Princeton Tec

Princeton Tec Quad Tactical Headlamp

I was shivering uncontrollably. My thin warm weather rip-stop Crye multicams did little to ward off the December chill in Northeastern Washington. It was 2030 hours, well past civil twilight this far north and it had been dark for four hours by this point. We’d been evading by moon and starlight and had settled into our third location for the night. Freezing rain occasionally rifted over us in sheets. We huddled into a defilade to make comms via our PRC-112 emergency radio. We received a text message data burst for our next set of coordinates. However the backlight on our radio was not working. “Jones, turn on your headlamp” I nodded while my teeth chattered nearly uncontrollably and when I hit the button on the top of my headlamp to turn it on, nothing happened. Hissed threats against the headlamp followed as I tried fixing it. However she’d given up the ghost after three days in the field – the plastic frame had cracked from the temperature deviation between the day and the night and water had gotten into it. The headlamp was dead and it was the only light we were allowed. Our operation became much more difficult because of that equipment failure.

Critical gear failing in the field is anyone’s nightmare. I never imagined that headlamps could fail in such short notice until I began to do Survival and Evasion exercises as a Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Specialist (SERE Specialist) for the United States Air Force. My gear needs to be able to survive in all conditions throughout the world. I demand quite a bit. When I finished training as a SERE Specialist I was issued one hell of a headlamp from Princeton Tec known as the EOS and I’ve seen it issued to a variety of other Special Operations forces throughout the military for the plain and simple reason that this thing doesn’t die. I’ve taken the Princeton Tec EOS headlamp everywhere and put it through everything. I have confidence in it to the utmost.

So when I was given the opportunity to review another headlamp from Princeton Tec made specifically for military professionals or outdoors enthusiasts I was ecstatic. I was sent the tan / multicam quad tactical MPLS (Modular Personal Lighting System). What we get compared to the workhorse Princeton Tec EOS is a lighter package, the quad tactical weighs in at just 78 grams compared to the EOS weighing in at 103 grams. With the reduction in weight the quad tactical is outperforming the EOS by emitting 78 lumens compared to the EOS, which emits a healthy 60. Be advised that the quad tactical puts out a wider focused beam that allows your peripherals to work with you compared to the EOS which is more focused beam. In either case I’ve found that I like the wide beam on the quad tactical more. They both take 3 AAA batteries.

The profile on the quad tactical is slimmer and closer to your head / helmet which means I’m not catching this thing on branches or lower overhangs as much. Further the power button up top is much improved in my opinion over the EOS. The power button on the EOS was slightly offset to the right of the top of the device compared to the quad tactical where is it dead center. It’s just more intuitive in my opinion. The headband remains the same between the two lights which doesn’t disappoint me at all. These lights are also all waterproof to one meter. The red filter is interchangeable to three different colors; red, green, blue. Compared to other headlamps that require you to flip a switch a certain way to activate the red light I much prefer pulling the filter over the light – it’s simple and you know you’re going to get red. Plus you won’t be that one guy in the group that accidentally flips to white light and destroys everyone’s night vision.

The quad tactical like the EOS have a variety of different mounting solutions. A NVG adapter is included so that this light can be mounted directly to your helmet. The standard straps can also be removed and attached to MOLLE webbing. Or you can loosen the band and wrap this thing around your helmet and secure with some 100 mph tape (my preferred method).

The headlamp is a simple but essential piece of gear. Make sure you have one that is rock solid. I can’t say enough about the simplicity, reliability and ruggedness of all Princeton Tec designs but also the EOS and quad tactical specifically. Given the lighter weight and the brighter overall output I’ll be sticking with the quad tactical for the foreseeable future.

Princeton Tec Helix backcountry LED lantern

It’s always nice to have some type of creature comforts when we are out in the forest on an extended camping or hiking trip. As far as lights go, I have usually kept a small flashlight or chemlight handy. With the Helix Backcountry LED Lantern from Princeton Tec, you can have light anywhere you want, anytime you need it.

