PETZL RL SWIFT HEADLAMP - Why I would never buy it again 

Hi, Petzl RL is not for “reading book or not blind other people when campfire”, it is for trail running, hiking or skiing. And i can say that it fulfills all this brilliantly.

Highly Recommended for serious athletes! Just wore this throughout the night for the Leadville 100 Run. Flipped between low and medium on the more technically trails all on reactive light mode. Can’t recommend this light enough if you’re moving through mountainous terrain at a quick clip. Using this light between 8pm-5am, I still had 2/5 bars left on battery life. I talked to Petzl at the race expo and they said the next generation of this light will be 200 lumens brighter, have a longer batter life in RL mode, USB C charger, and improved accelerometer to help with the dimming feature. Look, if you’re just going to use this light to dink around campsites with short walks on trails, save your money. And either wait for more advanced RL technology, or skip it all together and just buy a cheaper light that has high lumens and great battery life. During the winter, I’ll be using this for early morning skimo sessions and continue to use this on late night mountain runs…so I’ll be getting my moneys worth out of it.

One of the best lights I've ever used, and I've had loads of different headlamps/headtorches over the years from many manufacturers.

The reactiv tech is amazing imo. I actually wouldn’t recommend buying a product without it (the iko core for instance). It’s really designed for glancing at maps while running, orienteering etc. With any other torch you’re basically blinding after looking at something white and you can’t properly run again until your eyes recover. The Swift rl is my go to recommendation for trail and fell runners.

Had a Swift RL for at least two years now and it's my go to every time. I have another petzl head torch with dimming and a LED Lenser one. but I pick up this one every time. I use it for everything, hillwalking, camping, dog walking, diy. If it broke tomorrow I'd go buy another one straight away. The only downside is the strap tends to fall apart at the front sides, I'm on my second strap and it now could do with being replaced. Love this torch.

You can switch of the reactive lighting just need to hold the button in 🤷‍♂️

You can actually turn off the reactive lighting mode by long pressing the switch button when the light/lamp is on, i have this headlamp too and it's great.

I have a lot of Petzl headlamps, this one is the best. I used it a lot for night running, night climbing (even in winter) and night mountain biking. RL is awesome when you climb technical sections during the night, especially in winter, because you can see the rock/ice/snow in front of you with the best amount of light without going blind and if you look at a longer distance it adapts imediately without the need to use the button which is awesome if you have two ice axes in hands. RL helps a lot your night vision, because your eyes don't need to adapt as you say, and if you are doing an activity wich requires speed, as running or cycling, RL means safety, because you can react faster. I have the previous models, with bluetooth and app setup - never used. I also never used SOS red light until now, and continuous red light only in a couple of situations just to save battery. I use Swift RL in RL mode, switching on continuos light only in a couple of situations, for example to save battery. It is simple, light, reliable and safe for night activities, when good vision can make the difference between life and death. The only issue I had is the strap which tends to unravel at the edges: i bought a new one, after 6 months I had the same problem. RL is also great if you run in the city, in Romania we have poor lighting in parks: for example 50 meters with a lot of light, aftrr that 100 without any light. RL is also good in groups - it is annoying to adjust the light any time when you look at someone, and if you make mountain activities with someone wo also have RL technology, you can feel te difference: I used many times my Petzl for an entire night in RL-maximum power without touching the headlamp for hours, which is awesome.

Nice review, I own it also, but I like it very much. I agree about red light and turning the battery off. My friend have core, I would take swift rl anytime over core. Swift is almost double lumen and battery is better.

Thank you for your review! I had for years the taktikka+ and will renew because it works for only 40 Euros.

Hello, you can start the reactive lighting by locking it. Also, it’s specially made for Trail running not for camping.

I have this light and think it is great. I have not had the dimming problems you have had. For me it dims correctly to stop the light shining back at me off objects and have found it good for night skiing and night running. For those faster night time activities I find the higher lumen necessary and much better than my wife's reactik+ (the larger version of the core you showed in the video) The lack of red light is a real disappointment though.

My petzl tikka rxp still running.Only manual mode not work,but still work reactive mode.I just put tape to the sensor.

