Overview
The Tikkina is clearly the best value in small headlamps we have seen.
For around $20 you get a solid light performance and long battery life.
In our battery testing, as well as in normal use, this headlamp went on
and on. While many headlamps fell short of battery life claims, this one
outperformed what Petzl said it could do. This headlamp outscored any
other headlamps that were $20 or less. Yes, there are cheaper headlamps
out there, but with these less expensive models we generally found a
dramatic drop in quality. Spend less than $20 for a headlamp and you get
what you pay for.
Petzl has updated this Best Buy award winner Petzl Tikkina 2016. Still retailing for $20, the lumens now ring in at 80, according to Petzl (versus 60, with was the case with the older model that we reviewed). This headlamp has also gotten an update in terms of design; it has a washable headband and a gradual decrease in the output of lumens over battery life. There are two modes: one mode uses 20 lumens for longer use and the second mode blasts out 80 lumens over a shorter period of time. To ensure that you are purchasing the newest version, look for a label on the box that sats 80 lumens, Tikkina on the headband, and two lighting modes. Though we have not tested this newest version, we think that our review will still give you a good feel for the latest version of this headlamp.
Check out the side-by-side comparison below, with the latest version pictured on the left and the older version shown on the right.
The main competion for the Tikkina is the Black Diamond Gizmo that is close to the same price, 25 percent lighter, and scored very high for close proximity. The Tikkina scored higher for trail finding, battery life, and brightness. Their scores are so close you should really look at the rating metrics and beam comparison tests and see what looks best for your needs.
Another close competitor is the Black Diamond Cosmo, which for another $10 scored higher for trail finding, battery life, and brightness. But once you start getting into the $30 range, you might as well upgrade to the $35-$58 Editors' Choice Coast HL7.
A score of 4 is not exceptional when compared to top headlamps, but it is exceptional when compared to most other $20 headlamps that usually received a 2 or 3. This is probably the main reason you would buy the Tikkina over the Gizmo: more brightness as demonstrated by the side-by-side photos below. Neither is that impressive compared a top scorer like the Coast HL7. However, the Tikkina is okay where the Gizmo is underwhelming. In any event, with a budget headlamp like the Tikkina, the user is not apt to be logging miles of action out in the wild. This is the sort of headlamp one purchases for mild backpacking, or for keeping in one's car or kitchen drawer. Any dedicated hiker, one who will log miles and miles in the dark, knows to investigate further and choose a light with more robust trail finding abilities.
Beam Distance Photos
This score is above average and even better than the more expensive Cosmo. However, this is where the Gizmo is much better. As you can see in the photo below, the Gizmo gives a very even and expansive beam where the Tikkina just has a spot in the middle, making it hard to see everything nearby in your full field of vision. In actual usage, users' eyes seem to adapt while fatigue and distraction are this somewhat underlying, unseen force. Again, as little as a light like this will actually get used, the relatively poor performance of the Tikkina can be forgiven. If you will spend hours making close up repairs or even reading with your light, then yes, we recommend a more expensive, higher performing product. But for backup purposes or occasional use, the lower scores of the Tikkina will win out.
Close-proximity Beam Pattern
The battery life of the Tikkina is impressive and, in some ways, leads the pack. In a back-up or emergency product like the Tikkina you want it to last while using it, and you want to be able to forget about changing the batteries for weeks and months at a time. The battery performance of the Tikkina is the primary reason it wins an award. Indeed, the price is low, but what you get for that price is the impressive part. You get a light that will last for hours and hours. If you are stingy about using the high mode, you can count on it going more than twice or three times as long as our objective testing indicated. This battery life vs. beam distance shoot-out against the Energizer 3 LED shows the two more or less neck and neck with a evenly degrading high beam over about fifteen hours. It has a slightly higher ANSI measured time than the Energizer 3 LED (14.7 hours vs. 10.3) and the Tikkina starts with a higher output. Read more about ANSI in the main Headlamp Review
The claimed low mode time, which we did not measure, is an impressive 180 hours. Energizer makes no claims of their low mode run time while Black Diamond claims their Spot will run 200 hours and the Cosmo will go 250.
The brightness score is near the bottom of the pack. However, it is much brighter than many other more expensive headlamps. For a $16 dollar light, the Tikkina is a powerhouse. This is another main reason it stood out and won our Best Buy award. Its beam distance measured 31 meters which is 5 meters better than the next contender for the best buy award Energizer 3 LED. Of course, it is well short of a beam distance champion like the Coast HL7 which shines over 131 meters.
This is a compact but not ultralight headlamp. The Gizmo is 25 percent lighter, and the Top Pick for compact headlamp, the Petzl e+LITE, is 1/3 the weight. Most people, except for maybe ultralight backpackers, will be happy with the weight. The name is actually a little misleading: Tikkina implies a smaller version of the Tikka, but the difference in weight is only a few grams. All Tikka style headlamps from Petzl seem to have similar forms. Perhaps the diminutive sounding label is a reference to the price. Indeed, while the weight is about normal for a compact light, the price is quite tiny.
This is one of the easiest headlamps in the entire review to use; only a few headlamps scored higher. Like all Tikka headlamps, it has one button. Unlike the other Tikkas, it only has a few modes to cycle through, which makes it quick and easy to find the one you want. It also scored above average for gloved use.
At $20, this is the type of headlamp you could justify buying more than one of. Stash one in the glove compartment and one in the kitchen drawer so you will always have access to light if the power goes out or you need to get into the attic. It is also capable when hiking at night or backpacking. That said, for serious nighttime running, hiking or biking we would choose a light with better trail finding and brightness scores. It's an ideal headlamp for children because it's so easy to use, lightweight, inexpensive and has a long battery life if… err, when… it's accidentally left on.
This is the Best Buy winner because it was the highest scoring headlamp for $20. We found that any headlamp that cost less was so low scoring that it didn't warrant a purchase.
OutdoorGearLab Editors' Hands-on Review
The New Petzl Tikkina vs. The Older Version
Petzl has updated this Best Buy award winner Petzl Tikkina 2016. Still retailing for $20, the lumens now ring in at 80, according to Petzl (versus 60, with was the case with the older model that we reviewed). This headlamp has also gotten an update in terms of design; it has a washable headband and a gradual decrease in the output of lumens over battery life. There are two modes: one mode uses 20 lumens for longer use and the second mode blasts out 80 lumens over a shorter period of time. To ensure that you are purchasing the newest version, look for a label on the box that sats 80 lumens, Tikkina on the headband, and two lighting modes. Though we have not tested this newest version, we think that our review will still give you a good feel for the latest version of this headlamp.
Check out the side-by-side comparison below, with the latest version pictured on the left and the older version shown on the right.
Hands-On Review
The main competion for the Tikkina is the Black Diamond Gizmo that is close to the same price, 25 percent lighter, and scored very high for close proximity. The Tikkina scored higher for trail finding, battery life, and brightness. Their scores are so close you should really look at the rating metrics and beam comparison tests and see what looks best for your needs.
Another close competitor is the Black Diamond Cosmo, which for another $10 scored higher for trail finding, battery life, and brightness. But once you start getting into the $30 range, you might as well upgrade to the $35-$58 Editors' Choice Coast HL7.
Performance Comparison
The Tikkina is our favorite headlamp for $20 or less, and it wins our Best Buy Award.
Credit: Micah James
Trail Finding
A score of 4 is not exceptional when compared to top headlamps, but it is exceptional when compared to most other $20 headlamps that usually received a 2 or 3. This is probably the main reason you would buy the Tikkina over the Gizmo: more brightness as demonstrated by the side-by-side photos below. Neither is that impressive compared a top scorer like the Coast HL7. However, the Tikkina is okay where the Gizmo is underwhelming. In any event, with a budget headlamp like the Tikkina, the user is not apt to be logging miles of action out in the wild. This is the sort of headlamp one purchases for mild backpacking, or for keeping in one's car or kitchen drawer. Any dedicated hiker, one who will log miles and miles in the dark, knows to investigate further and choose a light with more robust trail finding abilities.
