How to read headlamp specs before a night on the bank
We have not hands-on tested these products. Specs are summarized from the linked pages, checked October 21, 2026, and may change. Confirm on the source before buying.
- Beam type: flood beams suit close work like tying knots. Spot beams reach farther. (REI)
- Lumens vs. beam distance: lumens measure total light output. Beam distance measures how far usable light reaches. (REI)
- Run time: the newer standard ends run time at 10% of the starting brightness, so ratings can differ a lot between older and newer specs. (REI)
- Red light: red light doesn't make your pupils shrink the way white light can. (REI)
- Batteries: lithium batteries outperform alkaline in the cold. (REI)
For one example spec sheet, see our TIKKINA page.