The excitement of fishing gets doubled when you go fishing at night. For fishermen, nights are the best time to catch fish in abundance. But for night fishing, you must have a headlamp with you. But how to figure out which is the best headlamp for fishing?
I like the HeroBeam headlamp
the most. Apart from the clear LED light, this headlight has many features that make night fishing easier. Spot beam, motion activation, water resistance, and red LED are some of the features that make the headlamp handy for fishing at night. I also love the compact look of HeroBeam headlamps.
This article is a complete guide to choosing the perfect headlamp for your fishing nights. It will also tell you about the different kinds of headlamps available. So, let’s dive right in!
6 Best Headlamps For Fishing At Night
Here I have reviewed some great headlamps for night fishing. I have tested all these headlights myself. So, I can tell you about their best and worst features from my own experience.
1. Foxdott 8 LED Headlamp
The Foxdott 8 LED headlamps are comfortable to wear on the head because they have a free-fitting size for adults. So you do not have to worry about the fitting.
I started using Foxdott headlamps after trying many other ones. All the previous headlights had made me so irritated that I instantly started loving Foxdott headlamps.
Apart from the comfort, I also like the overall balance of the light. You can move your head and shoulders in any direction without feeling anything extra in your head. The lightweight of the headlamp is also a reason for the ease of movement.
It is not one of the brightest headlamps on the market. But I believe it is enough for fishing on the darkest nights. The battery is another positive aspect of the headlight.
They are long-lasting, and their replacement cost is minimal. You can carry some extra batteries at the back of the headband.
So, taking additional batteries is not a problem at all.
Apart from the bright white LED light, you can use the red beam or the SOS strobes of the headlamp at your convenience. The red beam is helpful for reading books without disturbing anyone around you.
In moments of distress, when you need to draw attention to get help from a distance, you can use the SOS strobes. Besides, the brightness of the headlight is adjustable to your needs.
Pros
- Comfortable to wear
- Adjustable brightness
- Good battery performance
- SOS strobes
Cons
- No indication of battery life
2. Foxelli Headlamp Flashlight
Superior quality and diverse usage have ensured Foxelli headlamps a strong position in the market. The beam of the flashlight goes as far as 200 feet. Since the light weighs only 3.2 ounces, you will not feel anything while wearing it. That is why Foxelli headlights are so famous for night fishing.
While fishing, you will love the tilt feature of the light. You can tilt the beam of the light down to 45 degrees, which is convenient to see any little movement in the water.
You will be amazed by the long battery life of the headlight. You can keep the light turned on for 30 hours with one set of batteries. To light up the headlamp, only three AAA batteries are needed.
In short, the Foxelli headlamp has got everything you need for night fishing with great convenience. The manufacturer offers a lifetime guarantee for the headlamp.
However, you need to pay significantly more to have that. The headlight is waterproof, which is a matter of great relief for any fisherman. However, it can resist water only for a few minutes.
The changeable focus of the headlight can be fruitful for fishing. You can also use the red beam or the SOS strobe mode of the headlight when you need them. You can also keep track of time while fishing by using the built-in timer on the headlamp.
Pros
- 30-hour-long battery life
- Built-in timer
- Available in five different colors
- Adjustable focus
Cons
- Not fully waterproof
3. HeroBeam Headlamp Flashlight
The LED flashlight on the HeroBeam headlamp has many features to make night fishing easier. If you are catching fish scared of bright lights, the HeroBeam flashlight should be your choice. It can produce red LED lights to ensure clear visibility without alerting the fish about your presence. Besides, you will love the compact look of the HeroBeam headlamp.
Securing hooks for fishing is a difficult task in the dark of the night. To enable you to do it quickly, HeroBeam has the Super Spot feature. The headlamp can focus the beam on a particular spot with more brightness. I find this very helpful while preparing tackle for fishing at night.
The HeroBeam headlamp is water-resistant, which means it can work even after getting wet by sudden splashes or rain. However, you cannot forget that it is not waterproof. You have to wipe it instantly after it gets soaked.
