If you are looking for a headlamp but can't decide which type is better for your tasks - long life LED for around camp, low beam on trail and high beam for checking the noise from the wood. You might be interested in PT Switchback.
Switchback is a very ambitious design and try to combine functions of Vortec (4AA headlamp), Solo (2AA headlamp) and Matrix (2AA regulated 3-LED headlamp) into one. What intrigue me is the 7W high beam claim from PT. As I realize that PT has always over claim its wattage rating of their products, I expected the high beam would be in the range of 5W and more or less the same as surge (another 7W light rated by PT). I was disappointed and it is FAR from Surge in terms of brightness and whiteness.
Although I hate PT's dishonest marketing behavior, Switchback is still a very good headlamp many might dream of.
General Design:
The light has a single dual filament bulb and 3 LEDs. The dual filament bulb provide high/low beam and is centered in the reflector. 3 regulated LEDs are located on the top side of the reflector. Without the external battery pack (4 C cells in serial/parallel setup), the headlamp will be powered by its internal 2 AA batteries and the high beam will be disabled. Press and hold the single push switch for around 1 second or two will turn on the light , press the light again will switch from LED/low/high (if external battery is connected). Press and hold the switch for another 1 second or two will turn the light off. You don't need to cycle through all light settings to turn off the light. The light is solidly built like other PT products.
I like its internal and external battery setup. I would put lithium AAs for internal and NiMH/regular alkaline Cs for the external. The lithium could work as backup and the external put into your pocket in extremely cold environment. Besides, you could even build your own battery pack (2 D or 4 NiMH).
Brightness:
LED - it is not as bright as most other 3-LED headlamp with new batteries. However, it will maintain its brightness throughout the battery life since it is regulated. I found that its brightness is more than adequate for activities around camp such as setting up tent, cooking, reading in tent ...
Low beam - for some reasons can't be focused well. I don't know if this is designed in purpose to cover larger area in close range. Since it can't be focused, I can't compare its brightness with Solo. Solo has a very tigh beam.
High beam - it's bright for a headlamp but it's very dim for *7W rated* headlamp. As I mentioned earlier, its brightness and whiteness is far from Surge. So, I compared it with Vortec (headlamp version of Tec 40 from PT) with 3-Cell Maglit bulb and 4 NiMH. With Swithback focused to its tightest, it is only as bright/white as the modified Vortec in the hot spot but its hotspot is smaller than the modified Vortec. If I tuned its hot spot to the size of that of Vortec, it wil not be as bright.
Although I am VERY disappointed with its so called *7W* high beam, Switchback is by far the best single headlamp I have (I have more than 20 headlamps including many of Petzl) especially for its price. If you already have a Matrix and don't want to switch modules all the time, or you have a Petzl Duo/tikka but doesn't want to switch your headlamp all the time or is not too comfortable with Petzl's waterproofness, or you simply don't have the above and is looking for all in one headlamp, you might want to take a serious look on Switchback.
For a single day night hiking, I'd still prefer my Vortec with upgraded bulb. Well, I should say downgraded since the 3D maglit bulb I used cost MUCH cheaper than Vortec's original halogen
Alan
Switchback is a very ambitious design and try to combine functions of Vortec (4AA headlamp), Solo (2AA headlamp) and Matrix (2AA regulated 3-LED headlamp) into one. What intrigue me is the 7W high beam claim from PT. As I realize that PT has always over claim its wattage rating of their products, I expected the high beam would be in the range of 5W and more or less the same as surge (another 7W light rated by PT). I was disappointed and it is FAR from Surge in terms of brightness and whiteness.
Although I hate PT's dishonest marketing behavior, Switchback is still a very good headlamp many might dream of.
General Design:
The light has a single dual filament bulb and 3 LEDs. The dual filament bulb provide high/low beam and is centered in the reflector. 3 regulated LEDs are located on the top side of the reflector. Without the external battery pack (4 C cells in serial/parallel setup), the headlamp will be powered by its internal 2 AA batteries and the high beam will be disabled. Press and hold the single push switch for around 1 second or two will turn on the light , press the light again will switch from LED/low/high (if external battery is connected). Press and hold the switch for another 1 second or two will turn the light off. You don't need to cycle through all light settings to turn off the light. The light is solidly built like other PT products.
I like its internal and external battery setup. I would put lithium AAs for internal and NiMH/regular alkaline Cs for the external. The lithium could work as backup and the external put into your pocket in extremely cold environment. Besides, you could even build your own battery pack (2 D or 4 NiMH).
Brightness:
LED - it is not as bright as most other 3-LED headlamp with new batteries. However, it will maintain its brightness throughout the battery life since it is regulated. I found that its brightness is more than adequate for activities around camp such as setting up tent, cooking, reading in tent ...
Low beam - for some reasons can't be focused well. I don't know if this is designed in purpose to cover larger area in close range. Since it can't be focused, I can't compare its brightness with Solo. Solo has a very tigh beam.
High beam - it's bright for a headlamp but it's very dim for *7W rated* headlamp. As I mentioned earlier, its brightness and whiteness is far from Surge. So, I compared it with Vortec (headlamp version of Tec 40 from PT) with 3-Cell Maglit bulb and 4 NiMH. With Swithback focused to its tightest, it is only as bright/white as the modified Vortec in the hot spot but its hotspot is smaller than the modified Vortec. If I tuned its hot spot to the size of that of Vortec, it wil not be as bright.
Although I am VERY disappointed with its so called *7W* high beam, Switchback is by far the best single headlamp I have (I have more than 20 headlamps including many of Petzl) especially for its price. If you already have a Matrix and don't want to switch modules all the time, or you have a Petzl Duo/tikka but doesn't want to switch your headlamp all the time or is not too comfortable with Petzl's waterproofness, or you simply don't have the above and is looking for all in one headlamp, you might want to take a serious look on Switchback.
For a single day night hiking, I'd still prefer my Vortec with upgraded bulb. Well, I should say downgraded since the 3D maglit bulb I used cost MUCH cheaper than Vortec's original halogen
Alan
