Reviews > Lighting > Headlamps - LED > Princeton Tec Remix Hybrid Headlamp > Test Report by Roger Ault

PRINCETON TEC REMIX HYBRID HEADLAMP
TEST SERIES BY ROGER AULT

TESTER INFORMATION

I have been camping for several years. I had limited chances as a child but have been camping a lot the past 20 years. I love backpacking and consider myself moderately equipped although I can never have enough gear. I want to spend more time winter camping. I typically carry 25 - 45 pounds (~11 - 20 kg). I generally use a tent for shelter. I generally hike in the woods and rolling hills of Indiana.

INITIAL REPORT

PRODUCT INFORMATION & SPECIFICATIONS

Manufacturer: Princeton Tec

Battery Door

Year of Manufacture: 2009
Manufacturer's Website: Princeton Tec
MSRP: USD 44.99
Listed Weight: 2.93 oz (83 g) (includes batteries)
Measured Weights as follows:
Headband - 0.6 oz (17 g)
Three AAA Duracell batteries - 1.2 oz (34 g)
Remix Headlamp - 1.1 oz (31g)
Fully assembled (as packaged) - 2.9 oz (82 g)

Other details: Per Princeton Tec website:

POWER 45 Lumens

LAMP 3 Ultrabright LEDs, 1 Maxbright LED

BURN TIME 200 Hours

BATTERIES 3 AAA

WEIGHT 83g (includes batteries)

Burn time of 200 hours is based on low setting with three Ultrabright LEDs being used. The same LEDs burning on high are listed at 61 hours. The Maxbright LED on low is listed at 53 hours and high is listed at 28 hours burn time. I will say here that burn times on the highest setting do not mean much to me. I find that I rarely use the highest setting and more important to me, at this setting, is brightness and distance.

The Remix is listed as level 1 waterproof on the website. After reading that they mean it is able to withstand splashing and quick dunking I think I prefer "water resistant" over waterproof.

The Remix is gray and black with a headband that is black, gray and white with Princeton Tec printed on the left side of the headband.

INITIAL IMPRESSIONS

The product packaging was cardboard and plastic with a hole to hang on a peg. The plastic was quite tough and I found a knife to be the easiest way to open but I feared I might cut the product. I was very careful with the knife and did not do any damage. I would prefer to see less and/or easier packaging. I do understand the need for tough packaging with the amount of theft and shoplifting these days.

There are several details on the package. The package says "5 year warranty" and has a diagram that lists the components. The labeling does say "water resistant" on it which I feel is more accurate than the "waterproof" level one shown on the website. At the bottom of the back there is a chart showing illumination distances and burn times for the various settings.

The front shows lumens, weight, burn time, water resistant and shows that it adjusts in a vertical arc. There is a diagram at the bottom, which shows three LED's, and the single LED side by side and under it are the words "Hybrid LED Headlamp". To me this makes it clear that the "hybrid" means there are two distinctly different light sources working in one lamp, much like a car that is hybrid works on both gasoline and electric.

The headband, headlamp and batteries were packaged in separate compartments. Installing the headband was accomplished by inserting it into the split openings on the back of the Remix. Battery installation is below.

READING THE INSTRUCTIONS

The included instructions are quite informative and are printed in English, French and German. They begin with clear directions for installing the three AAA batteries. To do this you simply pull the door open over the catch and open the hinged door. There is a clear picture to the right of the text showing how the batteries go.

Next is a section on switch operation, which is important to read. First it is necessary to choose a light source. Holding down continuously will cause the Remix to cycle between the 3 Ultrabright LED's and the Maxbright LED. Simply release when the desired LED is lit. Once a LED is chosen it will cycle high/low/off by the switch until a different LED is chosen.

Whenever the light is turned on from the off position (with either LED) high is the first mode encountered. Pressing and releasing the switch within 1.5 seconds will change to low mode. (Twice will turn it off) Waiting 2 seconds or longer to press and release will turn the light off without changing modes.

To turn the light off it can be cycled though all the modes or if it has been on over two seconds one push of the switch will turn it off.

TRYING IT OUT

I could hardly wait for it to get dark! After playing with the switch I have gotten a little used to it. I think I would prefer the low mode to precede the high but that's just my preference.

After going for a walk in the dark and setting up a tent in the dark I am impressed with the lighting so far. I would still like to see the low operate prior to high in sequence.

