Petzl Zipka Plus LED Headlamp

Petzl Zipka Plus LED Headlamp – All around awesome headlamp.

I have gone through a number of headlamps during my travels, but the Petzl Zipka Plus LED Headlamp is by far one of the best headlamps I’ve ever used. This headlamp might look tiny, but it packs a decent punch. But its lighting ability isn’t the real selling point for me. For me what makes the Petzl Zipka Plus LED Headlamp so great is its size and design. This is probably one of the most versatile headlamps on the market and is definitely up there as one of the smallest headlamps you can buy. While this headlamp can work just fine for hiking and backpacking trips, I think it is perfect for travelers.

OK, so just what makes the Petzl Zipka Plus LED Headlamp so much more versatile than other headlamps on the market? Well, you probably noticed just by looking at it that it isn’t designed like other headlamps out there. The Petzl Zipka Plus LED Headlamp uses a thin, but tough, elastic like strap that is retractable into the unit its self. Obviously this lets the Petzl Zipka Plus LED Headlamp pack up into a small size, but we will talk more about that later. What is cool about this retractable headband is that it makes the unit more versatile. Rather than just wearing the unit on your head, you can wear it other places as well. I find that there are a lot of times when it makes more sense to wear the headlamp around my wrist than my head. You can also use the retractable strap to wrap the headlamp to other objects if need be.

As I said before, the size of the Petzl Zipka Plus LED Headlamp s also a huge plus. This is especially true for travelers. Headlamps are great for travel, but they are a bit bulky. When you go out in town for the night, you want to bring some sort of flashlight, but other headlamps are too bulky to comfortably fit in your pocket. And you definitely don’t want to be that guy who wears his headlamp all night. This is where the Petzl Zipka Plus LED Headlamp comes in handy. It is so small that you can easily slip into your pocket comfortably.

The quick & dirty:

Where you can get one:
Amazon.com: $35

Why they rock:

• Four different settings let you match your needs: select from low, medium and high lighting levels or select the bright strobe option
• A row of four LEDs provides even lighting throughout your field of view with no blank spots in the beam
• Water-resistant construction for full-on reliability in inclement weather
• Retractable mini-band adjusts to fit almost anything; put it on your head, helmet, arm, pack or wherever you need light
• Three AAA bateries included

Seat-of-the-pants rating: 10 out of 10

I cant say enough how much I love the Petzl Zipka Plus LED Headlamp. It is perfect for traveling and works great in the backcountry as well. That said, it is more of a camp headlamp than one you would wear to hike around at night. It does have several power settings, but even the brightest one is a little weak for serious night hiking. While the size of the Petzl Zipka Plus LED Headlamp is great as well, its kind of a double edge sword. Because it is so small, its easier to loose or misplace in your pack if you don’t have a special spot for it. I have gone through2 so far because of loosing them.

Looking to Buy? Check out these sites:
Amazon.com: $35