Petzl Pixa 3
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As I seem to be doing more night fishing of late I decided it was time to invest in a better quality head torch having have had many cheapo models that havn’t lasted long for various reasons.
The Petzl Pixa 3 caught my eye mainly as its waterproof (Rated IP67) which makes a lot of sense for our shore Bass fishing that quite often involves a drenching or two by the surf even when its gentle. The PP3 is quite a robust and chunky unit and the yellow plastic trim makes it easy to spot if taken off or when stored in the back of the car and on storeage the lamp can be rotated 180 degrees in its frame to leave the lense protected from damage when not in use.
There is a choice of 3 beams and the rotating switch is chunky and can easily be worked with cold fingers. None of the beams are red to protect night vision but a film could be added to the lense if it’s a preference. Batteries required are 2 x AA which will give 12 hrs usage on beam 1, 6 hrs on beam 2 and 3 hrs on beam 3 according to Petzl. A fully rechargeable version is also available.
The Petzl Pixa 3 retails for around €70 and is widely available with the Petzl brand being carried by most outdoor shops so not cheap but its a vital for safety and should outlast the cheaper alternatives
On lighting in general I note some of the Striper fishers in the US and Japanese anglers prefer to wear the lamps around the neck rather than head which makes sense when trying to keep light off the water, it’s worth a try and may suit some. On safety I always carry a second light source of some kind when out at fishing night, normally a small single LED head torch which sits comfortably in a waterproof pocket as backup...
