Best compact light ever. If you are looking for the perfect backpacking light this is it. Not bright enough for those spelunker people, but if you want light weight and enough light to get around camp at night, this is perfect. I have had a few of these lights and after years they all work great and I have never changed the batteries on any of them.

I have one of these in each of our vehicles and we take them camping with us as well. The only downside is that its not comfortable enough to wear without a hat or in the very least a headband. I've used it on hikes started before sunrise whilst traveling through forests and canyons and it's plenty bright. You almost forget it's there. Still works after dropping it on the rocks a few times. I've also been keeping one in my photography belt as well. You never know.....

This is a very functional tool that has a great product design and manufacturing quality at a great price point.
Anyone who has a need for extra light outdoor or indoor will appreciate this light. Once you try it, you ask yourself, how you live all these years without a headlamp. Whether, you are doing under the sink plumbing work or walking or jogging on the trails or fixing a tire in the dark. This light is so light and compact, you can take it with you without hardly noticing it's there. Burn time is rated at 100-150 continuous hours which is unreal.
The draw cord pod is a very versatile in design which you can slide over smaller diameter such your arm or a water bottle to use as a makeshift lantern which you can adjust the light directions in many ways.
If you are a fast night trail runner, try their brighter light. This is not really designed for that. This light is for doing tasks in the dark and jogging rather than full speed trail running. I have tested this light in the pitch dark trail running and it is definitely doable.
Finally, don't let the size fool you on the brightness. You'll be pleasantly surprised how bright this little thing shines.
Unless you can see in the dark, I recommend this light to anyone. Since the band is a thin string rather than a band, it is almost invisible and it's low-key so it is good to use around the house and your neighbor doesn't think you are a weirdo.

It is the light of my life. Take it from someone who lives his life out of a duffel bag, you always need a little, superlight, handy, handsfree light. The zipka is perfect for your personal knockaround light. Only good as a headlight? No Way Jose! Wrap it around an overhead feature, such as the handrail on a boat, or the loop in the roof of your tent: instant overhead light. Also, you can put it around your wrist for a hands-free alternative.

...biggest light for the weight, compact and easy for keeping warm during ice climbing season, easy to wear helmet or sans helmet....just hard to beat, best lamp I have owned to date

Extremely handy headlamp, easy to use, very bright and lightweight.

This is the coolest headlamp ev-ah! I am so stoked on this I sneak around my house at night just so I can use it everyday. The retractable headband also makes it super easy to put anywhere, I even can throw it on my pups collar so I know where he is. The four different settings are handy, and if you were stranded the pulsating would ensure being found and helped. This is awesome, a great purchase!

The retractable headband was one of the best ideas Petzl has had in a while. The 4 led lights provide more than enough light for any hiking or rock climbing you could find yourself in. Another useful thing that is unique to the zipka is it's adaptablity to different situations. It can be wound around and mounted on different branches or even your trekking pole. The button on top is embedded down into the rubber to prevent it accidentally turning on in your pack. The only downside to this headband is the lack of tension when placed on your head. In certain circumstances such as trail running, the zipka won't stay put like other petzel headlamps. For average adventure and day-to-day use, however, this is my headlamp of choice. I'd go with the Tikka or Tikka Plus for trail running or mountain biking.

I was going to buy one o these for my girlfriend until she tried one on and it got caught in her hair. It wasn't just tangled, a large amount of her hair actually went into where the string gets wound into and wouldn't come out. Had to rip out a small chunk of hair to get the headlamp off. Unless your bald, go with the Tikka plus instead.

I've had this sucker for maybe 7 years now and it still going strong. The kevlar cord still retracts fine and the headlamp itself it plenty strong enough.
I was happy to have it along on a 2am wakeup to start up a glacier when my princeton tec lamp died.
Its got a big crack from who knows what and the foam that rests on your head keeps coming off but big whoopee.
Only problem is that its so small that I keep thinking its lost forever but it always somehow turns up.
So small that you have absolutely NO excuse not to have a headlamp with you.

Great for camping and hiking in the dark. No wide, sweaty band around your head to make you hot or create pressure on your skull. I've even used this on occasion for recreational trail riding at night on my bike or even jogging. Very useful for other things around the house too...like when the power goes out or need to change a flat tire on the side of the road at night...it's a great disaster light too because of the strobe function.

I'm definitely happy with this purchase and plan to buy some more of these as presents for my friends.

...it's gonna be good. I bought this because my camping buddy has one and his is great...he loves it, so I bought one too.

I really bought this one so I wouldn't have to fool with any adjustments. But know that I've used it, I like it even more. Obviously the size is a big plus.. battery life seems to hold up well. A lot of headlamps on the market... but the convenience of the strap on this sets it a part. It is very comfortable. Bought one for my 5 year old as well so he has something when we backpack.

