PETZL Swift RL Headlamp - SS21

Product Information

I can see that this is a good head torch for long distance runners for whom battery life is vital. For example, if you were only planning to use one head torch and battery on a longer run, then you will enjoy a longer battery life. However, I am usually out for a maximum of about two hours at night and that means I would prefer to have a brighter, steady beam rather than relying on the reactive mode.

To go into “standard” mode you need to hold down the button for longer. Then you press through three brightness beams. In reality, I found it easier to switch off the torch and then hold down the button for a longer duration to switch mode. The three standard beam outputs are: 10, 200 and 550 lumens. Spare battery available for long expeditions, or simply to switch out the battery when it dies (SWIFT RL rechargeable battery available as an accessory)In proximity lighting mode (REACTIVE LIGHTING®), the SWIFT RL PRO provides 300 lumens of lighting power, bright enough to see 55 meters ahead and offer up to 40 hours of battery life. Time and resources being finite, we generally make detailed comparisons between products only in our Group Tests; but it makes sense to do so here. Further advice from Petzl is that to extend burn time a bit further you can point the lamp at your feet slightly more than usual. The reactive technology dims the beam but then gives you the brightness if you look up a little. This does work well. Petzl has solved this by creating a second set of ‘standard’ settings too, which cut out the sensor and 'just' give you low/med/high beam as you’ve selected, like a normal, dumb headtorch. The hitch with the standard settings is that this drops full beam to a mere 550 lumens, presumably as the full 900 lumens will melt through steel like a superman eye laser - and the battery - if left constantly on for the entire 2 hour burn time. The Petzl Swift RL headlamp has two lighting modes: Standard lighting and reactive lighting. The standard setting has three light modes and a maximum power of 550 lumens that reach over 110 meters for a total burn time of 2 hours. The maximum burn time using the lowest light setting in standard mode is around 100 hours.

If you use reactive lighting, you can expect a burn time of 10 – 50 hours in the lowest setting (100 lumens), 5 – 4 hours in the medium setting (300 lumens), or 2 – 30 hours in the highest setting (900 lumens). The total burn time depends on how much time you spend in total darkness on full beam or how much light there is where you are. On a well-lit night under a full moon, you should get a much longer battery life.Now to the reactive beam itself. Well, it does seem like a great idea. The battery is only used to the extent that you require a beam. Except, I have found a few flaws.

I prefer the standard light beam outputs. The max standard lumens is 550 and this is actually fine for most night running situations. I could be greedy and ask for more lumens bit this would require a larger battery and that would make the lamp heavier. The SWIFT RL PRO includes a five-level indicator to let you know how much battery power remains when you turn on or turn off your headlamp. Saying that, on standard 550 lumens, the maximum battery time is only two hours. You will need to carry a spare battery if you plan to be out for longer. But when in reactive beam mode the battery use is far less.

Helmet Compatibility

These settings make it foolproof to use and very easy to switch between modes when you need to. There is no blue, green, or red beam on the Swift RL. In this Petzl Swift RL headlamp review, we share our direct experience using this headtorch for jogging, cycling, hiking, fishing, and camping. You will learn why this new headlamp from Petzl has become one of the most popular with joggers and if it is worth the money. I am told (by the brand representative) that I am very firmly in a minority of people who don’t rave about the Swift and the reactive beam, but there you go. I am simply stating my opinion and how I have found the head torch. I have tested many head torches over the past decade so I feel qualified to say what works and doesn’t work so well. With an ergonomic adjustable headband, with two-part Petzl patent construction, this has a really comfortable fit and will stay fixed on your head even when you’re really moving about. Speaking of the headband, it’s reflective for heightened night-time visibility. Since then there have been leaps and bounds of development, and we now have more choice of torches than ever before. You can go all out for lumens, or opt for a longer battery life; you can make it simple and lightweight, or dazzle yourself with a plethora of modes and settings; some torches have inbuilt USB-rechargeable batteries, while others even connect to your phone for programmable control.

Users of Petzl's rechargeable CORE battery will be on familiar ground here. Due to its output the SWIFT RL requires a larger battery than its cousin the ACTIK, hence there is no compatibility between the two - something that may annoy some of our audience. However, when you think about the SWIFT's greater lumens and burn time, it's quite clear why. The SWIFT is providing a heavyweight amount of lighting within a lightweight and compact exterior. The reflective two-part construction headband provides an incredibly stable fit when doing high-energy outdoor sports. It can be removed and washed.I didn’t realize until writing this Petzl Swift RL review that it is only rated as IPX4, which isn’t very high. It will protect the light from splashes from any direction, which is enough for heavy rain but not for submersion. If you want a highly waterproof headlamp, there are much better options. I have used mine in extremely wet conditions without issue. Conclusion: I love the size, weight and 900 max lumens output of the Petzl Swift RL head torch. The split rear strap keeps the head torch stable and on my head. Based in Crolles, near Grenoble, Petzl was founded by the cave explorer Fernand Petzl in the mid-1970s. With its cave-based origins, it’s not really a surprise that the brand managed to establish itself as one of the world’s finest purveyors of headtorches. Some brands merely adopted the dark, Petzl were born in it.