User Review: Petzl Tikka XP

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

Reviewed April 3, 2009 by LeTiger

Rating:
Price Paid: $49

For years I have been the odd-one out on the headlamp craze, that with their expensive traits, and semi-annoying head straps. However, I feel that as I bought into the headlamp market with the Tikka XP, that it couldn't have been a better choice.

This is an excellent headlamp that has plenty of brightness for almost any use (aside from mountain spotlight search and rescue...) and the 3 levels of brightness are perfect for conserving batteries. The "Overdrive" button can also be extremely helpful at times when you really need to see something far off.

Unlike some of the other reviewers on this site, I encountered zero problems with the water-sealing on the headlamp, and have changed the batteries multiple times to date with still no water problem (even though I use in the rainy pacific Northwest) The headlamp has excellent battery life, and works great with rechargeable batteries.

My absolute favorite about the headlamp, and what makes it a really great deal for me is the awesome "Diffuser" that Petzl incorporated. The ability to switch from Beam to Diffused light is simply a gift, and makes it an excellent late-night reading lamp as well.

All in all, great job, Petzl! A solid product that I anticipate not needing to replace for many years.

Save & Share