The Ledlenser HF4R is a light headlamp that deserves a first look from anyone running night trails who chooses by the pairing of brightness and time. A new model out in mid-Sep 2026, official price JPY 7,480. It weighs 92g with batteries and runs 10 hours at 100 lumens. If the rechargeable runs out, it lights on 3 AAA alkaline cells.
The Shoe Nerd's top pick
The HF4R is the light you buy for the line "10 hours at 100 lumens." The 650-lumen maximum catches the eye, but what you use for long hours in a night mountain is the middle setting. The previous Core was 120 lumens for 5 hours, so at nearly the same brightness the time doubled. And there is an escape route to AAA cells. Those are the only 2 lines I look at.
Key points
- 20g heavier than the previous HF4R Core (92 − 72), with a rechargeable 1.35 times bigger (1,350 ÷ 1,000mAh)
- Meets the Mt.FUJI 100 requirement of "80 lumens or more for 4 hours or more" with 2.5 times the time at 100 lumens for 10 hours (10 ÷ 4)
- Price per 1 lumens is about JPY 11.5 (7,480 ÷ 650). The HF6R above it is about JPY 13.4
What a headlamp box writes biggest is the maximum brightness. But what a trail race's rules ask is the pairing of brightness and time. For the Mt.FUJI 100, it is "80 lumens or more for 4 hours or more."
Read the new HF4R by this yardstick and a different line matters more than the eye-catching 650 lumens. Here are the release timing, price and the difference from the previous model.
When does the Ledlenser HF4R come out? Price and official numbers
The new HF series went on sale in mid-Sep 2026, and the HF4R's official price is JPY 7,480. It is the lightest rechargeable model among the series' 12 models.
| Item | HF4R (New 2026) |
|---|---|
| Release date | Mid-Sep 2026 (the official wording) |
| Official price | JPY 7,480 |
| Weight | About 92g (with batteries) |
| Brightness and run time | 650lm (temporary) / 400lm for 3 hours / 100lm for 10 hours / 20lm for 45 hours |
| Throw distance | Up to 130m |
| Battery | Removable dedicated rechargeable, 1,350mAh (USB-C). Also runs on 3 AAA alkaline cells |
| Dust, water and drop | IP67, 1.5m |
| Other | Red light, 3 colors, 2-year warranty (7 years with product registration) |
The most important line in the table is the 4th, "100lm, 10 hours." There are 4 brightness steps, and this is the only setting that reaches "80 lumens or more for 4 hours or more" in one line.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Ledlenser HF4R (2026 model)
Lowest price on Rakuten is JPY 5,936 (as of 10/13), ranging up to JPY 7,359 depending on the shop. Prices change daily.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on Yahoo! Shopping JapanHF4R vs the previous HF4R Core: double the time, 20g heavier
The previous HF4R Core also remains on the official store under the same HF4R name. Here are the 2 side by side.
| Item | HF4R Core | HF4R (new) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight (with batteries) | About 72g | About 92g | +20g |
| Maximum brightness | 500lm | 650lm | +150lm |
| Middle setting | 120lm, 5 hours | 100lm, 10 hours | Double the time |
| Rechargeable | 1,000mAh (built in) | 1,350mAh (removable) | 1.35 times |
| Water resistance | IP68 | IP67 | One step down |
At the middle setting, brightness fell 20 lumens and the time went from 5 hours to 10. The battery capacity is 1.35 times, so the time gain is bigger than the capacity gain.
As someone who also enters trail races, I do not choose a headlamp by maximum brightness. What you leave on for long in a night mountain is the middle setting, and how many hours it lasts decides how many spares you carry.
Another turning point is the battery. The Core had only a built-in rechargeable, but the new model lights on both a removable rechargeable and AAA alkaline cells. If the charge runs out, you can swap in dry cells and keep going.
HF4R vs the HF4R Pro, HF6R and HF4
Here it is next to close models in the same HF series.
