yukon out yet?

[grnamin]

Is the Princeton Tec Yukon out yet? Anyone know of any dealers carrying it?

 

[blademan]

I bought a yukon at rei on saturday for 36 bucks and love it. The leds are bright enough for general camp use and the xenon has great throw. I think it's the best combo light for the money.

 

[NightStorm]

REI isn't showing it on their web site yet.

Dan

 

[Pi_is_blue]

How many LEDs does it have? How does the LED output compare to a Newbeam or an Aurora?

 

[blademan]

I don't have an aurora but I do have an opalec. The yukon led output is wider than the opalec because the reflector is larger.

 

[Quickbeam]

I have a yukon on the way for review. Should be up on my site next week.

 

[grnamin]

Quickbeam, I was about to ask about that. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif I called REI's Virginia branch. They don't even carry Princeton Tec stuff, they said. REI's website has Princeton Tec flashlights, but no Yukon, yet their summer 2003 printed catalog has it listed. Pi, I think the Yukon has 3 LEDs in the same formation as the Surfire A2. I may be wrong though.

 

[Lux Luthor]

[ QUOTE ]
grnamin said:
Quickbeam, I was about to ask about that. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif I called REI's Virginia branch. They don't even carry Princeton Tec stuff, they said. REI's website has Princeton Tec flashlights, but no Yukon, yet their summer 2003 printed catalog has it listed. Pi, I think the Yukon has 3 LEDs in the same formation as the Surfire A2. I may be wrong though.

[/ QUOTE ]

The last 2 catalogs I've gotten from REI had it listed. I didn't order since I thought they were just taking preorders /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon23.gif, although the catalog didn't say that.

blademan,

Did you buy it from a retail location, or off the web?

 

[John N]

I just stopped into my local REI and they had the Yukon on the shelves. I had checked in a week or so ago and they did not. I purchased one and will take a quick look at it tonight.

-john

 

[NightStorm]

Which store John, downtown or out in the 'burbs?

Dan

 

[John N]

The Lynwood store. Typically they don't keep well stocked so I figure that's a good indication they should have them at other stores. BTW, they had a pile of them. I suspect they just came in.

 

[NightStorm]

John, /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif

I've got to head up there tomorrow for some hard drive cables, anyway. I'll stop by there and then swing by Costco to see if they finally got the Dorcy Spyders in! Wait...what's that? I think I feel my wallet shrinking! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Dan

 

[John N]

Ok, here are some thoughts after taking a quick look at this critter...

Paid $35.95, or $39.15 after tax.

Overall I find the package fairly reasonable. The whole setup is comfortable, I wore it for about an hour and pretty much forgot it was there (luckly, the wife had gone to bed!).

The straps are pretty standard fair for regular headlamps, fairly wide, elastic straps with buckle type adjustements. I had no problem adjusting the straps for my head.

The lamp assembly is hinged, like that on the Aurora. I actually find it works better on the Yukon since it is easier to grab and adjust.

The light switch is click-on-led, click-off, click-on-mainbeam. It's not what I'd prefer (I would rather two buttons, one mode and one on-off), but it's liveable.

Turning the bezel adjusts the beam. As in other PT products, the bezel has a slightly rubbery, non slip surface that is pleasant.

The wire bulkheads are very well done with the wire bulkhead into the battery compartment simply being massive. Wire management in general is nice and doesn't get in the way.

The battery compartment has a fairly sturdy latch that has a very postive engagement. There is (as expected, this being a PT product) gasket around the battery compartment to keep the water out. It looks good for heavy rain and dropping it in water, but it doesn't look good enough for serious underwater use (not that it's intended for that kind of use).

The reflector is dimpled (see photos).

Ok, Ok, the beams.

Well, the low beam (three LEDs) is much wider (maybe the reflector helps) and a fair bit brighter than a Newbeam I had lying about (battery state unknown). The downside is it is quite blue. The beamshot doesn't get the colors quite right. The beam isn't quite as blue as it looks and the newbeam isn't as white as it actually is.

The high beam on narrow focus reminds me of a UL 2L. Medium beam quality, fairly tight and similar brightness to a 2L. I did a beamshow with the M2 LOLA and while the Yukon is in the neighborhood, the M2 is still a fair amount brighter. A reasonable beam for the price range I think.

On (max) wide focus, it reminds me of a Maglight. Not consistaint. The main area of usefullness is at the ranges near full spot. I'm not sure the focusability of the light is particuarly useful, but they probably needed it for the feature list.

I didn't try lithium batteries. Hopefully they won't cause problems. The instruction book says alkalines work best, but don't say not to use lithiums. In fact, while they don't say it, they suggest you can use lithiums:

"NOTE - Some battery formulations can emit hydrogen gas. This gas can create an exposion potential in sealed devices if not vented or removed. Your light is equipped with a platinum catalyst that will remove this gas."

The bezel unscrews, exposing the inards. The reflector just pulls out. It is supported by a spring which gives it the focusabilty. While I did unscrew the exposed screws, it didn't seem to come appart - it looks like the housing is glued together. I didn't look close, but it looks like a bi-pin, probably non-standard pin width. The bezel seals with the main unit with a single, fairly small O ring. Pretty much in line with the gasket on the battery compartment.

There is a lot of room in this housing, and it looks like it might make a good mod housing if we can get past the glue issue.

I think they did a good job on this light. It looks to have a lot of utility and is built well for a reasonable cost. It would have been nice if they didn't glue the lamp assembly together and I'd prefer a second switch, but that's about it. I wouldn't mind having a second O ring and a heavier duty gasket, but I suspect I'm getting carried away.

Good job PT!

Here are some hasty pictures for ya:


<<LARGER PICTURES>>

<<- Yukon, Newbeam ->>

<<- Yukon, SF M2 LOLA ->>

 

[Quickbeam]

John,

Please copy or reference this post in the Reviews forum for archival purposes. Well done!

 

[Lux Luthor]

John,

Thanks a bunch for those pics, and your comments. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif

I'm curious about the switch, though. Does it feel like a mechanical switch, or one of those microswitches that contacts a circuit board? Also, does it appear that there's any kind of electronics, or can you not get at that area because of the "glue"?

 

[John N]

Mechanical - it's a good solid click. It is rubberized tho, so looks waterproof. Electronics (if any) appear to be inside the glued together part.

-john

 

[Lux Luthor]

Thanks.

I was hoping it was mechanical, since that makes it easier to mod to LS. I may just have to rip the guts out of one and start fresh. If I can chew through my grandmother's molasses cookies, then trust me, no glue will ever stop me. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

It seems to me that if the switch is mechanical and goes ON1/OFF/ON2/OFF, it is probably a triple switch with 3 circuit modes and an off. That means 3 brightness levels to me, or even 3 different LED configurations. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif