Gripped Magazine
Headlamp Review: Petzl Swift RL
Anyone who has been caught without a headlamp knows how important it is to have one in your pack for any kind of climbing day out. Petzl has been at the top of the headlamp game for years, since their first release back in 1973. In fact, they credit themselves with having invented the modern headlamp. They have since vastly improved on their original model. How much can you innovate a light on your head? A lot, apparently. Their latest remodel of the Swift RL 1200 has many features perfect for climbers.
The Swift RL casts up to 1200 lumens, providing visibility for up to 168 meters away. It has two modes of light: reactive lighting or standard lighting. Reactive lighting is just what it sounds like – the headlamp’s light level adjusts to your environment, adapting to changes in natural light thanks to an ambient light sensor. So, if you’re climbing a crack, the light illuminating the feature before your eyes will be different from the light illuminating your belayer 15 meters below when you turn your head to look at them.
I am personally a fan of this reactive lighting feature for several reasons – it saves battery because it only gives as much brightness as is needed, it is easier and more comfortable for my eyes, and I don’t need a free hand to adjust my light levels. There are three levels of intensity in the reactive lighting mode: low, medium and high.
There is also the option to switch to standard lighting. I use this mode when, for example, it’s raining, misty, or particularly buggy, because in these cases, the reactive lighting mode can be simply too reactive. In standard lighting mode, there are also three settings: 10 lumens, 190 lumens, and 800 lumens. The 1200 lumen setting is reserved for “boost” mode, which is activated by a double-tap on the side of the headlamp. Boost mode quickly amps up the lumens to the max (1200 lumens), enhancing your visibility for 6 seconds – just enough time to take a closer look in the direction of whatever that sound was you heard in the woods. There is also a red light setting.
The battery is USB-C rechargeable and lasts for a minimum of 7 hours at medium brightness in reactive lighting mode. The battery charge indicator has 5 levels, so you can be more at ease (or at least better prepared) knowing how much life is left. Once fully depleted, the battery takes 5 hours to charge.
The headlamp comes in black and orange, white, or green. The helmet-compatible high-vis strap is very lightweight with removable “comfort foam”. One reason the foam is removable is to make the headlamp even lighter. With the Swift RL weighing only 92 g, I never feel the need to remove the foam for weight. I do, however, appreciate how easy it is to clean these removable parts.
A nice added touch is that the Swift RL comes in a carrying pouch that can also double as a makeshift lamp. It’s a neat feature that I imagine I would use for a bit of ambient lighting in my tent. The headband, pouch, and battery can all be replaced, so if you damage or lose any of these parts, you won’t have to buy an entirely new headlamp.
If you want a headlamp that is reliable, long-lasting, lightweight, and provides some high-tech lighting that adjusts to your needs, the Swift RL is for you.
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