PETZL Swift RL Headlamp - SS21

Product Information

Minimum burn time of 7 hours in REACTIVE LIGHTING® mode (STANDARD level), built to power through long activities you appreciate the content we offer then you can help us by becoming an official UKC Supporter. This can be a one-off

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

Petzl has long been a leader in lightweight, high-lumen head lamps. I reviewed the Petzl Actik Core a couple of years ago. Fortunately, our concern was pretty short-lived, because once we started testing the Swift RL, the improvements and upgrades became obvious. In general terms, it’s lighter weight, brighter, smarter and rides more comfortably on your head than the old Reactik+. It also helped get us through a recent 100-miler – more on that in a moment. If you are running or walking on your own there are far fewer variables for the reactive technology to be influenced by. Even so, I found that the beam didn’t stay as bright as I would wish it to be to be able to see my way ahead. I am wondering if this is because of my myopia. I know I prefer a brighter beam and perhaps I require a brighter light to run by than the reactive beam offers me. 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. It’s got a high price point and there’s a way to go to make the reactive lighting perfect. It does save a lot of battery and is very handy on the move, but for fast-paced riding and running, there are still some hurdles with the reactive lighting mode.The plate is compatible with accessories that allow you to install the headlamp on a helmet (HELMET ADAPT adhesive plate for a variety helmet types, or SLOT ADAPT for helmets that have a compatible slot)

Petzl SWIFT RL Headtorch review | Trek and Mountain Petzl SWIFT RL Headtorch review | Trek and Mountain

Thanks very much, Rob, apologies for the delayed reply. I have indeed read the review which was very informative! 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. Users of Petzl's rechargeable CORE battery will be on familiar ground here. Due to its output the SWIFT RL requires a larger battery than its cousin the ACTIK, hence there is no compatibility between the two - something that may annoy some of our audience. However, when you think about the SWIFT's greater lumens and burn time, it's quite clear why. The SWIFT is providing a heavyweight amount of lighting within a lightweight and compact exterior. Burn time: This is the battery life of the head torch. How long it lasts will depend on the number of lumens and setting you use. Generally, the brighter the torch, the more power is required to keep it shining, so it will burn out sooner.

Lithium-Ion 2350 mAh battery, rechargeable via the type B micro USB port, with battery charge indicator

Petzl Swift RL Headlamp | Review - Outdoors Magic Petzl Swift RL Headlamp | Review - Outdoors Magic

The easiest way to tell is by putting your finger over the sensor (right next to the light beam) and if the brightness increases, it’s in reactive mode. But, in action, this slows you down and isn’t something you’d want to do whilst on the move. The Swift RL is a compact and powerful 900-lumen headlight, with rechargeable batteries and REACTIVE LIGHTING technology (more info on this below).Since then there have been leaps and bounds of development, and we now have more choice of torches than ever before. You can go all out for lumens, or opt for a longer battery life; you can make it simple and lightweight, or dazzle yourself with a plethora of modes and settings; some torches have inbuilt USB-rechargeable batteries, while others even connect to your phone for programmable control. A reactive light beam describes how the head torch reacts to light. So if the torch sensor detects a lot of light in the area already, it reduces the beam output. The theory is that where you require less light you save on battery use.