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Princeton Tec Quad Headlamp
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Princeton Tec Quad Headlamp

Item # 736937

$31.95

Item qualifies for annual
REI Member Refund (typically 10%)

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Simplicity and versatility come to the campsite and trail with the Princeton Tec® Quad Headlamp

  • 4 LED bulbs operate in high, medium, low and flashing modes; suitable for use around a campsite or for signalling from a distance
  • Single strap fits easily over caps and lets you read in comfort in your sleeping bag without a battery pack pressing against the back of your head
  • The single switch atop the headlamp is easily located and operated; pivoting headlamp lets you point the beam where you prefer
  • Features a low-battery indicator; LED bulbs last seemingly forever
  • Waterproof to 1 meter
  • Includes 3 AAA batteries

Imported.

Item 736937

Princeton Tec Quad Headlamp Specs

Specification

Description

Bulb typeLED
Bulb detail4 LEDs
Weight with batteries3.4 ounces
Dimensions2.5 x 2 x 1.5 inches
Light outputHigh: 45
Maximum beam distanceHigh: 35 / low: 15 meters
Brightness levels3
Beam typeFlood
Strobes1
Regulated outputYes (low setting only)
Battery life at 70 degreesHigh: 97 / low: 105 hours
Batteries3 AAA
Material(s)Plastic
RechargeableNo

Princeton Tec Quad Headlamp Customer Reviews

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews
Princeton Tec Quad Headlamp
 
4.2

(based on 37 reviews)

89%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

  • Bright (36)
  • Durable (28)
  • Adjustable beam (27)
  • Good battery life (19)
  • Stable (17)

Cons

  • Short battery life (3)

Best Uses

  • Backpacking (35)
  • Hiking (31)
  • Car camping (26)
  • Day trip (21)
  • Reviewer Profile:
  • Avid adventurer (18), Casual/ recreational (12), Casual adventurer (6)

Reviewed by 37 customers

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(11 of 11 customers found this review helpful)

 
4.0

Came through when it counted

By Doc Lewis

from Babil, Iraq,

About Me Avid Adventurer

Pros

  • Adjustable Beam
  • Bright
  • Durable

Cons

    Best Uses

    • Backpacking
    • Hiking

    Comments about Princeton Tec Quad Headlamp:

    I am an Army combat medic in over in the desert. I originally bought this to use for a cheap light in training lanes, but boy was I mistaken. This is a great tool. I regularly use it to aid wounded soldiers, and it has yet to fail me. The battery life is not excellent, but I have had far worse. Its lightweight and easily turned on and off even with gloves. I like that it has only one button for on/off and power adjustment.When i get home this light will have a definite home in my hiking pack.

    • Gift:
    • No

    (10 of 11 customers found this review helpful)

     
    5.0

    Great for Blinding Your Friends!

    By Pablo Antonio

    from Concord, CA

    About Me Avid Adventurer, Casual/ Recreational

    Site Member

    Pros

    • Adjustable Beam
    • Bright
    • Durable
    • Stable

    Cons

    • Mediocre Battery Life

    Best Uses

    • Around the house
    • Backpacking
    • Car Camping
    • Plucking Nose Hairs

    Comments about Princeton Tec Quad Headlamp:

    I bought this headlamp on a recommendation from a friend, and I haven't been disappointed. I've been using this little hoss for two years now, and it gets its heaviest use hiking on poorly-developed trails at night.

    That being said, I use the brightest setting for long stretches of time, and so I use up batteries like it's going out of style. I don't suppose it would be any different with other brands of lights.

    The lamp assembly also detaches from the headband, and I've been able to stand it up on a rock or a table to act as a standalone spotlight. You can also wear the headband by itself to look like an 80's rocker.

    I usually camp near freshwater sources, so the 1m water resistance is handy for those moments of clumsy awesomeness near the water. I would highly recommend against using what appears to be a place to use a standard head screwdriver on the battery cover. You will break the plastic if you try to wrench down on the battery cover knob, and there goes the water resistance.

    The multiple beam strengths are perfect for conserving battery power around the campsite. Also (and I'm sure Princeton Tec didn't have this in mind), it's perfect for throwing light into my nostrils when it's time to trim the hair up there!

