REI.com
  • Online: www.REI.com
  • URL for this product:
  • From the U.S. and Canada — Call 1-800-426-4840
  • Mon. through Sun., 4 a.m. through 11 p.m. PT.
  • International — Call 1-253-891-2500
  • Mon. through Sun., 4 a.m. through 11 p.m. PT. English language only.

Print This Page Print This Page

Princeton Tec Apex LED Headlamp

Princeton Tec Apex LED Headlamp

Item # 741805
!
This item is currently sold out or unavailable online.

For your reference, this page contains historical product information.

Princeton Tec® Apex™ LED headlamp has a number of smart features that make it a great choice for the hardcore adventurer.

  • Features a 3-watt Maxbright LED for intense, smooth, long-range spot lighting; four Ultrabright LEDs combine to provide wide-angle, close-in lighting
  • Includes four brightness levels and an emergency flash mode; dual switch design allows easy access to all five modes
  • Power-regulated circuit board ensures consistent lighting levels throughout the life of the batteries
  • Heat-regulating technology prevents light from getting too hot
  • Three-strap headband holds light in place; rear-mounted battery pack holds four AA alkaline batteries (included) and features padding for comfort
  • Battery power meter lets you know when your batteries are running low
  • Compatible with lithium and rechargeable batteries (sold separately)
  • High-grade materials ensure durability and strong resistance to weather and environmental conditions; waterproof to 1 meter

Check out what the experts at Backpacker Magazine said about the Princeton Tec Apex in their March 2006 Gear Guide issue: "The brightest and most feature-rich of the AA-battery headlamps we've seen . . . In our tests, the spot easily reached 200 feet, and all levels produced whiter, crisper light than the competition."

Made in USA.

Item 741805

Princeton Tec Apex LED Headlamp Specs

Specification

Description

Bulb detail3-Watt LED and4 LEDs
Weight with batteries8 ounces
Dimensions2.5 x 1.8 x 1.5 (lamp) 3.5 x 2.75 x 1.25 (battery case) inches
Brightness levels4
Beam typeFixed/focused
Strobes1
Regulated outputYes
Battery life at 70 degrees3W-LED high: 1:28/4 LED low: 11:22
Battery life at 0 degrees3W-LED high: 0:23/4 LED low: 10:32
Half life brightness (70 deg)3W-LED high: 179/4 LED low: 44.3 foot candles
Half life brightness (0 deg)3W-LED high: 184.9/4 LED low: 52.2 foot candles
Batteries4 AA
MaterialImpact-resistant plastic

Princeton Tec Apex LED Headlamp Customer Reviews

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews
Princeton Tec Apex LED Headlamp
 
3.8

(based on 13 reviews)

77%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

  • Bright (11)
  • Good battery life (9)
  • Adjustable beam (6)
  • Durable (6)
  • Stable (6)

Cons

  • Heavy (5)
  • Heavy / bulky (4)
  • Short battery life (3)

Best Uses

  • Car camping (10)
  • Backpacking (9)
  • Hiking (9)
  • Day trip (5)
  • Reviewer Profile:
  • Avid adventurer (7), Casual/ recreational (5)

Reviewed by 13 customers

Sort by

Displaying reviews 1-10

Back to top

Previous | Next »

Feb

11

2008

(7 of 7 customers found this review helpful)

 
4.0

Best of class with notable flaws

By chelonian

from Bay area, CA

Site Member

Pros

  • Adjustable Beam
  • Bright
  • Long battery life
  • Stable

Cons

  • Annoying flash mode
  • Fragile

Best Uses

  • Backpacking
  • Car Camping
  • Night field work

Comments about Princeton Tec Apex LED Headlamp:

Currently the best of many headlamps used heavily in several decades of night biological field work (bright,regulated output. long run time on NiMH rechargeables, not too heavy), but with several flaws: hi output LED on two units from REI has a narrow bright center with a dark annulus, then a brighter outer ring of spill. A smooth intensity transition would be much more useful. The battery case retainers for the headband broke off even on low fall to a carpeted floor; a different shape or material would be less vulnerable. The battery box to lamp cable is short and pulled out of the battery box fairly quickly. The battery contact springs are unusually soft and are readily deformed if you aren't consistently quite careful in loading batteries. After some use, opening the battery box even when the plastic cam lock is fully open usually requires gently wedging the top and bottom apart with an improvised tool. Not an issue for most users, but the regulator circuit unfortunately generates radio frequency noise and makes this headlamp unsuitable for wildlife radiotelemetry

Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

(7 of 7 customers found this review helpful)

Was this review helpful? Yes / No

 - You may also flag this review

Please let us know what kind of issue this is:

Oct

24

2007

(3 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

 
3.0

Bright but flawed

By GoBruins

from Los Angeles, CA

About Me Avid Adventurer

Site Member

Pros

  • Bright
  • Long battery life

Cons

  • Heavy

Best Uses

  • Backpacking
  • Car Camping
  • Hiking

Comments about Princeton Tec Apex LED Headlamp:

all the glowing reviews are true (pun intended). this thing is super, super, bright, and the 4 AA batteries go a long ways. it does everything well - spot lighting, flood lighting, etc. it's worth the price they're asking.

but, mine is exhibiting the cracking that many others have reported (top screws of the headlamp housing) . other than that, you couldn't ask any more from a headlamp. i'd give it 5 stars if it wasn't for the design defect.

Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

(3 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

Was this review helpful? Yes / No

 - You may also flag this review

Please let us know what kind of issue this is:

Jul

16

2008

(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

 
3.0

Bright beam but with shortcomings

By Rainier_Hiker

from Carnation, WA

About Me Casual/ Recreational

Site Member

Pros

  • Bright
  • Stable

Cons

  • Fragile
  • Low battery life
  • Overpriced

Best Uses

  • Backpacking
  • Car Camping
  • Day trip
  • Hiking

Comments about Princeton Tec Apex LED Headlamp:

The 3-watt LED is very bright, with a well-focused beam. The 4 smaller LED's are plenty bright for setting up camp in the dark. On the downside, alkaline batteries don't seem to last very long, and the construction could be better.The top mount screws came loose, and the plastic holding them in started to crack within a month of buying it, without any drops or banging it around. Within a year, I had to return it to REI[...]. Because of the cracking problem I would have to say this light is an overpriced, but bright light.

Bottom Line No, I would not recommend this to a friend

(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

Was this review helpful? Yes / No

 - You may also flag this review

Please let us know what kind of issue this is:

Sep

5

2007

(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

 
5.0

Expensive, but well worth the moolah...

By Outrigger Paddler Dude

from Santa Clara, CA

About Me Avid Adventurer, Casual/ Recreational, Hardcore Enthusiast

Site Member

Pros

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

Cons

  • Bulky
  • Heavy

Best Uses

  • Backpacking
  • Biking
  • Car Camping
  • Hiking
  • Paddling

Comments about Princeton Tec Apex LED Headlamp:

While on the "high end" of the headlamp food chain, the Apex LED clearly sets the standard. I was really amazed at how bright the 3 watt LED was when I first fired it up. The main beam is BRIGHT, white, and focused. Switching to the 4 smaller LED's provides great peripheral lighting that will easily meet the needs of any campsite activities. Each lighting mode (main lamp/mini-LEDs) has a high/low/strobe setting to adjust the amount of light you want in a given situation.

The lamp is solid, very well constructed, and stays planted on your head even while doing light jogging. Having said that, it is a bit on the bulky side. Having 4 AA batteries strapped to your head is never lightweight no matter how you look at it, but the strap secures the battery pack well. The unit is water tight in about 3 feet of water as I've tested it while swimming in a river and also having gone paddling at night with it. The buttons are sealed in rubber and easy to operate even with gloves on. One side is for on/off, while the other side switches between the main lamp, the mini-LED's, and the strobe settings.

I've used this headlamp while mountain biking, hiking, camping, paddling, and even while working on my car at night. Needless to say, you will find endless uses for it. Battery life is great as I gotten about 6 months worth of use out of it before replacing the batteries. There's even a little LED that glows green when battery power is good, and red when it's time to switch batteries. But even then...the lamp still puts out usable light!

While pricey, I still highly recommend the Apex LED for anyone looking for a solid headlamp that delivers great light in pretty much any reasonable situation you can take it through, on land and off.

Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

Was this review helpful? Yes / No

 - You may also flag this review

Please let us know what kind of issue this is:

Oct

5

2008

(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

 
1.0

Don't waste your money!!!!

By Reese Tennessee

from Tennessee

About Me Casual Adventurer

Site Member

Pros

  • Bright

Cons

  • Gas wasted returning
  • Get's very hot
  • Low battery life
  • Sm LED's broke

Best Uses

    Comments about Princeton Tec Apex LED Headlamp:

    I purchased this, because the professional review on this website stated that this was a very bright headlamp, which is correct. However, after about a half a dozen uses, the small LEDs stopped working. I purchased it to use while caving, but wanted to use it a few times before entering into one. Thankfully, I was not in one, when the lights went out!!!!

    • Gift:
    • No

    Bottom Line No, I would not recommend this to a friend

    (1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

    Was this review helpful? Yes / No

     - You may also flag this review

    Please let us know what kind of issue this is:

    Aug

    23

    2008

    (1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

     
    1.0

    Terrible HeadLamp STAY AWAY!!!!!!!

