colors: White, red
- Battery life: 12-32 hours
- Tilt: Yes
This headlamp will fit your kid's head perfectly. The 90-degree tiltable headlamp can be rotated so the light beam shines where you need it. Choose from a red light, 2 small LEDs, 10 large LEDs or 18 super bright LED lights for your lighting needs. Powered by 3 AAA batteries giving it a longer battery life of up to 10 hours of continuous use in RED mode. The IP44 Water Resistant design prevents liquids from getting into the flashlight, but cannot be submerged entirely. Perfect for wearing while running at night!
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[amazon box="B07SZ3P36M" title="4. BioLite HeadLamp 200 Lumen No-Bounce Rechargeable Head Light" tracking_id="best-kids-headlamp0a-20"]
- Batteries: USB rechargeable
- Lumens: 200
- Settings: White + Dim, Red + Dim, White Strobe, Red Strobe
- Colors: white + red
- Battery life: 40 hours
- Tilt: Yes
Get the most out of every adventure with the new BioLite HeadLamp. The most comfortable headlamp on the market, this top-of-the-line model offers you the brightest white light and red lights with dimmable modes to suit any task at hand. Featuring a sleek design that weighs less than 50 grams, this adjustable headlamp is so lightweight you'll forget it's around your neck even when not in use. And don't worry about running out of juice without warning - with up to 40 hours on long-life mode and 3 hours of full power at 200 lumens, there are plenty of adventures ahead!
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[amazon box="B076ZWXZQQ" title="5. Petzl - TIKKID, 20 Lumens, Outdoor and Indoor Compact Headlamp for Kids 3 Years and Older" tracking_id="best-kids-headlamp0a-20"]
- Batteries: AAA Batteries
- Lumens: 20
- Settings: low, high, and strobe
- Colors: White
- Battery life: 110 hours
- Tilt: No
The TIKKID headlamp shines with just 20 lumens, perfect for exploring indoors and out and protecting the eyes of your kid. With three different modes to choose from. The included rechargeable that comes with your purchase is sure to accommodate any need. The battery pack is protected by a flathead screw so you don't have to fumble around when replacing it in this compact headlamp. Has an adjustable band that releases under tension so there's no need for pesky clips or buckles on your child's neck, which makes this a great headlamp.
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[amazon box="B07CQ3H8RP" title="6. LED Headlamp Flashlight by SmarterLife" tracking_id="best-kids-headlamp0a-20"]
- Batteries: Single AA Battery
- Lumens: 125 (high), 44 (medium), 7 (low)
- Settings: low, medium, high, flashing SOS mode
- Colors: white and red
- Battery life: 8 to 60 hours
- Tilt: Yes
When you're camping, energy efficiency and a long life span are needed. The LED headlight flashlight by SmarterLife is the perfect product for any occasion. This light has around 1.25-ounces and three different modes: low, medium, and high. Flashing SOS mode is also available on this versatile headlamp flashlight with an IPX6 Rating (delivers continuous operation in wet weather), so there's no need to worry about it malfunctioning during your next adventure!
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[amazon box="B07JGLMK92" title="7. Lightweight LED Headlamp for Adults and Kids (4 pack)" tracking_id="best-kids-headlamp0a-20"]
- Batteries: 3x AAA Batteries
- Settings: Single Mode
- Colors: white
- Tilt: 45-Degree Tilt Head
The COB technology makes this headlamp a great time saver. With less energy being used, the life of the battery is going to be substantially longer compared to other more traditional lights. This means you can do so many activities with less needed downtime. Because it's so lightweight and compact, this light will fit anyone comfortably and easily without a problem at all - also comes in handy for nighttime walks or reading!
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[amazon box="B01CHC8YJC" title="8. Princeton Tec Bot Headlamp" tracking_id="best-kids-headlamp0a-20"]
- Batteries: 2 AAA Batteries
- Lumens: 30
- Settings: Flood Flash Beam, Flood High, Flood Low
- Colors: 2 White Ultrabright LED
- Battery life: 3 hours
No matter what your outdoor pursuit is, you're going to need a good light source. The Princeton Tec Bot Headlamp is the perfect solution, with 2 white LEDs and 3 settings for differing levels of brightness - from Flood Flash Beam through to Flood Low. Battery life ranges from 9 hours on high settings, meaning you'll be able for long marches without worrying about running out of juice! This headlamp comes in brilliant lime color making it difficult not to find in the dark. This headlight is a great choice for your kid.
