Reviews You Can Rely On

Petzl Actik Review

A quality light that performs well all-around, but is overpriced for the performance offered
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Petzl Actik Review
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Price:  $55 List
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Manufacturer:   Petzl
RJ Spurrier
By RJ Spurrier ⋅ Senior Review Editor  ⋅  May 28, 2018
62
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#7 of 27
  • Trail Finding - 35% 6.0
  • Close Proximity - 20% 6.0
  • Battery Life - 15% 5.0
  • Weight - 15% 6.0
  • Ease of Use - 15% 8.0

Our Verdict

The Petzl Actik is a very good light with above average performance, and offers a simple, easy-to-use, design. If it sold for under $20, it would be our favorite headlamp. But, at $50 list (street price is typically around $38), the Actik's better than average performance doesn't stack up well against competing lights like the Black Diamond Storm, which sells for about the same street price, and blows the doors off the Actik in most performance categories.
REASONS TO BUY
Better than average performance across the board
Easy to use
REASONS TO AVOID
Expensive for what it offers

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Petzl Actik delivers on most of the things we truly value in a quality headlamp: good performance, easy-to-use, quality design, and durability. It is a high-quality light that will offer solid, reliable, performance for years. The drawback isn't so much about the light itself, which we very much like, but about the price. At $50 list, the Actik just doesn't stack up well against competing lights selling in the same price range.

petzl actik - our testers have bought and tested more headlamps than we can count...
Our testers have bought and tested more headlamps than we can count over the years. We take great pride in that fact. Our comprehensive comparison of headlamps is the best you are going to find. Anywhere.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Likes


The Actik is one of the easiest to use headlamps. It uses a single button control that has nice tactile feedback, and remains easy to operate even with gloves on. One click gets you low-level lighting that is just right for use in the tent, for reading, or around camp. Two clicks provides medium brightness, that is nice for walking down a trail, and three clicks for high mode, which offers a compelling and bright beam. Press and hold is used to switch to the red LED and back to white lighting.


The high-mode spot beam has good optics and shines an impressive 88 meters down the trail, which is similar in distance to other top performing lights in its price point.


But, beam distance is only part of the game, to offer top trail finding performance the quality of the beam, in terms of width, and even lighting, is key. Below you can see the Actik (left) versus the Black Diamond Storm (right). Both shine about the same distance, but the Storm is much superior for trail finding with its wider and more evenly lit beam.

Beam Distance Photos
Beam photo of Petzl Actik
Beam photo of Black Diamond Storm

Petzl Actik
Black Diamond Storm

That Actik is also bested by the BD Spot (below, right) which sells for a lower price, and yet shines a better distance beam that rated much higher for trail finding.

Beam Distance Photos
Beam photo of Petzl Actik
Beam photo of Black Diamond Spot

Petzl Actik
Black Diamond Spot

petzl actik
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Dislikes


Our biggest issue with the Actik, besides price, is the battery life performance in high mode. In our tests, battery life was only 1.9 hours in high mode, which was disappointing and well below average.


petzl actik
Credit: Abriah Wofford

That is somewhat offset by pretty good battery life in low-mode, where we found it lasted an impressive 129 hours.


petzl actik
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Conclusion


The Actik impressed us. It offers simplicity, quality, and the reliability of a durable design. If it sold for around $20, we'd be raving about it. But, at the current a street price of $38 we think it doesn't stack up in terms of price vs. performance.

Side-by-Side Comparison
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RJ Spurrier