Petzl SWIFT LT Headlamp Overview

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At 1.5 ounces, the Petzl SWIFT LT is competitively light-weight. The lamp’s 100-lumen commonplace mode dealt with most of our path and camp use with no need to faucet into the best “max energy” setting. Nevertheless, there are trade-offs to the minimalist design: The fastened huge beam tops out at 230 ft (70 meters), the pink gentle is pretty dim, cost time runs round 3 hours from empty, and there’s no pass-through possibility if the battery dies mid-outing. 

Light-weight gear normally comes with noteworthy compromises, and the SWIFT LT is not any exception. There’s a hard and fast huge beam, no spot mode, IPX4 climate resistance, and a shock wire rather than a conventional headband. Fortunately, most of those turned out to be much less problematic than anticipated in testing. For ultralight runners, thru-hikers, and backcountry skiers who’ve already dedicated to going gentle, the SWIFT LT is value severe consideration. 

Take a look at our information to one of the best headlamps for extra prime picks, skilled suggestions, and tips about selecting the right choices obtainable.

How We Examined

We examined the SWIFT LT over a number of months in Colorado, together with pre-dawn path runs within the foothills, backcountry ski laps, and multi-night backpacking journeys. Our analysts targeted on the makes use of and circumstances it was designed for – high-output motion, sustained camp use, gentle snow and rain – together with a number of it wasn’t.

Illumination & Gentle High quality

The SWIFT LT produces a large, uniform beam throughout three white modes: max burn time (low) at 7 lumens, commonplace at 100 lumens, and max energy (excessive) at 380 lumens. Max energy is meaningfully vibrant for a headlamp this gentle, and commonplace mode at 100 lumens dealt with nearly all of our path and camp duties with out challenge. The sunshine coloration skews cool and is noticeably bluer than Petzl’s personal ACTIK CORE or the impartial output of the Black Diamond Spot sequence. The cooler gentle reads effectively on technical terrain, although we did expertise some eye fatigue after a number of hours of use.

The place the SWIFT LT falls a bit brief is its throw. The fastened huge beam reaches 230 ft at max energy, which works tremendous for wooded singletrack and camp use. That mentioned, you’ll really feel the ceiling on open ridgelines or quick descents when trying farther forward is helpful. 

Burn Time

Battery life is stable given the SWIFT LT’s intentions. Max burn time at 7 lumens lasts 60 hours – helpful as a low-draw reserve however too dim for shifting on undulating trails or variable terrain. Normal mode at 100 lumens delivers 6 hours with a further 2-hour reserve, which lined our path runs, night camp chores whereas backpacking, and most multi-day journeys with out challenge. Max energy at 380 lumens lasts for two hours.

The charging state of affairs is slightly murky. The SWIFT LT costs through USB-C, but it surely constantly took our unit 3 hours to replenish from empty. That’s fairly gradual for a headlamp with an 880 mAh battery. For comparability, the equally intentioned Nitecore NU25 UL comes with a 650 mAh battery (which affords about 65% of the SWIFT LT’s the vitality capability) and costs in below 1.5 hours. There’s additionally no pass-through charging, so an exterior battery gained’t hold it working mid-objective. On longer adventures, you’ll must plan round that. 

Weight

At 1.5 ounces, the SWIFT LT is feathery gentle with a barely there really feel to match. We by no means observed it on path runs, and it added virtually nothing to our pack weight on backpacking journeys. A variety of the financial savings comes from the shock wire headband, which lacks the majority of a conventional strap – the sort of design choice that is sensible to those that noticed the deal with off their toothbrush. The wire requires two palms to regulate – a minor inconvenience throughout setup that disappears when you dial within the match. For ultralight backpackers, thru-hikers, path runners, and backcountry customers who prioritize protecting their package gentle, the SWIFT LT is tough to beat.

Consolation

Ultralight headlamps are not often very comfy. Designs with shock cord-style straps don’t defend in opposition to plastic-to-skin contact, so most of the time, which means the plastic headlamp physique is resting in opposition to your brow. These straps can also’t distribute the strain round your head in addition to thicker, extra conventional straps, which might generally result in discomfort or irritation. Fortunately, the SWIFT LT is pretty cozy regardless of its unapologetically streamlined design. 