I don't know how the swift RL behaves, but I own a reactik+ since 5 years and it's amazing for fishing where you constantly switch between distance and your surroundings. The only thing I have about it is the proprietary accumulator which failed and I had to hack it and replace the battery. Moreover, reactik+ had the option to switch between the auto-adjustable mode and constant output based on user setting, so the issue Yankee Tanker is having with Swift - gone.

hey Yankee Tanker. hold ON button for 2 sec. and you will have normal mode without dimming. this torch is great, from me no complaints.

As others have said, I have a swift RL and I love it. Only thing I would change is the micro USB to a USB c. I use mine for everything, running, climbing, around camp. Seems to me to be the pinnacle (so far) of petzl headtorch development (my first was the old zoom in the mid nineties!).

Have you ran with the light?

This is the whole point about reactive lighting... This isn't about you don't blind other, it's about to not blind your self. Granted, by sitting in your camp this isn't that much of a problem but if you skiing or trailrunning you need as much range you can get but the problem is, if you watch closer things with 900lm especially on bright things like snow, will blind you and creates an extremely dangerous potentially even lethal situation in wich you aren't able to see where you going. So only because you use the lamp for the wrong use case, it's not inferior per se. Also the RL function can be simply switched off by pressing the button for more than two seconds. After about one second, one LED will turn off or on depending in wich mode you were before and if you further hold the button it will switch RL on/off. Personally i would like it to have some feedback in form of a blink or so to indicate you switched RL but that's not enough to say it's just an inferior overpriced piece of crap. Know your gear.

Welcome back buddy!! 👍👍

Hold the button to turn it off. it will then come back on on the latest setting. If you want the brightness, that your eyes are adapted to, you do need the dimming function when light is bouncing back.

I use a reactik +, which was replaced for me free to replace my tikka RXP after it fried in the rain. It's basically just the newer version of the tikka but with Bluetooth. It doesn't use the small rechargeable battery it uses the large one that clips directly in that has more mAh. if you can't see the book, theres something wrong with your eyes. The dimming is for looking at maps so you don't blind yourself on the paper and I love it. I've also used them at work for years when I use a clip board but also need to look far away. You can make your own settings in an app. It has replaced all other flashlights or headlamps for me. I even use it for remodeling. And yes turning it off does use more battery life as you're using more power for more light, duh.

Good advice.. when u are out in mountains for weeks far away from anything... (yeah been there) ... good with ability to run AAA on the core

Cost for battery spare may be an issue, but the swift battery 2x capacity of the core. To me, cycling to off is trivial issue, I’m more concerned about lack of charge port cover. And you can just decide mode when you turn on. Quick press for reactive, one second press for standard. Simple.

You see, I like the cycling to switch off! It annoys me with non-cycling lamps that when you need a bit more brightness, it first switches off and then you have to cycle through past the brightness you were on in the first place to be where you want to be! I find the RL to be at its most useful when you have to read a map on the go and can do so without dazzling yourself or fiddling with your brightness settings. The headband I find comfortable and stable. Yes, it does slacken off over time, but it is so easy to adjust and tighten, I don't find it a problem. I'm with you on the tactile feel of the switch. It does feel flimsy on a headlamp of this price. Overall, I am very pleased with mine.

Thank you for opinion!

You do know you can turn it of and have 900 lemuns on all time

Just turn off reactive mode if you don‘t want it to dim…

The point of the reactive lighting is this- You need more lumens to look at something far away than you do to look at something nearby. Look at the ground in front of your feet at 900 lumens and it will be too bright to make out any detail. Look at your feet at 100 lumens and you will be able to make out every detail. You can switch to manual and turn the reactive function off if you want.

Don’t know if mine is a defect or operator error, but I used it one time and it worked great, come hone cleaned it, tried to use it again a few weeks later and it won’t turn on.

Have you done a video review of Petzl PIXA 2 Pro Headlamp?

How long have you used it ?? Real reason for RL to save battery and reduce weight.

IMO, the reactive lighting is great for being out and about on the trail or wherever at night, or you can turn off reactive if you don't enjoy it. Cycling through all the modes before it turns off is pretty annoying tho.

I just bought another old actik core 450 lumen had good luck with last one 6 years but rubber button worn away, haven't heard anything about the new actik core 600L as far as quality?