To start, the Helix is a collapsible lantern that uses LED technology in order to provide up to 150 lumens of white light. A dimmer switch allows you to take it down to 30 lumens for the times you don’t need as much. The Helix can also operate in a red light mode to allow for low profile use. This is very handy if you need light, but you don’t want to wake the rest of your camping party. Most lanterns on the market currently only offer white light and very little choice in controlling the brightness and direction.

Starting at the top, the Helix has a metal hook that can be used for hanging the lantern in any vertical configuration. You could hang it from a rope outside, within your tent, or on a carabiner attached to your pack. Below the hook is the collapsible globe which gives the user the option to store it compactly. A neat feature is a phosphorescent material that the globe is made of, which glows in the dark after the light has been turned on.

To close the globe, you push the globe to one side and roll it to the opposite side to lock. Pulling up from the locked side will release the globe back into its open configuration. Although it sounds easy, it took me a couple tries to get it figured out just right. Below the globe is the control surface, which is swipe-activated and gives you the option to change-up the functions.

To make it user-friendly, the Helix has the instructions printed on the bottom side of the unit. Swiping left to right operates the white light. Another swipe turns it to medium, and a third swipe turns on the strobe feature. Running it from right to left does the same for the red light, with the multiple swipes operating it the same way as the white. Pressing and holding the control surface in either mode will dim the light variably from the lowest to the highest setting, repeating until you remove your finger.

On all four corners of the lantern are sturdy hooks that each operate independently from the rest. With two hooks deployed, you can adjust the angle that you’d like the lantern to project light. With all of them deployed, you can lift the lantern higher, which allows the light to shine farther out. Each hook serves as an attachment point if you wish to hang the lantern from a nail, rope, or other object. There are multiple options for hanging, limited only by the user’s imagination. You could string it 10 feet off the ground from 4 different trees using 550 cord if you really wanted to light up the entire area.

The lantern globe itself can be removed from the LED base, which turns the Helix into a useable flashlight or dome light for a tent. As a rescue tool, the dome light set to the strobe feature would be perfect for signaling rescue teams or aircraft. I’ve tried out multiple lanterns, and it’s safe to say that the Helix is my favorite and also the most versatile. With 3 AAA batteries, the entire lantern weighs 5.5oz.

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Rodney Pointer is a former Army Infantryman. After graduating from Airborne School, he was ruthlessly assigned to Fort Polk, Louisiana to live out his days as a dirty leg. He served with the 2nd BN, 30th Infantry of the 4th Brigade, 10th Mountain Division. Following his deployment to Afghanistan, he received a Bachelor’s degree in Intelligence Operations. He currently works as a nuclear security contractor.

The SNAP: A modular light system from Princeton Tec

A Red, Green, Blue, and White Light

Princeton Tec of New Jersey has been making lighting solutions since 1975. This year at SHOT Show 2019 they are debuting a new RGB SNAP lighting system.

Talking with Katie of Princeton Tec made it obvious that she and the employees of Princeton Tec understand and use the products that they proudly design, engineer, and manufacture here in the U.S.A.

Affordable

The existing SNAP lighting system, available in white light only, is a 200 lumen light that starts at $42.99.

The new RGB (red blue green) and white SNAP is due to be available in June and starts at $52.99.

New Colors and More Lumens

The RGB SNAP will be black on black and 300 lumens. They will also be making it in a multi-cam.

A Modular System

The SNAP is a modular light system is a head unit that has a light with a magnet. When you buy the headlamp it comes with additional mounts that allows you to adapt the light to your situation.

The additional mounts allow you to mount it to a two-way carabiner, a bicycle mount or similarly sized pole like the ladder of a roof tent or awning, and any magnetic surface.

Simple to Use, Simple to Program

The SNAP is simple to use: a large, easy to find button on the head unit turns the versatile spot beam on, dims it and switches over to flash mode.

You can program what light color comes on first and can change the intensity of the brightness with an easy touch button. The light lets you know when it has reached it’s lowest and brightest settings with a blink of light. If you double tap the adjustment button it goes into a flashing light mode.

