Petzl ACTIK CORE review

The ACTIK CORE fits the brightness, battery and weight brief better than any other lamp here. Petzl rates it at 625 lumens and 115 m on MAX POWER, which lasts 2 h, while the STANDARD setting gives 100 lumens for 7 h and MAX BURN TIME gives 7 lumens for 100 h. It weighs 88 g with the 1250 mAh CORE battery, which charges over USB-C in 3.5 h. The HYBRID CONCEPT design is the main reason it ranks first: the lamp also takes three AAA batteries and detects which power source is fitted, so a multi-day hiker can carry spare AAAs instead of a power bank. The beam can be wide or mixed, a single button handles every mode, and a LOCK function stops it switching on in a pack. The headband is reflective, washable and made from recycled materials. Limits are clear on the spec sheet: IPX4 means weather resistant, not waterproof, and the charging cable is sold separately.

Who it is for

hikers and campers who want one headlamp for every trip

Price

$87.95 at the Petzl US store.

ACTIK® CORE $87.95
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 12, 2026.

Key features

• 625 lumens on MAX POWER with a 115 m beam distance (ANSI/PLATO FL 1)
• 88 g with the CORE rechargeable battery
• 1250 mAh CORE battery charges over USB-C in 3.5 h
• HYBRID CONCEPT: also runs on 3 AAA/LR03 batteries
• 100 h burn time on MAX BURN TIME (7 lumens) and continuous red light

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Swaps to AAA batteries if the CORE battery runs flat on a long trip
• Strength: Single button controls brightness and red light
• Strength: Headband is reflective, washable and made from recycled materials
• Weakness: IPX4 rating covers rain, not submersion
• Weakness: Only 2 h of burn time at 625 lumens
• Weakness: USB-C cable is not included

Key facts

• Price: $87.95
• Max output: 625 lumens
• Weight: 88 g
• Battery: 1250 mAh CORE or 3 AAA
• Water rating: IPX4

Where it ranks

Petzl ACTIK CORE is No. 1 in our Best Headlamps verdict.