Saturday, June 24, 2006

Petzl Zipka Plus Review



Summary

Petzl is a very reputable brand in the headlamp market, sporting headlamps for everything from spelunking to backpacking. The Petzl Zipka Plus packs a large punch for such a small sized body, utilizing 3 AAA batteries and 4 LEDs to the max. Petzl boasts 150 hours of light and up to 32 m in distance. Throughout my testing I have found this headlamp to live up to Petzl's expectations. However, as with any headlamp, the brightness fades the longer you use it, meaning that you may have to replace batteries at 75 hrs instead of 150. However, I have used this in all my backpacking adventures and even keep it by my bed at night because I love it so much.

Pros

  • Outstanding battery life
  • Maximum, Optimum, Economic, and Strobe modes conserve battery life based on need
  • Small size and weight is perfect for backpacking
  • Concealable head strap is cool looking and works great.

Cons

  • The concealable head strap can easily be tangled up in long hair. Those with long hair should stick with the Tikka Plus.
  • Not designed for helmet use or caving.

Conclusion
Great minimalist's headlamp for most backpackers and campers. Saves weight without cutting features. Great buy!

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