A 1.5-oz headlamp with a wide, even 380-lumen beam and the best headband of any ultralight headlamp we tested
October 29th, 2026
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Our verdict
The Petzl Swift LT is an ultralight 380-lumen, 1.5-oz headlamp for fast hiking, thru-hiking, lightweight backpacking, and trail running. It has the best headband of any ultralight headlamp—it’s extremely adjustable, comfortable, and doesn’t get caught in hats or hair.
It’s brighter and has wider and more uniform beam quality, yielding more “usable” light than other headlamps, too. The whole package is more compact than other headlamps, but its reflective band means you are less likely to lose it.
The Swift LT is among the most ultralight headlamps out there. But what made it stand out to us is its brightness and actually comfortable headband. It’s brighter and has more “usable” focused light than other ultralight headlamps.
The simple light modes mean this headlamp is less fussy and more functional than others in its weight class. I also like that the headlamp housing is made of sturdy white plastic and has a reflective headband, making it easier to find in the dark. Also notable among all the headlamps we tested, this headlamp is made of 50% recycled or bio-
Petzl Swift LT
We tested the Petzl Swift LT headlamp in all four seasons, from desert winter backpacking trips in Joshua Tree National Park to a month of camping in the Eastern Sierra to ultralight backpacking in the San Gabriel Mountains.
The Petzl Swift LT is more expensive than other headlamps and weighs about 0.2 oz more than the most ultralight lights out there. The battery runtime at high output isn’t as good as other headlamps, and the red light mode isn’t bright enough for night hiking.
But the Petzl Swift LT is still our favorite headlamp for backpacking because of its light weight, compactness, durability, and bright, functional light. There are lighter headlamps out there and less expensive headlamps. But the Petzl Swift LT has the best balance of all the features we want in a backpacking headlamp, with very few downsides.
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Petzl Swift LT specifications
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Battery type: Rechargeable lithium-ion
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Battery capacity: 880 mAh rechargeable battery (3.7 V / 3.27 Wh)
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Lighting modes:Max Power (380 lumens at 70 m), Standard (100 lumens at 30 m), Max run time (7 lumens at 6 m), red, and strobe
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Battery compatibility: Integrated 880 mAh lithium-ion (not removable); charges
Best for
Comparison table
| HEADLAMP | MAX OUTPUT (lumens) | WEIGHT W/ BATTERY (oz) | RUN TIME HIGH / LOW (hrs) | MAX BEAM (meters) | BEAM TYPES | LIGHT COLORS | MSRP* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petzl Swift LT | 380 | 1.5 | 2/60 | 70 | Flood only | 2 | $55 |
| Nitecore NU20 Classic | 360 | 1.34 | 2/97 | 109 | Flood only | 3 | $25 |
| Nitecore NU25 MCT UL | 400 | 1.7 | 2.7/45 | 132 | Simultaneous spotlight and floodlight | 4 | $37 |
What we liked
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High brightness and wide light for its size
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Comfortable and stable adjustable headband that may work better for folks who get headaches from heavier and less-adjustable headlamps
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Rechargeable battery system charges
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IPX4, so it can be used in the rain
What could be better
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Expensive compared to basic headlamps
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Battery drains quickly at max output
How we tested
We tested the Petzl Swift LT headlamp while backpacking and camping in all four seasons. We used it when winter backpacking in the desert in Joshua Tree National Park. In the spring, we used it while backpacking in San Gabriel Mountains National Monument and while camping at Pinnacles National Park. We tested in the summer while camping for a month and living off-grid in the Eastern Sierra. We also tested it in the fall while night-hiking and on early-morning and evening hikes on peaks across Southern California.
I’ve been testing headlamps for 8 years. We tested the Petzl Swift LT headlamp side-by-side with other headlamps for our Best Headlamps guide, including the Nitecore NU25 MCT, the Nitecore NU20 Classic, BioLite Dash 450, and the Black Diamond Spot 400.