By way of path runs, backcountry ski laps, prolonged backpacking outings, and sprinting after toddlers, the SWIFT LT held securely in place. The skinny wire breathes noticeably higher than a conventional headband when the going will get sweaty. Adjustment requires two palms to cinch, which is a small inconvenience, although we had our match dialed in after a number of seconds and didn’t give it some thought after that.

The lean operate added extra to consolation than we anticipated. When worn angled ahead across the neck on rocky path sections, the decrease gentle place takes strain off the brow solely and improves depth notion sufficient that a number of of our analysts made it an everyday behavior. We did observe minor strain from the wire throughout lengthy, low-intensity nights, but it surely by no means rose to the extent of being an actual grievance.

Ease of Use

The SWIFT LT makes use of a single-button interface that’s quite simple and intuitive out of the field. A single press turns the lamp on at max burn time (7 lumens), and extra presses cycle by way of commonplace (100 lumens) and max energy (380 lumens) earlier than returning to the bottom setting. Holding the button switches to red-light mode; a second press cycles to pink strobe.

To entry the lock operate, simply maintain the button till the indicator blinks. The battery cost indicator reveals remaining energy every time the lamp activates or off, which is useful. The only button cycles by way of all three white modes earlier than looping again to off, so if you happen to overshoot your most popular brightness degree, it’s important to click on right through earlier than beginning once more.

Options

The SWIFT LT’s characteristic record is brief, and most of what’s on it really works effectively. Three white modes cowl the life like vary of ultralight makes use of. The lean operate is effectively executed. Angling the lamp upward when worn round our neck was helpful sufficient on rocky terrain that it grew to become a behavior for us.

The lock operate is dependable, although it’s commonplace on most fashionable headlamps. Reflective threading woven by way of the scarf improves visibility in low gentle. The pink gentle is the weak spot, comprising a 2-lumen slim beam that works tremendous for studying in a tent or finding gear in a pack however isn’t a lot assist for shifting rapidly on path. There’s no pass-through charging, no spare battery possibility, no beam adjustment, and a middling IPX4 climate resistance score.

Ought to You Purchase the Petzl SWIFT LT?

The SWIFT LT is the precise headlamp if going gentle is your prime precedence and you realize what you’re giving up. We suggest it for path runners, thru-hikers, backcountry skiers, and ultralight backpackers who want a feathery however dependable possibility for shifting quick at midnight. The strap holds securely at a dash, the low-profile unit is imperceptible on the transfer, and 100 lumens on commonplace mode covers most conditions with out hammering the battery.

Skip the SWIFT LT if beam throw issues. The fastened huge beam tops out at 230 ft, which you’ll really feel on uncovered ridgelines and alpine begins. The pink gentle is slim and dim, cost time is gradual, and a useless battery mid-outing can’t be fastened with an exterior energy financial institution. For customers who want extra flexibility at midnight, there are higher choices obtainable.

What Different Headlamps Ought to You Take into account?

For those who just like the SWIFT LT, you must also try the fashions beneath and check out our information to one of the best headlamps:

Nitecore NU25 UL Overview: The NU25 UL is 0.14 ounces heavier than the SWIFT LT however steps as much as 400 lumens, affords spot and flood modes, and has extra strong IP66 waterproofing. The SWIFT LT has a extra refined match and really feel on the top, although the NU25 UL delivers extra options and higher waterproofing for significantly much less.

Black Diamond Spot 400-R Overview: Shifting away from the ultralight area to a extra well-rounded headlamp, the Spot 400-R checks numerous containers for outdoor-goers of all types. It’s heavier at 3 ounces however throws to 328 ft, provides IP67 waterproofing, and contains a extra conventional strap.

Petzl ACTIK CORE Overview: If you wish to keep within the Petzl lineup however want extra output and battery flexibility, the ACTIK CORE is an efficient wager. It delivers 625 lumens at max brightness, has a 377-foot throw, and may be powered by both its rechargeable battery or three AAAs. Weight jumps to three.1 ounces, however the efficiency acquire is value that trade-off for a lot of outside makes use of.