Black Diamond Astro 300
300 lumens, AAA, ~85 g
Cheap and light enough that carrying two lamps stops being an argument — the beam is flat and the strap is thin, so it is a backup and not a main lamp.
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Do not buy this if: Your only light source on a peak climb.
Everything else we recommend in headlamps, including the ones we think suit a different trekker.
Best overallBlack Diamond Spot 400
Bright enough for a pre-dawn pass and simple enough to fix in the dark with cold hands — it runs on AAAs, which is heavier than a rechargeable and is exactly why we recommend it.
Best rechargeablePetzl Actik Core
The hybrid design is the honest compromise: charge it off your bank most nights, drop in AAAs when the solar has failed for three days — you pay more than either single-format lamp costs.
