Petzl Tikka Headlamp

Product Information

Petzl is a French manufacturer of high altitude rescue and mountaineering equipment and is particularly well known for its headlamps.

According to their own data, Petzl evolves their headlamps for 30 years again and again. LED technology was first used in the Tikka headlamp in 2001. The LED technology has among other things the advantage that the headlamps shine longer. Petzl’s product range includes the already mentioned models Tikka, Tikkina and Actik. All three torches operate in more or less the same way, as you would expect, and everything is straightforward – as it should be. The main (only!) switch is pressed to cycle between the three brightness levels and to get the red light on the Actik and Tikka you just press and hold. We found the cradle/clip slightly fiddly to use, certainly compared to the outgoing models’ hinge-style adjustor, however the advantages of the new system definitely outweigh the downsides. Firstly, the torch can be angled through a much wider range, especially upwards; secondly there’s less likelihood of it breaking; and lastly the ease with which you can unclip the torch and use with an ADAPT helmet or bike holder is a real bonus. Petzl have told us that on the final production versions the cradle/plate operation is a lot smoother than on the pre-production models we tested, so if that’s the case this becomes a mute point! The weight depends not only on the workmanship but also on the light-emitting diodes and the accumulator or batteries. A comfortable weight is between 70 and 90 g. The headband should also be adjustable and adaptable to the head. Running Time Unlike most of the other Petzl headlamps, the Tikka does not employ constant lighting technology. This means that as the battery drains the light becomes dimmer so it will only provide the maximum 200 lumens when it is fully charged. With that said, it's still a great choice. Then there's the newer Petzl Tikka headlamp available on the market, providing 350 lumens to light even the darkest paths on your trek. BatteriesA number of Petzl headtorches are now available with a hybrid concept battery system, which means that they can operate using standard AAA batteries or a Petzl Core USB-rechargable battery. We tested the ACTIK CORE and TIKKA CORE, and the TIKKINA over a period of months on night hikes, scrambles and climbs. It’s important to note that the TIKKA and ACTIK models are also sold as a standard, non-CORE versions, but still have the hybrid concept system and that same duality, they simply don’t come with a CORE battery included. Both Tikka and Actik have a red light mode, which ensures better vision for long distances in the dark due to the dark adaptation of the eye. The advantages that all three models have in common are the easy operation at the touch of a button, the low weight of around 80 g, the HYBRID Concept, which allows the insertion of rechargeable batteries or batteries and the washable and adjustable headband. The three Petzl models are all high-quality headlamps. Which model to choose depends on the desired field of application. We begin with the TIKKINA, which is the lowest in price and the simplest model in terms of features. The TIKKINA has a uniform, wide beam pattern with three brightness levels which you cycle through by pressing the one and only button on the top of the lamp. That’s really it in terms of function, but let’s not forget the common features of all the lamps, and the TIKKINA has the same rugged casing, adjustability and capacity to be used with helmet and bike mounts of its more powerful counterparts. No, not completely. The Tikka is designed to be weather resistant – the seal inside the battery compartment does a good job of keeping moisture at bay. It does a great job of keeping rain, snow and, as I discovered on Lake Baikal, mist at bay. But if immersed you need to dry it out fast.

HYBRID CONCEPT design: ACTIK® CORE comes with the CORE rechargeable battery and also works with three AAA/LR03 batteries (not included); it automatically detects the energy source and adjusts lighting performance Ok, let’s talk about lighting. Undeniably, one of the absolute essentials for every adventurer’s outdoor arsenal is a decent headtorch. Like the Tikka it has three light modes and a red light mode. Again, you can switch between the modes with a button located on the top of the unit. The two light cones can be set wide or focused depending on the illumination requirements. This model also features the HYBRID CONCEPT. The Tikkina is said to be the better reading lamp for this purpose. Both models come from the CLASSIC line and are recommended for normal use. At 60m, the beam length should be more than adequate for most outdoor activities. If you need a more powerful beam that reaches further and gives more clarity – maybe for an advanced route – you’ll need to look at more expensive options such as the 300. Lantern Fitting

Tikka* and Tikkina* belong to the CLASSIC headlamp category, while the Actik* model belongs to the ACTIVE headlamps. Models of the CLASSIC version were designed for everyday use and leisure activities such as camping. They are lamps for close range. ACTIVE headlamps, on the other hand, are aimed at outdoor athletes such as runners or mountaineers and have several light cones. This is because both runners and mountaineers need to see close up and look far ahead at the same time. Today's Tikkina is an impressively capable headlamp— one that we consider it a great choice for general use — that will meet or exceed most people's needs.