The beam has 168 lumens, which means clear vision throughout the night. The LED bulbs can provide light for about 30 hours before being recharged. Apart from an SOS flashing feature, the headlight also has a soft white mode.
For a fisherman, the shockproof feature of the HeroBeam flashlight can be handy. You will also like the motion-activated feature. During fishing, when you do not have the scope to turn on the light using the switch, you can wave your hand in front of the bulb to turn it on.
Pros
- Motion activation mode
- Spot focusing feature
- Compact look
- USB charging option
Cons
- Not fully waterproof
4. Black Diamond Spot Headlamp
The Black Diamond spot headlamps are very popular among fishermen since they are easy to use and durable compared to many other headlamps. It has a powerful beam that can be adjusted according to your convenience. You can dim the beam at any level you want.
The Black Diamond headlamp comes with an adjustable strap so that people of any head size can put it on without difficulty. I found this headlamp to be very effective in viewing things close to me because the brightness of the light is highly intense. However, you can also use the headlight to view from a distance by changing the mode of the beam.
The waterproof feature of the Black Diamond flashlight is one of the reasons for its popularity in the fishing arena. The redlight mode of the flashlight is helpful for fishing in a quiet, dark area. It does not make the fish flee the area.
You can count on its waterproofing in any fishing condition. This headlamp is a good option if you are looking for a quality headlamp on a tight budget.
However, you can become startled by so many buttons on the Black Diamond headlamp. It may seem not easy to operate at the beginning. But within a few days, you will be able to run the headlamp smoothly. It has long battery life.
So you will not run out of power in the middle of your night fishing. I found the wide beam helpful in wild terrain too.
Pros
- Brightness memory
- Modifiable strap
- Powerful wide beam
- Highly affordable
Cons
- Batteries not rechargeable
5. Lumen Ultra-Light Bright LED Rechargeable Headlight
If you are looking for an affordable headlamp that is rechargeable, the LHKNL 100 Lumen Ultra Bright Light LED Rechargeable Headlight could be the right choice for headlamps. It has got red beams to make your night fishing more productive. I also like the LED light on the headlamp.
It gives you a clear view of a wide area. However, I found the flashlight a bit dim. However, the far-reaching spotlight compensates for that limitation.
The water resistance of the LHKNL 1100 headlamp is superb. It even has a rubber coating on its USB charging port to seal it against water. It has an optional motion-activated mode.
But the sensor is so sensitive that the light gets turned on when you do not want it to. Moreover, the sensor does not work in red beam mode. It happened to me more than once.
I believe the idea was to prevent the turning off by an accidental button push. To turn off the headlamp manually, you should press the power button for three seconds.
But I think three seconds is way too long. Sometimes it seems very frustrating to put so much effort into shutting it down.
The best part of the LHKNL 1100 headlamp is the performance of its bulb. It has a far-reaching beam. Moreover, you are getting it for a much lower price than many other headlamps.
Recharging the headlamp is very easy. It takes only 4 hours to get it fully charged. You can tilt the light up or down to get views of different perspectives.
Pros
- Very affordable
- Far-reaching spotlight
- Easy recharging
- Good water-resistance
Cons
- Oversensitive sensor
6. Vont LED Headlamp
The Vont LED headlamp is one of the best-looking headlamps on the market. Its performance is also remarkable. The headlamp has an LED light with 200 lumens, which is enough to illuminate a vast area.
By default, the bulbs of the Vont LED headlamp tilt at a 45-degree angle. The angular beam is very effective for the fishing area near you without bending your head.
The Vont LED headlamps went through tests in extreme conditions before coming to the market. As a result, they are tough and reliable. Manufacturers claim that the product has a military-grade construction.
Whatever that may be, you never need to worry about the durability of Vont LED headlamps. It should last at least a few years.
I like the headlamp a lot because you can toggle between different LED modes just by touching it softly. It means you do not have to free your hands from the gloves from time to time to adjust the light. Instead, you can touch the bulb and change the light setting during fishing.
The free-fitting headband is highly stretchable, which means you and many other family members can wear the headlamp without distorting the band.
