Petzl TIKKA² - PLUS Versus XP

The new range of headlamps from Petzl

Product

Petzl TIKKA PLUS² and  Petzl TIKKA XP²

Promise

The latest in LED technology for significantly improved lighting performance.

Performance

With the first TIKKA introduced in 2000, these headlamps from the French experts have certainly come a long way.

Petzl is now known as the leading innovator in the vertical world and has been associated with all major underground, alpine and Himalayan adventures since the 1970s. Providing specialised equipment for all manner of professionals, industries and rescue operations, Petzl have always remained closely involved with the amateur outdoor enthusiast.

From Fernand Petzl's cave exploring in the 1970s come these excellent and versatile headlamps some 40 years on: the TIKKA PLUS² and the TIKKA XP².

Both headlamps have one white high-output LED and one red LED with five lighting modes all in all. Maximum continuous on white alongside economic continuous and strobe settings for both. The two are operated by a single push button with a beam that can be aimed.

These torches also have a battery charge indicator light which comes on when the headlamp illuminates for less than 5m and there is only 50% burn-time remaining for proximity lighting.

So how do they compare side by side?

TIKKA PLUS²   (£37)

50 Lumens

Lights up to 35 meters   

55 hours battery life on maximum

140 hours battery life on economic

83g

TIKKA XP² (£45)

60 Lumens

Lights up to 60 meters

80 hours of battery life on economic

160 hours of battery life on economic

88g

The TIKKA XP² also has a wide angle lens with a simple open-close feature, allowing the user to choose between a long distance focalized beam and flood beam proximity lighting.

Verdict

A pretty obvious winner, the XP's only downsides are a mere 5g extra weight and £7.50 higher price tag. Hardly worth quibbling over for almost twice the power and 25hrs extra battery life. Petzl is a one stop shop for headlamps with the TIKKA XP² being the easy choice.