    By KuWanderer

    from Hueco Tanks, Tx

    About Me Avid Adventurer

    Site Member

    Pros

    • None

    Cons

    • Breaks
    • Bulky
    • Dim
    • Expensive Batteries
    • Heavy
    • Low battery life

    Best Uses

    • Not Buying It

    Comments about Princeton Tec Apex LED Headlamp:

    I bought one of these and it didn't last a year. It uses expensive batteries(CR123), and the battery life is short. The strain relief separated between the battery pack and the headlamp portion exposing the wiring. Now It just shorts out and won't come on unless i shake it, but never stays on. I tried repeatedly to contact Princeton Tec on their website about warranty info or repair, but they wrote me back.

    My friends have either Black Diamond and Petzl Headlamps, both out perform and cost less.

    STAY AWAY FROM THIS!!!!!!!!!!!

    Bottom Line No, I would not recommend this to a friend

    (1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

    Was this review helpful? Yes / No

     - You may also flag this review

    Please let us know what kind of issue this is:

    Jan

    28

    2008

    (1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

     
    5.0

    The best

    By pointman

    from San Francisco, CA

    About Me Casual/ Recreational

    Site Member

    Pros

    • Bright
    • Stable

    Cons

      Best Uses

      • Backpacking
      • Hiking

      Comments about Princeton Tec Apex LED Headlamp:

      This headlamp has got to be the Cadillac of headlamps. Dependent on the setting, you have your choice of light. It has a nice fit on the head and you can't beat the light that it produces. Although others have complained that it is a little too heavy for backpacking, I disagree. I have used it for backpacking especially trekking around the campsite after nightfall and I can't think of a better headlamp. It is a bit pricey, but it is worth it. You won't go wrong with this light. I can't praise it enough.

      Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

      (1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

      Was this review helpful? Yes / No

       - You may also flag this review

      Please let us know what kind of issue this is:

      Oct

      31

      2007

      (1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

       
      5.0

      This is what a headlamp should be

      By hiker Dennis

      from San Ramon.CA

      About Me Avid Adventurer, Casual/ Recreational, Professional Guide

      Site Member

      Pros

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

      Cons

      • A bit pricy

      Best Uses

      • Backpacking
      • Car Camping
      • Hiking

      Comments about Princeton Tec Apex LED Headlamp:

      On and off swithches are very easy to operate. Very bright beam, turns night to daylight. You actually get more than you pay for. I tried several, even more expensive headlamps, and nothing compares to the smart features of the apex.

      Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

      (1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

      Was this review helpful? Yes / No

       - You may also flag this review

      Please let us know what kind of issue this is:

      Sep

      4

      2007

      (1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

       
      4.0

      Rugged, reliable and bright

      By STL Todd

      from St. Louis, MO

      About Me Avid Adventurer

      Site Member

      Pros

      • Adjustable Beam
      • Bright
      • Durable
      • Long battery life

      Cons

      • Heavy

      Best Uses

      • Car Camping
      • Caving

      Comments about Princeton Tec Apex LED Headlamp:

      I use this as my primary headlamp while caving. It has stood up to quite a bit of abuse. It is really bright for a LED headlamp. For backpacking and hiking, it is probably a bit of overkill...I prefer something smaller/lighter and easier to pack.

      Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

      (1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

      Was this review helpful? Yes / No

       - You may also flag this review

      Please let us know what kind of issue this is:

      Sep

      24

      2008

       
      5.0

      Great headlamp

      By hellafools

      from Bay Area

      About Me Casual Adventurer

      Site Member

      Pros

      • Adjustable Beam
      • Bright
      • Durable
      • Long battery life

      Cons

      • Bulky

      Best Uses

      • Backpacking
      • Car Camping
      • Day trip
      • Hiking

      Comments about Princeton Tec Apex LED Headlamp:

      Great headlamp. Used with rechargeable NIMH batteries, and only needed one set for the weekend. Four batteries means it's a little bulky in the rear, but does its job well. One LED faintly flashes when it's dark for easy location.

      • Gift:
      • No

      Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

      Was this review helpful? Yes / No

       - You may also flag this review

      Please let us know what kind of issue this is:

      Displaying reviews 1-10

      Back to top

      Previous | Next »

      How are we doing? Give us feedback on this page.

      • Shopping Cart 
      • |
      •  
      • Buy REI Gift Cards
      • REI Gift Cards
      • Fast, easy and one size fits all.
      • Buy now!
      • Join REI today!
      • REI Membership
      • REI member benefits include an annual refund (typically 10% on eligible purchases).
      • Join REI today!
      • Sign up for REI Gearmail®
      • and get 15% off selected items!
      • Store Locator
      • Locate an REI store near you.