HARDCORE OUTDOOR-GEAR RECOMMENDATIONS-GEAR REVIEWS FOR HIKING, SEARCH AND RESCUE, MILITARY, HUNTING: GREAT GEAR RECOMMENDATION

HARDCORE OUTDOOR-GEAR RECOMMENDATIONS-GEAR REVIEWS FOR HIKING, SEARCH AND RESCUE, MILITARY, HUNTING: GREAT GEAR RECOMMENDATION - Petzl Tikka 2 Plus Headlamp

GREAT GEAR RECOMMENDATION - Petzl Tikka 2 Plus Headlamp

And the beat goes on. Great gear from great companies continues to get better. Lighter, brighter and longer lasting. The Petzl Tikka Plus 2 replaces the Petzl Tactikka Plus as my favorite all around headlamp.

Great companies produce great gear. That has proved to be a good rule of thumb to follow but even I am amazed at the incredible products the hardcore outdoorsman currently has at his command. Case in point, the new Tikka 2 headlamps from Petzl. I have been using, correction, depending on Petzl products for a long time. Their full sized headlamps lit up my search areas regardless of weather. Their harnesses kept me safely and securely tethered to the helicopter or anchor systems. Their helmets protected me from rock fall and dinged melon syndrome in tight spots. And nothing moves my big butt up a fixed rope like Petzl ascenders. I am a Petzl fan based on many years of heavy duty field experience so I guess I shouldn’t have been too surprised with their new line of Tikka headlamps.

The old Tikkas were my favorites and my particular model of choice for almost everything was the Tactikka Plus with the slide down red lens cover/filter. It was never a problem for me but I did hear some belly aching and hair splitting about the fact that these lights were not Lithium battery capable or waterproof. Why are Lithium batteries a big deal? They weigh less than Alkalines and they perform better in cold temperatures. Petzl took care of this gripe. The new Tikka 2 headlamps are Lithium compatible.

The issue of waterprooffness is a little more involved. The new Tikka 2s are the same as last year’s models in that the electronic circuitry is sealed and unaffected by moisture and wetness but the battery compartment, while an improvement over previous designs, is not waterproof. It is water resistant. If you submerge the unit or it is subjected to long term heavy rain the company suggests that you dry the battery compartment out and replace the batteries. Like I said, it has not been an issue for me.

The Tikka 2 comes in a few flavors but my choice is the Plus. It weighs 2.5 ounces, has a low profile and doesn’t move around no matter what I am doing. It also provides me with up to 140 hours of burn time and what I think are the right combination of light settings. White light-high (50 lumens), low and strobe. Red (a separate dedicated LED)-regular and strobe.

A comment on strobe lights. I like this feature in my headlamps but only for redundancy. I do not rely on these relatively soft LED strobes for signaling. In an emergency, when I absolutely positively have to be found as quickly as possible, I still want the omni-directional, darkness piercing, canopy punching, and eye gouging capability of the Xenon bulbs that are in the ACR Firefly III. This is a dedicated, mil spec unit that has one purpose, to attract attention at night, and it does it better than anything else out there. Hang out the side of a helicopter for as many years as I have looking for people in trouble and you will understand why I think the Firefly is worth the extra weight and space in your pack. Just trust me on this one folks.

In my experience, over the past 30 plus years, I have found that after the right shoes and clothing there are a few critical, indispensable pieces of gear that should be included in every wilderness travelers kit. Chief among them is a dependable source of light. Since Mr. Murphy tends to tag along on many of these trips I carry a second as a back-up. Both of mine are made by Petzl. I carry a Petzl e+Lite mini headlamp and now the Tikka 2 Plus.

Thanks.

Wade Nelson
Editor

Sorting through the fads and fashion of the outdoor equipment industry to identify and promote the very best wilderness gear for high end recreational users, backcountry professionals and government agencies.

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