User Review: Petzl Tikka XP

Petzl Tikka XP
Above: The current Tikka XP, which may differ slightly from the version reviewed.

Reviewed December 12, 2007 by Chris Bone

Rating:
Price Paid: NZ $105

I bought a Petzl about 1 year ago and started using it on yacht delivery trips. Slowly cracks started appearing in it around the on off/switch. In the end a large piece fell off and it would not close anymore. I took it back and it was replaced.

I took the new one on a trip where it rained a bit. I used it either under a peaked cap or the hood of my rain jacket so it was never actually exposed to rain.

After a few days it packed up. I opened it up thinking that the batteries needed replacing and found that it was badly corroded inside and the connections were rusty from water ingress.

I took it back. I got a phone call. They said that I had obviously not cared for it well and must have used it in pouring rain or immersed it. Every time I used it in any rain it was under the hood of my jacket or cap. It never had rain falling on it. In spite of this I was told that Petzl would not replace it.

In there advertising they say this unit is water resistant yet clearly it is not. I was told that the technical manual says that if it is used in humid conditions it has to be taken apart after use and dried so obviously Petzl do not believe in their own advertising.

I look after my gear carefully. After each trip I take out the batteries and leave the headlamp with a silica gel bag to ensure it stays dry.

These are very expensive headlamps. I like to buy good gear because I expect it to last and I also expect to get good service from the company. I got neither. For the same price I could have bought 8 cheap headlamps and even if they were as bad as the Petzl I would still have 7 left.

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