Gear Review: Petzl Actik Headlamp
Value Rating: 10
Durability Rating: 7
Overall Rating: 9
Location of Test: Eagle Cap Wilderness
Duration of Test: 4 days
Product Name: Actik
Product Brand: Petzl
Best Use: All purpose headlamp for everything outdoors
The Full Review:
I was on the fence about upgrading my headlamp for a while. It is such a small piece of my kit that I’ve always made do with the headlamp I’d had since middle school. Finally, the strap snapped, and I needed something new. I chose the Petzl Actik for a few reasons.
Petzl consistently delivers the most lumens for the life of the batteries. I dislike tossing out triple A’s all the time, so this was a high priority. At full blast, this headlamp will burn for 60 hours. Compared to similar headlamps which deliver the same lumens the Actik will burn for 20 more hours. Additionally, Petzl puts a burly strap on all their headlamps, keeping them secure on my head. The straps seem to hold up well over time and don’t lose their stretch.
On a four-day trip in the Wallowas, the Actik definitely proved itself to me. It seems like most headlamps now come with so many lighting options that reaching the ideal one takes a good 5 minutes of button mashing. The Actik has three white light options: dim, bright, brightest. It also comes with a red light for protecting your friends’ eyes while cooking. The 300 lumens offered plenty of power. I would happily ride a bike in complete darkness with the Actik as my only source of light.
The Good:
This is a durable and very useable headlamp with plenty of fire power for most outdoor enthusiasts.
The Bad:
It could stand to be a bit more waterproof. IPX4 means it’ll deal with splashes but won’t survive a full dunk.
The Bottom Line:
If you value simplicity and efficiency, this is the headlamp for you.
The Full Review:
I was on the fence about upgrading my headlamp for a while. It is such a small piece of my kit that I’ve always made do with the headlamp I’d had since middle school. Finally, the strap snapped, and I needed something new. I chose the Petzl Actik for a few reasons.
Petzl consistently delivers the most lumens for the life of the batteries. I dislike tossing out triple A’s all the time, so this was a high priority. At full blast, this headlamp will burn for 60 hours. Compared to similar headlamps which deliver the same lumens the Actik will burn for 20 more hours. Additionally, Petzl puts a burly strap on all their headlamps, keeping them secure on my head. The straps seem to hold up well over time and don’t lose their stretch.
On a four-day trip in the Wallowas, the Actik definitely proved itself to me. It seems like most headlamps now come with so many lighting options that reaching the ideal one takes a good 5 minutes of button mashing. The Actik has three white light options: dim, bright, brightest. It also comes with a red light for protecting your friends’ eyes while cooking. The 300 lumens offered plenty of power. I would happily ride a bike in complete darkness with the Actik as my only source of light.
The Good:
This is a durable and very useable headlamp with plenty of fire power for most outdoor enthusiasts.
The Bad:
It could stand to be a bit more waterproof. IPX4 means it’ll deal with splashes but won’t survive a full dunk.
The Bottom Line:
If you value simplicity and efficiency, this is the headlamp for you.