Performance in the field
Brightness and beam quality
Compared with other headlamps in its weight class (sub-2 oz), the Petzl Swift LT headlamp delivers excellent beam quality. With 380 lumens, it is one of the brightest sub-2 oz headlamps that we tested. Lumens don’t always translate to more usable light, though. In the case of the Petzl Swift LT, the wide beam vs. spot light andthe higher lumens mean it lights the ground or rock ahead of you more functionally than others.
With the Petzl Swift LT, it’s easy to see rocks and roots, twists and turns in the trail, and crawl over talus (well, as easy as that ever is) with the beam light. This makes sense because Petzl designed this headlamp for runners and climbers, not just backpackers. The Petzl Swift LT has a good balance of flood vs. spot lighting, and the beam stays consistent as you move, even when you’re bouncing and the ground underfoot is uneven.
Light modes
While many headlamps tout nine or more modes, I prefer a basic headlamp—and that’s where the Swift LT really shines. It can take time and mental energy fiddling with the buttons on a headlamp to get it to just the brightness you need. I deeply dislike messing with headlamp settings and find adjusting lighting to be especially frustrating when I am already tired after a full day of hiking.
The Swift LT has one white LED, one red LED, and a single button to toggle between them: the lowest white, medium, high white, and red. The last mode you click through is the emergency strobe light. That is it! The simple lighting is a small feature, but one that I appreciate because it alle
Charging
The Petzl Swift LT headlamp comes equipped with an 880-mAh battery. This battery takes about 3 hours to fully charge from zeroyour town stops aren’t that long
The USB-C port isn’t covered, which concerns me since I often get trail grit in electronic ports, but it still has an IPX4 rating, so it’s at least water-resistant. You also can’t charge while the headlamp is on, especially since the port is on the bottom (maybe you can position a power bank under your hat?). So you better hope your headlamp is always charged for that unexpected night hike!
I like that it doesn’t come with a USB-C cable, like most headlamps. That isn’t a problem and something I actually appreciated because my electronics drawer already has about a dozen USB-C cables.
However, I have occasionally needed to buy a headlamp on the fly if I’ve forgotten or lost one right before a trip, and in those situations, I could see the missing cable as a downside.
Battery life and power modes
The battery life is one area where the Petzl Swift LT isn’t quite as good as other headlamps on the market. Indeed, I’ve run out of juice on this headlamp while backpacking (admittedly, I was already in camp so it wasn’t the end of the world). Still, it’s something to be aware of.
The Swift LT runs in three modes: max power, standard (better battery life), and max burn time (aka low-light mode). It also has a red light mode and strobe light mode.
At max power, you get all 380 lumens at 70 m. . . for only 2 hours. Two hours, however piddly, is still pretty standard for max-power headlamps. I don’t hold that against this headlamp.
The standard mode gets you 100 lumens for 6 hours at 30 m. This is the stat that is disappointing, in my mind, given the battery life. In contrast, the BioLite Range 400 gets you 6 hours at 90 m at all 400 lumens! Admittedly, that headlamp is a full ounce heavier.
The red light on the Petzl Swift LT lasts for 25 hours at 2 lumens, which is dimmer than other headlamps, including the similarly ultralight Nitecore NU25 MCT UL (5 lumens for a similar run time). That 2 lumens isn’t enough to night hike with, and the narrow red beam makes all but the most right-in-your-face camp chores trickier (Petzl rates the distance at 5 m, and that seems generous). Leave No Trace recommends red light mode in camp, but if no one is around, the Swift LT in low light mode (7 lumens) is more workable for camp chores and PCT-quality hiking.
The Swift LT also has a strobe mode visible at 700 m that lasts 200 hours, which is useful in emergencies or rescue.
When the headlamp hits 10%, the mode changes to 2 hours of 7-lumen reserve lighting to help hopefully get you to a safe place where you can charge again.
Battery indicator light
The Petzl Swift LT also has a battery indicator light, which we consider an essential feature of a backpacking headlamp because it lets you tell whether you need to recharge.
Unlike many headlamps with battery indicator lights that use a single color, this one uses a green-orange-red system to show battery level. Green is 50% or more of the battery. Orange indicates 10% to 50%, and red indicates less than 10%. While charging, it will turn from red to green once it reaches 100%.
