Our two favorite ultra-lightweight headlamps go head-to-head to see which one is right for the activities you’ll be doing in 2022-23.
COMPARISON: Petzl vs. OLight… Which is Better?
The Petzl SWIFT RL is the newest headlamp out of Petzl, the company who started the headlamp revolution back in the 1970’s. We love the weight, powerful 900 lumens potential, and the ultra-long battery life. Oh, and the price is just right at less than $120.
The OLight H2R is a Chinese made headlamp that was our #1 headlamp last year and makes a strong showing this year again. Cool features include very strong magnets in the base for sticking it somewhere and holding it up. The H2R Nova has a 2,300 lumen burst that is blinding and a great security feature. Compare on other criteria below and choose one – you’ll love either one, we’re sure of it.
UPDATE 6/2022 – OLight is constantly changing headlamp models and the H2R Nova may not be available when you look for it. This is always a problem with this company. At the moment we are recommending the ACEBEAM H30 instead. It beats the OLight in nearly every feature.
PETZL SWIFT RL vs OLight H2R NOVA Cool HEADLAMP
Comparison of two of the best headlamps, the Petzl SWIFT RL and the OLight H2R NOVA Cool based on more than 20 features.| FEATURE | PETZL SWIFT RL | OLIGHT H2R NOVA Cool |
|---|---|---|
| Max Sustained Lumens | 550 | 750 |
| Max Lumens Burst | 900 | 2300 |
| Weight in Grams | 100 | 100 |
| Battery Life at Max Lumens | 120 mins | 110 mins |
| Battery Recharge Time | 240+ mins (on USB 1v) | 240 mins (on 220v) |
| Charging Source | USB | USB |
| Shockproof | no | yes |
| Waterproof | IPX 4 | IPX 8 |
| Reactive Lighting Tech | yes | no |
| Spot Beam | yes | yes |
| Flood Beam | yes | yes |
| Mixed Beam | yes | yes |
| Camping | yes | yes |
| Caving | no | no |
| Cycling | yes | yes |
| Fishing | yes | yes |
| Hiking | yes | yes |
| Hunting | no | no |
| Running | yes | yes |
| Skiing | yes | yes |
| Review | Here | Here |
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