Princeton Tec Byte LED 200 Lumen Headlamp

4 Popular Headlamps

The Princeton Tec Byte / 200 Lumens

WEIGHT WITHOUT BATTERIES: 42 GRAMS (1.5 OUNCES)

TWO AAA BATTERIES: 22 GRAMS (0.8 OUNCES)

TWO WHITE BEAMS: 200 AND 50 LUMENS

BURN TIME: 3.4 HOURS AND 11 HOURS RESPECTIVELY

TWO RED BEAMS: 4 AND 1 LUMENS

WATER RESISTANT: IPX4 (RESISTANT TO WATER SPLASHES ANY DIRECTION)

BEAM: SPOT

MAXIMUM VIEWABLE DISTANCE (5 LUX): 20.2 FEET

**We purchased all items and were not solicited to review any item in this blog post.

The Princeton Tec Byte 200 lumen headlamp provides enough light to safely hike at night under various trail conditions. The headlamp is lighter and more compact when compared to other hiking headlamps. The white spotlight beam allows for more illumination at a distance.

We measured the lux values at different distances for the Princeton Tec Byte (200 Lumens) as shown. At ten feet the lux value is about 20 which makes this headlamp useful for night hiking under typical trail conditions. If you plan on hiking at night it is important to have a lux value of at least 5.

Recommended Lux Values

You will require different levels of illumination or lux for different tasks. In general, the more detailed the task the more illumination or lux is required. Detailed drawing work can require about 1,000 lux.  Navigating a stairway at night only requires about 15 lux.

The Princeton Tec Byte light distribution

Lux Intensity 200 Lumen

We measured the light distribution of the Princeton Tec Byte (200 Lumens) as shown. We measured the illumination in lux one foot away from the light source. The beam was focused which makes good illumination at a distance possible. Because of the small area of illumination the lux value was high. The measured maximum lux at one foot was about 2000 which would make close up detailed work one to two feet away from the headlamp possible.

Summary

Pros

  • Lighter than most headlamps
  • Provides enough illumination to hike most trails at night
  • Has a red LED light option

Cons

  • Not compatible with a rechargeable battery pack
  • Light switch not easy to use
  • Only a 3.4 hour maximum burn time

The Princeton Tec Byte (200 Lumens) is a lightweight headlamp that provided enough illumination to hike under various trail conditions.  If you are lightweight backpacker and plan on hiking at night this headlamp will meet your needs.

  • Compact and lightweight (41 grams without batteries)
  • Two white beams (200 and 50 lumens)
  • Burn time 3.4h and 11h respectively
  • Two red beams (4 and 1 lumens)
  • Two AAA batteries
  • IPX4 (water resistant)