 I have put this on my wild camping gear wish list. Are then any experieinced users who can recommend this or an alternative?
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 I had (kids lost it) a Tikka XP - great bit of kit, & more versatile than the standard Tikkas
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 I recently bought a new petzl tikka. In the shop I had the choice between the normal tikka and the plus, having asked the guy in the shop whether he honestly thought that it was worth the extra money for the plus he said no. The extra lamp hours are negated by the faster burn through batteries and generally you don't need the different lighting levels on a torch of that power. I picked up a tikka for just under £23. Am yet to really give it a test but looks pretty robust and bright, do you really need anything fancey for what you'll be doing? (not that i know what you're doing, that's a real question even if it sounds rhetoric/sarcastic or whatever=])
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Andy D: I probably will not need anything fancy but I do like the idea of the different settings and I can pick a Tikka Plus up brand new for £25.00. I am confused about extra lamp hours being negated by faster burn through batteries, what does this mean?
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 Alpkit Gamma is £12.50, including postage, and is at least as good, if not better than the pretzl IME. Problem is right now it's out of stock, but IMHO worth contacting Alpkit to see when they'll have them again. Pete.
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... I am confused about extra lamp hours being negated by faster burn through batteries, what does this mean? Basically, the Tikka Plus has a brighter setting. Using this means brighter light, but at the cost of more power drain on the batteries. So, brighter light = reduced battery life. I think the extra light might sometimes be useful, and as the Plus gives you the option whether to use the brighter setting or not, you can always elect not too, but know it's there if you need it. I think it is potentially more versatile than the standard Tikka. The XP is better still.
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I was gonna get a Petzl Tikka XP, but after reading a bit about the Alpkit it seems like a better choice with it under half the price of the Petzl! Do any shops sell the Gamma, or can you only buy it directly through the Alpkit website? Because Alpkit say they are only gonna be getting new torches in for April, and i could do with a headtorch before then.
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Basho/Peter Clinch The Alpkit does look good, it will probably arrive too late for me.
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Simon, obviously if time is of the essence then that forces one's hand, but on the other hand you can probably make do with any old torch at least for one trip, and then have a better one and save a tenner in the longer term. Pete.
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Just looked at the Alpkit - it certainly does look good, and cheap. All those functions & modes though - I prefer to keep stuff simple, like me. But at that price, what's not to like?
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 I have a Tikka and a Tikka-XP and I would go for the XP every time. The XP is brighter, especially with the boost mode, and the optional diffuser gives a much wider beam. I found the Tikka was not really bright enough to walk over rough ground at night, but the XP was fine.
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 The Tikka XP is a real bestseller for us, the weight and the Boost mode as Jon says, are what people like about it. The boost mode is the clear difference between this and the standard Tikka, that super brightness is perfect for when you need a quick burst of light. I think this makes it a better choice than the Plus and worth the extra pennies.
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All those functions & modes though - I prefer to keep stuff simple It's only much like fiddly if you want one of the colours. Normally I use the lower power white, push the button and as that was the last thing I use, on it comes. IIRC if you've been on the higher powered light that'll come on by default, so you get the white light you used most recently. To switch between smaller and bigger LEDs just hold the button down for a couple of seconds. So it's really pretty simple in use. If you want a colour (it's argued it's better for not trashing your night vision, seems to be some merit in that and it's certainly less dazzling to my eyes) then you need to be on the wee LEDs and push the button in (moderately) rapid succession and it will cycle through red, green and flashing red. Because there's only one button it actually makes it fairly simple in use, and there's no problem getting some useful light out of it even if you completely forget the instructions, or have never even seen them. I got it on the back of the OM review, previously assuming I had to spend Real Money (TM) to get a good head torch. But the Gamma has been excellent, and I'd have been pleased with it at double the price. Pete.
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Have you looked at the Tac Tikka Plus? Has three brightness settings (like the plus) but also a flip up red filter, for when you just want minimal illumination or don't want to wreck your night vision. Still weighs the same as the Tikka PLus (78g)
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TESCO have red/white light head torches on sale at under £8 -- i have not used one or had one out of the packet but they look good. Comes complete with batteries --!!
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 I've owned a few Petzls over the years and the Tikka Plus is probably the best all-rounder. It's now my first choice for summer backpacking as it is light, has great battery life, adjustable beam strength and a tilting head. I have no need of red and green light modes so the Tikka Plus is fine. I haven't tried the Tikka XP - it's a little bit heavier and more expensive than the Tikka Plus but it might be a better choice if you are walking at night. I have had to use the Tikka Plus for unplanned night walking and to pitch the tent and it was fine but it's mainly used around the campsite in the evening and for reading in the tent.
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Thanks Jake. I don't intend night hiking, so the plus fits the bill for me too. The Alpkit Gamma is out of stock till April. I have bought a new Yikka Plus (including 3 duracell batteries) for £20.00 (including free delivery). I shall leave this unopened and if the Gamma comes into stock before my Easter camping trip will get one of those instead and sell the Tikka Plus on Ebay (hopefully for a small profit eh?) I am impressed with the Alpkit website and much of their stuff is getting good reviews. The Tikka Plus is all I will probably need but I wish I had got one of those Gammas earlier. Now to sort out my stove..... a Jetboil or Primus ETA............
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 I agree with all the comments made by Jon above. The Tikka XP is superb. The Tikka plus I have is very heavy on batteries, so much so I think it's faulty. It's one of the earlier ones though with the bluish leds. Go for the XP.
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It has arrived today, in it's packaging (including the duracel batteries). The model I have been sent is a Zipka Plus. I even asked the vendor if the headband was included! The photo on the sale was a Tikka plus. I know it is basically the same model but I can see some negative feedback being sent out!
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You live and learn. I have opened the Zipka (I'm like a kid with new stuff) and am entirely happy with it. I shan't be changing it. That's my spending done for a bit...... on with the wild camping. 
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