The Vont LED headlamp is one of the few headlamps on the market that offers a lifetime warranty. I am unsure if they will keep their promise since I never had to claim the warranty myself. But it shows how confident the manufacturer is about the quality of the headlamp.
Pros
- Good stylish look
- 45-degree tilted bulb
- Highly durable
- Easy-toggle between LED modes
Cons
- A highly bright bulb scares off the fish.
How To Choose The Best Headlamp For Fishing?
The best headlamp for fishing has to be bright, steady, and waterproof. The battery life of the headlight should be long enough to light your way for hours.
Brightness
Depending on your eyesight and the particular conditions of your fishing spot, you should choose your headlamp. Lumens are the unit for measuring brightness. Most headlamps are available in a range of 20 to 1,500 lumens.
Along with the quality of the optics of your headlamps, lumens determine how clear your view can be at night when wearing a headlight.
For fishing at night, the brightness of the headlamp is not always a good thing. You should consider the nature of the fish you have targeted to catch that night. Bright lights lure some fish. Some other fishes will flee or keep a distance when they see bright rays.
Battery Type
It is always good to choose a battery with a long life. However, the exact time your battery will keep providing power depends on the brightness of the light.
The more lumen the light has, the less time the battery would run. While buying your headlight, consider these two factors at the same time.
You will mainly find two types of batteries; some are USB rechargeable, and the others are replaceable battery shells. Choose the right type for you according to your preference.
If you take a headlamp with a rechargeable battery, you need to pack a power bank and a cable with your night gear. Otherwise, you have to take some extra replaceable batteries with you.
Weight & Steadiness
You may need to wear the headlamp for hours while fishing at night. So, the headlight should be as light as possible. Otherwise, you will become tired quickly, and your fishing venture will be shortened.
Another important aspect is the steadiness of the light on your head. It should fit on your head so firmly that while making those sudden movements of fishing, it can never come off.
Waterproofing
Of all those fancy headlamps on the market, you should look for the waterproof one in the first place because fishing means getting in touch with water all the time.
While catching fish, you can get wet at any moment with a sudden splash of waves. You can also drop the headlamp in the water anytime. Whatever the situation is, getting the headlight wet is very high. So it must be waterproof.
Different Types Of Headlamps Explained
Depending on the lighting mode, beam, lumen capacity, battery, and other features, you will find many types of headlamps on the market.
Lighting Modes: Headlamps with white, red, and green lights are the most common on the market. For fishing, red and white LED lights can be helpful.
Beam Types: A headlamp can have three types of beams. They are spot beams and strobe beams. Depending on the fish you want to catch, you can use a headlight with either a spot or flood beam.
Lumens: Headlamps come with different lumen capacities. Lumens determine the brightness. For fishing, headlights with 100-200 lumens are sufficient.
Battery Types: Headlamps with replaceable batteries can be one-time usable alkaline types or rechargeable NiMH types.
Rechargeable NiMH batteries are usually more expensive. You will also find headlights with rechargeable lithium-ion batteries that can be recharged with USB ports.
Specific Features: Headlamps can further be distinguished by different features. Some headlights are waterproof, some have a tilting facility, and some come with headbands. Waterproof tilting headlamps with a headband are favorable for fishing.
Conclusion
Among all the headlamps discussed in this article, I think the HeroBeam headlamp is the most promising one for night fishing. It has a bright LED beam that is adjustable to any level you want it to be.
The features of spot-beaming and motion activation are unique to this headlamp. In short, the HeroBeam headlamp is one of the best headlamps for fishing.
The close competitor to the HeroBeam headlamp was the Foxelli Headlamp Flashlight. But it is not waterproof. So, it cannot be completely relied upon for fishing.
On the other hand, the long battery life, lightweight, compact structure, and steadiness have given the HeroBeam headlamps an appreciable position in the market.
The red and soft white beams of the HeroBeam headlamp are very favorable for fishing at night. So, if you are looking forward to an exciting fishing night, choose the Herobeam headlamp without thinking twice!