Review: Petzl Bindi 200 Headlamp
Published on 07/19/2023 · 3 min readCurated Camping & Hiking Experts share their experience with using the Petzl Bindi 200 Headlamp. Note that experts are not sponsored by any brands; these are their honest opinions.By Camping Expert
Hunter Reed
4 photos
The Curated Take
4.7/5
The Bindi 200 headlamp is suitable for outdoor enthusiasts needing a lightweight, compact, and durable lighting solution. Despite its small size, it offers remarkable brightness with three adjustable levels and an easy-to-use single-button control. It's resistant to light rain and snow, thanks to a well-protected charging port and a coated button. While the battery life on higher brightness settings is shorter, it's sufficient for short hikes and runs. The strap is highly adjustable and comfortable, making it ideal for longer use too. However, charging takes about two hours, which might be a factor for consideration.
Ideal for
- Small and compact for easy packing in a running vest, backpack, or even fanny pack
- Lightweight
- Easy to use - only has one button
Not ideal for
- Short battery life
- Head strap is not padded
- Takes longer to charge than expected
Water Resistance
Though I haven't put this through the wringer on really wet days, I have used the Bindi on days where it is lightly raining or snowing, and it has no...Read more
Battery Life
The Bindi has three brightness levels. I have had good luck with the battery on the lowest brightness level, but when on the medium or highest brightness level, it dies...Read more
Brightness
As mentioned above, this light has three brightness settings. I wasn't sure how well it would do in terms of brightness since it is so small, but was pleasantly surprised....Read more
Quality
Petzl has a reputation for making super high quality gear. From climbing to hiking gear, they are well trusted in the outdoor world and everything I have ever owned from...Read more
Comfort
I was initially hesitant about how comfortable this would be because there is really no padding on the head strap at all. I expected it to be uncomfortable and give...Read more
Adjustability
There is one button on this headlamp. Click it once for low light, twice for medium, and three times for the brightest setting. If you want a red light, just...Read more
Expert Reviews of the Petzl Bindi 200 Headlamp
Hunter Reed If you're looking for a headlamp while prioritizing low weight and ease of packing ability, the Petzl Bindi 200 is a great option to consider. Its small size makes it incredibly convenient to toss in a running vest, backpack, or fanny pack, ensuring that you always have reliable illumination when you need it most. I usually bring this along as a backup on hikes where I don't plan to be out in the dark for long, or shorter runs (under an hour) where the battery will last the whole time. With its single-button interface, it's also incredibly user-friendly. The main downside I have come across is that the battery life is relatively short, especially when it's on the brightest mode (there are three modes of brightness). The short battery makes it less suitable for extended outings or trips where recharging your headlamp isn't a simple task. It also takes longer than I expected to charge given its small size - usually around an hour plugged in via micro-USB to a power source. Despite these limitations, the Bindi 200 is a convenient and portable lighting solution for activities like running, hiking, or camping.
Review Ratings
Water Resistance
5/5
Hunter Reed gave 5 of 5 stars. Though I haven't put this through the wringer on really wet days, I have used the Bindi on days where it is lightly raining or snowing, and it has no issues at all. The charging port is the only thing I would be worried about when it comes to it getting wet and damaged, but the charging port faces down when in use, so it would honestly be difficult to get water or snow in the port in the first place. The top of the headlamp is just a single button which is covered by a plastic coating and has not had any issues when it's gotten wet.
Battery Life
3/5
Hunter Reed gave 3 of 5 stars. The Bindi has three brightness levels. I have had good luck with the battery on the lowest brightness level, but when on the medium or highest brightness level, it dies fairly quickly. At the medium brightness level, you can get about an hour and a half out of it, and at the highest brightness level, you can only get about 45 minutes. When on the lowest, I found I have about three or four hours of battery life. It isn't the biggest deal breaker for me because most of what I use this for is shorter adventures such as hikes and runs, but something to think about for sure. It also charges fairly slow, taking about two hours to charge completely, which is longer than most electronics that have such a short battery in the first place.
Brightness
5/5
Hunter Reed gave 5 of 5 stars. As mentioned above, this light has three brightness settings. I wasn't sure how well it would do in terms of brightness since it is so small, but was pleasantly surprised. The lowest brightness setting is perfect for hiking or running in the dark on relatively non-technical trails. If the trail is super technical, or if I am trying to look around at something, I will turn it to the medium brightness setting, but I rarely even need to use the highest brightness setting because low and medium provide plenty of light for whatever I am doing! It also has a red light feature that you can turn on by holding down the power button. The red light feature is plenty bright and doesn't drain the battery hardly at all (about the same as the low light setting---can get around 4 hours with it).
