“Anybody bought a zipka headlamp yet? It's like a tikka except with no headband...it has a retractable strap system. I want to get one of those. Is that thread (strap) durable? Supposedly it's more practical...strap onto one's wrist, trekking pole etc.”

“For $46 clams!!! No way! Same as the TIKKA, sept the ZIPKA has a retractable (band?, nope) STRING as your headband. If you have any amount of hair, it'll catch fer sure. And in very cold climates, I'd not trust the retracting device to hold up. And wasn't it only like about 6 oz'es less in weight? Oops, nononono, the TIK is 70 grams, and the ZIP is, I thank it was 64 grams, they're both nuttin' practically, both are a cupla oz'es total weight is all.

Stanlee I'd not suggest the ZIP over the TIK, just an opine tho, yaknow.”

“Thanx Naked Ape, just wanted to see if anyone used it. I'd probably end up buying the Tikka...I'm pretty rough on my gear.”

“No, I haven't use the Zipka. That band dosn't look comfortable and I have been able to strap my Tikka to my wrist and onto my tent. I'll stick with the Tikka.”

“I've got the Zipka, bought it with credit card rebate $$. I love it - the band seems durable, I've used it in below freezing weather, I have a lot of hair, no problem. It feels like nothing on my head and I really prefer the skinny strap.”

“I must confess that I could not resist this gadget. You would think it would catch in your hair, but it doesn't.

It is, quite simply, the coolest little toy I have given myself in a long time.

Merry Christmas to me.”

“Black Diamond Headlamp

I think I would rather have this headlamp.”

“but I can't get it back from her. It is very comfortable and she has no problems with her hair or hat.”

“I chose the Tikka because I was afraid I would lose that tiny little Zipka (plus I'm cheap).”

“Does the fact that you can't adjust the beam angle cause anyone problems? Can you read a book and use it for cooking without having to move your head a lot?”

“You just have to reposition the light on your forehead--not any more difficult than readusting a regular Petzl.”

“Yeah, you just slide it up or down your forehead (assuming you're not Herman Munster).”

“I think the Tikka was the best piece of new equipment I bought last year. I was pleasantly surprised at the amount of light it generates. Mtnsteve, I have used it to read and have incurred no problems.”

“Ok, I'm getting one.....













My name is Steve, and I'm a gear junkie.........”

“We understand, but don't fight it.”

“We're here for you.”

“I've had the tikka for a while, and now going to buy the Black Diamond version. And you think you're a gear junkie.....”

“Dude, hold out for the Princeton Tec model. I was checking one out and, I believe, they are waterproof. Weighs in at 3 ozs. Almost identical to the Tikka but has a sealed lens, several brightness settings, it swivels, etc. It'll be going for $25 to $30. It also appears to me more burly, me hesitation on getting the Tikka. I've heard that in rain/moisture, the Tikka leaks/fogs and if you dropped that sucker on anything hard, it sure doesn't seem like it would last to me.”

“If you want a three strap go with this If you just want a backpacking light, get the Tikka. Remember, wider is better.”

“I'll go chile36 one better. I think the Tikka was the best piece of equipment I ever bought.”

“When are those Princeton Tec's going to be available? That does sound like the way to go.”

“i have the BD moonlight-it,s very hardy and offers enough light for most things-don't try night hiking,just not enough light.in general it's great,the batteries are easy to change,but if there is a flaw,it would be the battery pack at the back makes it uncomfortable to lean your head against things to read,etc.”

“Skully: Very soon, I would suspect tho I couldn't find anything on them on their website. They had them advertised in the BP Mag 2002 Gear Guide. I think it will dust the Petzel models.”

“It sounds like it. As long as it doesn't have anything on the back of the headstrap (I hate that), I will own one!”

“It doesn't. It's all contained in the front housing. Looks just like the tikka/zipka, but burlier.”

“G00SE has our gear guide right now. I know what I'm looking up as soon as I can, though!”

“they say current LED lights aren't waterproof...HA...i accidently left 2 photons in my vest pocket and ran it through the washing machine...GOOD AS EVER...dropped the tikka in a 5 gallon bucket....hehe..opps...it's still fine too....”

“Wow, so many lights and opinions...I'll compare the prices before purchasing. Maybe I'll wait for those Princeton Tecs to come out...just to compare them to the Tik and Zip's. Thanks for the feedback.”

“It's like this the tikka is very simple and lightweight.I saw the black diamond light but it's too much on the head.I looked around hard core at all the new headlamps and I came back everytime to the tikka.”

“You can read with the Tikka but get ready for some bright pages! I positioned it so I could read by indirect light - a little better. It's definitely a lot of light for the tent - might also take a little photon for my evening reading.”

“I just bought a Tikka. LOVE IT!!!! Never used or even seen a Zipka in use so I can't vouch for them.”

“Oh ya also if you use the e2 batteries with it man it's 25% brighter.

And they last much longer then any other batteries.”

“I own a Tikka and looked at the zipka. I like the headband on the Tikka.

Plenty of diffused light for reading, cooking, hiking, or whatever. You can adjust it a little by moving it up or down on your forehead.”

“Has anyone tried pulling one or two of the led's from a Tikka/Zipka to see if they'd run on one bulb? If so, did it work?”

“Brighter the better.Oh Buddur if you open that you brake it!

Don't open it!!!!!”

“The lense comes off without breaking it. Someone once posted that they thought Tikka must mean 'burn retinas from tent partner's eyes'. I think that about sums it up. I still have to get used to looking at someone to talk to them without blinding them.”

“Everybody sitting around wearing Tikkas and Sunglasses”

“Next year they'll prolly come out with a Tikka II that has a sliding on/off switch that'll turn on one bulb, slide further to turn on the second bulb, and slide the rest of the way to have all 3 bulbs on.”

“I like it when I do that.Blinded by the light!!!!!


8)”

“Maybe Buddur can tape some film negatives to it, to lessen the brightness.”

“everyone i think at the savage gluf trip had LED headlamps..stikmon being the minority with a non petzel led..blackdiamond i think
I love mine..my only con i can think of for it is night hiking in cold temps..your breath tends to blind you since it gives off such a LARGE halo of light and not much focused light”

“That was my Tikkas first trip. I almost had to use my old Petzl Micro.”

“Forget the LEDs, Carbide is the only true head lamp. No batteries!”

“A source of heat, light, & odor.”

“i wouldn't really say the LED lights have batteries....hehe..specially when you can forget about them for almost years”

“Speaking of LEDs... Does anybody know what the effective range is on the LED headlamps? My dividend check just came in, and I'm looking to replace my mini-mag.”

“They're usually good to around 20 ft....some claims to be around 30 ft.”

“Anybody else have problems with the switches? I've had 2 get incredibly hard to slide after a relatively short time......

Ended up trading the 2nd one in for a BD light, gaining some aiming capability at the cost of a battery compartment on the back of my head.......”

“This Photon headlamp looks pretty slick, but 80 smackers?”