Comfort and stability
Aside from beam modes and quality, the Petzl Swift LT really shines in headband comfort, in my opinion. Other brands like Nitecore may excel at ultralight lighting technology, but they still haven’t figured out how to make a comfortable ultralight headband. Petzl has.
The headband is a thin, reflective cord, but unlike the one on Nitecore headlamps, it adjusts at the back and on the sides. This means the toggle won’t cinch oddly at the side (as has happened to me on my Nitecore). The toggle also sits flat against your head, so you can wear a hat or helmet. It doesn’t pinch on hair or ponytails, either. The Nitecore cord always seems to twist on me, and that doesn’t happen with the Petzl. I can’t speak for everyone, but this design may work better for folks who get headaches from heavier and less-adjustable headlamps.
Plus, the headlamp cord is washable!
The light itself tilts so you can angle it up or down toward your feet. This isn’t new for headlamps, but is appreciated. Petzl designed this headlamp for climbing, mountaineering, and ski touring, so the tilt keeps the ground illuminated even when you’re wearing a climbing or ski helmet. The tilt has some rigidity and makes satisfying clicks.
Ease of use
The Petzl Swift LT has easy-to-use button controls, and since there aren’t that many modes, it’s pretty straightforward to switch. There’s one on/off button. Hold down the button for 2 seconds to switch between red and white modes. Clicking through the buttons will get you (in order) to max power, standard, or max burn time (low power) modes.
The Swift LT also has a reliable lock function, which we consider essential for a backpacking headlamp. The lock function prevents your headlamp from accidentally turning on while stuffed in your pack and draining the battery. Hold the main button down for 4 seconds to lock or unlock.
Durability
The Petzl Swift LT has an IPX4 water-resistance rating, so you can wear it in the rain. It shouldn’t be submerged, and it doesn’t have an official dustproof rating, but we think this is plenty strong for most outdoor trips.
We also find the housing looks sturdier than some of the less expensive headlamps, like the Nitecore NU20 Classic.
Use with helmets and bikes
Although we haven’t personally tested this, the Swift LT is notably compatible with adapters (including the HELMET ADAPT and BIKE ADAPT 2) that allow it to be used on helmets and on bikes. Petzl notes it isn’t certified for road use, so it can’t replace the standardized bike lights required by traffic regulations. But if you need an extra light while biking or commuting, it is cool that this headlamp has adaptors, since that’s not something we see often. If you’re looking for a bike light, read our Best MTB Lights story.
Sustainability
The Petzl Swift LT is one of the only headlamps we’ve seen on the market made of recycled and bio-materials. We’ve seen one from another European brand, but it is still pretty rare. Petzl also offers a three-year warranty on this headlamp, or 300 charges
Features
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Rechargeable lithium battery: 880 mAh on-board battery
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Lightweight headlamp body:compact at 2.3 x 1.2 x 1.4 inches
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Adjustable headband:reflective with two spots for adjustments
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Multiple lighting modes: red light and white LED (380 lumen, 100 lumen, and 7 lumen settings)
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Battery indicator: green-orange-red indicator
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USB-C charging: Yes (doesn’t include the cable)
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Lock mode:Hold down on the button for 4 seconds to operate
Similar products we tested
Petzl Swift LT vs. Nitecore NU20 Classic
Price: $25
Weight: 1.34 oz (38 g)
Max brightness: 360 lumens
Beam distance: up to 109 m
Battery: built-in 500 mAh Li-ion, USB-C
Run time (high/low): 2 h / 97 h
Water resistance: IP66
Light colors: white, high-CRI white, red
The Nitecore NU20 Classic is an ultralight headlamp that weighs 0.2 oz less than the Swift and is more affordable. However, the headband is significantly less comfortable than the one on the Petzl Swift LT. The Nitecore headband isn’t as adjustable, and its cord twists on its own and gets caught in hair.
