There is something about giving a child their own headtorch that feels like a proper upgrade in outdoor kit. Suddenly they are not just tagging along on an evening walk or peering over your shoulder at the tent zip in the dark, they are actually equipped. The Petzl Tikkid is designed specifically for children from age three, and it is one of those products where you can tell a lot of genuine thought has gone into it rather than it just being a smaller version of an adult torch slapped in brighter packaging. Petzl is a brand that serious outdoor types trust, and the Tikkid carries that same attention to detail down to a much younger age group. We have been using ours ahead of a camping trip, which means it has had a good workout reading in bed and messing about in the garden so far, and it has gone down well on both fronts. It is one of those bits of kit that just does exactly what it should, without any fuss from us or from them.
Simple to use
The whole torch runs off a single button, which cycles through three modes: a low setting ideal for reading, a brighter setting for outdoor use, and a white strobe for visibility from a distance. That single button is genuinely all a young child needs, and it means there is no standing over them explaining which setting does what. Ours got it immediately. The one-hour automatic shut-off is a feature parents will particularly appreciate, because a child left to their own devices with a torch at bedtime is not going to remember to turn it off.
Designed with safety in mind
Petzl has put some thought into the details that matter most when a torch is being worn on a small head. The headband releases under tension, so if it were to get caught or pulled it would give way rather than tighten. The battery compartment requires a flathead screwdriver to open, keeping little fingers well away from the batteries. The beam itself is capped at 20 lumens, which is enough for reading and play without any risk of the kind of dazzling that a more powerful torch could cause to young eyes. There is also a small phosphorescent patch on the unit so it is easy to find in the dark if it gets put down or dropped.
Comfort and fit
At just 80g with batteries included it is light enough that wearing it genuinely does not seem to bother them. The wide elastic headband adjusts easily and sits securely without feeling restrictive. Ours wore it for a good stretch of reading without any complaints, which for a child who would normally find any excuse to take something off their head is a reasonable endorsement.
Worth buying?
At around £20 it is an easy purchase to justify. It comes with three AAA batteries included, and if you end up using it frequently enough the Petzl Core rechargeable battery is a compatible alternative worth looking at. For camping, autumn walks, or just keeping them occupied after dark, the Tikkid is a solid, well-made bit of kit that genuinely works as well as it should.