TESTING STRATEGY

I intend to purposely go out in light rain to see what happens. As well as general trail and camp use mixed in with everyday use. My current headlamp has a red LED. Will I miss this feature while using the Remix?

SUMMARY

I have a slight concern that the battery door is not sealed very well and may allow water to enter easily. There is no gasket or o-ring present to form a seal.

The Remix feels good when wearing it and the headband adjusts to fit nicely. I think I would like to see the Maxbright focused a little narrower, but I will see how it goes.

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

FIELD REPORT

FIELD LOCATIONS AND CONDITIONS

I purposely set out in the dark on October 10, 2009 to test the Remix for light hiking and setting up my tent in the dark. The ground was saturated after it had rained the two days previous to this trip. The temperature got down to 32 F (0 C) and there was heavy dew, which turned to frost.

I have taken a couple of evening hikes that lasted past dark but were not overnight trips. Temperatures were near 40 F (4 C) and there was no rain during these walks.

I have used the Remix nearly every day when going to work. I leave home at 5:00 AM and it is quite dark still so I have used it to not only see but to be seen when walking on roads. As of this writing it is getting dark earlier in the evening. Even though it is not yet dark enough to need light to see, it is nice to be seen by motorists.

I took the Remix with me to a cookout on October 24, 2009. We had clear skies and the temperature was about 52 F (11 C) to start and got down to about 38 F (3 C). I started out near their home and ended up walking into the woods later in the evening.

PERFORMANCE IN THE FIELD

I turned the three Ultrabright LED's on high and placed the Remix in light rain for about three hours. It was very light drizzle and it was sitting motionless in the open. I did not notice any water in the interior and the lamp did not falter in any way. I could still cycle through all modes with no problems that I could detect. This is good news to me because I feared the battery door would leak. It has proven itself in this little test, so now on to the practical use tests.

During the overnight trip on October 10, I was able to use the Remix for some fairly open trail walking and also to set up camp in the dark. I find that the three Ultrabright LED's on low work fine most of the time for me. When doing tasks like cooking and setting up camp I find it necessary to turn the same LED's on high to make things easy.

On October 24 I was able to use it to assist several elderly people to their vehicles after dark. I did find it was better to turn the three Ultrabright LED's on high, rather than low for this use. Once the evening came to a close I walked into the woods and setup a tent. I still find that for most walking purposes I am content with the low setting. I do use the three Ultrabright LED's on high for tasks in camp, such as setting up my tent, yet switch to low when just sitting around. I have not had the opportunity to be camped with anyone else to see if it would be necessary to switch to a higher setting to provide more light.

The Remix stays where I set it on my head and doesn't bounce much at all. It is nice to have the light stay where I want it and not have to adjust it unless I need to change where I want it to shine.

Although I do miss the red LED's I have used on other lights in the past, I am able to perform necessary tasks without them.

I would estimate about seventy-five hours of burn time so far. The majority of this has been on the lowest setting. I have not noticed any diminished battery capacity so far.

SUMMARY

I have not been able to get as much backpacking use as I would like due to some sore ribs from a fall (not backpacking related). I have managed to use on a couple of nights out in the field and several days going to and from work.

I would still prefer to start with the lower setting and have to cycle up to high rather than the way it is now. I generally use the three Ultrabright LED's on low except when I need more light to hike through rough or overgrown terrain or when performing tasks in camp.

I feel that the single Maxbright LED is better suited for when moving faster than a walk. I tried running (something I do not do often) and found that the added distance the beam is projected is better when moving faster. I believe this could help when riding a bike also. At least it was nice when trying it out on my lawn tractor with the headlights off.

CONTINUED TESTING

I hope to get in some more actual backpacking use during the next couple of months. I would also like to get some measurements on distance the various beams are projected and some measurements of the diameter of the beams. I do not have a way to measure lumens but I hope to get some decent pictures to show the strength of the various settings.

THOUGHTS SO FAR

Likes:
Easy to use switch
Small and light
Stays where I put it on my head

Dislikes:
Having to cycle from high to low (I prefer to start on low)
No red LED (not really a dislike just a preference)

I would like to thank both Princeton Tec and BackpackGearTest.org for the opportunity to test the Remix headlamp.

Reviews > Lighting > Headlamps - LED > Princeton Tec Remix Hybrid Headlamp > Test Report by Roger Ault