The reactive feature is amazing! if I don't want it to dim I will simply just turn it on without the reactive feature on it can do both.

The reactive function is useful for extending battery life, as the function adapts to ambient light, meaning that it isn’t wasting battery on a high lumen setting when not needed. I think the higher price is reasonable considering the 900 lumen output (although I think this is only available in reactive mode - @ 2.5 hours). Otherwise the max output on the static setting is 550 lumen (@ 2 hours). Whereas the Actik Core has a max 450 lumen @ 2 hours run time. Doesn’t have the option of reactive lighting and only tilts down, not both ways (useful for not blinding people in a group or shift the light without turning off). Both good head torches, just different. 🤷🏻‍♂️

I like the lock on the power switch no chance of been knocked on by accident

You can turn off the sensor. Dan you do not have the problem and always they same brightness.

Can't you just switch to standard mode? Also, it does have red light. Or did they introduce these new features later? Watching this in 2024...

Also, you can turn off the RL function by holding the button. And also, you can put tape over the sensor to cancel its functionality.

Why would I have my headlamp on if I was sitting around a campfire?

Great review, spot on for sure, thank you for posting! Definitely kicking myself for not verifying if the RL had an Auxiliary Red/Green Light setting prior to purchasing. However, for $120+, I thought it was a no doubter. I have a few cheapo-gas stations lamps equipped with the Aux light. Curious to know if there is a logical explanation as to why not……?

press and hold power button for 2 seconds.. and RL is off..

Hello Yankee. I have the old Tikka RXP and I also have the 1500 lm Nao RL. The reactive technology is awesome when running in woods or hiking in Alpes... But YOU CAN JUST TURN IT OFF... even more awesome yeah?

I wish petzl made a fully waterproof actik core

You can turn the RL option off tho?

All very good points! And I would rather have the red for when I'm hunting elk hunting elk .

Even if it does blind people in front of you can’t you just angle it down towards the ground like I’ve done for yrs with other headlamps?

Just bought this for $80 on sale and its very good lamp, all of these things are not so important for me, its still very good lamp !

Its great,, no problems here

ProTip: put a small peace of black elektrical tape on the lightsensor. No anoying automatic adjustment anymore.

Sorry but will have to disagree with this. I've been using the old model for years and today bought the new 1100 swift rl. Is absolutely amazing. You can use this in normal mode if you find it too annoying in some situations but for climbing and mountaineering is spot on. I don't have to keep pressing buttons all the time. The new model is now USB C so even better.

Can you get a spare battery for it?

good to know

I just want them to bring the Zipka back! Red light is essential imo too

sound to me like you didn't do your home work before you brought it, it meant for running, hiking and general activities at night, you should have got a different model, I think this is the best model they've done for what it designed for.

I don’t think you could me more wrong, sorry but it works perfectly for its application. When I find the RL gets annoying(like you stated and sometimes warm breath in certain temps) I turn off a RL and toggle to the lowest setting which does conserve battery life.

The RL is ideal for night skiing.

id recommend the black diamond storm 400. ive used it relentlesly for the past 2 years and id say i used it 5 days out of the week. the best part is that it uses AAA batteries, and the battery lasted me an entire summer last year using it every night for biking. i dislike rechargable headlamps as the battery usually is worse

Best trail running torch on the market. Bar none.

Is this waterproof

I like Petzl. I was very very disappointed, however, by Black Diamond Storm 375 - lens cracked for no particular reason and there is a design flaw , because of which the fourth battery is incredibly difficult to remove without any sort of tool.

Its for trail running, hiking etc. Not for a campsite

Regarding reactive lightning - Read manual

I'm about buy A PETZL Swift RL for £67, $120 is somewhat excessive I would Not fork out.

* and the lack of SOS red light? I doubt any of you guys are going to expedition to Alaska. You dont need it.

Dude… did you even read the manual? 😂

The 2024 model HAS red light! The 2024 lets you change the Bpack for normal batteries! This is a perfect headlamp for camping and or Hiking, running, basically all outdoor stuff.

You can turn the reactive off.

wow. super helpful and never would have guessed.

