apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time


Best Product: Petzl Zipka Plus Headlamp

9-26-08 petzlea1.jpg

The first time we donned a headlamp was during a camping trip. A kind co-worker gave us a Petzl for a gift and we thanked them and thought, "headlamp=total dork". And then we found out how important the two-hand rule is when carrying boiling hot water around your campsite in the total dark. Or when reaching in to dark corners in the basement. Or for fumbling for keys on the ground when you forgot to leave the porchlight on. Now our headlamp lives on our bedside table when it's not stashed in our purse or strapped to our forehead...

 
 
9-26-08 petzleb1.jpg 9-26-08 petzleb2.jpg

We've since re-gifted our original headlamp to a friend who works with pyrotechnics and found it better than a lighter for mid-show in-the-dark searches (yikes). We recently picked up a newer and flashier version at REI. This one has 4 settings to select from: low, medium, high and strobe (for those campfire dance parties).

9-26-08 petzle5.jpg

We like the retractable band that makes it easy to wear on your head or wrist; we've attached it to our bike and our bag...

9-26-08 petzle2.jpg

But our favorite uses?

1. As a mini light when someone next to us zonks out earlier and our book is too good to put down.

2. On the plane when our reading light inevitably doesn't work.

3. In the middle of the night when the earth starts quaking and you need two hands to find your shoes.

4. For working in some dark place where you need two hands to hold the nail, screw or hammer. This one has proved particularly handy and we're considering adding a second Petlz to our hardware kit...

Get your own Petzl here, $39.95 includes batteries.

Tags

best products, flashlight, headlamp, Petzl

Related Links

Share

Comments (18)

As useful as it may be, Total Dork still applies.

posted by modernguy on September 26th 2008 at 8:26am
view modernguy's profile

I use mine hiking pre-dawn in the mountains.

posted by lindsaylou on September 26th 2008 at 8:28am
view lindsaylou's profile

Thank you modernguy. She gets the prize. And this is said by someone who even loves her.

posted by marnilr on September 26th 2008 at 8:53am
view marnilr's profile

Best photo of Shayna EVER!

posted by sallyTV on September 26th 2008 at 8:59am
view sallyTV's profile

Those are very handy in pitch dark when you need two hands free. Believe me, under the circumstances that I've worn them on my forehead, you don't care if you look like a dork.

posted by Aldyth on September 26th 2008 at 9:14am
view Aldyth's profile

I so want one.

posted by Kit on September 26th 2008 at 9:15am
view Kit's profile

huh

my husband has been using a headlamp as a flashlight since... well, since we first met. never thought him dorky then, and sure as hell don't think he's dorky now. (former) head ski instructor, has put out house fires, used to parachute, saw him save a woman from being raped and beaten in an alley (in his bare feet no less)...

nah, he makes these look hot...

posted by mschatelaine on September 26th 2008 at 9:17am
view mschatelaine's profile

Hi my name is Katie and i have at least 5 headlamps....oh and i'm a dork....a dork that's REALLY afraid of the dark. LOL i do a lot of night sports so headlamps are a must. i just have to say that after getting my hair so caught up in the spring string i will only use the ones with a band. this petzl is only for those with medium/short hair. oh and the spring string leaves a wonderful halo on my husband's bald head! what can i say, dorks of a feather flock together! :)

posted by larchgirl on September 26th 2008 at 9:27am
view larchgirl's profile

I love this headlamp; it got me through my first backpacking trip (an unintentional night hike through incredibly steep terrain while carrying my first pack) though we still almost stepped on a sleeping black dog. My favorite part is the little stick-figure graphic that comes with it showing you how not to pull it off of your head. Safety first.

posted by thursday on September 26th 2008 at 9:36am
view thursday's profile

I actually found one of these under a mattress in a yurt I was renting with some friends!
It was awesome.
Sorry, to whoever left it, but I love it. And, it's mine now. :)

posted by thrillkisser on September 26th 2008 at 9:47am
view thrillkisser's profile

I have an older generation Petzl Myo for camping, this one must be new and it looks much lighter. The battery pack on mine is pretty heavy.

posted by lightspeed on September 26th 2008 at 9:56am
view lightspeed's profile

My dad gave all of us these dorky headlamps for Christmas one year. Previous years we got handguns, burial plots, etc. so this was just another weird gift. BUT we have all used the hell out them. I keep mine in my briefcase so I can easily find it. I have used it on trips and it came in most handy during a recent hurricane. Great on a bike or walking at night - even took it fishing.

posted by Kimberlina on September 26th 2008 at 10:24am
view Kimberlina's profile

Oh, just reading this post and these comments embarasses me!

posted by gordon on September 26th 2008 at 11:28am
view gordon's profile

Dorky? Maybe. But function>form right? I've used headlamps for years (granted, I've also been backpacking and climbing for years). Wouldn't have it any other way. I guess I'm a dork at heart.

posted by munckee on September 26th 2008 at 12:05pm
view munckee's profile

Now I know what to get my husband for Christmas!!
Thanks Shayna and AT!

posted by umeboshi on September 26th 2008 at 5:52pm
view umeboshi's profile

psssttt ... it's not the headlamp that's dorky; it's paying almost $40 for one that shows some lack of sophistication.
if you're looking for these, try lowes or target on sale. oh, ok; they're not petzl zipka, whatever that is so i don't have the cool brand name thing going on. they're energizers or maglites or whatever that have something like 200 hours guaranteed runtime on the bulbs. i have several and i generally pay around $6 or $7 for them.

posted by loislane on September 28th 2008 at 2:23am
view loislane's profile

I'd be wary of the energizers or whatever. It's not the bulb time, but the battery time that you want. the LED really makes a difference.
Anyway, just wanted to say I've been using a petzl with the wide band for years and couldn't do without it.

posted by Meepy on September 28th 2008 at 6:29pm
view Meepy's profile

loislane: completely understand you taking issue with the $40. i did too, for a while. i also have a target headlamp, it's the second one i bought after they wouldn't replace the first one after the third time i returned it...after that, i don't regret my petzl for 2 seconds!

posted by shayna r on September 29th 2008 at 12:14pm
view shayna r's profile

Feeds

RSS icon San Francisco

+ City Feeds