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Princeton Tec Vizz Review

A light that doesn't offer compelling performance for the price point
Princeton Tec Vizz
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Price:  $50 List | $44.04 at Amazon
Pros:  Well built, reasonable battery life claims
Cons:  Competing lights offer better value
Manufacturer:   Princeton Tec
By RJ Spurrier ⋅ Senior Review Editor  ⋅  May 28, 2018
Our Editors independently research, test, and rate the best products. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and we never accept free products from manufacturers. Learn more
45
OVERALL
SCORE

RANKED
#25 of 27
  • Trail Finding - 35% 5.0
  • Close Proximity - 20% 3.0
  • Battery Life - 15% 6.0
  • Weight - 15% 5.0
  • Ease of Use - 15% 3.0

Our Verdict

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.

Compare to Similar Products

(change comparison)
 
Princeton Tec Vizz
This Product
Princeton Tec Vizz
Awards  Editors' Choice Award Editors' Choice Award Best Buy Award Top Pick Award 
Price $50 List
$44.04 at Amazon		$36.93 at REI
Compare at 4 sellers		$29.93 at REI
Compare at 2 sellers		$19.95 at REI
Compare at 3 sellers		$30 List
$28.95 at Amazon
Overall Score Sort Icon
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Pros Well built, reasonable battery life claimsExcellent trail finding and close proximity beam, waterproof, above average battery lifeExcellent spot light capability, wide evenly lit flood beam, above average in most waysSuper easy to use, inexpensive, solid performance, compact, and reliableUnmatched for ultralight weight and size, outstanding for close-proximity use, durable
Cons Competing lights offer better valueMore expensive, heavier than average, claimed battery life is very misleadingBelow average battery life, claimed battery life is wildly misleading, single button hard to use, lame waterproofingGood but not great spot beam for trail finding, slightly below average flood beam opticsNot well suited for distance viewing, expensive
Bottom Line A light that doesn't offer compelling performance for the price pointA durable light that will last for years with a bright high-quality beam, slightly higher in cost and weightA quality, durable, and bright light that hits the sweet spot for most people's needs, despite dubious marketing claimsFor $20, the Tikkina offers impressive performance at a great price, that will meet most people's needsFor 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

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
Beam photo of Princeton Tec Vizz
Beam photo of Black Diamond Storm

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.

— RJ Spurrier
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