Princeton Tec has many other wonderful lighting solutions ranging from tactical to camping. Head over to their website and check them out if you need a lighting solution.

POWER – 200 Lumens

LAMP – 1 Maxbright LED (dimmable)

BURN TIME – 130 hours

BATTERIES – 3 AAA Alkaline

WEIGHT – 3.5oz / 99g

WATER RESISTANT – IPX4

WARRANTY – 5 Years

Princeton Tec SNAP Multi-Use Light

When I first received the SNAP from Princeton Tec in the mail, I didn’t know what to think of it. I have many lights to choose from and more than a few headlamps. I opened the box, without anticipation. The packaging was standard Princeton Tec (PT) fare, well diagramed, well packaged and the item of interest presented in plain view. The accouterments were in place behind the main presentation and consisted of a plastic carabiner, what appeared to be another body, or sleeve, and two different sized rubber straps. It came with a trio of Duracell AAA batteries, and a semi-elastic headband adorned with Princeton Tec’s logo.

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I did not look at the included instruction manual since I pride myself as a lover of all nice gear, I figured I could figure out the light without help, right? Well, I was able to easily insert the batteries, but I needed to look at the instructions to figure out what the two rubber straps were for. More on that later.

The light is very, um… light. It weighs a mere 2.9 ounces with the three AAA batteries installed. It’s fairly small, measuring only 2.6” long, and 1.1” tall. It runs on three AAA sized batteries, compatible with Alkaline, Lithium or NiMh (Nickel Metal Hydride), but don’t mix battery types.

The literature on the SNAP claims a 130 hour burn time (on low), with another claimed 130 hours of burn time when on strobe mode. On bright, the lumens claimed are 200 lumens with a burn time of 40 hours. I don’t have a scientific lumen measurement device, but I can tell you that on the bright setting, this little headlamp delivers.

The rubber push pad that turns the light on, took a little getting used to. It’s fairly difficult to find when wearing gloves, but easy to the bare finger. A single press turns the light on with it defaulting in the bright setting. If you hold the button down, it dims slowly, to the dimmest setting. If you single press it after turning it on, the unit will shut off. A quick double press turns the unit into strobe mode.

This light is advertised as a multi-use piece of gear that is designed as a headlamp, but can pull double duty as a bike light, a lantern, a magnetic area light, or a safety strobe. While using as a headlamp, the light can swivel up or down, allowing you to set the light where you need it. If you wear a hat like I do most times, the light fits under the bill or brim of the hat, allowing you to use it functionally. Princeton Tec claims that the Maxbright LED with spot technology will throw out to 118 feet. I did not run a tape measure out to test this claim but walking my dogs at night, I could easily see it light up a stop sign from one block to the next.

The light is water resistant, and I tested it in my pool. I just causally dunked it under water, to simulate falling into water and it did not flinch. I would not dive with it, since it is not designed as a submersible light. However, if you get caught in a rainstorm, it will be just fine.

Attaching the light to my Mountain Bike handlebars was pretty straightforward, once I read the instruction booklet. This light provides more than adequate light to navigate a sidewalk or single-track after the sun dips below the horizon. I would not partake in a 24-hour adventure race with this as my only light source, but it would be a perfect secondary light or back up light if needed.

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At a retail price just shy of $40 USD, I can’t find fault in this light. One thing to note, it does not have a red filter, or any filter to help with night vision protection, but again, it really is not designed for that.

If you are looking for a low cost, high quality, do everything type of headlamp that will also serve as a lantern or a bike light, this SNAP from Princeton Tec should be one you consider. I will definitely be using it around the house, and it will become a part of my daily use gear. Princeton Tec is an American Company, based out of New Jersey, who has been delivering top-shelf lighting solutions to the public since 1975. They even give the SNAP a five-year warranty which makes choosing this little do-everything light a no-brainer!

Author – (D. MacIntosh) US Army Special Operations with over 30 years of service. Former 1SG, current Warrant Officer with low-grade narcolepsy and a penchant for buggary. Over the years, he’s developed a unique style and appreciates the finer things in life. He evaluates gear based on his unique personal experience and no-fluff presentation.

