Petzl E44 PM Zipka 3-LED Headlamp, Modern

by Petzl

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

The Zipka is one of the lightest headlamp on the market. As small as a roll of film, the Zipka's design replaces a headband with a compact, retractable cord to allow the lamp to be worn on the head, wrist, arm or affixed to an object. Powered by three AAA batteries, the three LED's will burn for up to 150 hours. Potential uses are unlimited. Great to keep in your pocket, pack, or tool kit to always have "just in case." Weighs 2.2 ounces with batteries (included). It is water-resistant, but even if it gets completely soaked, it shouldn't short out. Just open it up and dry it out.

Product Description

112472MOD000 Features: Flood lighting with a long burntime thanks to the 3 LEDs Single compartment contains LEDs and batteries to keep it compact Comfortable Dyneema cord band secures the lamp to your head and makes it the ultimate in compact lighting Operates on 3 AAA-LR03 batteries (included) Water resistant Specifications: Weight with batteries: 23 ounces Battery type: AAA Burn time: Up to 145 hours

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 2 x 1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000O04HKA
• Item model number: E44 PM
• Batteries: 3 AAA batteries required. (included)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #152,772 in Home Improvement (See Top 100 in Home Improvement)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Retractable headlamps rock!, September 22, 2008

By 

J. Campbell "consumer" (madison, WI) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Petzl E44 PM Zipka 3-LED Headlamp, Modern (Tools & Home Improvement)

I've been using various headlamps for around 15 years. Now that I've discovered the retractable ones from Petzl, I'm never going back to the akward, ill-fitting headbands that dominate the product lines.

This is tiny enough to slip in your pocket when not in use. It's light and is worn on wrist just as easily as the head. It adjusts to any head size in seconds and can put a decent amount of light anywhere you need it.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great little headlamp, February 6, 2010

By 

Margaret Picky - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Petzl E44 PM Zipka 3-LED Headlamp, Modern (Tools & Home Improvement)

What a wonderful headlamp! I used it for a long distance hike in 2006 for occasional night hiking, setting up camp and cooking after dark, reading in my tent and answering nature's call, at least an hour and a half every night, on average. I saw a lot of other lights on that trip, both cheapies from discount stores to other expensive brands like Princeton, as well as different types such as clip-ons, headlamps, and mini and regular hand-helds. It always compared favorably in quality and usefulness. You can buy a cheap light but it won't function as well on any point covered in this review.

The other day, I pulled it out because there was a leak under my kitchen sink and instead of putting it back in storage with my hiking equipment I left it out because it's so handy. I was putting it in a drawer today and decided to write a review of it and was not surprised to see that it has mostly 5 stars.

It's a very bright light and has a good focus length and light pattern but it has lower brightness settings which are useful for in the middle of the night when you don't want a bright light or if there is a bright moon or to conserve the batteries. You don't have to use it as a headlamp, it works fine held in the hand or set down to aim light in a particular direction, but if you have never used a headlamp you will wonder how you ever got along without one. The retractable cord works very well and makes it fast and easy to put on and off and the "button" on the back and the spongy foam do a good job holding it in place.

The on-off switch is rubbery making it easy to use when wearing gloves or when your fingers are cold or wet. It doesn't come on accidentally and run your batteries down. When I bought it I thought cycling through all the settings to turn it off would be a pain but the first click puts it on the brightest setting and when you go to turn it off later it is smart enough to click directly off, you don't have to go through all the settings! (How do it know?)

Something else I like about it for long-distance hiking is that you don't have to carry extra batteries because the light will dim slowly over time giving you fair warning to replace them, saving a bit of weight. They last a long time but I never really kept track. It's a little difficult to insert the batteries and replace the cover but on the other hand when dropped it doesn't open up accidentally. One odd thing about the batteries is that it uses three whereas they usually come in packs of even numbers.

It may be that there have been advances in LED technology since 2006 but my little lamp still works just great and I see no need to replace it at this time. I have used it approximately 200 nights and found it to be effective, comfortable, durable, sufficiently water resistant in rain, reliable, compact and lightweight. It's even attractive-looking. It feels nice in the hand or on the head and overall is just a very nice headlamp.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for travelers, December 6, 2008

By 

Stephen T. Smith "smithworks.org" (Jacksonville, FL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Petzl E44 PM Zipka 3-LED Headlamp, Modern (Tools & Home Improvement)

I've had a Petzl headlamp for a few years, and have found it to be one of the most practical tools I've owned. It's great for travelers. Mine has gone back and forth to China a number of times, and is great to use on trains after the lights have been turned out, or any place where electricity is questionable.

Here in the States, I use it every morning while it's still dark outside instead of turning the lights on before the rest of the family gets up.

The only con is that after about 3 years constant use, the black padding fell off. It took a couple years, but I finally bought a new lamp, and am buying another one for my dad who recently discovered how convenient these headlamps are.