My outdoor experience began in high school with involvement in a local canoeing/camping group called Canoe Trails. The culmination was a 10-day canoe voyage through the Quebec wilds. I've been backpacking since my college days in Pennsylvania. I have completed all of the Appalachian Trail in Georgia, Tennessee and North Carolina. My typical trip now is in the Sierra Nevada in California and is from a few days to a week-long. I carry a light to mid-weight load, use a tent, stove and hiking poles.

INITIAL REPORT

PRODUCT INFORMATION & SPECIFICATIONS

Princeton Tec Remix
Photo courtesy of Princeton Tec website
Light Close-up
Photo courtesy of Princeton Tec website
Manufacturer: Princeton Tec
Year of Manufacture: 2009
Manufacturer's Website: http://www.princetontec.com
MSRP: $44.99 US via Shopatron link
Listed Weight: 83 g (2.9 oz) including batteries
Measured Weight: 83 g (2.9 oz)
5mm LED Color: White
Also Available in Red or Green
Made in USA with domestic and foreign components

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

The Princeton Tec Remix Hybrid LED Headlamp has one white Maxbright LED (for spot lighting) and 3 white Ultrabright LEDs (for flood lighting). Both have a high and low setting which makes for four settings overall. The modes and associated lumen strength, burn time and distance illuminated are as follows:
Maxbright LED high - 45 lumens - 28 hours - 45 m (148 ft)
Maxbright LED low - 20 lumens - 53 hours - 28 m (92 ft)
(3) 5mm LEDs high - 30 lumens - 61 hours - 28 m (92 ft)
(3) 5mm LEDs low - 4 lumens - 200 hours - 10 m (33 ft)

The headlamp uses 3 AAA batteries which are housed in a water resistant compartment behind the light. The battery door has a positive snap closure. The lamp is able to pivot in a bracket to allow for shining the light in the direction that it is needed.

The switch is a large push button switch which is supposed to be compatible with gloves. The strap is a wide elastic band which is adjustable to various lengths. It is removable and attaches to the lamp by slipping it into a slit on either side of the bracket. The website shows the buckle for the strap adjustment doubling as a tool for opening the battery compartment door.

INITIAL IMPRESSIONS & TRYING IT OUT

My first impression was that the headlamp is smaller and lighter than my current headlamp. Without reading the instructions, I inserted the 3 alkaline AAA batteries according to the + and - markings on the battery door and snapped the latch closed. I noticed that while the closure was tight, it didn't look all that water-resistant. The battery door opens to the top which seems backwards to me for allowing water in and there is no seal on the door.

Then I pushed the button. There is only one button, so that was self-explanatory. It turned on the 3 LEDs at their high setting. Pushing the button again dimmed the light and pushing it a third time turned it off. So, I read the instructions to figure out how to get the other (Maxbright) bulb to work. By holding the button down, it will switch between sources (from 3 Ultrabright LEDs to 1 Maxbright LED). Pushing the button again within 1.5 seconds dims the light. By waiting over 2 seconds however, pushing the button again will turn it off.

I really like that I don't have to toggle through all of the modes to get to the light I want and that I can turn it off with one push.

As a test, my husband put on our other headlamp while I wore the Remix and we wandered around the house in the dark comparing beams. The Remix Maxbright bulb is very bright and cast a spot light that was not very focused. I think that this will be good for me because I would use the headlamp for hiking and not for trying to focus on one area. I'll have to see though after some actual use. The Ultrabright mode at the low setting seems perfect for reading.

My first outdoor test was a pre-dawn run where I used the Maxbright setting on high. I was running on a smooth road, so avoiding obstacles was not a concern, but I could see very well with the light.

READING THE INSTRUCTIONS

The instructions are in three languages, English, French and German.
Battery Installation:
There are diagrams and instructions explaining how to open the battery door, insert the batteries and close the door.

Switch Operation:
They explain how to switch between light sources (hold down button) and cycle through the high and low modes (press again within 1.5 seconds). For turning it off, I can either cycle through the modes until turning off, or if the light has been on for more than 2 seconds pressing the button will turn it off.

Troubleshooting:
If it doesn't light, check battery installation, replace batteries if needed and check for water contamination. The light will resume normal operation once the water is out and the light is completely dry. If contaminated with salt water, rinse with fresh water and allow to dry.

There is a 5-year warranty against defects in workmanship and materials under normal use.

