PETZL Swift RL Headlamp - SS21

Product Information

This is one of Petzl’s most powerful compact headlamps. With Reactive Lighting technology it will analyses the ambient light and automatically adjusts the brightness. This Head Torch is intuitive, with a single button for easy control over all torch functions. Continuous red lighting to preserve night vision and increase comfort when reading, without blinding those around you The SWIFT battery takes six hours to charge, which is a reasonable amount of time - significant enough to require some planning if you are heading out. Clearly this is fine if you put it on to charge before heading to work, but less fine if you forget and hope to charge it after. It would be great if this time was lower, but perhaps it's no surprise. Further advice from Petzl is that to extend burn time a bit further you can point the lamp at your feet slightly more than usual. The reactive technology dims the beam but then gives you the brightness if you look up a little. This does work well.

Petzl Swift RL or NAO+ - UKClimbing UKC Forums - Petzl Swift RL or NAO+ - UKClimbing

Over the last few months, it’s also been used on many group trail runs, which has given some interesting results. Two beam patterns (flood or mixed) give lighting for proximity vision, movement and distance visionNote, too, that while the Nao had the option to swap the reachargeable battery for AAA batteries, the Swift does not. You need to buy a spare rechargeable battery if you plan to use the head torch for many hours. Removable and replaceable battery (also sold separately) makes it possible to switch out the battery during use

Petzl Swift RL head torch review: a bewilderingly bright - T3

And if you are worried about the torch running out of battery charge, you might want to take an extra battery with you rather than relying on the reactive technology to give you extended hours. If you're running in an urban environment, then a head torch of 100-250 lumens should be sufficient. In slightly dimmer areas, something around 300-500 lumens is ideal. And for trail runners, you'll want something above 500 lumens so you can see where you're stepping and the terrain around you. Trying to extend your outdoor activities into the dark hours can be quite a daunting task without proper lighting. For some time, they have also sold head lamps with what is called “reactive lighting technology”. These are part of the performance collection as “Reactive” head lamps. The Nao and Nao+ were the first head torches I saw with this technology and a few friends have them. The Swift RL also includes a reactive light beam mode. I've only used the Swift, which I'm pleased with, but I did consider the Nao+ too. The review on here of the Swift a couple of years ago had a thread with some comparisons with the Nao+, which I found quite helpful in making a decision.Casting 1100 lumens at a weight of only 100 g, SWIFT® RL is the ultimate multi-sport headlamp for all your outdoor activities. Visual comfort enhanced by the mixed beam, which provides high-performance lighting for outdoor activities: proximity vision, movement and distance vision According to the charts issued by Petzl, you can save considerably on battery use and if you are a long-distance runner or someone doing a multi-day race, battery life is important. I can see that this is a good head torch for long distance runners for whom battery life is vital. For example, if you were only planning to use one head torch and battery on a longer run, then you will enjoy a longer battery life. However, I am usually out for a maximum of about two hours at night and that means I would prefer to have a brighter, steady beam rather than relying on the reactive mode.

Petzl Swift RL Headlamp Review - Ultra Running Magazine Petzl Swift RL Headlamp Review - Ultra Running Magazine

Another odd thing happened on a chilly evening. My breath appeared to cause the beam to dim, or was it the mist? Anyway, something caused the light to dim, which was annoying at best and dangerous at worst. I don’t want to have a dimmer beam when it is cold and I am breathing out, or in mist/rain/snow.

Now to the reactive beam itself. Well, it does seem like a great idea. The battery is only used to the extent that you require a beam. Except, I have found a few flaws. I am told (by the brand representative) that I am very firmly in a minority of people who don’t rave about the Swift and the reactive beam, but there you go. I am simply stating my opinion and how I have found the head torch. I have tested many head torches over the past decade so I feel qualified to say what works and doesn’t work so well. One minor criticism is that the SWIFT battery is a bit awkward to remove, but given that the USB is readily accessible, and I don't actually have a spare battery to replace it with, this hasn't presented a major problem; however, if you were trying to fiddle with it wearing gloves, whilst battling with the elements on a mountainside, it could be quite awkward. Modes and Operation The Swfit is said to be “weather resistant”. This is not waterproof although I have taken the torch out in Scottish rain and it seems to remain operative.