Review: Petzl Swift RL Headlamp

Headlamps are in the same category as pocketknives and Nalgene bottles: you’ll never have the same for more than a year. Somehow, they disappear into thin air. Poof. Gone.

On the bright side, it’s a chance to upgrade, which I did with Petzl’s new Swift RL. This compact, rechargeable headlamp boasts an impressive 1,200 lumens—enough to light up a ski run, Forest Service road, or hillslope when stumbling back to camp after dark. It’s rechargeable with a USB-C cable, and I’ve found a single charge can last upwards of four days of heavy use in the woods. Its only fault is Petzl’s “Reactive Lighting,” which automatically adjusts the brightness to the surroundings. While great in theory, it’s frustrating when the headlamp flashes between super bright and super dim for no apparent reason. Fortunately, that mode can be deactivated with the press of a button. With that in mind, the Swift RL will have a dedicated place in my pack… for at least a year until it disappears, like all the headlamps that have come before, and all those that will come after.

Available at petzl.com; $135.