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Princeton Tec Apex LED Headlamp
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Princeton Tec Apex LED Headlamp

Item # 775560

$84.00

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

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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, long-range spot lighting; 4 Ultrabright LEDs combine to provide wide-angle, close-in lighting
  • Includes 4 brightness levels and an emergency strobe; dual switch design allows easy access to all 5 modes
  • Power-regulated circuit board ensures consistent lighting levels; Apex provides 2.5 hrs. of regulated light and 100 hrs. of total burn time on high
  • Heat-regulating technology prevents light from getting too hot
  • 3-strap headband holds light in place; rear-mounted battery pack holds 4 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 1m

Made in USA.

Item 775560

Princeton Tec Apex LED Headlamp Specs

Specification

Description

Bulb type1 3-watt LED/4 5mm 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 (lux @ 2 meters)3W-LED high: 576/4 LED low: 12
Light output130 lumens
Maximum beam distance3W-LED high: 96/4 LED low: 14 meters
Brightness levels4
Beam typeFlood/spot
Strobes1
Regulated outputYes
Battery life at 70 degreesHigh: 2 hrs. 30 min. hr. /low: 30 hrs.
Batteries4 AA
MaterialImpact-resistant plastic
RechargeableNo

Princeton Tec Apex LED Headlamp Customer Reviews

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews
Princeton Tec Apex LED Headlamp
 
3.1

(based on 9 reviews)

50%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

  • Bright (7)
  • Durable (3)
  • Good battery life (3)

Cons

    Best Uses

    • Backpacking (4)
    • Reviewer Profile:
    • Avid adventurer (3)

    Reviewed by 9 customers

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    Displaying reviews 1-9

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    May

    10

    2009

    (8 of 9 customers found this review helpful)

     
    1.0

    no-go

    By offrope

    from Manhattan Beach, CA

    About Me Outdoor Professional

    Site Member

    Pros

    • Works with daylight

    Cons

    • Not waterproof

    Best Uses

    • Fassion accessory

    Comments about Princeton Tec Apex LED Headlamp:

    This headlamp was great while it worked...at home!!! Long story short, it got wet and although specifications indicate waterproof to a certain depth, both compartments were compromised resulting in a system failure. Fortunately I had an EOS as backup. I brought it back to REI and exchanged it for the PRO. The PRO failed as well and it didn't even get wet. As much as I wanted like the Princeton Apex series, i just can't recommend it to anyone.

    • Gift:
    • No

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

    (8 of 9 customers found this review helpful)

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    Mar

    27

    2009

    (7 of 7 customers found this review helpful)

     
    2.0

    Dissappointing

    By K-train

    from Richmond, Virginia

    Site Member

    Pros

    • Bright
    • Lights Are Nice
    • Not comfortable

    Cons

    • Darn thing broke

    Best Uses

      Comments about Princeton Tec Apex LED Headlamp:

      I didn't have the thing more than two months, and with light use part of the metal and plastic broke internally where the batteries are held. I never took it on a trip, was never used outdoors, and was primarily used just to read in dark. I have no idea why it broke, other than manufacturers defect.

      • Gift:
      • No

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

      (7 of 7 customers found this review helpful)

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      Nov

      8

      2009

       
      2.0

      Poor construction, multiple failures!

      By Remote Medicine

      from Midcoast region of Maine, Africa

      About Me Outdoor Professional

      Site Member

      Pros

      • Bright

      Cons

      • 4 of 5 unusable after 1y
      • Failed wire stress relief
      • Plastic housing fails
      • Poor tech support

      Best Uses

      • Light hiking
      • NOT for important uses

      Comments about Princeton Tec Apex LED Headlamp:

      We are a medical nonprofit that provides physician manpower for underserved areas in the developing world. We have purchased and tested many headlamps, which we use for operating and medical work in hospitals without lights at night, mainly in Africa. We have now purchased five Princeton Apex headlights in 3 years, mostly because their light output is superior to prior generations of headlamps (including the Photon Fusion) that we have routinely sent abroad with our medical teams.

      Quite disappointingly, four of the five headlamps failed within the first year of use. We test them at an off-grid site where users depend on personal light for all activities after dark. Nearly every Apex failed at the light hinge point, which is constructed of lightweight plastic that is repeatedly stressed. Three failed at the stress relief points of the wiring harness (in the battery pack, at the light entrance strain relief, and inside the regulator itself). With difficulty, we were able to perform field repairs on two, which lasted another month before separate failures. Two were unrepairable after much work with a magnifier, soldering iron, and jewelers' tools.

      Princeton has not responded to queries we've made for replacements. Of note, LRI, which manufactures the Photon Fusion light, redesigned their light after we commented on switch contact failures after 5,000+ on/off cycles. We wish Princeton would be as responsive. Until they fix these problems, we will unhappily have to settle for less bright light solutions that are more dependable in the field, particularly in instances where failure may result in catastrophe.

      • Gift:
      • No

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

      Images shared by Remote Medicine

      Field repaired broken strain relief batt pack

      Image Thumbnail

      Images shared by Remote Medicine

      Cracked hinge (three places)

      Image Thumbnail

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      Oct

      4

      2009

       
      1.0

      not reliable

      By Fred 1234

      from central idaho mountains

      About Me Avid Adventurer

      Site Member

      Pros

      • Bright

      Cons

        Best Uses

          Comments about Princeton Tec Apex LED Headlamp:

          After a couple of months of casual use, the headlamp suddenly failed. It glowed and flickered dimly; I changed the batteries and it wouldn't light at all. This is my second electronic headlamp to fail and I really am liking my old petzl with a simple on off switch. 7 years of heavy use and it still works.
          The princeton tech was super bright and good battery life, but I can't take having a not reliable light

          • Gift:
          • No

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

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          Sep

          19

          2009

           
          3.0

          Worked great for a while

          By Shortbus

          from Edwards, CO

          About Me Avid Adventurer

          Pros

          • Bright
          • Long battery life

          Cons

          • Bulky
          • Reliability

          Best Uses

          • Backpacking
          • Hiking

          Comments about Princeton Tec Apex LED Headlamp:

          I've had this headlamp for almost two years. It is a bit bulky, but the light output was well worth it. The battery life is also impressive.