Beam Distance Photos
| Petzl Tikkina | Black Diamond Gizmo |
Close Proximity
This score is above average and even better than the more expensive Cosmo. However, this is where the Gizmo is much better. As you can see in the photo below, the Gizmo gives a very even and expansive beam where the Tikkina just has a spot in the middle, making it hard to see everything nearby in your full field of vision. In actual usage, users' eyes seem to adapt while fatigue and distraction are this somewhat underlying, unseen force. Again, as little as a light like this will actually get used, the relatively poor performance of the Tikkina can be forgiven. If you will spend hours making close up repairs or even reading with your light, then yes, we recommend a more expensive, higher performing product. But for backup purposes or occasional use, the lower scores of the Tikkina will win out.
Close-proximity Beam Pattern
| Petzl Tikkina | Black Diamond Gizmo |
Battery Life
The battery life of the Tikkina is impressive and, in some ways, leads the pack. In a back-up or emergency product like the Tikkina you want it to last while using it, and you want to be able to forget about changing the batteries for weeks and months at a time. The battery performance of the Tikkina is the primary reason it wins an award. Indeed, the price is low, but what you get for that price is the impressive part. You get a light that will last for hours and hours. If you are stingy about using the high mode, you can count on it going more than twice or three times as long as our objective testing indicated. This battery life vs. beam distance shoot-out against the Energizer 3 LED shows the two more or less neck and neck with a evenly degrading high beam over about fifteen hours. It has a slightly higher ANSI measured time than the Energizer 3 LED (14.7 hours vs. 10.3) and the Tikkina starts with a higher output. Read more about ANSI in the main Headlamp Review
The claimed low mode time, which we did not measure, is an impressive 180 hours. Energizer makes no claims of their low mode run time while Black Diamond claims their Spot will run 200 hours and the Cosmo will go 250.
The Tikkina uses 3 AAA batteries.
Credit: Micah James
Brightness
The brightness score is near the bottom of the pack. However, it is much brighter than many other more expensive headlamps. For a $16 dollar light, the Tikkina is a powerhouse. This is another main reason it stood out and won our Best Buy award. Its beam distance measured 31 meters which is 5 meters better than the next contender for the best buy award Energizer 3 LED. Of course, it is well short of a beam distance champion like the Coast HL7 which shines over 131 meters.
For something upwards of 90% of camping tasks, an inexpensive light like the Tikkina is perfect.
Credit: Jediah Porter
Weight
This is a compact but not ultralight headlamp. The Gizmo is 25 percent lighter, and the Top Pick for compact headlamp, the Petzl e+LITE, is 1/3 the weight. Most people, except for maybe ultralight backpackers, will be happy with the weight. The name is actually a little misleading: Tikkina implies a smaller version of the Tikka, but the difference in weight is only a few grams. All Tikka style headlamps from Petzl seem to have similar forms. Perhaps the diminutive sounding label is a reference to the price. Indeed, while the weight is about normal for a compact light, the price is quite tiny.
Ease of Use
This is one of the easiest headlamps in the entire review to use; only a few headlamps scored higher. Like all Tikka headlamps, it has one button. Unlike the other Tikkas, it only has a few modes to cycle through, which makes it quick and easy to find the one you want. It also scored above average for gloved use.
The tikkina is excellent for around tasks, including toothbrushing.
Credit: Jediah Porter
Best Applications
At $20, this is the type of headlamp you could justify buying more than one of. Stash one in the glove compartment and one in the kitchen drawer so you will always have access to light if the power goes out or you need to get into the attic. It is also capable when hiking at night or backpacking. That said, for serious nighttime running, hiking or biking we would choose a light with better trail finding and brightness scores. It's an ideal headlamp for children because it's so easy to use, lightweight, inexpensive and has a long battery life if… err, when… it's accidentally left on.
Value
This is the Best Buy winner because it was the highest scoring headlamp for $20. We found that any headlamp that cost less was so low scoring that it didn't warrant a purchase.
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