Petzl Nao® RL

The Petzl Nao® RL headlamp offers 1500 lumens of brightness and weighs only 145 grams, making it a popular choice for trail runners and ultramarathoners. With its REACTIVE LIGHTING® technology, the headlamp automatically adjusts its brightness to match the surrounding environment, optimizing burn time and reducing the need for manual adjustments. The headband is also easily adjustable and provides comfortable support throughout long and demanding races. Furthermore, the headlamp's red lighting at the rear ensures visibility at night.

Features

Ultra-bright and lightweight:

• Delivers 1500 lumens while weighing only 145 g, ensuring powerful illumination without adding bulk.
  
  

Lighting for movement automatically adapts to ambient light:

• Provides a wide, uniform beam, allowing clear visibility for close-up tasks or footing.
  
• Offers a mixed beam (wide and focused), ensuring seamless proximity and distance vision during movement.
  
• Features three white lighting levels: MAX BURN TIME, STANDARD (balancing power and burn time), and MAX POWER.
  
• Enhances burn time, visual comfort, and reduces manual adjustments with REACTIVE LIGHTING® mode, where the light sensor automatically modifies brightness and beam pattern to optimise battery efficiency.
  
• Guarantees a minimum burn time of 5 hours in REACTIVE LIGHTING® mode (STANDARD level), ideal for extended activities such as trail running or ultra-running.
  
• Includes red lighting, either continuous or strobe, positioned at the rear of the headlamp with a separate button for quick activation or deactivation.
  
  

Ergonomic:

• Positions the battery pack at the rear to evenly distribute the weight of the headlamp, enhancing balance and comfort.
  
• Integrates a thin and flexible front plate that adapts to different head shapes for improved fit.
  
• Ensures quick and easy rear adjustment for a secure fit.
  
• Includes an additional top strap for optimal support during intense activities.
  
• Powered by a lithium-ion 3200 mAh battery, rechargeable through a type C USB port.
  
• Offers a spare battery option for long-distance trail runs or to quickly swap batteries when needed (R1 battery available as an accessory).
  
• Features a five-level battery charge indicator to monitor the battery level with precision.
  
• Allows the rechargeable R1 battery to serve as a spare power source for charging other devices, such as phones or watches.
  
• Equipped with a LOCK function to prevent accidental activation during transport or storage and to secure lighting settings during use.
  
• Designed with a reflective headband to increase visibility at night.
  
• Comes with a storage pouch that transforms the headlamp into a lantern in STANDARD mode or conveniently holds an extra battery.

Specifications

Lighting Performance

Technology

Technical Notice

• Download the PDF : technical-notice-NAO-RL-1 - 2.98 MB
• Download the PDF : technical-information-ANSI - 0.07 MB
• Download the PDF : NAO ACCESORIES COMPATIBILITY - 0.41 MB

Declaration Of Conformity

• Download the PDF : UE-Declaration-E105AA00-NAO RL - 1.28 MB

Tips for maintaining your equipment

• Download the PDF - 2.04 MB

Video

Technical Content

REACTIVE LIGHTING

This exclusive technology, developed by Petzl, instantly provides the right lighting at the right time, without any need for manual operation. Burn time is thus optimized and the user can engage in his or her activity with peace of mind. Beyond Power... Intelligence! Available on lamps in the PERFORMANCE line.

Intelligent Lighting

Exclusive REACTIVE LIGHTING technology, perfected and patented by Petzl, revolutionizes hands-free lighting. This system uses a sensor to analyze reflected light, instantly delivering optimal brightness and beam pattern for any given situation.

Hands free lighting for greater convenience and performance

REACTIVE LIGHTING lamps are designed especially for committing and intensive sports: no need to manually switch between modes; the user’s hands are completely free, allowing complete focus on the activity.

Proximity Lighting To see an object at close range (reading a map, tying a knot or putting up a tent, for example) the beam is a very wide flood beam and is less bright. Lighting adjusts automatically to the distance of the object.

Movement For walking or running, the beam is mixed: wide to see your feet and focused to anticipate the terrain ahead.

Distance vision When raising the head to see farther (looking for a trail marker during a race or for the anchor on a climb, for example), the brightness increases considerably, and the beam becomes focused.

Longer Burn Time

Intelligent lighting thus optimizes battery life, offering greater burn time for your lamp.

Change in Brightness Based on User Need

The lamp’s brightness can vary greatly, depending on the environment and the activity. Be sure to adapt your lighting (mode and brightness) to your activity.

