Not much love for Princeton Tec?

Got a bunch of Tech 40's and a couple EOS headlamps. Great products and some of the best customer service out there!!!!! It would be nice to see them jump on the Cree bandwagon.

On the durable note, I know of a number of people with PT Apex's that have cracked cases.

They are good lights. But like Inova, Pelican, and Streamlight they don't ride the edge of newest technology so not much to talk about, thus not many threads about them.

Marduke said:

On the durable note, I know of a number of people with PT Apex's that have cracked cases.

Click to expand...

I recall majority of the complainers are cavers who tend to bash it against rocks.

jzmtl said:

I recall majority of the complainers are cavers who tend to bash it against rocks.

Click to expand...

There's also reports on CPF of people whose Apex casings cracked after disassembly. I think I've only seen 1-2 reports of "spontaneous" cracks.

jzmtl said:

They are good lights. But like Inova, Pelican, and Streamlight they don't ride the edge of newest technology so not much to talk about, thus not many threads about them.

I recall majority of the complainers are cavers who tend to bash it against rocks.

Click to expand...

Inova is pretty innovative. They just don't have a big cult following like SF. They don't advertise as hard and their products are low key.

Never had any problems with my second-hand Aurora, but, yeah, definitely not cutting edge tech.

John_Galt said:

Never had any problems with my second-hand Aurora, but, yeah, definitely not cutting edge tech.

Click to expand...

FWIW, only 1 of my 4 PT Eos are store-bought. Only one broke (the battery compartment hinge), and I got it that way from the original owner, who stated the light hadn't been babied.

I wouldn't get caught up on the "cutting-edge" of things to judge the value of a brand/line of products. If it does what I need it to do, it's all good.

I've had my PT Attitude for six years and it's still going strong. Admittedly it stays in the car and has only seen sporadic use.

Geoff

Still have my PT40. It's a good place for a 1w pr based led bulb.

It's kinda funny, if you were to only go by the brands that have a cult following on CPF, you would think that SureFire, Fenix, and Malkoff were the only manufacturers in the flashlight market. :laughing:

I've actually been debating picking up a Tec40 since I really don't have much in the way of AA lights in my collection. I just can't find any local retailers that sell them.

I have a PT Aurora which is a decent headlamp if you can overlook the angry blue 5mm LEDs. I was able to pick it up at my local Cabelas a while back for $9 on sale.

jzmtl said:

They are good lights. But like Inova, Pelican, and Streamlight they don't ride the edge of newest technology so not much to talk about, thus not many threads about them.

Click to expand...

This saddens me to know that all we are ever doing is talk about upcoming lights and not of the ones we currently have and the joy of using them...:candle:

RobertM said:

It's kinda funny, if you were to only go by the brands that have a cult following on CPF, you would think that SureFire, Fenix, and Malkoff were the only manufacturers in the flashlight market. :laughing:

Click to expand...

Pretty much yeah... oo:

This was such a nice place back then...

Until I could get a custom caving headlamp, the PT Apex (modified of course) was considered amazingly bright. But it certainly is not waterproof as claimed and has the potential to go poof in the harsh cave environment. Although cavers always carry at least 3 lights, I always made sure I had a second light attached to my helmet.

On the bright side, PT is supposed to have decent customer support and will replace lamps which do not live up to their advertising claims.

For night snorkeling, I love my PT Torrent LED (also modified). It truly is waterproof.

I think that you are right..they are good lights. Once in awhile I use my tec40 when I walk my dog and I think to myself that this is a great light. Small, powerful, cheap batteries. The best of everything.

Don't own any PT flashlights but the headlamps and customer service is very good. The older Aurora has a weak battery latch. Have not had any cracks in my Apex case and it has been used a great deal. The Rebel EOS is the best 3xAAA headamp hands down in my view.

Woods Walker said:

The Rebel EOS is the best 3xAAA headamp hands down in my view.

Click to expand...

Absolutely!

RobertM said:

I've actually been debating picking up a Tec40 since I really don't have much in the way of AA lights in my collection. I just can't find any local retailers that sell them.

Click to expand...

You can find a lot of them on ebay with good price, that's where I picked up mine.

I also really like the TEC-40.Will work with a PR base LED replacement or many different bulbs.The lens and reflector are also easy and relatively cheap to replace,something that most high end LED lights lack.Of course there is also the water resistance and no switch to fail.

I disagree that Princeton Tec isn't using updated emitters. Remember that the Nichia GS l.e.d.s used in the Quad and Corona headlights and the Amp 3.0 and 5.0 flashlights are about the most efficient l.e.d.s made (for lower currents anyway). The EOS uses a Rebel 80 and the Apex uses a TFFC K2. These l.e.d.s provide efficiencies similar to a P4 binned Cree XR-E, but provide more consistent white or warm white light and a better beam pattern with no rings. Many people here have switched to lights with warm white Q3-5A binned Cree XR-Es or Nichia's high color rendition l.e.d.s that aren't much more efficient. Efficiency isn't everything. I'll settle for a PT EOS headlight with a perfect beam pattern for hiking, with white or warm white light coming from it, that can run all night at a usable 20 lumens on one set of batteries. It beats using a more efficient l.e.d. light with a donut hole in the beam with a bad tint.

Hooked on Fenix said:

I'll settle for a ... perfect beam pattern

Click to expand...

You said that well, I appreciate your insight.