robostudent5000
Enlightened
- Joined
- Mar 15, 2011
- Messages
- 877
i was wondering what you guys think about the build quality of the current generation of headlamps.
it just seems like all the major brand headlamps (that are available in the US anyway) are declining in quality.
i've owned several older Princeton Tec headlamps, and except for a bad hinge on an Apex, my PT lamps have been rock solid in every way. they are well made, designed, fitted and finished, and have been durable. i've had my lights for several years without problems (Apex hinge notwithstanding). all my lights are designs from 2006 or earlier (Aurora, Eos, Apex). i've been reading about the newer PT designs like the Fuel, Remix, and Byte and have noticed the high number of negative user reviews on places like REI and Amazon about their poor build quality and reliability. these lights just don't seem to be designed or made as well as the older lights.
i recently bought a 2009 Black Diamond Spot on clearance to use as a test bed for modifications. having disassembled and reassembled this thing a couple times now, i can see why BD headlamps have a reputation for low build quality. the casing had rough edges that i had to sand down, some parts still don't fit flush, and the soft plastic body creaks every time i press the on off switch. i don't know if their 2011 updates are made any better. the thing is, i remember their old incan headlamps being made really well.
even Petzl seems to be succumbing to the trend. one of my friends has an old Petzl Tikka XP and that thing is built like a tank. but i've read a number of bad user reviews about the newer Tikka Plus 2 and Tikka XP which, i think, were released in 2009, about how they're much more fragile than their older counterparts.
are the smaller companies doing any better?
i remember Zebra had reliability problems with their first gen of lights. have they fixed those problems with their new gen of lights?
have people had any issues with Fenix's headlamps (other than the beam being too throwy and not enough floody)?
it just seems like all the major brand headlamps (that are available in the US anyway) are declining in quality.
i've owned several older Princeton Tec headlamps, and except for a bad hinge on an Apex, my PT lamps have been rock solid in every way. they are well made, designed, fitted and finished, and have been durable. i've had my lights for several years without problems (Apex hinge notwithstanding). all my lights are designs from 2006 or earlier (Aurora, Eos, Apex). i've been reading about the newer PT designs like the Fuel, Remix, and Byte and have noticed the high number of negative user reviews on places like REI and Amazon about their poor build quality and reliability. these lights just don't seem to be designed or made as well as the older lights.
i recently bought a 2009 Black Diamond Spot on clearance to use as a test bed for modifications. having disassembled and reassembled this thing a couple times now, i can see why BD headlamps have a reputation for low build quality. the casing had rough edges that i had to sand down, some parts still don't fit flush, and the soft plastic body creaks every time i press the on off switch. i don't know if their 2011 updates are made any better. the thing is, i remember their old incan headlamps being made really well.
even Petzl seems to be succumbing to the trend. one of my friends has an old Petzl Tikka XP and that thing is built like a tank. but i've read a number of bad user reviews about the newer Tikka Plus 2 and Tikka XP which, i think, were released in 2009, about how they're much more fragile than their older counterparts.
are the smaller companies doing any better?
i remember Zebra had reliability problems with their first gen of lights. have they fixed those problems with their new gen of lights?
have people had any issues with Fenix's headlamps (other than the beam being too throwy and not enough floody)?
Last edited: