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Petzl Tikka Plus LED Headlamp
Long Term Report - January 11, 2005
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: January 11, 2005
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
Description [return to top]
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. At the back of the light is a slightly curved panel with slots to accommodate the elastic headband. The light may be aimed in a total of five (5) different directions, ranging from not quite straight forward to not quite straight down.
The Tikka Plus has four (4) modes – Maximum, Optimum, Economic, and Intermittent, which are accessed by repeatedly pressing the switch to cycle through until the desired mode is reached.
For a much more detailed description, and some photos, please see my Initial Report.
Field Testing [return to top]
Our Boy Scout troop camps monthly. Almost all of these outings included a minimum of 2 nights of camping, with temperatures from lows around 30 ºF (-1 ºC) to highs around 95 ºF (35 ºC). Elevations ranged from sea level to approximately 2,000’ (610 m). My experiences with the light are basically the same as found in my Field Report. It continues functioning, and I have not yet noticed any dimming.
I will continue to carry the light in my pack at all times, even after this test. With the small size of the Tikka Plus, I have had no problem also carrying it daily in my briefcase, just in case I find a use in the outside world.
Things I was 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?
My findings:
- Brightness. I have not been in a situation where I needed any more light than the Tikka Plus could provide.
- Ease of operation. I have had no difficulty working the push-button switch.
- Duration of full-brightness. No noticeable degradation in light output.
- Ease of maintenance. Any small ‘tool’ with a point or small edge (like a replacement battery) is sufficient to open the battery case. All components of the light are attached, even when open, so there is no danger of losing any pieces.
- Water resistance. I think we had one day of Scout camp that it did NOT rain, and when it wasn’t raining, it seemed like about 200% humidity. In other words, it was a damp week. No seepage was noted, and no loss of function was detected.
- Light ‘leakage’. When worn without – or under – a hat, I get a slight reflection in my glasses with the light in the bottom two positions. When worn with a ball cap, there is a noticeable dark arc right in front of me, but the trail ahead is sufficiently illuminated that I have had a chance to see the area right at my feet before walking there. If I need to see at my feet, I can simple tilt my head down, and see everything that I need to see. I wound up wearing the light below the Pileus, due to the hat’s flexible and slippery nature, so did not have to deal with bill illumination.
- Comfort. While wearing the light around the house, I found myself taking breaks, including sitting out on the front steps in the sunlight, without even realizing I was still wearing it. The Tikka Plus is comfortable, both with and without hats on, and it remains 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. However, a new battery is sufficient for the task.
Backpacking Background [return to top]
My family started car/trailer camping when I was about 5. I spent 17 years in the Army Reserve fine-tuning my packing methodology – when I got out, I was down to a fairly respectable 75-80 lb (34-36 kg) load in my ALICE pack. Advancing age, arthritic knees and a car accident have led me to seriously rethink my gear choices, experiment with tarps and hammocks, make some of my own gear, and take a closer look at my ‘toys’ with an eye for multi-use and light weight. I now have a sub-30 lb (14 kg) 3-season load, and should be able to reduce it to 20 lb (9 kg) – before food, fuel and water – without much more effort.
Thank you for your time.
Chuck Kime
a.k.a. Fuzzy
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