This Headlamp Is Our Gear Editor's Favorite Thing He Tested in 2023

The rise of the headlamp, specifically modern iterations with LED bulbs, has been a boon to the outdoorsman. Camping, hiking, hunting, and general adventuring in the backcountry inevitably requires that you get shit done long after the sun has receded over the horizon. Though some headlamp manufacturer have attempted to figure out how to limit the amount of fiddling to select the beam and intensity you desire—at the moment you need it—the Ledlenser HF8R Signature headlamp does that for you. They have turned to cutting-edge technology to mitigate that ever-present dilemma with one button and a hands-free beam adjustment. In practice, it adjusts the beam automatically for you. And we think it's one of the best headlamps you can buy.

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Why You Should Trust Me

I’ve been a gear editor, gear reviewer, and outdoor writer at multiple publications—print and digital—for over 20 years. I'm the gear editor at Men's Journal and I’ve tested and reviewed everything from coolers and grills, to e-bikes and flashlights. And that includes hundreds of headlamps, from cheap-o's from big box stores to the latest and greatest in head-mounted LED lamps. I've inadvertently blinded quite a few friends at least once while hanging out around a campfire at night.

Features: Ledlenser HF8R Signature Headlamp

• LED Bulbs: 4 white; 1 red, 1 blue, 1 green
• Light Output: boost: 2,000 lumens; high: 900 lumens; medium: 300 lumens; low: 20 lumens
• Beam: flood, mid-range, spot
• Beam Distance: high: 220 meters; medium: 100 meters; low: 25 meters
• Average Run Time: high: 3.5 hours; medium: 10 hours.; low: 90 hours
• Battery: integrated rechargeable lithium-ion battery
• Dimensions: 5.7 x 4.7 x 3.4 inches
• Weight: 6.8 ounces
• Water-Resistance Rating: IP68; dust-proof and water resistant to 1 meter for over 30 minutes

A Hands-Free Headlamp Packed With Features

The first thing you notice when unpacking the HF8R is the heft. This is not a light headlamp, because of the tech packed into it and the superb build quality. This headlamp feels really solid, with confidence-inspiring materials used throughout, like the metal zoom control dial, thick plastic casing, and robust rear rubber strap. But, because of the included top head strap (we recommend using it), when you actually put the headlamp on it doesn't feel that heavy or cumbersome at all. Only someone doing an extremely active outdoor pursuit would be put off by the possibility of the chunky lamp falling off.

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But the main reason why the HF8R is a bit on the bloated side has to do with the nifty technology Ledlenser crammed into it. The star of the light show is undoubtedly what they call their patented Adaptive Light Beam Technology. It measures light, temperature, and how the lamp is currently performing at 400 times a second to make fast changes to the beam pattern, from flood to midrange to spot. That's achieved with a combo of three white LED lights in each range to make an almost seamless transition between the beams.

How does it work in real life? Pretty damn well, I found after multiple nights of testing in a wide range of conditions: gathering firewood in the woods on a moonless night and keeping a campfire stoked, ripping around on off-road e-bikes on twisty trails (with the headlights off—for science, don't try that at home kids), and bombing down rutted mountain bike trails in the dead of the night, the HF8R performed impressively well, with some caveats. 

Pros: No More Bumbling With Beam Selection

If you've had any interaction with a headlamp over the last decade you know that across brands there are many ways to access modes and beams and colors. It can get quite maddening to bounce between headlamps made by different companies. Your best bet was to just stick to one brand after you learned the intricacies of it's particular button-mashing regimen. 

You won't get away with not using any buttons with the Ledlenser HF8R—thankfully only one to use—and you do still have to learn a bit to operate it. But it makes the main annoyance with headlamps, beam selection, much easier. I found it to be almost seamless when performing the aforementioned activities, sometimes it would not quite transition between spot and flood when around a fire, but a simple hand wave in front of the light would usually correct it. It was much better than the constant hunt for the right button or sequence of buttons to adjust your light that comes with most headlamps. 

Ledlenser's app is another bonus tech for the beam selection. For one thing, the app actually worked flawlessly. That alone is worth something. With the app you can control the headlamp via Bluetooth to perform every task you can with the button, from turning on and off the Adaptive Light Beam to switching between the multi-colored LEDs. 

Another neat feature are the colored lights: red for night vision, green for being less noticeable to game when hunting, blue for tracking a blood trail when hunting. For safety there's a special S.O.S. mode which will make the light emit Morse "SOS" code and a strobe effect that can help deter assailants or animals from attacking. And a blink mode gives off a steady light impulse at a regular pace. The metal zoom control dial is a great innovation (when the adaptive beam mode is off) that allows you to easily get the beam pattern you want with, again, not having to fiddle with buttons. An integrated vibration motor will also alert you when pushing the dial too far and confirm when it's shutting down.

Cons: Off-Putting Bulk and Weight

Overall, the Ledlenser HF8R Signature headlamp is very impressive. It works well, though not flawlessly, with its Adaptive Light Beam tech. The light is strong and bright and has a nice range between it's long range spot and wide angle flood, but I found that during quicker-paced activities like flying through woods on two or four wheels, the adaptive technology could become a bit annoying as it was constantly trying to adjust to rapidly changing situations. But you can always turn it off.

The main concern is that its bulk and weight (6.8oz) may put off the casual user. For those that really dig the tech and need that hands-off approach though, the included head strap significantly lessens the burden. 

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And the app works extremely well, but there aren't that many situations where I would essentially need a remote control for my headlamp. 

Other than those things, the only other flaw—which is endemic across the entire Ledlenser line—is that the brand uses a proprietary magnetic charging standard. It's great in execution and usability, but if you don't always remember to pack that special cable, you'll be screwed when you need to top off because chances are large that no one else around you will have one you can borrow.

Verdict: Hands-Down Headlamp Champ

If you're looking for a bomber, feature-filled, very bright headlamp that cuts through the button-mashing mania that most lights give you, the HF8R Signature headlamp is a winner. Its unique Adaptive Light Beam technology works well, the LEDs are bright and offer multiple colors, and the app integration is seamless. It's also packed with other little goodies that make this headlamp feel ahead of the curve and unique among most other options.

If you don't need some of the features, and have a smaller budget, the Ledlenser HF8R Core headlamp is also a standout light and is $40 cheaper, but doesn't include the RGB LED bulbs, strobe and blink functions, and has a slightly lower output at max of 1,600 lumens. And for lightweight weenies that still dig the adaptive tech but don't mind a less-bright and minimalist option, there's the also highly recommended Ledlenser HF6R Signature headlamp at $90.