Emergency Signal: The light flashes as a signaling device in case of emergency. The MyPetzl Light app allows you to adjust the message that will be transmitted using Morse Code. The Petzl Reactik Plus allows the user to cycle between 8 light settings—6 white and 2 red. The white light settings are separated into 2 groups, Reactive Lighting and Constant light. Each of these groups has 3 options. The red light has either a constant or strobe. All of these settings are selected on the light using either the button on the top of the light or the button on the side. Additionally, if you are running at a really fast clip (i.e. sub-7:30), the REACTIVE lighting does take a moment to adjust. This could be off-putting when running down a steep downhill, so you may want to switch to constant mode in those situations. Standard: which has an increased lumen output but reduces the level of autonomy and adjustment. This setting reduces battery life by half.

If you’re used to using a constant-beam headlamp, the Reactive technology can take a bit to get used to. It’s not a bad thing, it’s just different. Last thing—in case of an emergency situation, you can program the lamp to strobe a Morse code message in the red light setting. I suggest going with SOS, although BRING PIZZA may be an acceptable runner-up. This rechargeable and versatile headlamp is perfect for all nigh time outdoor activities and features Petzl's own Reactive Lighting Technology. This clever feature allows the headtorch to adapt it's lighting to the users surroundings and according to the activity. During the activity, the Reactik analysesthe ambient light and adjusts the brightness instantly, meaning battery life is optimisedand the less you need to concentrate on your torch. If that all sounds a bit too complicated then you can run the Reactik on Constant Lighting if you prefer. The Petzl REACTIK+ is a headlamp with everything a trail runner needs in a nighttime guide; a rechargeable and programmable light source with a good range of output options and just the right amount of technology.

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The Petzl REACTIK+ has an IPX4 rating, making it waterproof and suitable for use in the rain. It has a battery life of up to 60 hours, ensuring that users won't need to recharge it often. Additionally, it has a battery level indicator, which allows users to monitor the battery level and prevent unexpected battery depletion. During a ski tour with substantial snowfall I was wearing the headlamp on a brimmed hat and had not noticed the 3 inches of snow that built up on my head. The headlamp sat in this snow for an hour and a half before I finished the climb and took off my hat. I turned on the light to make sure it was working and there were no issues.

I found the distances in these profiles to be accurate representations of how far the light reached at a given setting. I’ve used other Petzl headlamps in the past (most recently the Tikka, which is a great value for general usage like camping or city sidewalks with ambient light), but this is my first experience with Petzl’s performance line and their REACTIVE technology.I’ll admit, it’s 2019 and I generally have app fatigue. I mean, does my Under Armour shoe or water bottle really need to be smart? I was skeptical of the My Petzl app at first and was even reluctant to use it. But once I did, I really grew to love it. The battery charges via micro-USB to USB cable that plugs in on the top of the lamp, which I like because I have a million micro-USB cables around my house. A rubber tab covers it up to keep out moisture/dirt. It takes 4 hours to get a full charge. This is a neat feature if you find yourself in trouble, but you would need to have enough battery in your cell phone to sync the phone and the headlamp. The diffuse and spot setting provides a soft light so that you can see around your general area while also providing a spot light to see far in the distance. The spot only setting provides a beam that allows you to see far into the distance but is not the setting for soft light around your general area.

The reactive lighting Petzl is incorporating into their headlamps is a rather innovative technology. I have grown to appreciate how the light adjusts based on where I am looking. In most cases I found that the system worked well and I always had adequate light. The light adjusts in a fraction of a second between modes which is fast but is noticeable and takes a little while to get used to these leads to a small learning curve to get used to how the light adjusts. I did not find this to be problematic in anyway. The above summary is based on the out of the box settings that are pre-programmed on the light. Users can adjust the light within these ranges.I have found that measuring distance with a headlamp beam is a “soft” science. For all applications while using the Petzl Reactik Plus I was always able to see as far as I needed to see. With that being said, I’ll give some more detail.