I also like that the Swift LT’s cord is easier to find when fumbling in the dark than the Nitecore NU20 Classic’s harder-to-see cord. The Swift LT is also made with 50% recycled and bio-
If having the most ultralight thing is important to you or if you’re on a budget, the Nitecore NU20 Classic is a better choice (it’s our the ultralight pick in our Best Headlamps story). But for everyone else, the Petzl Swift LT is a better choice. It’s more comfortable, Petzl backs it with a better warranty, and the housing seems more durable.
Nitecore NU20 Classic
Petzl Swift LT vs. Nitecore NU25 MCT UL
Price: $37
Weight: 1.66 oz (47 g)
Max brightness: 400 lumens
Beam distance: up to 132 m
Battery: built-in 700 mAh Li-ion, USB-C
Run time (high/low): 2 h 40 min / 45 h
Water resistance: IP66
Light colors: warm, neutral, and cool white, plus red
The Nitecore NU25 MCT UL has three white light colors: warm, neutral, and cool. Each has four brightness levels. Then it has a red light mode. The idea is to coordinate everyone in your run club to use the same light color and reduce dizziness from too many colored lights. In practice, as a mostly solo hiker, I find that there are too many modes.
The NU25 MCT UL weighs about the same but costs about $18 less than the Petzl Swift LT. I’d go with the Petzl Swift LT. As with the Nitecore NU20 Classic, I think most people will enjoy using the Petzl Swift LT more. For more, read our in-depth review of the Nitecore NU25 MCT Series.
Nitecore NU25 MCT UL
Should I buy the Petzl Swift LT headlamp?
Buy if
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You hike or backpack at night regularly
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You want a lightweight, high-output headlamp
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You prefer rechargeable lighting systems
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You get headaches from heavier headlamps, or your hair or hat gets caught in other ultralight headbands
Skip if
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You only need a basic camping headlamp
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You want maximum battery life over brightness
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You prefer replaceable batteries
Where to buy
The Petzl Swift LT is popular, so you have plenty of retailer options. Here are some of the pros of the retailers.
REI Co-op
Pros:Lifetime membership is a $30 one-time fee and offers 10% member rewards on full-price items, a 1-year satisfaction guarantee, free shipping, member coupons, 20% off bike and snow shop services, and more.
Amazon
Pros: Free 2-day shipping with Amazon Prime membership (can be same-day delivery in major metropolitan cities).
Backcountry
Gearhead chat customer service is excellent. Summit+ Club is $49/year and offers 10% cash back, free 2-day shipping, free 365-day returns, a 20% birthday reward, and more.
Garage Grown Gear
Pros:Small, ultralight, cottage-focused retailer. They also handle warranty claims for you.
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At full output (380 lumens), the Petzl Swift LT battery lasts about 2 hours and can throw light up to 70 m.
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Yes, for people who want an ultralight headlamp, the Petzl Swift LT is worth it because of its significantly more comfortable, adjustable headband, more durable plastic housing, and warranty program.
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Not much. The Petzl Swift LT is an ultralight cord headband and won’t have the stability of a three-point headband found on a dedicated running headlamp. However, for an ultralight headlamp, the two-point adjustable headband provides excellent stability and minimal bounce.
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No. The Swift LT has an integrated, non-removable 880 mAh lithium-ion battery and chargesurs of reserve lighting when the battery runs low, to get you to a place where you can recharge
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It’s rated IPX4, so it handles rain, but it shouldn’t be submerged in water.
Why you should trust us / About the author
Liz Thomas is a former Fastest Known Time (FKT) record holder on the Appalachian Trail and has also hiked the PCT and CDT, and is a Triple Crowner. She’s co-founder and editor-in-chief of Treeline Review. As a former FKTer who enjoys night hiking, Liz continues to test headlamps while hiking in the dark. Additionally, she regularly hikes in the dark before work and uses headlamps while living off-grid in the Sierra each summer. She’s been testing headlamps professionally for 8 years and using headlamps as a professional athlete before that for another 8 years. The technology just keeps getting better!
You can read all hergear articles here, on her personal website, and on Wikipedia.
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