Princeton Tec Sync headlamp revisited: Still good

One of the most popular headlamps on the market for some time has been the Princeton Tec Sync LED Headlamp. There are plenty of sources praising the Sync’s versatility and simplicity, which also comes wearing an inexpensive price tag. I have seen multiple people using the Sync in both field training as well as on the trails. The Sync’s array of features is appealing enough that even Backpacker Magazine couldn’t resist branding it with their Editors’ Choice designation back in 2015. For this review, we will be focusing on some of the subtleties of the Princeton Tec Sync rather than laying out all of the specifications you may already be acquainted with from our previous Sync reviews.

Before getting too far into the review, it is important to note that there are actually two different Princeton Tec Sync models. The model used in this review provides a max output of 150 lumens while the older model provides 90 lumens. Aside from max light output, these headlamps are nearly identical.

One of the most convenient features on the Sync is the power dial. The power dial was implemented over a traditional on/off button and offers easier manipulation, especially while wearing gloves. When the dial is placed in the “OFF” position, the user can turn the dial up (clockwise) for a red light or down (counter-clockwise) for four different white light variations. Each successive notch on the power dial will increase the overall light output. This is convenient because it minimizes the chances of accidentally turning on a white light and disrupting your natural night vision.

However, one gripe I do have about the Princeton Tec Sync is that it is not waterproof. The Sync’s water-resistance rating is at IPX4. This means the Sync’s water resistance is minimal, and while is able to withstand small splashes of water or light rain, it isn’t recommended for prolonged use on a rainy day (though some have better luck than others). Fear not though, Princeton Tec does offer great alternatives that do implement waterproof capabilities such as the Princeton Tec Eos and Princeton Tec Quad Tactical MPLS (though the drawback is the max light output). The key is figuring out what is most important to you in a headlamp.

If you prefer a short and sweet summary:

The Good

Great price for features
Offers both spot and flood light settings
Red light easy to utilize
Made in the USA

The Bad

Not waterproof
Bulkier than other headlamps

Everyone should own a headlamp. Regardless of whether or not you have a job or pastime that requires one, a headlamp benefits every individual. Even if you happen to be the type of person who never leaves his home, there may come an inconvenient or dire situation where a hands-free light becomes a vital tool. At the time of writing this review, the Princeton Tec Sync LED Headlamp is available on Amazon Prime for $24.15, a price that fits every budget. The Princeton Tec Sync isn’t the best headlamp on the market, but it offers one of the best combinations of features for its price tag, which is why it remains a popular option.

Do you have any experience with the Princeton Tec Sync? Use a different Princeton Tec or another headlamp? Let us know what you think!

Princeton Tec Impulse | A Lightweight Headlamp for your Hat

When you’re out in the woods, it seems the one thing you never have quite enough of is light. Either it’s not strong enough, focused enough or just not where you need it. Princeton Tec is constantly working to make the best, brightest and lightest light you’ll find, so you won’t ever be stuck in the dark.

Lately I’ve been checking out their Impulse, a micro light powered by 2x 2016 lithium coin cell batteries. The juice is funneled through a single ultrabright white LED, generating 10 lumens of light for nocturnal errands. Besides the 14g weight, the notable part of this package is the removable back half. You can swap out a carabiner style pocket clip for a hat clip in a matter of seconds, giving you the ability to keep your light right where you want it at all times.

Runtime for the Impulse is pretty impressive, with 36 hours of continuous usage on “blink” mode. Speaking of modes, the Impulse has three: high, low and blink which flashes on-and-off about twice a second. Water resistance is IPX4, which means some rain or the occasional brief dunk shouldn’t be much of an issue, but this isn’t designed to be waterproof.

Lights are one of those things that seem like such a small accessory until you realize you don’t have enough. Princeton Tec wants to keep you well supplied on such matters, which is why the Impulse can found online for $5-$6. No reason not to have a couple stashed away in your ruck or your camping box. Check it out!

Note, the Princeton Tec Sync was also included in my Hiking and Hunting gear list found here.