The woods are scary at night if you don't have the right light.
Written: Mar 31 '04
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Lightweight, cheap, durable, easy to use, long battery life, bright
Cons: Hard to open, can pull hair
The Bottom Line: Counting ounces? Need a bright light with a long battery life? The Tikka Plus is the brightest and lightest LED lamp on the market. Get one.
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| wvabackpacker's Full Review: |
-Petzl Tikka Plus LED Headlamp-
~Introduction-
Still using an archaic handheld flashlight that weighs a ton and is only good for a few hours? Time to start using it as a paperweight and move on the LED headlamp revolution. Not only do headlamps free up both of your hands, they weigh next to nothing and LED models shine for hundreds of hours on a single set of batteries.
~Price-
You can find the Tikka Plus at your favorite outdoor store or you favorite online retailer for about $33. I bought mine at REI, the store that pays you to shop. Get 10% back on all of your purchases each year. REI also supports the outdoors with over $2 million in donations each year.
~Features-
4-Super Bright LEDs w/Built in fixed reflector
Three brightness settings
Blinking mode
Up to 150h battery life
Tilting head
Water resistance
Adjustable headband
~Weight-
A mere 2.5oz (78g) with 3 AAA batteries.
~Battery and Bulb Information-.
I have two sets of data concerning the brightness and battery life.
-First Set (independent source):
Half life brightness, 70F: High 14.6/Low 7.1 Foot Candles
Battery life 70F: High 16:13/Low 33:35
Battery life 0F: High 6:17/Low 3:06
-Second Set (manufacturer):
Maximum Setting: Battery Life: 80h Distance of Illumination: 15m
Optimum Setting: Battery Life: 120h Distance of Illumination: 10m
Economy Setting: Battery Life: 150h Distance of Illumination: 5m
Blinking Mode: Battery Life: 400h Distance of Illumination: Visible to 25m+
~Field Test-
I purchased this light because it had the highest foot candle rating of any of the LED only headlamps on the market. My intended use for this product is on trail night backpacking in familiar non-grizzly areas and for use in camp. It is a replacement for my Black Diamond LED Hybrid Headlamp in the previous stated situations.
If this is your first LED light let me warn you that while the LEDs produce "white light", they do not produce the same white light as a halogen or krypton bulb. Rather the light produced is a white/blue unearthly color. It may take some getting used to.
This light is very, very bright. I had no problems identifying objects far down the trail. The LEDs sit in a row in the headlamp and this produces a wide angle of illumination rather than a long range focused beam.
LED lights seem to work best in complete darkness. Moonlight, white lights, campfires and other natural and non-natural light sources seem to interfere or override LED illumination. However, when walking through a dark wooded area I had no problems seeing 25ft+ down the trail on maximum. Identifying distant objects can be difficult in the bluish light. It also doesn't reflect as well off of animal eyes as white light does.
While setting up camp in the dark I found the optimum setting best as it is fairly bright and saves battery. Small tasks such as reading, sitting at an almost extinguished campfire, and walking a short distance to the bathroom in the middle of the night is perfect for the economy setting. All in all the three different settings are great as you can choose the level of light you need or prefer and extend the battery life accordingly. The ratchet swiveling head lets you adjust the beam to shine down the trail or down at the ground.
The blinking mode seems to use the maximum setting and can be seen from very far away. The flash is noticeable from 100 yards which is the farthest I have tested it.
The Tikka Plus features a "smart switch" for turning the light on and off. There is a small weatherproof button the top of the light. When pressed once the light comes on in maximum mode. Pressing the button again within two seconds changes the brightness to optimum mode. Pressing the button again within two seconds changes the brightness to economy mode. Pressing (getting redundant) the button again within two seconds changes the light to blinking mode. Another press within two seconds and the light turns off. So what happens when I set a mode and don't press the button until after two seconds? The light turns off. This "smart switch" will save the batteries and bulb life slightly. However, it seems to me that having to cycle through the modes when turning on the light causes unnecessary battery and bulb use. A more intelligent design might include a switch for the mode and another for the on/off or simply resume the previous mode the first time the button is pressed.
The button is rather small and slightly difficult to press with heavy gloves or mittens on your hands.
Changing the batteries also requires a coin or some very strong fingernails to pop the battery cover off. Be careful when putting the cover back on as it has little feet that must go into slots—if you're not careful they might break off. The lens can also be removed with a coin.
I've had limited experience with this headlamp in light rain. The manufacturer claims that it is weather and water resistant. So far this has been proven true. I update this review later when I have encountered a heavy rain.
~Fit-
The Tikka Plus is so small and so light I hardly notice that it is on my head. When I'm wearing the Black Diamond LED Hybrid Headlamp I know that it is there because it has a big reflector, battery pack on the back of my head, and three straps. The Tikka Plus fits the batteries behind the light so there are no wires running from a battery pack. This means that in winter and cold conditions you can't store the batteries in your pocket to keep them warm. The single band also feels a lot better on my head and fits over ball caps and hats more easily.
I will complain that the ratchet swiveling head can sometimes grab and pull hair which can be painful and uncomfortable.
~Storage-
The Tikka Plus is so small you can store it in your pocket while hiking. I store mine in the top of my backpack for easy access. At home I keep it out on the table for walking the dog and in case of a blackout. Store at room temperature so the batteries don't rupture.
~Accessories-
Petzl Pochette: $6.95 – small storage case with Velcro loop for attaching to belt .5oz
Lens Kit: $3.50 – Change the color of the light emitted to red or green. Also comes with a replacement transparent lens.
~Warranty-.
The Tikka Plus comes with a standard 3 year warranty on faults in material or manufacture. No warranty for normal wear and tear.
~Conclusion-
I am very pleased with this light. It performs very well for my intended use of illuminating trails and campsite chores. I would not use this light for bushwhacking as it does not illuminate as well as a white light. However, for those of you that count ounces and want the brightest and lightest headlamp on the market, the Tikka Plus is what you need.
© 2004 WVaBackpacker (Jeremy W. Hays)
Written for http://jeremy.qn.net/ 29 March 2004
~Outdoor Reviews by WVaBackpacker-
--Backpacks-
Gregory Shasta Backpack | Dana Design Glacier | Osprey Aether 60 – NEW
--Tents-
REI Half Dome Plus 2 | Mountain Hardware Trinity | Sierra Designs Clip Flashlight CD | Sierra Designs Ultra Light Year CD Solo Tent - NEW
--Sleeping Gear-
The North Face Thunderhead 3D | The North Face Kilo Down 32F | Cascade Designs Therm-a-Rest Luxury LE Self-inflating Mattress | Down Sleeping Bag Buying Guide | Therm-a-Rest Prolite 4 - NEW
--Hydration-
MSR Dromedary Bag | Platypus Big Zip | SweetWater Walkabout Microfilter | SweetWater Walkabout Replacement Filter | SweetWater SiltStopper
--Misc Gear-
Black Diamond LED Hybrid Headlamp
--Destinations-
Heart Lake, Yellowstone National Park | Keyhole State Park, Wyoming
--Books-
The Backpackers Handbook
Recommended:
Yes
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wvabackpacker
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Member: Jeremy Hays
Location: Columbus, OH, USA
Reviews written: 40
Trusted by: 46 members
About Me:
Maybe I'll write another review someday...lots of new gear...
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