Outdoors

Petzl introduces "world's smartest headlamp"

Petzl introduces "world's smartest headlamp"
The NAO is Petzl's first headlamp to use Reactive Lighting
The NAO is Petzl's first headlamp to use Reactive Lighting
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The NAO is Petzl's first headlamp to use Reactive Lighting
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The NAO is Petzl's first headlamp to use Reactive Lighting
A built-in light sensor adjusts output and beam size automatically
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A built-in light sensor adjusts output and beam size automatically
The NAO can be powered by a lithium-ion battery or two AAA batteries for emergency use
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The NAO can be powered by a lithium-ion battery or two AAA batteries for emergency use
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On a good day, a company creates a successful product. On a great day, it invents a new category of product. Petzl claims to have done both, with its all-new NAO headlamp. The headlamp kicks off a category that the company calls "Reactive Lighting."

According to the rep that we spoke to, the NAO will become Petzl's brightest headlamp, offering up to 355 lumens. It isn't just powerful; it's smart. Just above its two LEDs, the NAO has a sensor that measures ambient light and adjusts the beam strength and pattern to the light conditions, aiming to give you the optimal amount of light while conserving battery power.

If you're looking straight ahead on a dark, moonless night, the NAO will deliver a high-power, long-distance beam. On the other hand, if you're reading a book, it will cast a wide, low-power beam. Not only do you get the exact amount and type of light you need, but you don't have to fiddle around with adjustments to get it.

Reactive Lighting replaces what Petzl defines as the two existing light modes in the headlamp market: declining mode and constant mode. The former maximizes a headlamp's burn time by gradually lowering the amount of light output. Because light output decreases over time, declining-mode devices could very well leave you with the least amount of light in the darkest conditions. Constant mode offers a constant light output but only runs for a short amount of time. Reactive Lighting attempts to merge these two strategies and give you the best combination of light strength and burn time.

Of course, some people and activities demand a consistent light stream. For them, the NAO offers a steady beam at the flick of a switch. With OS by Petzl software, which is available for download on Petzl's website, NAO owners can customize light settings, creating up to four activity profiles with five different lighting levels each. So if you find that the NAO's reactive output isn't quite right for your needs, you can fine-tune it to suit your preferences. Profiles can include light settings specific to activities like trail running, camping and mountain biking.

The NAO's dual-strand Zephyr headband looks a little awkward at first, but it provides a simple tightening mechanism that you can adjust with one pull with the NAO on your head. When not in use, you can tighten it all the way down to quickly minimize its size.

The NAO uses a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that the company calls the ACCU NAO. This pack can be recharged up to 300 times via USB connection. In an emergency - say if the lithium ion battery dies while you're out in the wilderness - you can use use two AAA batteries to give you a low-power beam.

Petzl plans to launch the Nao in July for US$175. You can get more information on the NAO's web page.

The Petzl video below provides a visual introduction to the concept of reactive lighting.

NAO [EN] Rechargeable headlamp with REACTIVE LIGHTING by Petzl

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5 comments
5 comments
Derek Howe
cool, but I think I\'ll wait a couple years, by then I\'m sure I\'ll be able to pick on up for 40 bucks. Cause I could never justify spending $175 on a headlamp!
zevulon
i love petzl. i've used their headlamps for years. they are far superior to anything else.
however, petzl , like just about every other company that has become succesful, runs out of good ideas, and then like many companies before it, pushed the envelope far beyond anything useful in order to create an expensive piece of s$#t.
this is useless piece of crap. just buy the old zipka.
Ed
For $175 I\'ll stick with holding a flashlight in my mouth, or using one of the tens of thousands of competing LED head-lights that I recently purchased one for 99 cents!
floccipaucinihilipilification
looks great,price leaves a lot to be desired!
Ty Rogers
I got a Petz-NAO headlamp because I do outdoor concert photography. Mainly I am so paranoid about leaving my equipment behind in the dark I needed something that wouldn't be one of those things that I would also need a light to find. Having this on my head made perfect sense. The battery life is good and the light is excellent. Anyway, this product has well earned the time and money I paid for it.