Petzl E49P TacTikka Plus 4-LED Headlamp, Black
by Petzl
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List Price: Our Price: $40.95 You Save: $3.00 (7%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: Tools See more product details |
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Tools and Hardware Reviews of Petzl E49P TacTikka Plus 4-LED Headlamp, Black
Customer Review: Is it Good for Runners?
Summary: 4 Stars
I've only had a chance to use the Tactikka Plus on one 6 mile run. So far I like it very much. It's very lightweight, comfortable and stays in place. Some of the roads I run on are very well lit while others are almost completely dark. I wanted a light that was bright enough for me to see in the dark places even after my eyes had adjusted to the street-lit areas. The packaging for mine did not have the "80% Brighter" sticker that I have seen on similar new Petzl equipment so I wondered if it was going to work well for me. It did. Even at the low setting it was bright enough for me to see potholes and dips in the road. The light covers a wide area and reaches far enough in front that I don't "outrun" it. The switch is easy to use. The adjustable angle housing is essential for dialing in exactly where you want the light pointed without having to hold your head at a weird angle.
The headband does soak up sweat and it did take a few hours to dry out. I don't know if anything can be done to improve this.
Overall, I would recommend it to others. I would also check out the Princeton Tec Quad. It looks to be nearly identical but it is cheaper. It trades the flip up red lens on the Petzl for a waterproof housing.
*** UPDATE ***
I've now had this headlamp for 5 months and use it many times per week. Everything I liked about it initially I still like. For no apparent reason the lamp now will not turn off. Instead it goes into an ultra dim mode that you may not notice at first but continues to drain the batteries. I have not dropped or physically damaged the light. I've tried new batteries twice. Then I sent the lamp back to Petzl at my expense for their review. Customer service was excellent and prompt. They sent me a new lamp but unfortunately it is a Tactikka instead of a Tactikka Plus which means it only turns on or off. This is a shame because I use the lamp almost exclusively in the low setting.
While my old lamp was being evaluated I used a Princton Tec Fuel. Unfortunately for Petzl even though this lamp has only three LED's it is an improvement over my Tactikka plus in every way except comfort. It is only slightly less comfortable to wear and the flood pattern is better (it has more of a spotlight in the center with a wider flood light on the sides). I ended up never using the red flip up filter on the Tactikka Plus because I wanted to make sure oncoming traffic could see me easily. I'll be using the Fuel instead of the Tacktikka now.
Customer Review: A quality mid-range headlamp
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought this for camping, and it has performed very well. The light is nice and bright, battery life is exceptional, and it is very comfortable on my head. At 2.75 ounces, it is very light and hard to notice it's even there. At first I was taking this and a regular flashlight with me, until I realized that this headlamp is all I really need. The actual lamp can tilt up or down about 40 degrees, and locks into place when you tilt it. It has three different modes, although I only ever used the brightest setting. The red lens cover minimizes the brightness of the light, and is useful if you're a burglar or if you need to turn on a light in your tent while your partner is sleeping. Although it's not bright enough with this cover to see more than about 2 feet in front of you.
My only complaint with this lamp is that it's not as bright as I would like. It has a brightness range of 14 lux at the low setting, to 64 at the high. 64 is fairly bright and will provide a beam distance of 32 meters. However, Petzl's next higher model is the Petzl Tikka XP Headlamp, Red #E86PR, which has a range of 20-77, and above that, which I ended up getting, is the Petzl MYO XP 3-Watt LED Headlamp #E83-P, which is 5 times brighter at a range of 72-324 (but three times heavier). Ultimately, it depends on what you need the light for. For general camping this should do just fine, and I would recommend a headlamp over a traditional flashlight in almost every application. It is incredibly useful for doing work on my house in my crawlspace. Specs are below:
Specifications:
Bulb type 4 LEDs
Weight (w/ batteries) 2.75 ounces
Dimensions 2.4 x 2 x 1.7 inches
Brightness (lux @ 2 meters) High: 64 / low: 14
Maximum beam distance High: 32 / low: 15 meters
Brightness levels 3
Beam type Flood
Strobes 1
Regulated output No
Battery life at 70 degrees High: 100 / low: 150 hours
Batteries 3 AAA
Material Plastic
Customer Review: I didn't realize I'd always needed one!