    (8 of 9 customers found this review helpful)

     
    1.0

    good light, poor design and/or quality

    By B^2

    from PDX

    About Me Avid Adventurer

    Pros

    • Bright
    • Waterproof

    Cons

    • Case poorly constructed

    Best Uses

      Comments about Princeton Tec Quad Headlamp:

      my experience mirrors another reviewers regarding cracking, pasted below is a copy of the email i sent to Princeton Tec on 9/17 (no reply thus far)... next trip to REI I plan to exchange for the Underwater Kinetics model that looks much more bomber. i wish i had read the reviews before i bought this and saved myself the trouble. ***********************************************"Hi there, some product feedback for you. I bought a new Quad headlamp at REI several weeks ago. After taking on a brief car camping trip and using it a couple nights I noticed it was cracked at the front edge of the black plastic housing (the thin spot between the button and the lens) and down through the top of the clear plastic lens. What a bummer, so much for being rugged & waterproof/submersible. I returned to REI thinking I got a defective one somehow. They, of course, cheerily gave me another one no questions asked. The [...] thought that maybe the screw used to seal the battery housing put too much tension on the thin plastic stressing it and causing the crack? Not sure about that theory but in my opinion not a very robust design. From your own website: "The LEDs are safe forever inside a tough waterproof housing that will survive severe impacts and water submersions up to one meter." hmmm...So on getting the new one I was careful not to torque the screw down when I installed the batteries before I used it on a 7 day paddling trip. When I got home, alas the new one had a crack on the same exact spot. the lamp was not abused or dropped or mishandled (packed in a padded fleece bag). This is really disappointing as I have had 2 of your headlamps and a flash light over the years going back to pre LED days, and they have been always been of high quality and served me well.Anyways I thought you would like to know about this very disappointing experience so you improve your product in the future. I will be returning the 2nd defective unit to REI and choosing a different brand/model that is a more rugged design and of higher build quality before my next outing."

      Service and delivery comments:

      REI support is awesome!

      • Gift:
      • No

      (3 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

       
      5.0

      The Long Lasting Spotlight of Headlamps

      By Dave the boy scout

      from Braintree, MA

      About Me Avid Adventurer

      Pros

      • Awesome
      • Bright
      • Durable
      • Long battery life
      • Low battery warning
      • Stable

      Cons

      • None

      Best Uses

      • Backpacking
      • Car Camping
      • Caving
      • Day trip
      • Hiking

      Comments about Princeton Tec Quad Headlamp:

      I am a boy scout so I go camping, hiking, caving, and everything in between. But I don't do any of them without my awesome Princeton Tec Quad Headlamp. It's superbright bulb was enough to illuminate huge caverns, snow shelters, and endless stretchs of woods. I love the low battery warning and how it doesn't dim as the battery runs out. I have dropped it in enough mountain streams to know that it is water and shatter proof.

      • Gift:
      • Yes

      (3 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

       
      4.0

      Durable and bright. Love this lamp.

      By Voodoo

      from Tempe, AZ

      About Me Avid Adventurer

      Site Member

      Pros

      • Adjustable Beam
      • Bright
      • Durable
      • Long battery life
      • Stable

      Cons

      • Bulky
      • No Infrared
      • Uncomfortable

      Best Uses

      • Backpacking
      • Hiking

      Comments about Princeton Tec Quad Headlamp:

      I used this lamp from Harper's Ferry, VA all the way to Baxter State Park in ME on the AT. It's beautifully bright (I like to night hike sometimes), and the fact that it uses three AAA batteries should be looked at as a +, not a -. Why? Well, if you're long distance hiking, you'll always be able to find replacement batteries at one gas station towns.

      The negatives to the light are outweighed by this thing's ability and durability, but here they are. No infrared setting, so if you want to get up in a shelter in the morning to pee, you're likely going to blind some sleeping hiker with the beam. Second, it should have a foam rubber pad on the back of headpiece. As it is, the strap runs through the frame and acts as a buffer between your forehead and the lamp, but don't be surprised when you take this thing off and have some red indentations in the shape of a headlamp on your skin. Maybe I had it too tight, but you don't want it to fall off ...

      Overall, I loved this lamp, and I used three different ones. The tiny Petzls weren't bright enough to light up a book, much less a Trail at night, and the the cheap Energizers at Wally World are great for the price, but not as durable. I dropped that lamp on the shelter floor a couple of times and it died. Over 1,000 miles, it's to be expected.

      • Gift:
      • No

      (2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

       
      5.0

      Shining Bright!!

