Princeton Tec "Switch"
I liked the Princeton Tec “Switch” right out of the package, as I noticed it resolved several issues that I’ve had with other lights that purport to have the same functionality. The Switch is also more versatile than similar products, as it can be mounted on a helmet, on your kit, or, with a special attachment, on your rifle as a last ditch gun light. Some of the issues I’ve had with other lights of this type are that they are too easy to Accidentally Discharge (potentially compromising your patrol), that they are not bright enough, and that they are limited in how they can be used.
Take for example the Surefire helmet light. One of the biggest problems was that it was too easy to AD the IR function on the light. Of course, you can’t see that it is on with the naked eye, so when you go out on patrol and go to use the light…whoops, batteries are drained. With the use of IR tape and dedicated IR strobes, this always struck me as a pointless addition anyway. The Princeton Tec light is much harder to AD as there is a single button that needs to be firmly pressed, rather than a small switch that needs to be flipped.
While not strong enough to be used as a primary light or a gun light, the Switch is great for reading maps, searching through buildings, and perhaps even packaging a casualty, although I’d prefer to have security up and several strong white lights on my casualty if at all possible. Pressing the button once gets you a dim red light, twice a brighter red light, and holding it down gets you the white light.
Mounting is a easy process and the light is at the end of a bendable tube for better positioning as you work. For my money, the Princton Tec would be my go to light for non-combat oriented tasks such as searches, reading documents, or questioning detainees.
Princeton Tec, dim red light
Princeton Tec, bright red light
Princeton Tec, white light
The Princeton Tec “Switch” retails for $59.99.
Kit Up! contributor Jack Murphy is a former Ranger, Special Forces Soldier and is the author of the military thriller Reflexive Fire.
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
I think that is going to have to be the latest addition to my “i want” list.
Great products, good prices and USA made – what more could you want.
I guess there isn’t a bright/dim option for the white light then?
No, I’m afraid it is just the three settings: low red, high red, and white light.
“Accept cash or credit card payments, free transport. You can try oh, will make you satisfied.”
That’s what we get when we loosen up comments! Nice one Jack….
Now I get it.
You number one.
Good for when the power goes out when you finishing your paper not all is lost.
Some civilian backpacks have a light built into the pack bag to make it easier to find things in the dark hole that the pack becomes in low light or darkness. That might be another use for this, albeit an expensive solution.
News to me! What models?
Jack,
Fieldline used to include an Acolyte LED light in some of their backpacks, but they don’t seem to offer it any more. The Acolyte was an LED that came on when you unzipped the pack to get at what was inside. It seemed like a good idea but I guess it didn’t work out well or wasn’t a hit with the customers.
They were the only ones that I knew of that offered this feature. There probably wasn’t much need for it in the civilian market, but I think that the military market would have more use for a dedicated light that could be turned on and off quickly and would free up both hands for getting something out of your pack in low light conditions.
Larry
I have lost a few of these mounted on my helmet due to a design flaw- you cannot lock it into the mount. If you rotate it all the way, it pops out.
Thanks for the tip, I figured that it clicked into the mount hard enough that it wouldn’t rotate out after messing with it for a while. No substitute for actually taking it out on a few patrols though.
I too lost mine while attending the No Light Operations class by LMS Defense. I had it mounted on the right side of my MICH using the helmet clamp mount. Just like Iraq Ninja stated, it just rotated out of the mount. Another gentleman in the class had one mounted on his Air Frame and there was a definite difference between his and mine as to how tight the light fit into the mount. It was like there was a batch of mounts that were lemons. I will be reinvesting into either another SWITCH or their new CHARGE once they make it in a CR123 model.
A clean desk is a sign of a sick mind.
Will you love me long time?
In this situation, sir, I could let an lol slip by – that was funny.