Among your fishing gear, you will have such as rods, reels, and all the additional stuff such as a good bait box, and your other fishing tackle. But have you got the best fishing head torch?
When carp fishing, a torch that does not require the use of hands is a major bonus. They are very cheap, very efficient and come in many different shapes, sizes and power levels. We took a look at some of the best head torches on the market so you can see what they are all about, so let’s get down to business, take a look at what’s on the head torch market and find you the best head torch for fishing.
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Best Carp Fishing Head Torches 2022
1. Ridgemonkey VHR300
Ridgemonkey is well known amongst carp anglers and they do demand a lot of respect for the quality fishing tackle that they have produced over the years and that’s why this is on our best head torch for fishing list. This VHR300 model is their top of the range head torch and it certainly doesn’t disappoint.
However, be warned… it’s the most expensive fishing head torch on this list.
Firstly, let’s talk about the lumens. This head torch produces 200 lumens which are really bright and will allow you to see everything that’s going on.
We like this one as it’s a fishing head torch made by a fishing company for fishermen. A lot of the other torches on this list are quite generic head torches that, although good, were not made with fishermen in mind.
It’s heavy! Along with the high price tag, comes a large weight. You can either see this as a bad thing or as a good thing. Personally, I see it as a good thing as it means it’s well made of heavy-duty construction and is a solid head torch. Just be careful it doesn’t fall off your head and land on your foot, as you will certainly feel it.
One of the main reasons it’s so heavy is that the battery inside it is a 2000mah lithium polymer battery. Due to the size of the battery, this means it can last for up to 90 hours which is just simply amazing.
You might be worried that it’s going to use expensive batteries, but you don’t have to worry as it’s chargeable through USB. So, just make sure you have your battery pack in your bivvy in case you need to give it a quick charge. However, this should last for a full week’s holiday without a recharge.
Light Settings
As you would expect with the price tag it comes with a whole host of settings. The 5 settings are white and green light. Then if you select the white light you can pick from low, medium and high. Just be careful if you put it on high and start moving your head everywhere as you will end up lighting up half the lake in the process.
The green light is a nice touch and gives everything a subtle light around you without being as harsh as the white light. There is something about the green light setting that we really like and that’s why it’s on our list of best fishing head torches.
There’s no upside-down
With this fishing head torch, there’s no wrong way to wear it. A lot of the others have to be worn a certain way, but thanks to the clever design this head torch can be worn however you wish as there’s no upside-down to it. We think it’s a cool feature as sometimes it can be a bit of a faff to get on the right way when you hear your bite alarms going off at 3 am. Overall, its an excellent head torch made of very solid construction.
2. Fox Halo 300 Multi-colour
When you think of Fox, you instantly of quality carp gear as they are a company who have been around for a long time. Their Halo range of carp fishing head torches has been around for a while and I used to own the Fox Halo 200, but they have now brought out the 300 which is the latest model.
The reason I changed from the Fox Halo to a different brand of the head torch is that it’s battered powered. This might be fine for some people, but I would be planning my fishing trip, have everything ready and then realise I needed to get new batteries for my head torch. Therefore, if you are after a USB rechargeable head torch this one might not be the one for you.
However, even though it’s not rechargeable it’s still a decent head torch. Not only does it have white and green like other head torches, but it also has a red light colour mode. This is even more subtle than the green light and it might be something that you prefer.
As with most torches, you can adjust the brightness when you have the white light on. The 4 settings are 350 lumens, 250 lumens, 140 lumens and 90 lumens.
Overall Thoughts
It’s a quality head torch and that’s the reason it’s on our best head torch for fishing list. However, if you are out every weekend then you may find you end up spending quite a lot on batteries and you may prefer a rechargeable head torch.
3. NGT XPR Head Torch
I have owned a lot of NGT carp fishing gear over the years. They are a budget brand but I feel it was fair to add them to this best head torch for fishing list as everyone has a different budget when it comes to fishing. At the end of the day, it’s just a torch and whether you have this one, or an expensive one, it’s not going to catch you more or less fish.
What we like about this head torch is that it’s a rechargeable head torch and it’s cheap. I had a quick read through the reviews as well and they were all pretty favourable.
Now, this won’t last as long as the Ridgemonkey, but it states that it will stay on for 12 hours on the brightest setting. That’s pretty impressive for such a cheap torch. Just make sure you take a USB charger with you.
Overall, this is a great head torch that is priced at just over £10. If you are new to carp fishing or on a budget then this would be the one we recommend to you.
4: Energizer Full LED
Our first best head torch for fishing is one by a brand called energizer as a brand of batteries, and this is one of their other head torches.
It’s a very neat little LED powered head torch that will be perfect for fishing.
It puts out 315 lumens – that’s the measure of brightness – which makes it a bright light and will reach up to 85metres, and is powered by three AAA batteries.
You get five light modes including a red light night vision one, the light can be pivoted and is attached to an easy to adjust headband, and you can get six hours of continuous use.
This torch has a focus feature and is very durable, and at the price is well worth looking at.
5: Lighting Ever Led Headlamp
Fourth on our list of best head torches is another simple model that comes with four light modes which include a red light and flashing light options, and another that is powered by battery rather than being rechargeable.