INFORMATION ON LED LIGHTING

As a headlamp manufacturer concerned for the safety of its customers, Petzl has chosen to present information in its product instructions about the risks to the eyes associated with LED lighting. For this, the company uses the EN 62471: 2008 standard, photobiological safety of lamps and devices using lamps, though it is not mandatory. This standard classifies lamps according to risk groups.

Led Lighting And Blue Light

Most of today's headlamps are made with LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes). Currently, the most profitable way to make white LEDs is to combine a blue-wavelength diode with a yellow luminophore.

As seen in the diagram below, LEDs emit primarily blue light (wavelength 450-495 nm). 

Emission spectrum of a Petzl headlamp

In case of direct, repeated exposure at high power, blue light can harm the eyes: retinal damage, aggravation of macular degeneration, blinding. These risks are especially significant for children because of their higher sensitivity to blue light.

This is why as a headlamp manufacturer, Petzl has a duty to inform its customers of the existence of these risks, even if they are minimal for normal use of Petzl headlamps.

Risk Groups

The EN 62471: 2008 standard on the photobiological safety of lamps provides a methodology for measuring and classifying the risks due to blue light emission. 

The risk groups are as follows:

• Risk group 0: no risk.
  
• Risk group 1: low risk. The product presents no risk related to exposure limits under normal usage conditions.
  
• Risk group 2: moderate risk. The reflex to look away from the lamp suffices to reduce the risk.
  
• Risk group 3: high risk. The product can present a risk even with a momentary or short exposure.
  
  

Depending on the risk group. the manufacturer must make a label and/or a specific informational notice.

It is important to underline that the risk level is partly related to the distance between the light source and the eye. Thus, moving away from the light source reduces the risk level. The risk level is also related to the duration of exposure.

Brightness and beam shape are other factors influencing the risk level. Note that Petzl determines the risk level of its lamps by testing the worst-case scenario: a focused beam at maximum brightness.

Moreover, the risk group is currently evaluated at 20 cm from the lamp, which is relatively close compared to a common accidental exposure.

How Does Petzl Communicate In Its Instructions?

Here is an example of an informational insert on photobiological risk given in the Instructions for Use for Petzl headlamps:

Petzl communicates about the maximum risk associated with its lamps, specifying the distances at which this risk level is reduced. For this example, the lamp is classified in risk group 2. The lamp moves to risk group 1 when it is at a distance of 1.3 m from the user's eyes.

You should know that most headlamps currently on the market are classified in a risk group greater than or equal to 1.  However, few manufacturers communicate about this risk.

Recommendations 

Regardless of a lamp's risk level, we recommend: 

• Never look directly at a lit headlamp
• Avoid aiming a headlamp beam into another person's eyes
• Do not leave a child alone with a headlamp, as children's eyes are especially sensitive to blue light

For more information, see the ANSES report: Health effects of lighting systems using light-emitting diodes (LEDs).

HOW IS LIGHTING PERFORMANCE MEASURED WITH THE ANSI/PLATO FL1 PROTOCOL?

WARNINGS Carefully read the Instructions for Use used in this technical advice before consulting the advice itself. You must have already read and understood the information in the Instructions for Use to be able to understand this supplementary information. Mastering these techniques requires specific training. Work with a professional to confirm your ability to perform these techniques safely and independently before attempting them unsupervised. We provide examples of techniques related to your activity. There may be others that we do not describe here.

 

ANSI/PLATO FL1

	Brightness (lumens) This measurement is taken between 30 and 120 seconds after the headlamp is turned on. It indicates the maximum light output, when the lamp is first turned on, using new batteries.
	Lighting distance (meters) This is the maximum distance between the lamp and the location where only 0.25 lux of illumination remains. The measurement is taken when the lamp is turned on, using new batteries. Lighting distance depends directly on brightness, but mainly on the shape of the beam.
	Burn time (hours) This corresponds to the length of time during which lighting is optimal. It is measured 30 seconds after the lamp is turned on and for as long as the lamp takes to drop to 10 % of maximum light output.

 

Reserve lighting (outside the scope of ANSI/PLATO FL1) In addition to these measures, Petzl guarantees reserve lighting. Reserve lighting provides enough light for walking. However, the light may not be sufficient for fast-paced activities (such as running, mountain biking, skiing...).

Example of a light output curve for a STANDARD LIGHTING headlamp.

 

---

 

WATERTIGHTNESS AND IP RATING

A Headlamp's Watertightness is Ensured by its IP Rating

This rating classifies the level of protection offered by equipment against ingress by solids (e.g. dust) and liquids (e.g. water, oil).

