Here is how these two headlamps compare on the numbers. They score within a hair of each other, so it comes down to the details below.
| Petzl Iko Core | Petzl Actik Core | |
|---|---|---|
| GearScore | 74✓ | 73 |
| Max lumens | 500 lm | 600 lm✓ |
| Weight | 2.8 oz✓ | 3.1 oz |
| Beam distance | 100 m | 115 m✓ |
| Max runtime | 100 h | 130 h |
| Price | $100 | $85✓ |
| Battery | Hybrid | Hybrid |
| Water rating | IPX4 | IPX4 |
Highlighted cells mark the better spec: Iko Core in blue, Actik Core in amber. A blank spec is never counted as a win. Runtime is shown for context and is not scored, since makers publish it at different brightness levels. GearScore is the overall rating (0 to 100); re-weight it on the full headlamp comparison. Prices are current MSRP.
The Petzl Iko Core against the Petzl Actik Core is a study in priorities. They are close enough that this really is about which handful of specs you weight most.
The Iko Core is 9 g lighter. The Actik Core is brighter (600 vs 500 lm), a longer beam (115 vs 100 m), and $15 cheaper. Their GearScores land within a couple of points (74 vs 73), so neither runs away with it.
Pick the Iko Core if you care most about low weight, which makes it the better call for counting grams on long miles. Pick the Actik Core if brightness and longer throw matter more to you, or you are focused on your priorities.
The Petzl Iko Core. It is 9 g lighter than the Actik Core.
The Petzl Actik Core. It is brighter (600 vs 500 lm) than the Iko Core.
They are nearly tied at 74 and 73 on the default algorithm, so re-weight the score to your own priorities to break the tie.
It depends on your priorities. Go with the Iko Core for low weight, or the Actik Core for brightness. The spec table above shows exactly where each wins.