Customer Reviews

Petzl E44 PM Zipka 3-LED Headlamp, Modern

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

I got this as a gift. I thought it was the ugliest head lamp I had ever seen. It turns out to be way better and more versatile than the other banded type headlamp I had wanted. You can use this on your hand or use it hand held and get creative with how you use it. I love the thing and now keep it by my bed-side table, and not just for use on treks and trips. Great buy!!!

Update1.26.11- I got one similar for my mom about 3 years ago and on hers, the button stopped working making the whole thing useless. She was unable to contact any customer service. But we love them as long as they work. Seem a bit pricey though knowing how they can break down. I've had mine 7 years without any problems and still on the original batteries.

Thank you amazon for the positive reviews, if not I would have passed right by this lamp. I thought you had to purchase a headband to attach the lamp to. Didn't realize that it was retractable.

This thing is awesome! It's the best $30 I've spent this year.

Pros:

-Fits snug on your head, but doesn't sacrifice comfort.

-Very bright.

-SUPER COMPACT, especially compared to traditional headlamps.

Cons:

-Switch can be a bit hard to slide, but may need to just be broken in.

I want to buy 5 more just to leave around the house, shop, and car.

Easy to use. Withstands extreme temps well. Used it at well below -50 degrees F. Tough little light that doesn't take up much space.

Last winter our power was out for nearly a week. My Petzel Zipka was the only light I needed to use! It leaves my hands free so I can read, cook, dig through the cellar, etc. Its downward angle means I can hold my head normally yet still see where I'm going. It's the best reading light I've ever used. It's lightweight and the retractable cord fits my (giant) head comfortably. The batteries last a long time and the LED's are bright.

I bought 2 more after this experience--I never want to risk being without one!

This headlamp has served me extremely well. As a bike commuter it's nice to have hands free lighting that not heavy and bulky. I have several hours of use with this headlamp and it is still giving off plenty of usable light. Not to mention it fits in my pocket when not in use.