          Problem is that it quit working last weekend after I was already in the wilderness for the night. So I used my four year old Princeton Tec Quad backup light.

          I checked it was working before I left on my hike. Changed batteries, still didn't work. It didn't get wet or dropped either. While hiking back home, I checked it during lunch and it decided to work again. Maybe it had something to do with the temperature drop. I'll be bringing it back for an exchange.

          Athough it has worked well for two years, I'm rather disappointed as I have babied this Apex headlamp and it still looks new. Yet, I have beat the hell out of my quad lamp, dropped on concrete from a ladder, stepped on, covered in mud, fell in river, etc. and the Apex died while the quad still keeps ticking.

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          Aug

          1

          2009

           
          5.0

          Absolutely the Best!

          By Bluesman

          from Longview, TX

          About Me Casual Adventurer

          Pros

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

          Cons

          • None

          Best Uses

          • Around the house
          • Backpacking
          • Hiking

          Comments about Princeton Tec Apex LED Headlamp:

          Brightest headlight I've ever purchased. Works great for my needs. Around the house, but we back up to woods and we take care of all sorts of pets. Great for walking through the woods and helps avoiding stepping on a snake. The battery life is awesome and the different beam settings really help. Great Product! Also, this is the first review I've ever written about any product. It's that good of a headlight.

          • Gift:
          • No

          Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

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          Jun

          15

          2009

           
          4.0

          One Bright Light!

          By JimDoss

          from Tecate, CA

          About Me Avid Adventurer

          Site Member

          Pros

          • Bright
          • Durable
          • Long battery life

          Cons

          • Heavy

          Best Uses

          • Backpacking
          • Car Camping

          Comments about Princeton Tec Apex LED Headlamp:

          I've been using headlamps for many, many years and have never been satisfied with the light output and longevity of the batteries - until now!My primary use these days is for abandoned mine exploration and around camp (with the occasional nighttime geocaching adventure). Underground, it's very bright. I rarely even use it on the highest setting. It fits well over my head and also over a helmet. Around camp, I have to be sure to not shine the light in someone's face.Battery time is exceptional. I go through about one set a yea[...]Power buttons are easy to reach and use, though might be difficult with heavy gloves.The Apex is a bit heavy, due mostly to the fact that it needs four AA batteries. But the little extra weight is far worth the ease of use, brightness, and power consumption.Highly recommended.

          • Gift:
          • No

          Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

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          Feb

          3

          2009

          (0 of 5 customers found this review helpful)

           
          5.0

          Best full-size headlamp on the market

          By Gear--GURU

          from Seattle

          Pros

          • Battery Type
          • Bright
          • Durable
          • High Quality
          • Waterproof
          • Weight to lumens ratio

          Cons

            Best Uses

            • All-round

            Comments about Princeton Tec Apex LED Headlamp:

            This is the best headlamp I've ever used (and I've tried over 15 of them in the last couple years). The single best feature of this lamp is its battery-type. It takes 2 123A lithium batteries (the older model took 4 AA's as mentioned by the other reviewer). At first glance this may strike you as a turn-off, but it's what makes this lamp so great. For their weight, 123A's deliver much more power. The are lithium, so they work better in the cold. The one negative was that 123A's were expensive (you may see them in stores for $8.00 or $9.00 a battery), but you can get the VERY inexpensively from SureFire. This flashlight company bought a ton name brand 123A's and repackage them with SureFire logos. They cut the price down so that people can afford to buy their (awesome) flashlights which take this battery type. This makes the batteries VERY cheap. Finally, these batteries have a 10 year shelf-life. Wham! Bam! Best full-size headlamp on the market right now.

            One top of all this, the lamp is waterproof, not "waterproof" the way all lamps are, this one is REALLY waterproof. Is it cheap? NO. But is it expensive? Well....not when you look at what you're getting. I think $65.00 to $70.00 would be fair, so it may be a little on the expensive side, but it’s not WAY overpriced.

            This lamp is great for all-around use. There is still a place to own a little 2 or 3 AAA job, though…as an ultralight option.

            Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

            (0 of 5 customers found this review helpful)

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            Jan

            9

            2009

            (0 of 5 customers found this review helpful)

             
            5.0

            The best

            By pointman

            from Bay area

            Site Member

            Pros

            • Good performance
            • High Quality

            Cons

            • Expensive

            Best Uses

            • Backpacking
            • Night Hiking

            Comments about Princeton Tec Apex LED Headlamp:

            I really like this headlamp. I use it for backpacking and you can't ask for a better headlamp. It has four settings and a strobe and you just don't need more. The light is bright. On a night hike with a group, I was lighting my way and two others in front of me. Although it uses four AA batteries, I don't think it is too heavy to use for backpacking. Although I don't ride a bike, I believe it, also, would be good as a bike light. I've had it for a year and a half and it still works like new. I haven't used it in really wet weather so I can't comment on how waterproof it actually is. It is a bit pricey, but I believe it is worth it. I can't recommend this headlamp enough.

            • Gift:
            • No

            Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

            (0 of 5 customers found this review helpful)

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            Please let us know what kind of issue this is:

            Displaying reviews 1-9

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