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Verdict: A bright and affordable headtorch that’s withstanding the rigours of bikepacking and mountaineering adventures (so far).

My track record with headtorches hasn’t been a great so far, with 2 Black Diamond headtorches stopped working annoyingly, however I’ve always had good experiences with Petzl for the last decade since starting out with their entry-level Tikka.

Petzl’s Actik headtorch features a maximum brightness of 350 lumens (compared to the Tikka’s 300 lumens), which is more than enough for most expeditions. It also has a wide beam mode for when you need the extra light, and a red-light mode, which helps preserve night vision and is useful for reading maps or navigating in low-light conditions.

One of the standout features of the Petzl Actik headtorch is its long battery life. It can run for up to 120 hours on the lowest setting and up to 2 hours on the highest setting. The battery compartment is easy to access (as you would expect) and the AAA batteries can be replaced with Petzl’s rechargeable core battery.

The Actik headtorch also has several other useful features, including a reflective headband, an adjustable beam angle, and a waterproof design that can withstand rain and splashing – highly important for backpacking adventures!