Australian Hiker

Rating

Petzl Core 2 USB−C Rechargeable Battery Review

Between Gill and I we own eight Petzl headlamps with six of them using then Petzl Core Headlamp Battery system. Yes this is overkill but I can never seem to let any of them go! Having said that I have the older less used versions in place around the house for emergency use.

I will often do enough serious night hiking in new and unfamiliar areas and each unit is different enough that I will typically pick and choose what suits my needs. More often than not my headlamp of choice is the current Petzl Actik Core 625 Headlamp given as it fits that ‘Goldilocks’ zone of power, durability and beam strength.

This newer Petzl Core range now comes with the updated Petzl Core 2 USB−C Rechargeable Battery which sports the USB-C charging port rather than the older USB-mini port. Apart from the charging port this new version of the Core battery is pretty much identical but strangely enough is the RRP is cheaper than the older version which is rare these days when a new version is released.

Power wise this included battery will suit pretty much any hikers needs. Depending on the beam strength and model you choose, the light will last around two hours at high power and 100 hours at low power. In my case on a typical hike, I comfortably get a couple of weeks of battery life when I use the light at the end of the day at less than full power. Alternatively if I’m doing serious long distance hiking where I will often start very early or finish late, I will spend up to two hours hiking in the dark. If I am in an unfamiliar and/or heavily vegetated areas I want a powerful beam that will provide no doubt where I’m going and where I’m putting my feet.

The big bonus with the battery is that it will typically outlast most disposable batteries in addition to providing brighter power. The Petzl Core 2 USB−C Rechargeable Battery has an estimated lifespan of around 300 cycles per two years and this works out at just on 25 cents (AUD) per cycle. If I’m using disposable batteries I will use lithium batteries which aren’t cheap! Given I have the luxury of owning six Petzl Core Batteries, which are a lightweight 23 grams each so carry a spare isn’t , the equivalent high quality disposable lithium battery (three AAA batteries) would weigh 36 grams.

None of my Petzl Core Headlamp Batteries have done 300 cycles and even though my oldest is now over six years old, they are still going strong. The bonus with the Core battery system is that you can interchange them with standard batteries which works well if you’ve forgotten to charge you Core battery and need a headlamp in a hurry.

So who should you use these batteries, or more specifically buy an extra one? If you do serious night hiking or are using your Petzl headlamp regularly the initial outlay of AUD $73.99 will give you extra capacity and relatively little cost with minimal waste. If you only use your headlamp rarely I would still recommend buying a Petzl Core headlamp model, you may just not need a spare until the battery dies somewhere way down the track.

We Like

• A quality Lithium Ion 1250 mAh battery complete with charging cable and an integrated charging indicator; it replaces the AAA batteries that currently power your headlamp and takes just three hours to achieve a full charge
• More economical if you are using your headlamp for longer periods
• If fully charged, it will outlast disposable batteries
• Great value for money. Will last for 300 hundred charging cycles which  means that each charge cycle will cost you just 25 cents (AUD) of the overall battery purchase price

We Don't Like

• Only usable with Petzl headlamps
• If you only have one battery, you need to open the case to charge the battery which is a little fiddly

Best Uses

If you are a regular user of your Petzl headlamp then this is the most economical way to go

Buy One

You can purchase the Petzl Core 2 USB−C Rechargeable Battery from Snowys or from Wild Earth

Disclosure: We may earn a small commission, at no additional expense to you, if you click through and make a purchase. Please note that our affiliations do not influence, in any way, the independence of our reviews. If we don’t like a product, you’ll hear about it from us!

Investment

AUD $73.99 RRP

Petzl Core 2 USB−C Rechargeable Battery

Petzl Core 2 USB−C Rechargeable Battery in the headlamp body

Product Video

Disclaimer

This review was done with product provided by the Australian distributor of Petzl for testing

Last updated

22 August 2026

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