SUMMARY

The Princeton Tec Remix appears to be a well-constructed headlamp with some good features.

Initial Likes:
Light weight
Small size
Don't have to toggle through all settings

FIELD REPORT

FIELD LOCATIONS AND CONDITIONS

During the long-term testing period, I used the headlamp for 3 backpacking trips, 3 camping trips and 3 morning runs. I also used it many times for reading at home and for looking for insects in the garden. I have been trying to track my usage time at each setting. I used it in total for about 18 hours with 2.5 hours at Max High, 30 minutes at Max Low, 9 hours at Ultra High and 6 hours at Ultra Low.

Backpacking:
Appalachian Trail, White Mountains (New Hampshire): 3 days; 2,032 to 5,367 ft (619 to 1,636 m); 45 to 70 F (7 to 21 C).

Pacific Crest Trail, Central Sierra Nevada (California): 2 days; 9,610 to 10,500 ft (2,929 to 3,200 m); 40 to 70 F (4 to 21 C).

Desolation Wilderness, Sierra Nevada (California): 2 days; 6,560 to 7,520 ft (2,000 to 2,292 m); 40 to 70 F (4 to 21 C).

Camping:
Baxter State Park, Maine: 4 days; 1,079 ft (329 m); 38 to 65 F (3 to 18 C).

Recompence Shores, Freeport, Maine: 1 night; nearly sea level; 40 to 65 F (4 to 18 C).

Shawme-Crowell State Park, Cape Cod, Massachusetts: 2 days; nearly sea level; 40 to 55 F (4 to 13 C).

PERFORMANCE IN THE FIELD

I find the Max High beam to be best for hiking or running in the dark. It shines a strong beam which gives me a lot of confidence that I won't trip over anything. I use both the Ultra High and Ultra Low beam for reading. In a tent, I prefer the low setting. At home, I prefer the high setting. I suppose this is because in a tent there is no other light source and I am very close to my reading material. At home there are other lights on which cause some glare and my reading material is on my lap (and not right in my face). I haven't found a reason to prefer the Max Low setting yet.

I have been surprised at how much I like to use this headlamp for reading at home. We don't have a habit of leaving many lights on at home, so it is funny how many times we are sitting on the couch (in the dark) reading with our headlamps on. If my husband is watching TV and I want to read, I can sit right next to him without bothering him by turning on additional lights. I just have to make sure not to look him in the eye!

I really like having one headlamp that provides both a strong spot light for night hiking and also has a good beam (or two) for reading. This makes this particular lamp quite versatile for me. I also like that it does not have a flashing bulb setting since I do not use this. On my other headlamp I always have to cycle past the flashing setting to get to the beam that I want to use.

I found that I cannot adjust the tilt position with one hand. I have to hold the frame with one hand and tilt the light with the other. This hasn't been a big problem for me though. The tilt position does stay in place well.

The switch button has some ridges on it to provide a grip. This is a nice feature, but the bottom of the light (the opposite side from the switch) also has similar ridges. So, when I pick the lamp up in the dark I can feel the ridges, but I can't tell which ones they are so I often put the lamp on my head upside down. Then when the switch button isn't on top, I realize my mistake and have to turn it over.

I have had several occurrences with the lamp not turning on when I press the switch button. At times I shook it and it turned on. At other times I had to open the battery cover, remove the batteries, give it a shake and then it may turn back on. On one morning run, I could not get it to turn on despite my various efforts. I just stuffed it in my pocket and continued running. After a short distance I pulled it out and tried again and it worked. There is a definite intermittent electrical connection. I have also noticed a slight flickering of the beam sometimes while I'm reading. Once it is on, I have not had it turn off inadvertently.

I have not had occasion to use the headlamp in the rain, so I haven't been able to evaluate its water-resistant properties. I hope to do this in the Long-Term test period.

SUMMARY

There are a lot of features to like about this headlamp. However, the problems that I have had with it not always turning on are a show-stopper for me. I need a reliable lamp and am not confident that this one will work when I need it.

Likes:
Small size
Light weight
Comfortable
Don't have to toggle through all settings
No flashing bulb setting

Dislikes:
Intermittent electrical connection
Identical ridges on top and bottom don't help me to identify the switch in the dark

This concludes my Field Report. The Long-Term Report will be appended to this report in approximately two months from the date of this report. Please check back then for further information.

Thanks to Princeton Tec and BackpackGearTest.org for allowing me to participate in this test.

Test Report by Nancy Griffith

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