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How To Choose The Kids Headlamps?
The best headlamps for your children will be lightweight, adjustable, and easy enough for even young children can use, yet durable so it lasts longer than just one trip out of town!
There are several factors you should consider when picking out the right kids' headlamp for your family's needs: brightness, beam distance, weight, and more.
Brightness
The brightness is an important feature that kids headlamps usually lack. Although kids shouldn't use a bright light, they should be able to see what's in front of them at night on the trails or around camp.
The best kids' headlamp will have an adjustable brightness so you can choose how much light your child needs for any activity at night!
A kids headlamp with a wide beam angle is better than one that has just enough area coverage but isn't as broad. A narrow beam won't give kids enough lighting range and it also might blind other people walking nearby if aimed towards their eyes instead of the ground ahead of them.
Besides the brightness options, many headlamps come with light settings such as blue light settings, white light settings, red light mode settings, and more.
Tilting Feature
The ability to tilt your headlamp is a must-have kids headlamp feature. It's a good idea to have kids wear their headlamps slightly forward so that if they do lose sight of the trail for any reason, they can tilt it down and use the light from below as a guide!
Adjustable Strap
The best headlamp for your kid will have an adjustable strap because kids grow out of things quickly and it's better to pay a little extra for something you know your kids can use longer than just one summer camping trip. You'll also want them to fit comfortably enough not to leave red marks around their forehead after wearing the lamp for five minutes but also sturdy enough that they won't fall off while running about in total darkness!
For younger children, make sure you find one with an adjustable strap or elastic band instead of one made out of rigid plastic material.
Weight
The weight doesn't need to be extremely heavy-duty unless you know your kids are going tromping through the woods or climbing rocks at night. However, kids headlamps shouldn't be so light that they don't stay on kids' heads during physical activity either!
Lightweight kids' headlamps are probably easier to carry around all day than heavy ones because kids won't want to wear them for longer periods of time or even lug them along on hikes without complaining!
Color Temperature
There are several different colors and color temperatures out there. When kids headlamps first came out, they were usually red to be less obtrusive for others walking around them.
Nowadays however kids headlamps are available in many colors including blue or green which can even help kids see better at night because those colors have a higher contrast than the traditional red ones! Color temperature is important if you're looking for an adjustable kids' headlamp that will work best no matter what activity your child is doing during nighttime hours.
The different modes like red, green, white, bright white, low, high, or blue are often controlled by one button that kids can easily use by themselves.
Battery Life
You'll also want kids' headlamps to have long-lasting batteries because kids will lose interest in wearing them if their batteries die quickly. Some headlamps can go for 120 hours while others might only last a few hours.
There are several different types of batteries, so make sure you check before purchasing one for your kids;
- Rechargeable via USB cable (usually found with more expensive options)
- (Rechargeable) AAA batteries
- AA batteries
- A rechargeable battery pack is most of the time not removable and therefore cannot be replaced once worn out
- Disposable alkaline batteries need to be replaced every few hours depending on how much kids use their lamps each day
The best choice would probably be rechargeable via USB cable since that means no extra cost. With long battery life, your kids can enjoy camping even better.
Remember to go for a head lamp with rechargeable batteries and decent battery life.
Waterproof
The best kids' headlamp is also waterproof and durable enough for outdoor activities like camping, hiking, and fishing trips in case your child drops it in the water or it falls on a rock! Most headlamps are waterproof but make sure to check this before buying.
How Many Lumens Should My Headlamp Be?
Lumens measure how much light is emitted from a headlamp. A higher number of lumens means the headlamp can illuminate things at greater distances and display more details in shadows, like an object’s color or texture. More lumens does not mean better because kids may need less power to see in the dark and which is also more safe for their eyes!
Conclusion
Kids headlamps are great for kids of all ages and sizes. Whether you need one for nighttime hikes or to keep kids entertained at night, there is a kids headlamp out there that will work well with your family's needs. It’s best not to take chances with your kid’s safety by using an adult headlamp if you know they're going to be running around at night and be tempted by the idea of playing hide-and-seek in the dark. The best kids' headlamp should be lightweight, adjustable, and easy enough for young children yet durable so it lasts longer than just one backpacking trip!