Quality
5/5
Hunter Reed gave 5 of 5 stars. Petzl has a reputation for making super high quality gear. From climbing to hiking gear, they are well trusted in the outdoor world and everything I have ever owned from them has performed really well. The Bindi is no exception. It is super well made and well thought out, and I trust it to keep me safe on all my outdoor adventures. I have purchased a few of these as gifts since getting my own because I think it is so well made and easy to use that everyone should have one.
Comfort
5/5
Hunter Reed gave 5 of 5 stars. I was initially hesitant about how comfortable this would be because there is really no padding on the head strap at all. I expected it to be uncomfortable and give me a headache. But mostly due to the fact that it's so lightweight, I barely even notice that I am wearing the headlamp. It is way more comfortable than my other headlamp, the Petzl Swift RL, despite the Swift having a really well padded strap. The difference I think is that the Swift weighs a lot, so it feels heavy on my forehead, whereas the Bindi is just so lightweight that it doesn't matter that the strap is so bare bones. I continue to be impressed by how comfortable it is!
Adjustability
5/5
Hunter Reed gave 5 of 5 stars. There is one button on this headlamp. Click it once for low light, twice for medium, and three times for the brightest setting. If you want a red light, just hold the button down. The single button is really user friendly because you don't have to mess around with trying to remember which buttons do what and how to get to a different brightness level or to the red light. It's easy to adjust the light settings while on your head. It's also easy to adjust the strap because there is just one locking drawstring clasp that you can push down and easily adjust to the size of your head. Other headlamps I've used have needed to be fed through a buckle to readjust the size. Tthis is the easiest headlamp to adjust out of any I have ever tried.
FAQs
What was your favorite moment with this gear?
Hunter Reed I was on a trail run with a friend this spring; it was supposed to be relatively straightforward, and we were going to be back before dark. But on the final stretch of the trail, a mama moose and her baby were standing right in the middle of the trail. There wasn't a really good way to get around them without scaring them, and moose tend to be aggressive in the spring when they are with their young - so we ended up waiting it out. We hiked back up the trail a bit to give them their distance, but had to wait about 45 minutes for them to get far enough off the trail for it to be safe for us. I had thrown the Bindi 200 in my running vest that day and pulled it out as we were waiting. It was obviously nice to be able to descend with a headlamp since it had gotten dark by the time the moose moved, but it was also so cool to be able to watch them from a safe distance as the sun was setting. It would have been way harder to see them without a headlamp, but the beam of this lamp was bright enough that it gave us front row seats to a well lit show of a mom and baby moose eating their dinner. Such a cool nature experience, and was so glad to have my headlamp in order to get down safely.
Why did you choose this product?
Hunter Reed I had seen this headlamp around before, but I already had a few other headlamps, so it was hard to justify buying one just because of the size. I also wasn't sure how bright it would be given its smaller size. This past winter, I had been dog sitting and the woman who I was dog sitting for had a Bindi 200 and left it for me so that I could have light if I needed to walk the dog in the evenings at all. I used it while I was there and was so impressed with how bright it was for its size. I was immediately sold on needing one for my outdoor endeavors, and was surprised when I found it was less than $50. I bought one after the second time using it and was so glad I did. I have yet to see another headlamp that is this lightweight and bright.
What is the value for the money versus other options?
Hunter Reed This headlamp was less than $50. I have a few other headlamps, including the Black Diamond Spot ($90ish) and the Petzl Swift RL ($120ish). I have gotten way more use out of the Bindi than either of my other headlamps. The Petzl Swift has a longer battery life, sure, but for what I mainly need in a headlamp, the Bindi was way more worth my money. I like a headlamp that is not too complicated and the Bindi only has one button. I also like that doesn't feel heavy on my head or give me a headache if I am wearing it for a long period of time. Both the Spot and the Swift make my head hurt if I run with them since they weigh more and bounce around on my head if I run. The only solution I have found for heavier headlamps to prevent them from bounding around is tightening the strap so that they don't move, which also ends up giving me a headache and leaving lines on my forehead when I take it off. The Bindi is so light that I don't need it to be super tight to stay put on my forehead when doing more active things like running, and I have never once gotten a headache from it. I think it is well worth the money and would absolutely buy it again. I have since purchased one for my partner, sister, and brother because I think they are incredible.
What do you love about this product?
Hunter Reed I absolutely love the small, compact size of this headlamp. I primarily use it for trail running in the evening or morning, or as a backup to have in my running vest or day pack on hikes or runs that I don't plan to be out in the dark, but want to be prepared in case things take longer than I expected. At the low weight of only 35 grams, it's really easy to bring along on outdoor adventures where weight is a concern. I've even brought it along as a backup headlamp on backpacking trips where I have a primary headlamp that I plan on using most of the time, or backpacking trips with friends where I want to have a spare in case someone forgot something.
5.00
Hunter Reed
Camping Expert10 Reviews
99 Customers helped
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