Autocar product test: What is the best head torch?

Run time: 10 hours

We seriously considered giving the Sofirn the win here; it’s the brightest with a huge 2700 lumen when both LED lights are on - one of which is a more focussed, bright white light and one of which is a broader, warmer white beam.

It’s also seriously heavy duty, so if you want a military-style, go-anywhere, waterproof head torch, this is a better bet than the BioLite. You even get spare seals for the metal, waterproof torch case, should you need them to keep the removable lithium-ion battery from coming into contact with water.

However, the torch body is hefty, so it can slide down your head if you move around a lot - despite the central, over-your-head strap.

If you’re mostly staring at a vehicle’s dark innards, or if you want a camping or fishing head torch that’s got go-anywhere durability, the Sofirn could well be your best bet. But the BioLite is more comfortable for running, cycling and anything more mobile. 

Autocar says: 5 stars

Best budget buy: Blukar K9112 LED head torch

Run time: 

30 hours

This is near enough identical to the Everbrite; it comes with the same motion sensor function, the COB LED is bright and has two dimmable phases, and there’s a red light with fixed or strobe effect settings.

It’s comfortable to wear, even if there’s a bit of bounce movement when you run or cycle. Blukar claims a much longer running time, though, but we left it on and found that it has started to weaken noticeably after twelve hours, so take that with a pinch of salt…

Even so, as a very well-priced, rechargeable head torch it’s not bad at all. Together with the EverBrite, it’s our pick of the cheaper head torches.

Autocar: 4 stars

EverBrite 350 Lumen head torch

Price: £9.99

Buy from: Amazon

Run time: 11 hours

The EverBrite’s COB LED light has a motion sensor function, which allows you to turn it on or off with the swipe of a hand.

It works surprisingly well, although we’re also glad that you can turn the function off as it could be really unhelpful in a garage situation for accidentally turning the torch off… The 350 lumen light can be dimmed, and there’s a red light, too, both of which have strobe settings.

The torch head tilts for better illumination without giving you a crick in your neck, too. It doesn’t throw its beam as far as some others, and it doesn’t last as long, but as a comfortable yet useful head torch for everyday use, and at a very low price, it’s not bad at all.

Autocar: 4 stars

Aplos H330 LED Headlamp

Run time: 5.5 hours

The Aplos is a three-phase dimmable LED torch, and also has various strobe and flash modes. It’s similar to the Sofirn in design, with a removable, cylindrical, metal-bodied torch that can be rotated in the single strap.

The Aplos also feels durable and hefty thanks to its metal body, if not as hefty and well-built as the Sofirn. Even so, with 1600 Lumen, this is one of the brightest lights we tested, and it’s a neat touch that the on-switch glows red when the battery gets low.

Our main issue is that the narrow strap doesn’t keep the torch all that stable when you’re moving around, and the run time isn’t great.

Autocar: 4 stars

Kingtop Zoomable head torch