Image: Petzl · source
Petzl · Mid-range
The Petzl TIKKA CORE is a compact one-button headlamp with white and red light, listed at 450 lumens, that comes with a rechargeable CORE battery and also accepts three AAA batteries.
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We have not tested it ourselves: strengths and weaknesses below come from the tests cited.
The red light is the feature that fits a night at a station or a public viewpoint: Petzl says red lighting keeps you from blinding those around you, and the red mode is listed at 2 lumens for up to 60 hours. The reflective headband is there so that you stay visible, and the phosphorescent reflector on the lamp makes it easy to find in the dark. At 84 g, with a plate that tilts the beam up or down, it can also be worn around the neck. Petzl's HYBRID CONCEPT means the same lamp runs on the CORE battery or on three standard AAA batteries. Stay on platforms and in public areas; no light changes that.
The headlamp detects its energy source automatically and adjusts its lighting performance. With the CORE battery (1250 mAh, 3.5 hours to charge), Petzl lists a 7-lumen mode for 110 hours, a standard 100-lumen mode for 7 hours, and a maximum of 450 lumens for 2.5 hours. With three AAA batteries, which are not included, the standard mode lasts 12 hours and the maximum is 350 lumens for 2 hours. The beam pattern is wide and uniform, described as comfortable for seeing up close or at your feet. The housing is IPX4, which Petzl labels weather resistant. Petzl also warns that the lamp is not certified for road use and is not a substitute for required standardized lights.
Strengths
Weaknesses
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Energy | CORE rechargeable battery (1250 mAh / 3.6 V / 4.5 Wh) or 3 AAA batteries (not included) |
| Weight | 84 g |
| Guarantee | Lamp 5 years; CORE battery 2 years or 300 charging cycles |
| Red light | 2 lumens, 5 m, 60 hours |
| Brightness | 450 lumens (ANSI/PLATO FL 1) |
| Beam pattern | Wide |
| Charging time | 3.5 hours |
| Watertightness | IPX4 (weather resistant) |
A railfan who wants a headlamp with a real red mode, a rechargeable battery and the option to fall back on AAA batteries, and who is content with a compact lamp rather than a more powerful one.
The Petzl ACTIK CORE, already in this catalogue, uses the same hybrid design but is listed at 625 lumens and 88 g, with a 115 m maximum distance. The Black Diamond Astro 300 is an option without a red light.
Image: Adventure Medical Kits · source
Adventure Medical Kits · Budget
A compact, injury-organised first aid kit for one or two people on a day or a weekend outing, with a wilderness first aid guide and a small set of over-the-counter medications.
Expert pick · OutdoorGearLab, May 2023
Image: Black Diamond Equipment · source
Black Diamond · Budget
The Black Diamond Astro 300 is a one-button, 300-lumen headlamp that runs on three AAA batteries or on Black Diamond's rechargeable BD 1500 battery.
Image: Black Diamond Equipment · source
Black Diamond · Mid-range
The Black Diamond Spot 400 is a 400-lumen headlamp that runs on three AAA batteries, included, or on the optional BD 1500 rechargeable battery, with an IPX8 housing and a red night-vision mode.
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