Princeton Tec Switchback

[MoonshineR DavE]

Has anyone seen this new toy? http://www.switchback321.com/.

[Jeff Bartlett]

wow, pretty neat. i hadn't seen this yet

pros:
die cast aluminum
runtimes look respectable
nice to see a consumer brand using lithium ions

cons:
probably not ok for anything but very dry caves
i bet it uses those same clunky old lux3 LEDs
no lumen numbers given

(I am afraid of anything PT says is only "water resistant")

[ek]

cons:
probably not ok for anything but very dry caves

Well, they're actually *for* cycling, right?

(I am afraid of anything PT says is only "water resistant")

I don't know...the Corona is only water-resistant (waterproof rating level 1, "water resistance to splashing and quick dunkings"), and they seem to be better with water than the Apex (waterproof rating level 2, "waterproof integrity down to 1 meter for up to 30 minutes").

I would imagine that a light designed for cycling would be very water resistant, because in the colder months it's *saltwater* that has to be resisted. (There is a version of the Corona for biking.)

I tried using a Petzl Tactikka Plus as a bike light once...it lasted three days (of about an hour of biking each day) and even after I managed to get the corrosion out, it still had the problem where you press the button ten or twenty times to turn it on or off, or just wait and it turns itself on and off, and it has one mode which is "dim and somewhat flickery."

I brought it back to the EMS where I had purchased it and explained to them what I had done and they said, "yeah don't do that" and let me exchange it for a new light.

[MUD]

Hey Shiner! I'ma wonderin' if this is the light I was tellin' you and Leedy about many moons ago durin' our Norman cave trip? I'd like to see one underground. Anyone own one? How's about a report?

[MoonshineR DavE]

Thats what I'ma thinkin Mud. I'd like to see one in action too.

[fuzzy-hair-man]

You might be interested in this then (they're already on ebay!):
http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Princeton-Tec-Switchback-3-Cycling-Light-Bike-Lamp_W0QQitemZ180178716340QQihZ008QQcategoryZ22689QQcmdZViewItem

Not sure what I'd do with the battery though because I have a dislike for hip mounted batteries and it looks a bit big to put at the back of your helmet.

[MoonshineR DavE]

I will have to agree with you, the battery does look to be a pig.

[FiddleCaver]

$350, 255 lumens, 3 watt Maxbright LEDs... From brightguy.com.

I really like the looks, but I'd like to know what happened to just making something waterPROOF as in IP68.