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm not sure if I can fully express how pleased I am with my spontaneous decision to purchase this headlamp. This device works marvelously. It is quite comfortable and the head strap is easily adjustable. I do not find it bothersome to wear for even extended periods. I find I primarily make use of the lowest and highest brightness levels without the red filter, and the highest brightness level with the red filter.
The lamp aim can be easily adjusted vertically using one hand, locks solidly in place, and always points where you want. The center of gravity is so close to where it contacts your head that even nodding my head would not displace the aim at all or it's position on my head.
After showing it to other family members, one went out and purchased cheaper models from other companies, but these others did not, to me, compare with the Petzl. I found the Petzl to be lighter, much smaller, and it produces a whiter light than these other two LED headlamps which tended to be a little blue-tinted.
The only minor complaint I have is the button that closes the battery compartment doesn't latch very well, but even so, it has not popped open on me even once.
If you've never owned a headlamp like this before, I suggest you buy one, and this TacTikka Plus is definitely a great choice. I had previously never owned one, but I've used this one, on average, twice per day since it arrived. It's perfect for working under desks or inside computers. The quality of the light was even good enough that I used it as a reading lamp with little or no eye strain.
While it's a little pricier than those you'll find at local B&Ms, I do not hesitate to recommend you spend a bit more for this.
Customer Review: Good piece of gear to have
Summary: 5 Stars
I had one of these given to me in Iraq which lasted the entire deployment until I misplaced it recently on another exercise. I purchased one to keep in my truck and to have at home and now getting ready to purchase a third one to replace the lost one as I like to keep a good light readily available in my flight helmet bag. It is essential to use for preflights, post flights and everything in between, and with the different levels of light, you don't blind everyone around you or even yourself- you just have to depress the button quick enough to dim the light.
Comfortable, good light output with different settings although I never used the strobe feature, and very well built. I have had the cheaper versions found at Wal-Mart and elsewhere and they are cheaper for a reason. The switches easily are placed to the on position when in a bag causing dead batteries, short battery life overall, small light output, cheaply made. I mean, they fill a niche, but when you are flying at night and going to some austere places, you want your gear to be able to perform and function which is why I don't mind spending a few extra dollars for a good light. Remember, there is no substitute for light when it is dark except after sunrise. I always carry a headlamp on missions and when flying, it is around my neck as an extra light source. Definitely worth having in you kit bag. Wish they made a strap with the ACU pattern and foiage green light housing with an option to have a blue lens instead of red. Great product overall though- you will definitely not be disapointed.
Customer Review: There are better options for your money.
Summary: 3 Stars
I recently purchased both this headlamp, and a similar model from Energizer, (Energizer 6 LED Headlight) and my experiences have been quite different with each. This is my first Amazon review, so bear with me:
First, the price. The Petzl 4-LED headlamp is $30 plus, whereas the Energizer 6-LED is approximately $20. More light for less cash. Score one for Energizer.
Secondly, the construction. The plastic housing used on the Petzl model seems far less rugged than the Energizer. In further comparison, the elastic headband just seems cheaply produced. Then there's the battery compartment. It's a bit awkward, and took me a few minutes to get the housing to close again properly. The lamp itself does have a smaller body than its cousin, but not by much.
Finally, the functionality. The Petzl model's swivel is notched and gives four angles of possible illumination. The Energizer model's swivel is smooth, and gives what I'd approximate to be 120 degrees of light. The Petzl might give 40 degrees. The red filter is just a cheap flap of red translucent plastic. Really not much to say about that.
The reason I give this product three stars is because it does what it's supposed to do. It'll give you a decent hands-free lighting option wether you're in the woods or trying to fix your car on the side of the road. I'm not affiliated with Energizer, but as the title says, there are better options for your money.