I have personally used this and the Swift RL Pro for the past 3 years and highly recommend both models. For trail running, hiking, working on the car @ night, you name it. Works flawlessly. Wasted 6:28 min of my life watching this video.

The worst part about Petzl is the constant cycling through countless modes to turn off and on

With all due respect Matt, this is a headlamp designed for mountaineering, not for reading to your daughter. A 20 dollar amazon headlamp will fulfill your needs.

irelevantná recenzia. Matt sa dostatočne nezoznámil s produktom. Ak sa niekomu smievanie nepáči, môže tutp funkciu jednoducho vypnúť.😀

I disagree the SWIFT RL is a good light and well built. depends what you want to do with it.

Led lenser is king of light

If someone is using 900 lumens for steady light, your lamp is not going to last long at all. 300 - 400 lumens is plenty for middle of nowhere and will last much longer.

can you try to close this sensor by electric tape?😁

You just saved a bunch of people from disappointment. Thanks

I don't think this was designed for people sitting on their ass while being considerate to others at the campfire. I feel like active outdoor activities is what they were aiming for.

Wow. Just turn off the reactive feature if you don’t care for it or don’t need it, turn it on when you do. 🤦‍♀️

Got mine for 68 bucks

Единственный грамотный и развернутый обзор на этот фонарик на всем ютубе

Very good review. I was going to buy Petzl RL swift before i saw this video. But i change mine mind now. Thanks.

I don't think it's 900 lumens

The problem here is you bought the wrong head torch for the wrong job. It’s designed for runners. The reactive lighting is great for night running when you go from a busy road with good street lighting to a dark trail with no ambient lighting at all and vice versa. You save burn time on the battery as it dims automatically when environment is lighter. It wasn’t designed for reading books or pottering around a camp site, although if you don’t like reactive lighting in these situations I don’t understand why you cannot just use it in the standard constant mode instead of reactive mode? That way it won’t dim automatically, which I think is what you are moaning about? Instead of trashing a perfectly good runners torch, I would suggest just doing your research better in future and buying the right tool for the job

Why would I turn on the red light when sitting by a campfire with friends? 😂

Completely wrong take on the reactive lighting tech. It's intuitive and extremely useful. I won't buy a headlamp without it. And if you don't like it, you can use the light in regular mode. Poor review.

You can operate without RL. Sorry, I disagree. This is a very great lamp, Actik. You can't be serious.

No offense dude, but your complaints are ridiculous. The reactive lighting sounds like a bad idea, but you can then the feature off. And since there are only 2-3 different settings for the light intensity, pressing the power button three times to turn the light off isn’t a problem unless you are the laziest human being on the planet. And to compare this product to a Petzl Actic Core lamp that produces only 300 lumens is just plain silly. One headlamp produces way more light than the other. They are radically different products. Justifying your comparison by saying that “300 lumens is enough in the dark” is downright intellectually lazy on your part. More lumens, as you may (or may not) know, means not only brighter light, but greater range. Some people like having things further away illuminated. And yes, the battery running down quickly is part of life, but at least the RL gives you the option to have more light when you need it.

So, you bought the wrong headlamp for your use case scenario and now you're telling other people not to buy it? Makes sense... not.

You should probably know how to actually use the headlamp and the light settings before doing a review.

You can turn the Dimming Mode off.

This review is bad. You don’t have the name of the product right (it is not “RL Swift”), and you don’t seem to understand what this product is intended for

My $12 energizer headlamp does the same job

😂

If there's anything that needs to cut down on 'weight' its YOU my guy. So now that you've spent 100 plus dollars on a lamp used by Ultra Marathoners. That should hopefully inspire you to go for a run. You say you hike? I doubt that highly since all you do is complain about a lamp that's not intended for "social use".

Pivot mechanism gets loose after a while. Very cheap plastic. Drove me crazy and I had to trash this piece of s….

Wow and I thought aquarium hobby was expensive. Thats pricey

900 lumens - 🎤 Drop

You really need to check your product before reviewing. The reactive lighting can be easily turned off into normal mode. I am a hiker and this is an awesome light, better than my previous Ledlenser. It is lightweight, easy to use and very user friendly. Your review is misleading and incorrect. I hope people read more reviews than this one! 👎