AAA Headlamp — Hands-Free Camp Light

Hands-free light for dark camp chores and dusty night walks. Our in-band trust pick is the Black Diamond Astro 300: AAA power with optional rechargeable battery add-on — honest about not being an integrated USB-C lamp.

Why we pick this

Phone flashlights die right when you need two hands for stakes, a cooler lid or the midnight porta run. The red night mode keeps camp civil, and this shape stays on a sweaty forehead instead of sliding off. October and November nights are long, so it earns its spot at any camping fest, and in an RV it's the light that doesn't wake everyone else. Going to a day-only fest with no overnight camp? You can skip it.

Kit role

• Night Ride pick: this is the headlamp that pairs with the bike lights and gaiter in our Night Ride kit. Bike lights get you seen on the road; the headlamp is for stakes, cooler lids, and the porta run.
• Battery, plainly: the Astro 300 runs on AAA batteries, or Black Diamond’s rechargeable 1500 battery (sold separately). It is not a built-in USB-C lamp.
• Fall nights run longer: October fests get dark early and stay dark late, and cold nights drain alkaline AAAs faster. Start the weekend on fresh batteries and keep spares in an inside pocket, not in the car. More in our festival camp lighting guide.

· Black Diamond Astro 300