Reviews > Lighting > Headlamps - LED > Petzl Tikka XP > Chuck Carnes > Long Term Report

                                         Long Term Report                                          

Petzl Tikka XP
Report date: February 13, 2006

Biographical Information
Name: Chuck Carnes
Age: 36
Gender: Male
Height: 6'0" (1.83 m)
Weight: 175 lbs. (79 kg)
E-mail address: ctcarnes1(at)yahoo(dot)com
City, State, Country: Greenville, S.C.  USA

Backpacking Background
I love the outdoors – I’ve spent time camping in the outdoors since I was born, and have been actively hiking and backpacking for the past ten years. I consider myself a lightweight hiker, usually carrying 20 – 30 pounds (11-13 kg) for hikes up to a week in length. I hike at an easy pace, averaging 2 mph (3 kph). I am a one-man tent camper for now until a lighter two-man tent comes along and will give me more room. I like to carry a single trekking pole when I hike to help relieve stress to my legs and knees. I like to get out on the trail as often as I can.

Product Information
Manufacturer: Petzl
Model:  Tikka XP                                 
Year of Manufacture: 2005
URL: www.petzl.com                         
Listed Weight: Headlamp: 2.08 oz (59 g) + Batteries: 1.27 oz (36 g) = 3.35 oz (95 g)     
Weight as Delivered: Headlamp: 2.0 oz (57 g) + Batteries: 1.27 oz (36 g) = 3.27 oz (95 g) 
Height: 1.45 in (3.68 cm)
Width: 2.5 in (6.35 cm)
Thick: 1.75 (4.45 cm)
MSRP: Not listed on web site (Altrec Outdoors: $49.95 US)

Product Features:
(from web site)
Powerful, focused light beam with 3 lighting levels (maximum, optimum, economy) and a blinking mode, to adapt the light to the activity at hand.

Boost mode: 50 % more light than the maximum level for 20 seconds.

Wide angle lens for flood beam-like proximity lighting.

Battery life indicator (indicator light + blinking LED): warns when the batteries are approximately 70 % drained and 90 % drained.

Compact and lightweight.

Tiltable light body enables light beam to be directed where needed.

Comfortable and stable to wear: adjustable and ergonomic elastic headband.

Light distance: up to 35 m (115 ft.) (50 m (164 ft.) in boost mode).

Light duration: up to 120 h.

Initial Report
         
Field Report

Long Term Report:
            I really enjoyed testing the Petzl Tikka XP headlamp. It has meet everyone of my lighting needs since the first day I pulled it out of the package. Since my Field Report, I have used the XP on several overnight trips to the Great Smoky Mountains area and to the Pisgah National Forest area. On these trips the temperatures were 65 F to 55 F (18 C to 12 C) during the day and 45 F to 30 F (7 C to -1 C) at night. My experience with the light has been nothing short of spectacular. As I mentioned in my other reports I really like the power boost mode. I have used this feature numerous times when looking into a tree or just trying to see further down the trail. I did not find that the temperature had any affect on the headlamp; however, I did notice the low battery indicator light starting to blink on my last trip. I can't say for sure if the temperatures made the life of the batteries shorter or if it was from using the power boost mode quit a bit. This was the first time that I have had to change the batteries during my testing period. Changing the batteries was very easy. Using the tool that is attached to the adjustable slider on the head band, simply turn the knob on the back of the headlamp housing, remove the old batteries and replace with new ones.

            The adjustment of the headband was also easy to slide while the light was on my head; I didn't have to remove it to adjust it. The head of the headlamp rotates nicely on the light body. Once I set it at the preferred declination, I hardly every moved it; but when I did, it stayed at that position. Wearing the Tikka for an extended period of time does not cause discomfort to my forehead and I actually forgot that it was on my head at times. I have found the durability of the light to be great during these four months. All of the buttons still work and the wide angle lens still slides well in the lamp body. I have learned to be able to use one hand when sliding the lens and I like the quickness of being able to switch from a beam light to a wide light.

            I actually was able to keep from dropping the headlamp into the creek or the river. Since I didn't get to test the water resistance in the field I placed the headlamp in a bucket of water to test if the light would still work if it was submerged in water. The light still worked and the water did not seem to have an affect on the bulb, lens or batteries. There is not much more that I can say about this wonderful headlamp that I haven't already said. It performed wonderfully every time that I used it. This will certainly be one of my favorite pieces of gear.

Thank you Petzl and BGT for giving me the opportunity to test this headlamp.

Reviews > Lighting > Headlamps - LED > Petzl Tikka XP > Chuck Carnes > Long Term Report