A light that doesn't offer compelling performance for the price point
Credit: Abriah Wofford
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Price: $50 List | $53.99 at AmazonPros: Well built, reasonable battery life claims Cons: Competing lights offer better value Manufacturer: Princeton Tec
By RJ Spurrier ⋅ Senior Review Editor ⋅ May 28, 2018
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The Princeton Tec Vizz provides solid beam brightness, but for $50 it faces some stout competition from models that deliver more performance. The most direct competitor is the Black Diamond Storm, which scored higher and also has a $50 list price.
New Vizz Summer 2018
Princeton Tec is rolling out an update to the Vizz that is significantly brighter at 420 lumens versus the 350 lumen version we tested in this review. We'll look forward to testing it in the next review cycle.
Excellent trail finding and close proximity beam, waterproof, above average battery life
Excellent spot light capability, wide evenly lit flood beam, above average in most ways
Super easy to use, inexpensive, solid performance, compact, and reliable
Unmatched for ultralight weight and size, outstanding for close-proximity use, durable
Cons
Competing lights offer better value
More expensive, heavier than average, claimed battery life is very misleading
Below average battery life, claimed battery life is wildly misleading, single button hard to use, lame waterproofing
Good but not great spot beam for trail finding, slightly below average flood beam optics
Not well suited for distance viewing, expensive
Bottom Line
A light that doesn't offer compelling performance for the price point
A durable light that will last for years with a bright high-quality beam, slightly higher in cost and weight
A quality, durable, and bright light that hits the sweet spot for most people's needs, despite dubious marketing claims
For $20, the Tikkina offers impressive performance at a great price, that will meet most people's needs
For those ultralight-fans who cut their toothbrush in half to save weight and size, this is the perfect light
Rating Categories
Princeton Tec Vizz
Black Diamond Storm
Black Diamond Spot
Petzl Tikkina
Petzl e+LITE
Trail Finding(35%)
5.0
9.0
8.0
5.0
1
Close Proximity(20%)
3.0
8.0
9.0
4.0
9.0
Battery Life(15%)
6.0
6.0
4.0
7.0
3.0
Weight(15%)
5.0
5.0
6.0
6.0
10.0
Ease of Use(15%)
3.0
6.0
6.0
10.0
7.0
Specs
Princeton Tec Vizz
Black Diamond Storm
Black Diamond Spot
Petzl Tikkina
Petzl e+LITE
Measured Beam Distance
69 m
91 m
94 m
62 m
31 m
Claimed Distance
78 m
85 m
80 m
55 m
10 m
Measured High Mode Run-time (ANSI)
3.7 hrs
5 hrs
2.9 hrs
3.5 hrs
9.4 hrs
Claimed High Mode Run-time
1 hrs
40 hrs
30 hrs
60 hrs
9 hrs
Measured Low Mode Run-time
129 hrs
42 hrs
9.7 hrs
223 hrs
18 hrs
Claimed Low Mode Run-time
6 hrs
120 hrs
175 hrs
220 hrs
12 hrs
Measured Weight
3.4 oz, 96 g
4 oz, 112 g
3.1 oz, 89 g
2.9 oz, 83 g
1 oz, 27 g
Battery Type
3 AAA
4 AAA
3 AAA
3 AAA
2 CR2032 Lithium
Water Resistance
IPX7 waterproof to one meter
IP67 waterproof to one meter and dustproof
Splash proof (dubious IPX8 claim)
IPX4 splash proof
IPX7 waterproof to one meter
Manuf Claimed Lumens
205 lumens
350 lumens
300 lumens
150 lumens
50 lumens
Beam Type
flood/spot
flood/spot
flood/spot
flood
flood
Red Light
yes
yes, red/green/blue night-vision modes
yes
no
yes
On Switch Lock
no
yes
yes
no
yes
Show full specification detailsHide full specification details
Our Analysis and Test Results
Princeton Tec has a long history of making headlamps. Petzl, Black Diamond, and Princeton Tec represent the companies most recognized in the outdoor world for their headlamps. As compared to these other manufacturers, Princeton Tec has fallen behind lately. Generally, they have a great foundation, but the products seem to be overpriced for the performance.
Performance Comparison
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Trail Finding
The trail finding score of 5 of 10 is about average overall, but disappointing for a $50 light.
Beam Distance Photos
Princeton Tec Vizz
Black Diamond Storm
Close Proximity
The Vizz disappointed us in close proximity testing with optics that has a hot spot in the middle which makes it harder to see everything in your nearby wide field of vision.
Battery Life
Our tests showed the Vizz offering even better battery life, for both high mode, and more so in low mode, than the manufacturer claims in their marketing. We found it to perform a bit above average on battery life.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Conclusion
At $50 list, the Vizz is a premium priced light that faces some tough competition. The Black Diamond Spot, which scored higher overall, sells for $10 lower list price. The BD Storm offers even more performance, for the same list price.
Princeton Tec has announced in summer of 2018 a new 420 lumen version of the Vizz that may offer a more compelling value.
How do you determine the right headlamp for you? After...
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