Reviews > Lighting > Headlamps - LED > Princeton Tec EOS > Lynne Durham > Initial Report

Initial Report - Princeton Tec EOS Headlamp

• Collimator/lens system balances beam for distance and flood light
• 1 m (3.25 ft) waterproof (this was not mentioned on the product's page on the Princeton Tec Web site)
• 1 watt LED, current regulated
• 3 brightness levels and a safety mode [From reviewer: the safety mode is a flashing mode]
• Lifetime warranty
• Assembled in USA
• 3 Duracell AAA alkaline batteries included

Headlamp circumference at smallest size setting (headband at its smallest and unstretched): 16" (41 cm)
Headlamp circumference at largest size setting (headband opened fully and stretched): approximately 42" (107 cm)
Manufacturer Web site information: The Princeton Tec Web site is easy to navigate. Very basic information about EOS is easy to find on the product information page. If one digs a bit deeper into the press releases, a bit more information (including MSRP) can be divined.

INFORMATION FROM THE PACKAGE

• The warranty is a typical "free from defects" type warranty for the life of the product and as such does not cover normal wear-and-tear from usage
• The on button toggles through all four operating modes, first high power, then medium power, then low power, then flashing, then off. This button offers a nice feature that is not on either of my other two headlamps. To quote from the package:
  
  "Regardless of the selected operating mode, the EOS will turn off with the next button press if more than three seconds have elapsed since the last mode was selected."
  
  Other headlamps I use require you to pass through all successive settings before reaching off. With the EOS, I just press the button once from the position I was using and the headlamp is turned off.
• All product information is printed in English
• The product is compatible with lithium batteries, however, alkaline batteries are supplied and that's how usage is described on the package, so I will test with alkaline batteries
• The instructions on the package warn that although EOS is waterproof to 1 m (3.25 ft) it is important to ensure that the housing is adequately closed to prevent water from getting on the circuit board. Drying instructions are provided if this happens.

INITIAL IMPRESSIONS
The package arrived in a well-packed box shipped directly from Princeton Tec. The headlamp itself is securely enclosed in a typical clear-plastic clamshell which is not heat-sealed and thus easily opened. The clamshell houses the headlamp (batteries pre-installed) and a packaging insert that describes the product, contains the operating instructions and warranty information.

The product page on the Web site didn't mention waterproofness, so I was pleasantly surprised to see the package describe the headlamp as waterproof up to 1 m (about 3.25 ft).

Outward appearance of headlamp: The headlamp casing itself is a durable-looking, rigid plastic. The color is light gray, dark gray and lime green. There is a single control button on top of the casing. A thumbscrew on the back of the casing is used for replacing batteries, which came pre-installed. The single headband is gray and black with white lettering that says "PrincetonTec."

Handling the product: The strap is easily adjustable by sliding a buckle-type adjust back and forth. The thumbscrew for replacing the batteries is loosened with a screwdriver, then easily removed by hand.

When wearing the headlamp, the fleecy-soft underside of the headband is against the head and forehead and is soft and comfortable. The lightbeam direction is easily adjustable downward by rotating it on its bottom axis point. There are seven directional settings, ranging from near perpendicular to your body (lightbeam thrown straight ahead) to nearly parallel (lightbeam thrown almost perfectly downward).

TEST PLAN: LOCATIONS AND CONDITIONS
This headlamp will be tested on several weekend backpacking trips along the North Country Trail, the Jordan River Pathway or the Manistee River Trail in Michigan and 1-2 longer (4+days) backpacking trips on the North Country Trail either in Michigan or Ohio. These trips will occur during the early winter, spring and early summer. This means the headlamp will be subjected to a variety of possible conditions:

• Freezing temperatures
• High winds
• Rain
• Snow
• High humidity

• Is the headlamp strap comfortable enough for extended usage?
• Is the EOS a lightweight solution to my lighting needs?
• Does the EOS provide enough light for hiking in the dark on a moonless night?
• Is the EOS easily adjustable from a directional standpoint? Once set, does it stay focused or does the light work its way out place?
• Does the EOS give off sufficient light for trail running?
• The description of the EOS states that "The combination of a Luxeon/1 watt L.E.D. and the Princeton Tec designed optimized lens/collimator maximizes the beam by balancing long throw with flood light." Does this improve my depth perception on the trail? Is the long throw adequate for me to ensure the quick reaction time I need while trail running? Is the localized flood light sufficient for my immediate footplant needs, hiking or running?
• How quickly does the EOS eat through batteries?
• I tend to be hard on gear -- is the EOS sufficiently durable to meet my needs? Will it survive the way I pack my pack? Can it withstand being dropped? What if I walk into a tree (um, yes. I've done this)...can it survive?
• Because my outdoor gear meets a variety of needs -- not just backpacking -- how does the EOS perform when it is subjected to frequent, repeated usage? Can it stand up to several hours of use each week? Will the EOS still be performing well over the long haul?
• Can the EOS withstand use in difficult weather situations, e.g., rain, snow, humidity? Will it perform after being subjected to a heavy rain? Is it sufficiently waterproof to be used in canoe or kayak applications? Is the light bright enough to use in rain or snow conditions?
• Is the headband comfortable? Does it work well with my different hat choices: fleece cap or ear band in the winter, raincoat hood, baseball style caps? Does the headband keep the EOS sufficiently stable for my needs?

• The headband's firm hold keeps the light steady and in place
• I love the "single-press" off feature of the headlamp button
• The waterproofness, in conjunction with the flashing light mode, satisfies the "waterproof strobe-light" equipment requirement made by some adventure races

• No night-vision preservation settings or filters

Reviews > Lighting > Headlamps - LED > Princeton Tec EOS > Lynne Durham > Initial Report