BackpackGearTest.org Review - /reviews/Lighting/Headlamps - LED/Princeton Tec Yukon HL/Paul Schilke/Field Report

Field Report: Princeton Tec Yukon HL

03/16/04

Product Information

Princeton Tec
http://www.princetontec.com
Yukon HL Hybrid L.E.D.
Year of Manufacture: 2003
Listed weight: 8 oz (227 g) w/ batteries
Verified weight: 8 oz (227 g) w/ 3 AA Duracell alkaline batteries
Power: 3 AA Batteries

Field Report:

The Yukon HL is a very useful product. In its ultra power conserving mode, I am impressed by the wide dispersal of the 3 "high output" L.E.D. lights. The lights are as bright as other L.E.D. products but are dispersed in a broader pattern then other lights with 3 "high output" L.E.D.s only.

During the last couple of months, the thing that made the difference was the 1 watt L.E.D. Objects dimly viewable with the standard setting were brightly illuminated by the 1 watt bulb. While hiking at night under pitch black skies, it provided bright illumination which kept my spirits up for the duration of the hike. Depth of vision was increased by a great magnitude and my eyes were not starved for a sense of the terrain, an experience not duplicated the "high output" L.E.D.s on this headlamp or any other flashlight, using "high output" L.E.D.s, I've used in the past. The 1 watt bulb illuminated signs and other objects so they could be clearly seen from a great distance compared to other L.E.D. lights. On one particular night hike I could have used this brighter setting to search for an owl which had just hooted at us, instead I chose to leave the owl in its privacy.

Alternatively, the 1-watt setting was annoying when there was a lot of ambient light in the sky. Then, the higher setting dulled my night vision. Switching to the lower power setting worked with my night vision as it provided a level of illumination similar to the ambient light of the night sky. While this ambient light may have been the lights of a nearby rural village reflected off the dense cloud cover, it was no brighter than light provided by a fully-lit moon on a clear night. The trail was easy to negotiate with the lower light setting and my eyes were not starved for terrain illumination.

The Yukon HL was used on 3 night hikes for a duration of 2.5 hours. The first hike was through a Michigan State Park; the temperature was below freezing. The second hike was a 30 minute hike around my neighborhood; the temperature was 40° F (4° C). The third hike was on mountain bike trails through hilly terrain, fields and forest; the temperature was 38° F (3° C).

Things I liked

The brightness of 1 watt L.E.D.
The ability to go with AA Lithium batteries
The ability to use the battery saving and less-bright light in camp for chores and reading
The ability to chose the 1 watt setting for very dark nights and the high-output setting for brighter nights

Things I didn't like

I'm not sure the upper headband is required

Test Plan

For the long term report, I plan to use the light on a weeklong hike of the High Country Pathway, a weekend hike of the Jordan River Pathway and other overnight hikes looming ahead.

For years trail wisdom has declared that the usable battery life of L.E.D. lights, in actuality, was nowhere near claimed because the light fades as the batteries become progressively weaker. My experience has been that "high output" L.E.D.s provide about 10 hours of excellent light per battery set. After that they're still usable but not as enjoyable.

It's my hope that the 1 watt L.E.D. will provide great light even after 10 hours of battery use. The Long Term Report will document the test of this hope.

Wateproofness of the Yukon HL will also be tested.

Product Description

The Yukon HL is a headlamp with a total of 4 light emitting diodes (L.E.D.). Three of the L.E.D.s are listed as "high output" and appear to be similar to other L.E.D. lamps listed as "high output". Those L.E.D. lamps sit in a triangle pattern inside a mirrored and rounded housing. They encircle a 4th L.E.D. which is centered in the housing.

The 4th L.E.D. lamp appears to be something new. Listed as a 1 watt L.E.D., Princeton Tec says its light "rivals the high output typical to incandescent halogen and xenon bulbs." So far it appears to be brighter than any other L.E.D. light I've ever used.

All bulbs receive power from 3 AA batteries housed in a remote battery pack located at the rear of the headband. The batteries sit in an O-ring sealed compartment. The compartment can be difficult to open with one hand but I managed it. Princeton Tec claims the setup is water resistant, not water proof; I believe the light will hold to most encounters with water and perhaps even a brief dunking. A wire connects the power pack with light. The wire appears to be securely attached to the headband.

The headband is the style with a strap that runs over the top of the head. Usually lightweight headlamps don't include an over-the-head strap. My impression after a number of uses is that this strap is unnecessary on the Yukon HL; it could be cut off to save weight. However, unless I'm planning to spend 6 months on the trail, I'm not a big fan of irrevocably destroying gear. I won't be removing the strap. Perhaps Princeton Tec could make the over-the-head strap removable. The headband is made of stretchy material about 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) wide.

How it Works

The light is easy to use and activate. A simple push button is the sole control. The first push activates the 3 "high output" L.E.D.s. A second push deactivates the lamps. The third push activates the 1 watt lamp and a fourth shuts the Yukon HL off. The 3 "high output" lights economize power, allowing the batteries to last for approximately 120 hours. The 1 watt lamp drains battery life at the rate of 25 hours per set, a respectable rate of drain. The light is hinged at it base. The hinge allows the user to focus the Yukon HL at the ground rather than straight ahead.

Personal Data

Paul Schilke, 30, Male, 165 lbs (75 kg)
Berrien Springs, Michigan USA
Paul AT qtm DOT net (primary)

Backpacking Background

I grew up on a farm and have enjoyed the outdoors for 25 years. In the past 11 years, I've been on several multi-night backpack expeditions. In 2002, I spent 7.5 months hiking roughly 2 thousand miles of the Appalachian Trail (AT). In 2003 I hiked 350 miles on the North Country Trail (NCT) through Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Other outdoor activities within the last 20 years have included rock-climbing, mountain biking, cross-country skiing, ice fishing and cycling. Although I have a paralyzed hand which limits my ability to paddle, I've ridden inside a canoe on the Green River through Canyon Lands National Park in Utah.

My hiking style is lightweight but I carry the gear needed to be comfortable. Currently my base pack weight ranges near 20 lb. (9 kg). On the AT, I carried only a sylnylon poncho tarp that measured 3 x 8 feet (0.91 x 2.44 m). On the North Country Trail I used an 8 x 10 foot (2.44 x 3.05 m) sylnylon tarp, with 1 hiking staff, an alcohol stove and a titanium pot. My synthetic sleeping bag continues to be the heaviest item in my pack. One day I will purchase a down sleeping bag.

Where I recreate

The terrain of Southwest Michigan ranges from the sand dunes of coastal Lake Michigan to inland forests, meadows, marshes and bogs. The highest point in Michigan is Mount Arvon at 1,979 feet (603 meters) above sea level. The average elevation throughout the state is about 900 feet (274 meters), according to Netstate.com.

Temperatures in Michigan range from an average low of 17° F (-8° C) to an average high of 81° F (27° C) in July. The highest temperature ever recorded was 104° F (40° C) and the lowest temperature ever recorded was -21° F (-29° C), according to the Midwest Regional Climate Center's website. We have quite a few lakes here in Michigan; summers are humid and sticky.

Reviews > Lighting > Headlamps - LED > Princeton Tec Yukon HL > Paul Schilke > Field Report

Reviews > Lighting > Headlamps - LED > Princeton Tec Yukon HL > Paul Schilke > Field Report