      By Spiderwoman

      from Marietta, GA

      About Me Casual Adventurer

      Site Member

      Pros

      • Adjustable Beam
      • Bright
      • Durable
      • Long battery life
      • Spare Bulb
      • Stable

      Cons

        Best Uses

        • Backpacking
        • Car Camping
        • Day trip
        • Hiking

        Comments about Princeton Tec Quad Headlamp:

        I received this headlamp as a replacement for the Petzl Tikka Plus headlamp that I had lost. I could not be more pleased with its peformance and design. It is ideal for camping, hiking, climbing, etc. I love the 4-beam adjustment and the superior range of visibility it casts in complete darkness. It contains a flashing-strobe mode which is essential if in an emergency situation. The Princeton Tec is much brighter than my previous Petzl Tikka Plus and is waterproof, durable, and good quality. I like the fact that the battery case is held closed with a screw, rather than a rubber gasket because you do not have to worry about excess dirt and water contaminating the batteries. The screw may be an inconvenience to some, but is essential for that reason. I highly recommend this headlamp to anyone looking for a simple design, great visibility, and overall quality. You cannot go wrong with the Princeton Tec Quad.

        • Gift:
        • Yes

        (2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

         
        4.0

        Updated design seems improved!

        By Andy from MI

        from Ann Arbor, MI

        About Me Casual Adventurer

        Pros

        • Adjustable Beam
        • Bright

        Cons

          Best Uses

          • Backpacking
          • Car Camping
          • Day trip
          • Hiking

          Comments about Princeton Tec Quad Headlamp:

          I think they did a minor design update recently, hopefully (fingers crossed!) fixing the cracking issue. I returned my first one 6 mo. old, original batteries, with a cracked case and exchanged it for a new one. Floor model had same crack, but replacement is slightly different! Original had yellow button, new one has gray button. I'm thinking they may have also changed a few other materials and tweaked the design very slightly to address the cracking issue.

          Love everything else about this light. I think the technical term is "stupid bright." Easily adjustable, battery life is good for me, comfortable. The regulated LED design is great too, with the low battery indicator, really sold me on this model. Give it a chance!

          • Gift:
          • No

          (2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

           
          5.0

          Great deal for the price I got

          By aracauna

          from South Georgia

          About Me Casual Adventurer

          Pros

          • Adjustable Beam
          • Bright

          Cons

            Best Uses

            • Backpacking
            • Car Camping
            • Day trip
            • Hiking

            Comments about Princeton Tec Quad Headlamp:

            I bought this headlamp before my last hiking trip at the REI in Kennesaw, GA. They had this model on sale for about[$] so I couldn't pass it up, especially when none of the other models anywhere close to that price range seemed to be as bright, have the same level of settings, or be water resistant to 1 m. It's become my standard flashlight at home when going out in the yard after dark or the like and I haven't noticed any of the issues with cracking mentioned in several other reviews. I will keep this in mind, however, and make sure not to overtighten when replacing the batteries whenever they die.

            • Gift:
            • No

            (1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

             
            5.0

            Tough as nails

            By Shortbus

            from Edwards, CO

            About Me Avid Adventurer

            Pros

            • Bright
            • Durable
            • Long battery life

            Cons

              Best Uses

              • Backpacking
              • Hiking

              Comments about Princeton Tec Quad Headlamp:

              I've had this headlamp for years now. Mine also developed a crack on top as other reviewers say, but for me it hasn't affected performance one bit.

              Mine has been dropped on concrete from a ladder, stepped on, covered in mud, dropped in a river, completely soaked in downpours and yet it still keeps ticking.

              I feel battery life is plenty adequate.

              This also saved the day last weekend as a backup when my much more expensive headlamp decided to stop working.

              • Gift:
              • No

              (1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

               
              5.0

              Great Light For Outdoors!!!

              By willskill

              from Sacramento, Ca

              About Me Outdoor Professional

              Pros

              • Bright
              • Durable
              • Long battery life
              • Stable

              Cons

                Best Uses

                • Backpacking
                • Day trip
                • Hiking
                • Search Rescue

                Comments about Princeton Tec Quad Headlamp:

                Great light for camping, hiking, and working at night. I am a dog handler for a SEARCH & RESCUE TEAM and I use it allot, it works great, and it's a good light for the price. Money well spent!

                • Gift:
                • No

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