I had a Zipka for 7 yrs and ordered another one- on the new one, the on/off button broke with the first use. I am in Costa Rica for another month but when I return I hope I can exchange it

Bright, wonderful, comfortable. I wish it had an adjustable clicker thing like others have though to click it up or down for differing angles. But I'm a happy kid, it's great.

this little thing is the handiest tool. Just been travelling around the Philippines for a couple of weeks and where there is norway power... Well, lets just say that its size and power is a life-saver. Light, waterproof and particularly handy around the wrist. Highly recommended!

I was given this head lamp as a gift a few years ago. It is very light weight and provides adequate illumination for walking on a trail at night. It works well on the head or even better on your wrist. Batteries seem to last for ever. It does not turn on accidentally in the backpack. I have nothing bad to day about this little treasure. I take it on day hikes, overnights and week long trips. I have found it durable and it has worked flawlessly hundreds of times. I have replaced the batteries a couple of times long before they wore out. I have never had to use my spare batteries I carry around.

buying a second one, took this thing everywhere since 2006 and has proved to be one of the most useful gifts ive ever received. the only problem; its super small and ive lost it countless times. if your not forgetful, this is for you. but if youre like me and often misplace things, buy two!

I dig the Zipka Plus. Good light, great bright/dim settings. I love the light weight/compact design of this lamp.
My only complaint - long hair hippies like me watch out for hair getting wrapped around the zip cord. Works best over a beanie.

It has been my experience that most people will rarely NEED more headlamp than this (though many might prefer more. It will attach around almost anything and can be easily traded between people with no strap adjustment necessary. The only problem with this is if someone tries to pull it off, the band will snap together, so it needs to be removed in the same way it was put on. It also makes the perfect reading light.

Great Headlamp held up great on all my backpacking trips You can put it on your wrist if you dont wanna have it on your head doesnt pinch to tight but stays on perfectly great batter life ive used this on 4 backpacking trips still isnt dimming

This light is one of my new best friends. I started carrying it everywhere and have ran into situations where this did make life easier. The only con is I had to order replacement windows that aren't available on this site. The one that came on the lamp was probably pried off by my keys or something. I'm thinking about getting a case for it(available from Petzl) so this wont happen again. But that will only make it less easily accessible for when I need it with the quickness.

I absolutely love this light. Its weight is so minimal, and it takes up virtually no room in my pack. Moreover, the light is so small you can stick it anywhere. I love to hook it on the strap of my pack, when I hike or my PFD, when I kayak.

This headlamp is the perfect addition to my lightweight gear. It's only the size of the headlamp itself and the headband zips up into the front when not in use. Great for typical use or even around the wrist for additional lighting.

Love this headlamp but after one year of minimal use the switch doesn't work...it will flicker in the strobe mode but wont' stay on unless holding down on the top and only in the strobe mode.

I will order a new one. Let's see what happens this time.

I thought this was the coolest thing ever... since the strap self adjusts it fits automatically and you can put it on a lot of different things. I gave it as a Christmas gift and I was more excited about it than they were... From what I've heard it's not good for running, but everything else is great.

I started out with a two LED cheaper Princeton, but this blows it away. The batteries are easy to replace, there is no bulk, and it self adjusts. I simply love this and take it everywhere.

This sucker is like a third hand. Lightweight backpacking, night biking, walking dogs, dark closets, reading in bed...you get the point.

I love this...can you tell?

Good material for drawstring. Holds up well. Bright light.

all round great product. handy, compact, convenient. also great as a book light, better than any clip-on ive ever had.

I am now addicted and I don't leave home without it. It is small enough to fit in your pocket and plenty bright in pitch black with a wide throw that makes you forget it's there. Works well in hand, on the wrist or, of course, as a headlamp. It stays reasonably well on my head, but if I wear it low and bounce around it will slip a bit. The angle is easily adjusted by adjusting its position on your head. Another nice feature--there are four brightness settings: High, Med, Low, and Strobe which are activated in sequence by pushing the power button. If you leave it on one setting for more than a few seconds the next push goes straight to 'off' so you don't get lost in a maze of button pushes.

I use this for work in flying dust and bounce it in my pocket with tools and keys, etc. There is very little wear showing on it--only very light scratches on the lens which would not affect the optics. I have not used it in wet conditions.

Gave this to my father who's hobby is a small farm. I have memories of him out and about in the evenings with a flashlight in hand and thought this would make life that much sweeter. He loves it and has thanked me several times for the light. He said, "It's a great way to see in the dark when your hands are busy."

I have one of these in various places so that I never have one too far away. The lights last forever on a single battery and it is super light. I have purchased these as gifts for people as they are so useful. This is also one of the lighter headlamps for those ultralight backpackers. It is not the brightest of headlamps but in such a small package it is a good choice.