Petzl IKO Core Headlamp Review

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Running or hiking at night can be an amazing experience. Tree frogs, crickets and the sounds of night can be so intriguing. Embarking upon a night run or hike requires the proper equipment, including the perfect headlamp. As I trained this summer for a 100 mile ultra marathon, I cycled through several headlamps that were too heavy, had a short battery life or were unbalanced and bouncy. That is, until I tried the Petzl IKO Core Headlamp. While I didn’t get it ordered in time for my summer race, I have been able to train with it plenty for my upcoming 100 mile race in November.

Petzl has long been a leader in the climbing world with their quality equipment. The Petzl IKO Core headlamp was added to their lineup as a climbing light. It can easily fit into the clips on your climbing helmet and provide an excellent source of adjustable light. Petzl also markets the IKO Core as the recommended headlamp for the recreational runner on easy terrain. I was surprised by Petzl’s modesty, because this is by far, the best running headlamp I have used in all terrains. The remainder of my review will focus on it’s value as a runner’s light but it can definitely be used for other sports.

The Construction: Definitely Something Different

The Petzl IKO Core looks a little funny. When I first looked at it on the website, it was hard to imagine the rigid looking headband was actually soft pliable rubber. With this model, Petzl did away with the thick elastic band that gets sweaty, dirty and downright gross after a season of use. The headband, called the AIRFIT, is designed to keep your head cooler, be super lightweight and keep the headlamp neatly in place. It does all of those things well.

The adjustment of the headband is elastic cordage that pulls into a tightener on the back of the head. The cords can’t be felt while wearing the headlamp. This adjustment pulls the AIRFIT band neatly into the back of your head for a secure fit. The ultralight lamp body in the front seems weightless and is adjustable to about 80 degrees. The rechargeable battery is in the back which gives the IKO Core a very balanced feel.

The Petzl IKO Core Batteries

Petzl uses their popular Hybrid Concept in the battery compartment. This means that you can use Petzl’s Core rechargeable battery (included with the lamp) OR you can use three AAA batteries in it’s place. The AAA batteries are a great option for a backup if you are on an extended trip and don’t have access to a charger or you are running an all night race and don’t want to be left in the dark. Another option is to buy a second rechargeable Core battery for $29.95.

But how do the Core Batteries perform? The battery is a high-capacity 1250 mAh lithium-ion rechargeable battery. It works great at low temperatures and according to Petzl, takes the place of 900 batteries in it’s lifetime. There is a 2 year warranty on the battery.

Battery Level Indicator

This brings me to the issue of knowing the battery level. There is a small LED on the front of the lamp body that burns green for a few seconds when you turn off the lamp. Once the lamp is below 30%, the green light turns red. I would have preferred a level indicator with 4-5 segments that told me how much I have left. I have to take off the head lamp and turn it off to see the indicator. This will be inconvenient during a race. It is a minor thing and adds to the compact size of the overall lamp body, so I found it acceptable.

This is the small indicator that tells you whether the charge is above (green) or below (red) 30%.

IKO Core Lights up the Trail!

Petzel designed the IKO Core with 3 light settings. The lowest setting (6 lumens) is a soft flood of light that is great for working closely around camp, close to a climbing wall or having to adjust gear. The lowest light setting uses the least amount of battery and Petzl specs indicate that it will burn for 100 hours at this level. The medium setting (100 lumens) incorporates the soft flood and a focused beam. This combination gives you excellent depth perception on the trail without creating a tunnel. The soft flood of light on the periphery is excellent to balance out the lighting. This was my favorite setting on the headlamp for running at night. Petzl’s specs indicate it will last for 9 hours at this level.

The highest level of this headlamp is 500 lumens and could light up a football game. It is an intense flood light that is great for open spaces or to get an overview of a large area. The burn time for the high setting is 2.5 hours. If you need an all night light, I would suggest using this setting sparingly.

Storage Bag Doubles as a Lantern

The Petzl Iko Core is amazingly flexible and folds down neatly to be stored in the included bag. The bag doubles as a lantern if placed over the lamp body. This comes in super handy at camp or in your tent when you don’t want focused light in your eyes. It casts a soft, diffused light and can be used at all three intensity levels. This component really expands the uses of this headlamp.

Headlamp Locking Protection

The power button on the lamp body cycles you through the three levels of lighting. A 4-second press of the power button locks the headlamp. You know the headlamp is locked when the power level indicator light flashes red multiple times. This prevents the headlamp for accidentally turning on while in your pack. To unlock the lamp, you either hold the power button for 2 seconds or press the power button 4 times quickly. This turns on the lamp and unlocks the power button.

Technical Specs on the IKO Core Headlamp directly from Petzl’s Website

• Brightness: 500 lumens (ANSI FL 1 STANDARD)
• Weight: 79 g
• Beam pattern: Wide or mixed
• Energy: 1250 mAh CORE rechargeable battery (included)
• Charging time: 3.5 h
• Battery compatibility: Alkaline, lithium, or Ni-MH rechargeable
• Watertightness: IPX4 (weather-resistant)
• Certification(s): CE, UKCA

Highly Recommended by Me!

After trying out so many headlamps, I was happy to finally meet the Petzl IKO Core. I had passed over this light in the past because I was worried that the AIRFIT wouldn’t set right on my small head. I was mistaken! This thing fits great. And while I haven’t used it for an all-nighter yet, I am impressed with the specs on burn time. The headlamp is super light at 79 grams and stays securely in place, even while sprinting. It has a lithium battery which will perform well in cold weather and is weather resistant.

When you see a large number of runners wearing the same headlamp at a 100 miler, you know it’s a good one. This summer at the Leadville 100, I saw so many of the IKO Core headlamps. At the race expo, Petzl was selling them like crazy. I would highly suggest that you get one for your next ultra or whatever overnight adventure you embark upon. They are very reasonably priced at $104.95 at rei.com and amazon.com.