PETZL Swift RL Headlamp - SS21

Product Information

Two beam patterns (flood or mixed) give lighting for proximity vision, movement and distance vision If you are running with someone else wearing a head torch, the Swift reduces its beam. I guess it thinks that between the two of you there is enough light for you both to run. Except, this is not the case. I like my own full beam to light my way and I don’t want to have to rely on someone else’s beam. 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.

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

When cycling from dark moors into towns, or running from woodlands to well-lit roads, it’s a really useful feature. Ordinarily, I wouldn’t think to change the brightness level, and so it does mean you get a much longer burn time. I found that around camp and slow-paced movement, the 100 or 300 mode was enough. The 900-lumen mode is impressively powerful for cycling and running if there are obstacles or changes in the surface. 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. With an ergonomic adjustable headband, with two-part Petzl patent construction, this has a really comfortable fit and will stay fixed on your head even when you’re really moving about. Speaking of the headband, it’s reflective for heightened night-time visibility. It also happens when running with others who are wearing hi-vis, reflective materials or running head torches of their own. In situations like this, the light will dim, but you may not want it to.At only 100g, it’s a dynamic headtorch aimed at mountaineers, trail runners, skiers, cyclists etc. who need strong battery life for overnight outdoor pursuits. We’ll start off the ‘Features’ section where we ended the previous one. The Swift RL’s ‘Reactive Lighting’ technology results in a longer burn time (or battery life), and requires less manual adjustment. The light sensor automatically adjusts brightness and beam pattern depending on the current level of light in the environment. This optimises battery usage and keeps the head torch going for longer. If you’d prefer something a bit more traditional, you can switch to a ‘Standard Lighting’ mode.

Petzl Swift RL 2024 - Compact, rechargeable 1100 lumen headlamp

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. The reactive lighting sensor is the circle to the right of the main light 3. Petzl Swift RL headtorch Reactive Lighting TechnologyThe headband is reflective for nighttime visibility and its split construction gives you excellent stability during dynamic and intense activities such as mountaineering, trail running, and skiing. Minimum burn time of 5 hours in REACTIVE LIGHTING® mode (STANDARD level), built to power through long activities

Petzl Swift RL head torch for runners and walkers Review: Petzl Swift RL head torch for runners and walkers

The battery level is shown on the top of the torch, with 5 small LED lights which go down as the battery decreases. Another handy feature. Minimum burn time of 7 hours in REACTIVE LIGHTING® mode (STANDARD level), built to power through long activities It also means you don’t need to switch between modes on the move, instead the head torch does it for you. The switch between brightness levels isn’t drastic or distracting, but it is sensitive enough to adapt to small changes in surrounding light. The fenix is much brighter than the NAO+ even when fully charged. I've used both side by side and it's quite noticeable, both in the throw of the spot beam and the quality of the flood beam. Were there to be a downside to this it is that it makes testing the actual burn time pretty much impossible, because it completely depends on where you're looking. If you're looking down more your burn time will be higher (up to 50hrs on RL Max Power), but if you're staring a lot into the distance then it'll be way shorter (2hrs on RL Max Power). I've found the significance of this variation a little alarming, especially when trying to plan for something that requires a degree of certainty. For instance, I've long been plotting a Bob Graham Round, and for that I need a torch that is going to last through the night. If I was using the Reactive Lighting Standard (i.e. middle) setting then I would in theory get somewhere between 5-40hrs burn time. If it's the former, then it won't last the night; if it's the latter it'll last me nearly two days. As such, which of the two figures can I really rely on? The answer is difficult to give, other than to say that if I did end up using the SWIFT RL, which I suspect I will, then I would tilt the torch down so that it preserves the battery. In reality this is likely the case whilst running, and it's definitely the case whilst climbing, where you're likely to spend most of your time looking at the ground immediately front of you.I ended up on a number of occasions “sharing” the beams of the dimmed Swift RL and the lower lumen output of a friend’s head torch. I find trail running gives the ultimate head torch test: you need it to be tight and the constant bouncing can be uncomfortable with some head torches. The Swift RL doesn’t bob up and down on your head, or slide around. There are also no sharp or painful sensations around the strapping. Petzl has solved this by creating a second set of ‘standard’ settings too, which cut out the sensor and 'just' give you low/med/high beam as you’ve selected, like a normal, dumb headtorch. The hitch with the standard settings is that this drops full beam to a mere 550 lumens, presumably as the full 900 lumens will melt through steel like a superman eye laser - and the battery - if left constantly on for the entire 2 hour burn time. In a nutshell, it uses a light sensor to automatically adjust the strength of light depending on how much light is around you.