Princeton Tec Apex Tested

What else? Sealed battery box with four AA batteries, head strap with removable upper band, pivoting light head.

It scores an immediate goal against the Silva L1 by actually being comfortable on the head thanks to a neatly contoured battery box and a second with its additional low-powered LEDs for close-up duties.

Head to head with the Petzl Myo XP, things are less clear cut, but one big advantage is that the main beam of the Apex had definitely got more penetration than the Myo. You can up the Myo's output with the temporary boost button, but because it uses a large heat sink, the Apex can put out the same light continuously and without the fiddly buttons the Myo relies on, which are hard to use with gloves.

But what about actual performance? It's really good. The fat buttons on the underside of the unit are easier to use with gloves than either the Petzl or Silva equivalents, with a seperate button for each type of output. And the main beam is impressively penetrating, pretty much on a par with Silva's scorching L1 in fact. The pivoting head allows you to adjust the angle of illumination easily as well.

The low-powered LEDs with their 'flood' output are ideal for short distance work as well, while saving power, which is a nice option to have. Good to see a battery meter too which lets you know when the power is getting low though regulation keeps the light output relatively constant.

We like the way the battery box can be opened using the adjustment tab on the headband as a 'scewdriver'. One possible criticism is that it would be nice to have a remote battery box for extreme cold weather use. It also looks slightly plasticky in the orange colour we were supplied with, though there's also an all black option for the stealth fiends. Of couse, the orange means that the torch is easily spottable if you're a bit of a tent slag...

The waterproofing seems to work well for normal use and we dunked the torch with no ill effects.

We also liked the option of using lower-powered LEDs around camp, though to be fair to the pure LED folk, their lower settings with high-powered LEDs work fine too. Other details like the water-proofing, the tiltable head and easy-to-use battery box were all fine and it was comfortable on a bare head as well as mounted on a helmet.

The only question we'd ask is whether you need a torch this serious? And if you do, shouldn't it have the option of a remote battery box for those seriously cold high-altitude alpine starts? If you do need a claimed 56-meter beam for navigation or picking out abseil stances down below, then it makes sense, for most normal use though, it's over-kill. The only other torch we've used that has that sort of range is the Silva L1 though Black Diamond are also there or there abouts.

The Silva by the way, is priced at the same level, but is woefully uncomfortable with the standard battery box in place, though it does come with a remote box as well.

If you'd like to add your own experiences of this product check out our user review system and post your opinions to the world. If you have questions you can mail us direct, ask Richard Gear or try a posting to our gear forum.

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Discuss this story

John MacEwan

Been using one since Xmas for running up the hills at night and been very pleased with it.

Light output is good and the variable settings very useful. On its highest setting its throwing out just enough light to properly go for it downhill and can climb with it on its lowest setting. With a decent set of AA NiMh getting well over an hour on its highest setting before it starts blinking(ie 20 mins to go) so for most runs it does fine on the one set of batteries and easy enough to pack a set of spares. Just trying it with a set of Lithium AA's at the moment to see how they last.
Posted: 27/01/2006 16:21

Matt C

Puzzled - how does "well over an hour on its highest setting before it starts blinking" square with the "72 hours on high" claim stated in the review?

Hoping you can shed some light....
(Sorry)
Posted: 27/01/2006 16:57

Jack Frost

There is detailed advice at www.candlepowerforums.com, in particular http://candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=96493&highlight=Apex+runtime

The OM review figures quoted for battery life (72 hrs / 150 hrs) are probably the rather meaningless figures often stated by manufacturers when light output falls below a defined, but very low, level.

The OM review refers in passing to the fact that the Apex (like the Silva L1, but unlike the Petzls) is a regulated light. "Regulated" does not mean the capacity to switch between different levels of brightness. What it means is that, for the chosen brightness, output is held more or less constant during battery depletion, until a stage when the regulation cannot be sustained, at which point the output sags. The figure in excess of an hour quoted by John is when the regulation cuts out with his batteries, using the highest brightness setting.

That said, John's "well over an hour" using NiMH does not seem to be a good figure. The above report at candlepowerforums claims that regulation (on max 3 watt output) lasts for 3½ hrs using 2500 mAh NiMH batteries. (The theoretical maximum for 4 batteries @ 2500 mAh @ 1.2 volts would be 4 hrs at 3 watts).

There is evidence that 4 AA alkaline batteries will struggle to maintain the current required to generate 3 watts. Regulated output may last for only 1 - 1½ hrs. For 3 watt output, NiMH or lithium batteries seem to be a better bet.

The OM review refers to the absence of a remote battery box, and the consequences for use at low temperatures. Certainly, alkalines are useless when it is cold. But some NiMH batteries perform well. -20 deg C is quoted by at least one manufacturer. And AA lithiums (L91) are designed for discharge down to -40 deg C.
Posted: 27/01/2006 19:51

Matt C

Thanks Jack, much more detailed a response than I'd expected, and it all begins to make more sense.
Posted: 27/01/2006 20:58

John MacEwan

I have seen the information on candlepowerforums myself(it was actually after reading some threads on there when thinking about a Silva L1 that I decided to go for the Apex)and have expected a little more at full power from the Apex when using NiMhs.

There are a few factors at play; a)been running at night up the hills in Scotland so often sub-zero temps, b)new NiMhs so perhaps not at full recharge cycle (btw they are Vapex 2500s which I have been led to believe are good), c)I cycle between all light settings frequently on a run which may have a bearing on battery life according to the enclosed information, d)real world useage, not found a lot on candlepowerforums referring to real world useage, all seems to be done in the garden or garage!

Very, very pleased with the light, used it perhaps 15 or so times since I've had it and its far easier to use than my old method of a hand held 5W Vistalite bike light(and far brighter).

Of the people I run with the only lights that are outperforming my Apex are the Silva highpowered 10w and 20 w systems.

Strange thing that is happening with the current batteries, Energizer Lithium AA's, is that after my first run with them the battery indicator showed that I had less than 50% power left but during the second run it went up above 50% and is currently still there!
Posted: 28/01/2006 11:13

Matt C

I've heard that lithiums don't give meaningful readings with battery power indicators - same sort of thing happens if you use them in GPSs.
Posted: 28/01/2006 11:25

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