 

Two Standards Govern the IP Rating

The IEC 60529 standard involves all electronic products, including headlamps. It defines the levels of protection against solids and liquids and describes the tests to be done depending on the product's IP rating.

The IP rating consists of two digits:

• The first digit indicates protection against solids.
  
• The second digit indicates protection against liquids. More commonly called watertightness.
  
  

Rating	1st digit (tens) Protection against solids	2nd digit (ones) Protection against water ingress with harmful effects
0	No protection	No protection
1	Protection against solids greater than 50 mm in diameter	Protection against vertically falling water drops
2	Protection against solids greater than 12.5 mm in diameter	Protection against water drops (15° from vertical)
3	Protection against solids greater than 2.5 mm in diameter	Rain
4	Protection against solids greater than 1.0 mm in diameter	Protection against spraying water
5	Dust protection	Protection against water jets
6	Completely protected against dust	Protection against powerful water jets
7	-	Protection against temporary immersion -1 meter for 30 minutes
8	-	Protection against prolonged immersion; duration and depth defined by the manufacturer

 

Note: When a criterion has not been tested, the number is replaced by X (e.g., IPX6 indicates that the product has not been tested for solids).

 

ANSI/PLATO FL 1 standard defines an additional concept by giving test acceptance criteria for the IPX4, IPX7 and IPX8 ratings.

IPX4	The lamp functions just after the test and 30 minutes after the test. Water drops allowed in the lamp after the test, provided there is no short-circuit or electrical fault.
IPX7	The lamp functions just after the test and 30 minutes after the test. No water allowed in the lamp after the test
IPX8

To define a headlamp IP rating, a manufacturer can rely solely on the IEC 60529 standard by defining its own test acceptance criteria, or use the acceptance criteria given in the ANSI/PLATO FL 1 standard.

 

What Watertightness Tests are Done on Petzl Headlamps?

To claim an IP rating on its headlamps, Petzl chose to do its testing internally. Petzl follows the test protocol defined in the IEC 60529 standard and the test acceptance criteria from the ANSI/PLATO FL1 standard.

Petzl has a test laboratory (oscillating tube, water tank and watertightness chamber) that allows the necessary tests to be done in order to determine the watertightness of a lamp.

 

What are the IP Ratings of Petzl Headlamps?

• All of our headlamps are at least IPX4 (weather resistant): a rating suitable for most headlamp use in rain, snow or a humid environment.
• The e+LITE® lamp is IPX7 (watertight to -1 meters for 30 minutes in fresh water).
• The DUO S lamp is IP67 (watertight to -1 meters for 30 minutes in fresh water and dust tight).

 

---

 

BEAM QUALITY

Aside from the various beam patterns, it is important to check their uniformity. Whatever the pattern, the beam of a Petzl headlamp is always uniform and therefore comfortable. Moreover, to ensure optimal lighting, the optics of our headlamps are designed with extreme precision and equipped with the highest-quality components.

The quality of the beam is totally dependent on that of the LEDs and of the optics' design. The latter is complex and requires the knowledge of an optical engineer. Petzl chose long ago to integrate these skills into its research and development teams, and also to work closely with external laboratories.

Petzl Headlamps

Perfectly uniform beam: no dark spots, irregularities or blinding spots to impede visibility and reduce visual comfort.

The Beams of other Headlamps

Presence of a central bright spot: blinding

Presence of visual defects: lack of precision, discomfort, fatigue

 

 

---

 

BEAM PATTERN

Beam pattern is a key factor in lamp selection. Be sure to select a beam pattern that works well for your chosen application. A flood beam is not suitable for distance vision in the mountains. In the same way, a focused beam won't work well for proximity vision or reading a map. This is why this factor is a key design element, among others, in the Petzl headlamp line. Thus, the lamps feature different beam patterns, in order to best suit the diverse needs of our users. These range from a flood beam for proximity vision, to a focused beam to see at a distance or probe a specific location.

Wide Beam It emits uniform, close-range light for stationary activities or those requiring slower movement. Activities: travel, family, children, camping, DIY, home use, repair work, reading...

Mixed Beam (Flood + Focused) It combines a wide beam for good ground lighting with a focused beam for added depth. This beam is adapted to close-range vision and to moving around. Activities: hiking, trekking, mountaineering, caving...

Focused Beam It concentrates the light to shine long distances and therefore allows long-range, precise vision. Activities: trail running, expeditions, technical mountaineering, back-country skiing, multi-activity races, biking, orienteering...