Scroll the table sideways →
| HF4R | HF4R Pro | HF6R | HF4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Official price | JPY 7,480 | JPY 8,800 | JPY 12,100 | JPY 5,500 |
| Weight (with batteries) | 92g | 92g | 130g | 102g |
| Maximum brightness | 650lm | 650lm | 900lm | 450lm |
| Battery | Rechargeable or AAA | Rechargeable or AAA | Rechargeable | AAA only |
| ALB (automatic dimming) | None | None | Yes | None |
vs the HF6R: 38g lighter (130 − 92) and JPY 4,620 cheaper (12,100 − 7,480). The HF6R has ALB. A sensor measures the distance to what is ahead and automatically changes brightness and spread: wide and soft up close, strong far away. In exchange, it cannot use AAA cells.
vs the HF4: The HF4 takes only size-4 (AAA) cells, is 10g heavier and JPY 1,980 cheaper (7,480 − 5,500). The rechargeable is sold separately.
- Want both lightness and an escape route for batteries → HF4R
- On rocky trails, you glance between your feet and the distance repeatedly → HF6R
- Want no charging hassle, just dry cells → HF4
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Trail running headlamps
Lowest price on Rakuten is JPY 7,150 (as of 10/13), ranging up to JPY 25,830 depending on the shop. Prices change daily.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on Yahoo! Shopping JapanWhat I like
10 hours at the middle setting. It meets the Mt.FUJI 100's 4-hour requirement with 2.5 times the time (10 ÷ 4), 6 hours longer than required (10 − 4). With the previous model's 5 hours, the spare was 1 hour.
Two battery options. When the dedicated rechargeable runs out, it lights on 3 AAA cells you can buy at a convenience store. You do not have to buy several rechargeables for spares.
Cheap for its brightness. About JPY 11.5 per 1 lumens, lower than the HF6R above at about JPY 13.4 (12,100 ÷ 900).
Long warranty. 2 years, extended to 7 with product registration.
Things to watch
- 20g heavier than the previous model. From the 72g Core to 92g. For something on your head, 20g is not a small gap for anyone choosing by lightness.
- Only 3 hours at 400 lumens. Left at a bright setting, it does not reach the 4-hour requirement. You need to decide in advance that your long-use setting is 100 lumens.
- Waterproofing dropped one step. From the Core's IP68 to IP67. Both are dust and water ratings, but the number went down.
Which setting for how long a night?
Divide the hours you leave it on at night by the official run time and you see how many charges you will use.
| Hours lit at night | 100lm (10 hours) | 400lm (3 hours) |
|---|---|---|
| 4 hours | 0.4 of a charge | About 1.3 charges |
| 8 hours | 0.8 of a charge | About 2.7 charges |
| 12 hours | 1.2 charges | 4 charges |
If your night is up to 8 hours, 100 lumens fits in one charge. At 12 hours it exceeds one charge, so plan on carrying a spare rechargeable or AAA cells.
Who the HF4R suits
- It suits: people entering a trail race with a night section for the first time. People who want to buy the mandatory light after checking the brightness and time conditions. People who want to stock spare batteries in AAA.
If you want every gram of lightness, the previous Core; if you want automatic brightness switching, the HF6R. Race-by-race light rules are in the trail running mandatory gear article, vests that hold the light are in the vest and pack comparison, and other new releases this autumn are in the autumn 2026 new releases article.
HF4R price and where to buy
| Model | Official price | Rakuten price range |
|---|---|---|
| HF4R (new) | JPY 7,480 | JPY 5,936–7,359 |
| HF4R Core (previous model) | JPY 6,600 | — |
| Trail running headlamps (other models) | — | JPY 7,150–25,830 |
The gap between the new model and the previous one is JPY 880 (7,480 − 6,600). For that, the middle setting's time goes 2 times, and size-4 cells can be used. If you enter races that run through the night, it is worth the gap.
In races that require 2 lights, making the second one an HF4R too lets you share spare AAA cells. The button below is a search for the new model, set to exclude the Core.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Ledlenser HF4R (2026 model)
Lowest price on Rakuten is JPY 5,936 (as of 10/13), ranging up to JPY 7,359 depending on the shop. Prices change daily.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on Yahoo! Shopping JapanFAQ
How does the Ledlenser HF4R differ from the HF4R Core?
The new HF4R lasts 10 hours at 100 lumens and also runs on AAA cells. The Core is 120 lumens for 5 hours, internal rechargeable only, and a 20g lighter model.
How many lumens is enough for a trail running headlamp?
For races that set it by number, the Mt.FUJI 100 guide is "80 lumens or more for 4 hours or more." The HF4R gives 10 hours at the 100-lumen setting, so it meets that.
When does the HF4R come out? How much does it weigh?
Sales started in mid-Sep 2026. It weighs about 92g with batteries.