The usual adjustable headband is there, it is light at not much more than 70g, and it is easy to use with a one-touch operation. You can switch between one, 8 or 21 LEDs, and it has a level of water resistance. If you want a simple light at a great price, you can find this for just a few quid.
Key Features – 21 LEDs, selectable option, various brightness, red light night mode, very cheap
6: Akale LED Head Torch
This fishing head torch is another of the very simple models, yet one you might want to look at if you want a torch for just occasional use. It is powered by 3 x AAA batteries.
It comes with 4 light modes including a red night vision light, and an adjustable head band. There is no focus feature, which might put some buyers off, and it only provides a lumen output of150f and a range of up to 150m.
However, for adjusting tackle in the dark or any other jobs, this could be a great piece for carp anglers.
Key Features – basic model, 4 modes, cheap, 150 yds range
7: Petzl Tikka Headlamp
It suffices to say that most of you will be put off by the price of this fishing head torch, as you can buy around five of the above for the price of one of these.
Nevertheless, it’s very nice, with LED technology that can illuminate up to 80metres, is very light at just 85g and is comfortable to wear and easy to use.
It also features a red night light function and is waterproof, but the other selling point – an incorporated whistle – is not likely to appeal to anglers.
Key Features – 80 metre range, 85g, red light , whistle, expensive, water resistance
8: HFAN Zoomable LED Head Torch
Given that this head torch is not much more than a fiver, and how many great reviews it has received, we didn’t really think we could not mention this night fishing head torch from HFAN in our best head torch for fishing list.
Don’t let the low price put you off, as you get many of the same features of higher-priced models in this compact and lightweight option. The head torch can be swivelled through a full 90-degrees and is zoomable, giving you the ability to point it in the direction you need it most. It also comes with three different light options – low, high and strobe.
Thanks to its aluminium casing and tight selling, it is waterproofed with an IPX-4 rating, which is perfect for use when you are in the bivvy or out by the swim.
Key Features: IPX-4 waterproof rating, low price, adjustable strapping over and around the head
Best Head Torch for Fishing Buying Guide
Hopefully, the reviews we have provided are enough to help you find the best head torch for fishing. To further help you, though, if you need it, we thought it would be good to put together a brief buying guide covering the main features you should be considering when buying a head torch.
Battery Type and Battery Life
You should look at whether or not a head torch is powered by AAA batteries or rechargeable batteries. If you don’t intend on using your head torch for fishing very much, you may not want to pay the slightly higher price tag that is often on models that use a rechargeable battery.
Rechargeable head torch?
However, if you do intend on using your torch often, it may be best to opt for a rechargeable battery model. The battery life in the head torch you choose for carp fishing is very important. This will determine how much use you can get out of it on a single charge. Obviously, the higher and brighter you have the light set, the quicker it will drain batteries.
You will even find that some models can be charged via USB, making them ideal for long night fishing trips where you may run out of charge before reaching home.
Most models will not come with batteries included so you will have to buy your own which will be an extra expense.
Waterproof
One feature that is especially important when choosing a head torch is whether it has waterproofing or not and take a look at the waterproof rating if it has one. As fishing is the main activity you will be using a head torch for, you will want to know that it will be safe to use outdoors, whether it is raining, or the sun is shining. Look out for the IPX rating, as this determines how much protection the head torch has from the rain, in terms of splashes and immersions.
Lighting Modes
Depending on your budget, you will find that most head torches offer a variety of different lighting modes. Often this will just be different levels of brightness, including low, medium and high. Even if you intend on using the lower level of brightness for most of the time, it is handy to have access to higher brightness levels when you really need to see what you are doing in the middle of the night or in the early hours of the morning. Most of the torches just have one button that cycles through the options 1 by 1. Usually, this same button is the power button which when held down will turn the torch off.
You will also find that some lights offer emergency settings like strobing or flashing or even modes light red light or a green light setting.
Adjustability and Comfort
As a head torch is something you are going to wear, possibly even for a long period, how comfortable it is to wear is important. With this in mind, you need to look for a model that offers a lot of adjustabilities. After all, the angler will want to be able to slip the head torch onto your head and not have to worry too much about it falling off or slipping down, but also that it won’t cause you pain or discomfort. It’s likely you will have fishing tackle in your hands and you don’t want to be stopping to adjust it all the time.
The size of the strap of the head torch is also crucial too, as this will also play a part in whether it is comfortable or not. The wider the better, in our opinion, with it having a diameter of an inch at the very least. It is also a good idea to find one with breathable material with elasticity, as this will prevent it from digging too much into your head and make the whole night fishing experience that little bit better.
That’s all of our head torches listed, so which would we choose as the best fishing head torch? Let’s have a look.
Our Verdict
We really like the rechargeable head torches. These are especially good if you, the angler, are doing a few nights carp fishing as it just means that bringing extra batteries are one less thing to worry about. Having a USB rechargeable head torch also means the angler can leave it on for longer without worrying about draining the battery.
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Mike has over 30 years of fishing experience in carp fishing and general coarse fishing. He is always looking for the latest fishing kit to try out and talk about and needs a bigger shed due to all the fishing tackle he owns. You can read more about him here.