I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
I’ve spent a lot of time in the woods, as a wildland firefighter and an avid outdoorsman, and I’ve used my fair share of headlamps. That’s why I was really excited when Petzl offered to give us the IKO Core to check out and share my opinions on (although content or types of content were not guaranteed). I’m glad they did, as this has quickly become one of my go-to headlamps. So in this article, I’m going to share what it is, who it’s for, and what I did and didn’t like about the headlamp.
So let’s get right into it.
What is the Petzl IKO CORE
I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
- The headband works well
- I was impressed with its brightness
- Great compatibility with headgear
- Storing it in the bag is less than ideal
The Petzl IKO core headlamp is a headlamp from the renowned climbing brand Petzl. Now, from Petzel, you wouldn’t necessarily think of quality headlamps, as I’ve never thought of them being in that niche, but in fact, they have many, many headlamp variations from entry-level all the way up to ultra high-end from lightweight to super robust.
This IKO Core kind of falls (Paid Link) in the middle of their range, more on the lightweight side. The IKO is a very unique design featuring the AIRFIT headband that makes wearing the IKO a breeze. The light also features an integrated battery pack that’s removable so you can use three AAA batteries instead of the rechargeable battery pack. The nice thing about this headlamp is its weight, but at only 79 grams, it is virtually unnoticeable while wearing.
What do I like about the IKO CORE?
1. The headband works well
The headband is the AIRFIT patented by Petzl, and it is a semi-rigid headband that is thin, but not too thin to make it uncomfortable to wear, and also features a tightening system that holds tight without feeling like your head is being squished.
The headband also does a fantastic job with the battery pack, and it doesn’t feel unbalanced with having the small light portion on the front with the battery pack on the back. It’s actually very balanced and extremely comfortable to wear.
2. I was impressed with its brightness
The brightness, though it’s only 500 lm, is very usable. There’s a nice area that is illuminated directly in front, but it also has a nice flood pattern. Very nice to use when you’re working up close or maybe just walking, but it still has a good amount of distance to see further away. I find myself typically using the medium setting, which is 100 lm; it gives you a sight distance of about 45 m.
3. Great compatibility with headgear
If you wear a hard hat, helmet, or a hat in general when using a headlamp, the IKO is great (Paid Link). It stays on a hard hat very easily, especially with the AIRFIT headband. This headlamp also fits great just on the head and is super comfortable to wear for long periods.
The light also features a carrying bag that, when placed over the light, creates a makeshift lantern that works surprisingly well and can be easily hung in a tent, from a branch, or anywhere you might need some extra light.
What do I not like about this headlamp?
1. Storing it in the bag is less than ideal
Storing the light in the bag is not impossible, but you have to twist the headband around and kind of shove it into the bag, which isn’t itself hard. It just makes me question how long it will last being put into that bag. If I don’t need to put it in the bag, I don’t. This could be just me being careful. It could probably be put in the bag 1000 times and never have a problem.
2. Nothing else
As you can tell by the one thing that we had not great to say about, it being that the bag is kind of a pain in my back, the overall usability over time is very doubtful. There’s not a lot bad to say about the Petzl IKO. So I guess that’s a negative, there are no negatives.
Who should buy the Petzl IKO CORE?
If you are looking for a high-quality, super comfortable, rechargeable, powerful headlamp that is lightweight and packed with features, the Petzl IKO is the headlamp for you (Paid Link). I feel the price is good for what you get, especially from a reputable brand, such as Petzl.
You will more than likely not be wanting for any more light than this thing can produce, and seeing how it’s in such a usable pattern, you will probably not be struggling to see what you’re looking for overall. If you value quality and want a lightweight high-output headlamp, the Petzl IKO is for you!
Where should you buy this?
I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
- The headband works well
- I was impressed with its brightness
- Great compatibility with headgear
- Storing it in the bag is less than ideal
