Petzl Actik CORE Headlamp review: A welcome update for a tried-and-true model

The updated 2025 Petzl Actik CORE continues to build on the reputation of its predecessors as one of the most dependable, user-friendly and versatile hiking head torches on the market.

Weighing just 88g, it delivers a powerful 625-lumen output (when using the included rechargeable li-ion CORE battery, now upgraded with USB-C charging technology).

You also get three brightness settings plus red light and strobe modes. Its hybrid design means you can also power it with standard AAA batteries, giving flexibility for longer trips.

Compact, comfortable, and simple to use via a single-button interface, the Actik CORE is designed for a wide range of outdoor pursuits – from hillwalking and camping to climbing and even trail running. It offers a solid beam distance of up to 115 metres, and the dual white-light LED setup provides both wide and focused lighting.

Particularly well engineered elements of the lamps design include its 360-degree rotating mount, a glow-in-the-dark internal element, easy battery access, and a protective front bumper.

The use of recycled materials in the headband, light-diffusing storage pouch/hanging lantern and plastic lamp body boosts the Actik’s sustainability credentials.

However, it lacks dimmable brightness adjustment, and the splashproof IPX4 rating increasingly trails many rivals in the waterproofing stakes.

Despite those minor flaws, its ease of use, comfort, and reliable power output make the Actik CORE a top choice for general outdoor use, especially if you shop around for the best price.

Design and features

The 2025 Actik has a sleek, angular look, particularly compared to older generations of this model, which were rounded and bulbous. It’s about more than just aesthetics though. The design incorporates an integrated rubberised front bumper to help protect the LED array from impacts and scratches.

Meanwhile, a phosphorescent element inside the light unit also glows in the dark, making it easier to find your head torch in a dim tent.

And the clever bracket design enables it to swivel through 360 degrees, which not only gives a very wide range of angle adjustment (it can face upwards, as well as down) but also makes for easy access to the rear battery compartment.

A wide elasticated headband with rear adjustment ensures a close fit, incorporating reflective elements for low-light visibility.

Like other models in Petzl’s CORE range, the Actik has hybrid compatibility. This means it can run off 3 x AAAs or Petzl’s own removable and rechargeable CORE Lithium-ion battery packs.

These have been improved for 2025, and although they have a nominally lower capacity (1100mAh compared to the previous 1250mAh), this hasn’t affected either light output or burn times.

More significantly, the charging port has been upgraded from micro-USB to USB-C, which enables faster charging. As well as embracing newer tech, this means one less charging cable to worry about, since it’s the same power cable as those used for most modern smartphones.

There’s also a small brightness boost. The latest Actik now puts out up to 625 lumens (a slight increase of 25 lumens compared to the 2024 model) when using the CORE battery pack, or 450 lumens if powered by 3 x AAA batteries.

You get three stepped brightness settings plus red light and strobe modes. There’s also a simple charge indicator (which flashes green, amber or red to show battery status) and a lock function to prevent accidental operation (press and hold the power button for 5 seconds).

A welcome added extra is that, just like other Petzl head torches, the Actik is bundled with a translucent ‘Shell LT’ storage sack, which enables you to hang it as a lantern, creating a soft, diffuse light for your tent. The sack is made from 100% recycled materials, without any PFAS chemicals.

However, if you want added protection, it’s worth noting that the Actik is also compatible with Petzl’s Noctilight accessory, sold separately. This is a protective zippered storage case that is fitted with a hanging cord and hook, which again can be used as a handy tent lantern.

Performance and comfort

In use, the Actik feels light and comfortable, with a simple but effective one-piece elastic woven headband that is now made from 100% recycled fibres. Most of the plastic pieces of the lamp body are also made out of recycled materials, a plus for overall sustainability.

The entire head torch weighs in at just 88g, giving a very good power-to-weight ratio, since most 600-lumen plus head torches are over 100g. The unit itself is nice and compact too.

Operation is very intuitive, since a single large top button controls all operations. Press it once for a 7-lumen low light mode, which works well for simple in-tent illumination. Another press switches the Actik to its 100-lumen medium setting, and a third press takes you to its maximum 625-lumen output.

Meanwhile, a long press cycles to red light and strobe modes. We do wish there was an extra light setting in there though – switching from 100 to 450 lumens with nothing in between is a big step up.

Quoted burn times are two hours at full power, and 7 hours at medium power (with an additional two-hour power reserve). You’ll get up to 100 hours on the 7-lumen low setting, and 60 hours in continuous red-light mode.

The Actik is equipped with a triple LED array consisting of two white LEDs and a third red light LED. The two white-light LEDs give you a wide and focused beam, allowing for both proximity and distance vision. This is a step up from the simpler and cheaper Petzl Tikka, which only has a single white-light LED.

At high power, the Actik throws its beam up to 115 metres, which is very competitive and makes this model an excellent head torch for year-round outdoor use in a variety of pursuits, from hillwalking and backpacking to wild camping to climbing.

For an all-rounder, it’s also a decent running head torch, since it isn’t too bulky or bouncy. Having said that, more specialist models would give you superior running-specific features like lower weight, an even closer fit and a rear red light for road use.

Price and competition

The Actik CORE now has a UK RRP of £72, but it is so widely distributed that you’ll probably find it on sale for considerably less than that. A quick Google search led us to a few reputable online retailers that were selling it for around £55 (just make sure you’re getting the 2025 model, not the 2024 one).

That makes it decent value, especially when you consider Petzl’s excellent reputation for reliability and durability.

Drawbacks? The Actik lacks a dimming function, so you can run it at 7, 100 or 625 lumens, but nothing in between. It has lower water resistance than most of its rivals too, only being IPX4 rated (splashproof). Petzl does offer higher-rated models when it comes to ingress protection, like the Aria 2, which is IP67-rated.

But we’d like to see Petzl’s popular all-rounders like the Actik and Tikka CORE match its more specialist headlamps in this regard. It’s one aspect where the brand is increasingly starting to lag behind most of the other specialist head torch manufacturers.

There is still lots to like about the Petzl Actik though. It’s not overly fancy, but in turn this ensures it is one of the most user-friendly head torches around, whilst also being reasonably light and compact, particularly given its high-power output.

However, its real USP remains its straightforward simplicity – and that’s what really helps this perennially popular model sell year-on-year.

Verdict

For more useful gizmos, check out our roundup of the best camping gadgets.

A reliable, lightweight and powerful all-rounder that does almost everything well – ideal for general outdoor use.

About the author

Matt Jones is a freelance journalist based in the heart of Snowdonia National Park, he’s a vastly experienced gear tester and self-confessed outdoor kit geek. Matt’s been one of our main gear testers for the last couple of years and is the first person we call with any complicated kit queries that need in-depth and forensic analysis.