Smaug
Newly Enlightened
Construction: 8.8
The first thing I thought when I bought this was: "Is the single head strap going to be enough? Woudn't a top strap make it more secure?" The answers are yes and yes. This light is so small and light (hehe) that it doesn't need a top strap. The included strap is very comfortable. The continuously variable aiming angle and microprocessor controlled light levels are a huge plus for a headlamp. Overall, this doesn't feel quite as ruggedly built as the Streamlights I have, but I have never heard of one breaking either. Where the Streamlights have the solid plastic sound and feel, this one feels a bit more hollow. Still, you are not as likely to drop a headlamp anyhow. PrincetonTec lights have lifetime warranties too, which I'm sure they'd back up.
Beam: 9
The Aurora produces a good flood of light, with a bit less of a hot spot than the Clip-Mate. I'd say it reaches out 90% as far as the Clip-Mate but the flood is 10% better. This is the perfect light for reading with in bed, (on low) and the perfect light for keeping your hands free. Whereas the Clip-Mate sticks out a few inches from your forehead, this is a dedicated headlamp, so it stays close. When hiking around in the woods with this light on, you can almost forget that it is not daylight out, as wherever you look there is enough light. PrincetonTec advertises 160 hours of light on low mode and 50 hours on high. Although this is probably a bit optimistic, it is a very large number and it means you will probably only want to carry one set of extra batts, if any.
-Engineering Considerations-
The plastic lens that goes over the LEDs is prone to scratching. It is just domed out there and waiting. That will probably not affect the light too much though, so consider it more of a nitpick. The tension of the continuously variable aiming angle can be easily adjusted with a #1 Philips when it starts to get loose.
Misc/Overall: 9
This is a better headlamp than my Clip-Mate, but not as much of a do-everything light. There is no way to remove this light from its strap, which means that it is a handheld light only when you are caught without a dedicated one. (not likely to happen here, is it?) The more 'floody' light pattern is more suited to a headlamp, and the strap is a bit more comfortable. The head strap on the Clip-Mate makes me think I'm wearing a jockstrap on my head; this one just makes me feel like I'm wearing the waistband from whitey-tities on my head, hehehe. The small rubber button is also more suited to a headlamp, as turning it on and off doesn't torque it around on your head. The icing on the cake for this light is the excellent and intuitive way that you cycle through the modes. To get to the mode you want, press the button repeatedly until you're in the mode you want. After two seconds in any mode, the next button press turns the light off, no matter where you are. This means that the strobe modes are always there waiting should you break your leg in a ravine or something, but you don't have to cycle through them the rest of the time. It is really a brilliant idea, and now my PALight is all the more annoying that I know a better way is out there.
Conclusion
OK, I will shut up in just a minute... If you want a lightweight, affordable headlamp for short-medium range (0-12 yards) use with very good battery life, look no further. If you want something that can also do longer range, you will have to consider something else. (which will mean more $$$) This is a better dedicated headlamp than the Clip-Mate, but if you're not sure how often you would use a headlamp, the Clip-Mate is the way to go. (The Clip-Mate is also $10 cheaper...) For most people, I don't think it would pay dividends to get a more powerful headlamp than this, as headlamps are usually for shorter range stuff. If you need longer range/spot lighting, you don't also need both hands free, right?
The first thing I thought when I bought this was: "Is the single head strap going to be enough? Woudn't a top strap make it more secure?" The answers are yes and yes. This light is so small and light (hehe) that it doesn't need a top strap. The included strap is very comfortable. The continuously variable aiming angle and microprocessor controlled light levels are a huge plus for a headlamp. Overall, this doesn't feel quite as ruggedly built as the Streamlights I have, but I have never heard of one breaking either. Where the Streamlights have the solid plastic sound and feel, this one feels a bit more hollow. Still, you are not as likely to drop a headlamp anyhow. PrincetonTec lights have lifetime warranties too, which I'm sure they'd back up.
Beam: 9
The Aurora produces a good flood of light, with a bit less of a hot spot than the Clip-Mate. I'd say it reaches out 90% as far as the Clip-Mate but the flood is 10% better. This is the perfect light for reading with in bed, (on low) and the perfect light for keeping your hands free. Whereas the Clip-Mate sticks out a few inches from your forehead, this is a dedicated headlamp, so it stays close. When hiking around in the woods with this light on, you can almost forget that it is not daylight out, as wherever you look there is enough light. PrincetonTec advertises 160 hours of light on low mode and 50 hours on high. Although this is probably a bit optimistic, it is a very large number and it means you will probably only want to carry one set of extra batts, if any.
-Engineering Considerations-
The plastic lens that goes over the LEDs is prone to scratching. It is just domed out there and waiting. That will probably not affect the light too much though, so consider it more of a nitpick. The tension of the continuously variable aiming angle can be easily adjusted with a #1 Philips when it starts to get loose.
Misc/Overall: 9
This is a better headlamp than my Clip-Mate, but not as much of a do-everything light. There is no way to remove this light from its strap, which means that it is a handheld light only when you are caught without a dedicated one. (not likely to happen here, is it?) The more 'floody' light pattern is more suited to a headlamp, and the strap is a bit more comfortable. The head strap on the Clip-Mate makes me think I'm wearing a jockstrap on my head; this one just makes me feel like I'm wearing the waistband from whitey-tities on my head, hehehe. The small rubber button is also more suited to a headlamp, as turning it on and off doesn't torque it around on your head. The icing on the cake for this light is the excellent and intuitive way that you cycle through the modes. To get to the mode you want, press the button repeatedly until you're in the mode you want. After two seconds in any mode, the next button press turns the light off, no matter where you are. This means that the strobe modes are always there waiting should you break your leg in a ravine or something, but you don't have to cycle through them the rest of the time. It is really a brilliant idea, and now my PALight is all the more annoying that I know a better way is out there.
Conclusion
OK, I will shut up in just a minute... If you want a lightweight, affordable headlamp for short-medium range (0-12 yards) use with very good battery life, look no further. If you want something that can also do longer range, you will have to consider something else. (which will mean more $$$) This is a better dedicated headlamp than the Clip-Mate, but if you're not sure how often you would use a headlamp, the Clip-Mate is the way to go. (The Clip-Mate is also $10 cheaper...) For most people, I don't think it would pay dividends to get a more powerful headlamp than this, as headlamps are usually for shorter range stuff. If you need longer range/spot lighting, you don't also need both hands free, right?
