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Petzl Tikka Plus LED Headlamp
Initial Report - June 16, 2004
Contents
Reviewer Information [return to top]
Name: Chuck Kime
Nickname: Fuzzy
Age: 38
Gender: Male
Height: 5' 8" (1.72 m)
Weight: 229 lb (104 kg)
Hat size: 7 – 7¼ U.S., depending on haircut
Email address: ckime AT nelsononline DOT com
City, State, Country: Upper Darby (Philadelphia suburb), PA, U.S.A.
Date: June 16, 2004
Product Information [return to top]
Manufacturer: Petzl
Model: Tikka Plus
Year of Manufacture: 2004
URL: http://www.petzl.com
Listed weight (with batteries): 78 g (2.75 oz)
Measured weight (with batteries): 2.8 oz (79 g), scale accurate to 0.1 oz
Measured weight (without batteries): 1.5 oz (43 g)
MSRP: None given
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Color:
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Light/battery case – Smoke/clear
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Switch – Orange
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Band – 2-tone brown w/ white and orange writing
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LEDs – White
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Features (from web site) [return to top]
- Ultra-Lightweight 4-LED headlamp with 3 brightness settings
- Combines a variety of illumination with long-lasting battery life.
- 3 brightness settings (maximum, optimum, economic) and a blinking mode.
- Batteries last up to 150 hours on regular settings (up to 400 hours on blinking mode).
- Lamp articulates with new tilt feature.
- Lightweight and comforatable to wear.
- Water resistant and excellent for use anytime.
- Elastic band is fully adjustable and comfortable to wear.
- Requires 3 AAA batteries (included)
- 78 g with batteries
Arrival [return to top]
The light arrived on June 15, 2004, in a corrugated box approximately 7½ x 7½ x 6 in (19 x 19 x 15 cm). Inside the box I found two large packing bags (plastic pouches full of sailboat fuel) on top of the light and shipping/packing list. The weight listed on the packing list was .2 kg (7 oz), which corresponds to my first impression – this thing is light. The Tikka Plus was in standard retail packaging (a hanging blister pack), with range and battery life data printed on the back for each of the four modes. Inside the packaging, behind the light and batteries, was the two-sided instruction sheet (in English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish) for the Zipka Plus, Tikka Plus, and Tactikka Plus. Everything appeared to be in perfect condition upon arrival.
Description [return to top]
The Tikka Plus is part of Petzl’s line of hands-free lighting, made up of the Zipka, Tikka, and Tactikka, along with Plus (4 LEDs instead of 3) versions of each. Each of the lights seems essentially similar in function, with the major differences coming in the headband and light filtering – the Zipka does away with the Tikka’s headband in exchange for a retractable cord, while the Tactikka adds a fold-down red lens (tactical, I assume) to the Tikka.
The Tikka Plus has four (4) white LEDs arranged tightly against each other in a horizontal row, set in a silver-colored “reflector” housing with a clear front lens (according to the included documentation, replacement lenses are available in clear, or a package containing one each of clear, red and green). This reflector is at the front of the smoke colored section of the light that also houses the push-button switch, and presumably the circuitry. This section measures just under 2¼ in (55 mm) wide and just under 1½ in (38 mm) tall at its largest dimensions. Attached by a hinge at the bottom of the front section is a clear battery case that holds three (3) AAA batteries stacked horizontally one above the other. It seems from looking at the design that the size of the light is driven by the size of the batteries more than the size of the necessary componentry.
The battery case is released to allow battery changes by depressing a small detent at the top of the case. I was unable to do this simply with my fingers, but noted that the documentation shows a tool or coin being used, so I used the end of one of the (included) batteries to perform this task. Once the batteries were in place, it was a simple matter of closing the case and the Tikka Plus was ready to go.
At the back of the light, attached by two (2) detented pivots, is a slightly curved panel approximately the same height and width as the light itself, with slots to accommodate the 1 in (25 mm) wide elastic headband. The band passes through this panel in such a way that the band is against the wearer (or their hat) over the majority of the length of the panel, with the edges of the panel able to make occasional contact with the wearer. The headband is a two-tone brown/tan with “TIKKA” written in white, and “PLUS” written in orange around the entire length of the band. I found the band to be well more than long enough at its full extension (right out of the box), and easy to adjust to fit my somewhat smaller noggin. I expect the band to be able to fit over any hat I currently wear with no difficulty at all.
The pivots connecting the back panel to the battery case permit the light to be aimed in a total of five (5) different directions, ranging from not quite straight forward to not quite straight down, and hold the light quite steadily in whichever position is selected.
The Tikka Plus has four (4) modes advertised (the first three (3) modes are demonstrated above) – Maximum, with a range of up to 15 m (49 ft) and battery life of 80 hours; Optimum, with a range of up to 10 m (33 ft) and battery life of 120 hours; Economic, with a range of up to 5 m (16 ft) and battery life of 150 hours; and Intermittent, or Blinking, with an unspecified range (although it appears to be Maximum brightness when on) and battery life of 400 hours. This last mode blinks at a rate of approximately 120/minute, at least with fresh batteries. The different modes are accessed by repeatedly pressing the switch to cycle through until the desired mode is reached. Once the light has been left in any mode for more than two (2) seconds, the next press will switch the light off. If I continue pressing the switch rapidly while cycling through, “Off” becomes the fifth mode.
First Impressions [return to top]
The Tikka Plus appears well made, with the switch and all hardware working smoothly. The headband is soft and stretchy, but not so much that I need to overtighten it to prevent slippage. It is comfortable to wear, and should provide the hands-free lighting I recently discovered that I need. The Tikka Plus exceeded all of the expectations I got from the very informative web site, except one: size. It’s even smaller than I anticipated! I’m going to enjoy this test.
I wore the light around the house after getting home from work, just to determine if it was comfortable. After wearing it for a period of several hours, I had no discomfort. I did determine that the Tikka Plus will fit over any hat I am likely to wear in the field, including the Sahara Sombrero I am testing – which is shown in most of the photos in this report – but I had a small problem with the light trying to slip up my head when worn over the Pileus hat that is part of the Equinox rainsuit I am testing. I solved this problem by wearing the hat over the light, which also eliminates any glowing of the brim of the hat into my eyes.
I am also pleased to report that the Tikka Plus had its first genuine use last night: I had to rearrange the electrical cords behind the sofa, which required unplugging the only lights anywhere near where I was working, as well as needing both hands to get the job done. With the light in Economic mode, and pointed as far down as possible, the Tikka Plus was just what the doctor ordered.
Field Information [return to top]
Our Boy Scout troop camps monthly. Almost all of these outings include a minimum of 2 nights of camping, with temperatures expected to be from lows around 30 ºF (-1 ºC) to highs around 95 to 100 ºF (35 to 38 ºC). Elevations will range from sea level to approximately 2,000’ (610 m). My girlfriend and I, who between us have 3 First Class Boy Scouts (ages 12, 13 and 14), are also looking into additional camping without the scouts, and the possibilities of beginning to do some AT section hikes in Pennsylvania as the weather warms up.
I carry a common high quality 2-AA incandescent flashlight on my belt daily. Following testing, I now also keep an LED light in my pack at all times. I have recently found, however, that hiking in the dark with trekking poles requires a headlamp, as both hands are occupied while I am on the trail. The Tikka Plus looks like it should fit my needs well.
I plan to carry the light in my pack at all times, allowing my son to pack the other LED light as back-up to his current light. I will use the light for in-tent use in the evenings. This would encompass changing clothing, journaling, giving the correct medications to my son (who will be on all of the trips), and, of course, tracking all of the features and experiences with the light. If I should find myself moving about after dark, which I will (hey, I will be testing a flashlight, right?), I will use the light then, also. With the small size of the Tikka Plus, I should have no problem also carrying it daily in my briefcase, just in case I find a use in the outside world.
Things I am/will be looking for:
- Brightness. Will the light allow me to see everything I need as clearly as I need to see it?
- Ease of operation. Petzl indicates a total of 5 settings – three brightness settings, plus blinking mode and off. Is the switch easy to use without looking? How about with cold/gloved hands?
- Duration of full-brightness. Petzl has a chart of time available at each brightness setting. I will endeavor to track the time the light is in use, and determine when the light level begins to degrade.
- Ease of maintenance. How easy is it to change the battery/batteries. The light is powered by 3 AAA alkaline batteries (included, woo hoo!). I will determine whether/what tools are needed, what obstacles there are (small or overly recessed screws, whether the battery cover is attached – and how), and how readily this process can be completed in the dark, preferably without losing any parts.
- Water resistance. I just recently went through a nighttime walk in the rain. With poles in hand, it was difficult to use anything other than a headlamp, so water resistance is important. If I am cursed (hah!) with good weather throughout the testing period, I will resort to the shower for testing. There should be no seepage of water into the lens area of the light, and none into the battery compartment, either.
- Light ‘leakage’. I am a relatively light sensitive person – I see quite well at night, and get nearly furious when people shine lights in my face at night. I also generally wear a hat in the field. If I go without a hat, does the light shine in my eyes? If I wear a hat with a translucent bill (i.e. Equinox Pileus), does the bill get illuminated? If I wear any other hat, does the bill get in the way?
- Comfort. Is the Tikka Plus comfortable both with and without hats? Does it remain where I put it?
Things I like [return to top]
- Light weight.
- Compact.
- Comfortable.
- Fits over my hats.
Things I don't like [return to top]
- Tool of some sort required to open battery case.
Backpacking Background [return to top]
I started car/trailer camping with the family when I was about 5. I enlisted in the Army Reserve during my first year of college and spent 17 years fine-tuning my packing methodology - by the time I separated from the service, I was down to what I thought was a respectable 75-80 lb (34-36 kg) load. When my son started Cub Scouts, I brought my 60 lb (27 kg) ALICE pack for a weekend. We got to Boy Scouts in the Spring of 2002 and now camp monthly in locations ranging from the Chesapeake Bay area (flat and lightly wooded) to the Pocono Mts (flat spots hard to find and very wooded), in all seasons.
Lightweight (and ultralightweight) web sites, along with a day hike up Pikes Peak in July 2003, have led me to seriously rethink my gear choices. I plan to start doing more hiking/backpacking on our monthly Scout trips, taking along as many scouts as are willing, to a) get in shape (yeah, yeah, I know… round IS a shape), and b) determine what I really need to take along. I am relatively confident that I will be able to reduce my 3-season pack to 20 lb (9 kg), before food, fuel and water, by the time this season is over.
Thank you for your time.
Chuck Kime
a.k.a. Fuzzy
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