Headtorches have come on a long way in recent times, dramatically improving the way we angle after the light has faded. Budget fishing headtorches used to just be used for baiting or sorting out a fish after capture but now many anglers use the beam functions for searching for fish like carp and barbel during the night, or for illuminating their spots or far margin markers for precise casting. The best headtorches shortlist: Not only is it bright though, it’s also variable focus, so you can easily adjust the depth of the beam from wide the ultra focussed by twisting the lens cap. The Nitelife head torch is another which has been specifically designed for carp angling by our friends at Trakker. Featuring up to 580 lumens, this really does deserve the award for brightest head torch on this list! All of the lighting is adjusted with the dual button on the top. You’re probably thinking why is it a dual button? Well there’s another nifty feature that you might wonder how you’ve lived without!

When it comes to choosing a headtorch for fishing, the main purpose is to illuminate the area around you so you can see what you're doing. All headtorches will do this regardless of price but in some fishing situations you may need your headtorch to be more advanced. NGT have been around in the budget carp gear world for a few years now and to be fair to them, their gear might not be the flashiest in the world, but it certainly stands up to the job. When it comes to lumens, it is entirely down to angler's preference and what the headtorch will be used for. For general fishing, a headtorch capable of producing between 50 and 300 lumens will make a great all-round unit, but if you require something more powerful for sea angling or lamping fish like barbel, then aim for the most powerful you can afford as it will make a difference. A beam function, whilst unnecessary for normal headlight use, is particularly useful for recasting at night. The beam function focuses the light into a bright channel that will help illuminate the area you're fishing, allowing you to be far more accurate when recasting at night. It also helps getting the rods out if you don't arrive at the lake until after dark.For the lovers of light and compact equipment the super-compact Micro Lite, which boasts three ultra-bright white LED settings and one very handy red LED night vision setting. There is nothing more romantic and exhilarating than standing out on the bank playing a carp under the light of the moon. However, sometimes a little artificial intervention is required and Nash’s new Moonshine range has a headtorch for every requirement!

The different coloured modes some models have can be really beneficial during the night, especially when you have just woken up, want to remain stealthy or are trying rigs and don't want to be dazzled by a bright white light. This is where the red and green light modes are really beneficial to an angler, they provide plenty of light to be able to see what you're doing but wont spook fish, annoy other angler or cause you to be temporarily blinded when looking out into the darkness as your eyes can adjust much more easily. Glossary It’s the choice for the carper who knows the value of lamping the width of a canal or depths of several metres in clear water or illuminating far margin features for precise rig placement at night. Our range of carp fishing lights includes several styles to suit your needs. For those planning to use a bivvy during their session, bivvy lights are essential. Our selection of lanterns, mostly battery-powered, ensures that you can safely store the light in your sleeping area without any worry. This impressive torch boasts a massive 760 lumens. That’s enough to light up the far margins and more.

Reels & Spools

The VRH150 is the baby brother of Ridgemonkey’s VRH300 that we covered above. You get pretty much the same features but in a toned down version.

Lumens: A measure of the total amount of visible light in some defined beam or emitted from a source. The higher the lumens, the brighter the light. Bank lamps are another fantastic option for night fishing. Some of our bivvy lights also double up as bank lamps, featuring waterproof casing and attachment options to secure the lamp to your rod support and bankware. Adding a light to your rod setup not only helps you identify your rods in the dark but also ensures your safety by preventing accidental falls into the water. Lastly we have the goliath model of the range, the Moonshine Mega lite. Providing ultimate power, the Mega lite allows you to hunt for carp in complete darkness thanks to the extremely impressive 760 lumen spot light beam. With a variable 42 to 220m range, there will be no far bank marker, snags or overhangs you can’t illuminate to get your rig too! It’s important to recognise that head torches are all about reliability. There are brands in the outdoor space that specialise in creating head torches for far more serious activities than fishing. (Like mining or caving). They’re often built better.There is a three-position ratchet angle adjust lens to ensure whatever the subject you can illuminate it comfortably and accurately, and with a cool glow in the dark Nash headband logo placed on the comfortable strap you will always be able to find the head torch!There are three white LED brightness settings to choose from,between28and760 lumens, providingan impressive run time of between five to 81 hours,setting dependent. This durable and lightweight head torch for runners is suitable for both suburban and cross-country running, due to its three level power metre and multi-programmable beam pattern. On full beam, with a single battery, this running head torch will last an hour (more than enough time to power through some miles). Attach its support cell and you can extend that to around three hours use. Another option for lighting up your night fishing experience is the use of head torches. Whether it's worn on your head or dangled from a bivvy clip, the light a headtorch emits is incredibly impressive and will help light your way hands-free when you’re scrambling down the bankside after a catch. What to Look for in a Fishing Light Starting with the light itself, it’s a maximum 450 lumens, so more than enough for all of your lighting needs. Like most of the torches reviewed here, it has a few brightness settings across White, Reg & Green colours.

It’s a great feature if you’re not a fan of sleeping with your head torch on. Simply place it on your bivvy table with the motion sensor on and move your hand towards it when you get a take. Ultralite at 60gThe incredibly powerful rechargeable cells can also be swapped with a battery adaptor to allow use of 3 x AA 1.5V batteries, guaranteeing you are never without your most valuable location tool.