Even though it comes at a cost, James Roddie highly recommends the Petzl NAO RL for those looking for a top-spec head torch.

£150 is a lot to spend on a head torch, but the Petzl NAO RL is extremely high performance with some impressive features.

James Roddie highly recommends

For me it is a game-changer for fast mountain adventures at night, when you are constantly having to consider both the ground at your feet and the route far ahead.
Pros
  • Reactive Lighting mode
  • very bright
  • excellent battery life
Cons
  • price
Quick Specs
RRP: $199.95 | £150 (available from Nevisport and Cotswold Outdoor)
Weight: 145g
Output: Up to 1500 lumens
Power source: 3200 mAh Li-ion rechargeable battery
Features: Reactive Lighting. Top strap. Rear red ‘safety’ light.
petzl.com

With a maximum brightness of 1500 lumens and beam length of 200m, this is an exceptionally bright torch weighing only 145g. This low weight has been achieved partly through the cradle design, unconventional and formed from thin elasticated fabric and shock chord. This will not be to everyone’s taste, but I found it to be perfectly comfortable for sustained use.

Petzl’s Reactive Lighting technology is at the heart of the unit. This mode automatically adjusts brightness depending on the ambient light and where you look. For example, lumens will lower instantly as you look at a map or phone, and then brighten as you lift your head and look into the distance. It also adjusts to the intensity of your movement – brightening as you move faster to give you more of a view ahead. I couldn’t have been more impressed with this feature. For me it is a game-changer for fast mountain adventures at night, when you are constantly having to consider both the ground at your feet and the route far ahead. It reacts incredibly quickly and accurately, and you don’t need to think about adjusting the brightness yourself. At times when Reactive Lighting is not needed, you can quickly change back to manual.

Battery life is excellent. Reactive Lighting helps to regulate battery life, and you can get as much as 10 hours at 250 lumens. The battery pack can also be used as a power source to charge other devices. It may be overkill for many, and £150 is a lot to spend, but while this head torch is primarily aimed at ultra-runners, its features make it well suited to other serious mountain activities, such as multi-day winter Munro-bagging trips.

How we tested 

James tested these headtorches in a variety of conditions during winter, spring and summer in the Scottish Highlands, mostly on short backpacking trips and night-time ascents of Munros, with occasional testing whilst running and cycling. 

This review was first published in the January 2026 issue of The Great Outdoors. Compare it with other models in our head torches buyer’s guide.