REASONS TO BUY
Well made construction
REASONS TO AVOID
Poor performance
Short battery life
Princeton Tec Remix Plus Review
A premium priced light that is outperformed by competitors costing less
Credit: Abriah Wofford
By RJ Spurrier ⋅ Senior Review Editor ⋅ May 28, 2018
RELATED: The Hunt for the Best Headlamps
Our Verdict
The Princeton Tec Remix Plus is built with quality construction, but at $50 list it is comparatively far too expensive for the performance it delivers. For example. when put side-by-side with the $20 Petzl Tikkina, our Best Buy winner, it had much lower overall performance scores across the board. The Tikkina sells for a 60% lower price, and comes in at half the weight. It is hard to justify buying the Remix, given so many strong competitors that offer more for less.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Princeton Tec Remix Plus | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Solid Performer at a Good Price |  Best Headlamp for General Purpose Use | |||
| Price | $50 List | $60 List Check Backcountry (on sale!) | $50 List Check Amazon (on sale!) | $29 List | $25 List Check REI (on sale!) |
Overall Score  |
|||||
| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | A premium priced light that is outperformed by competitors costing less | A quality, durable, and bright light that hits the sweet spot for most people's needs, despite dubious marketing claims | Previously one of our favorites, but hasn't kept pace with competitor's innovations | The Yalumi is a good light, at a good price, that provides basic functionality | For $20, the Tikkina offers impressive performance at a great price, that will meet most people's needs |
| Rating Categories | Princeton Tec Remix... | Black Diamond Spot | Coast HL7 | Yalumi LED 140-Lumen | Petzl Tikkina |
| Trail Finding (35%) | |||||
| Close Proximity (20%) | |||||
| Battery Life (15%) | |||||
| Weight (15%) | |||||
| Ease of Use (15%) | |||||
| Specifications | Princeton Tec Remix... | Black Diamond Spot | Coast HL7 | Yalumi LED 140-Lumen | Petzl Tikkina |
| Measured Beam Distance | 58 m | 94 m | 112 m | 94 m | 62 m |
| Claimed Distance | 78 m | 80 m | 119 m | 90 m | 55 m |
| Measured High Mode Run-time (ANSI) | 1.6 hrs | 2.9 hrs | 3.1 hrs | 4.3 hrs | 3.5 hrs |
| Claimed High Mode Run-time | 5 hrs | 30 hrs | 1.5 hrs | Not specified | 60 hrs |
| Measured Low Mode Run-time | 43 hrs | 9.7 hrs | 25 hrs | 47 hrs | 223 hrs |
| Claimed Low Mode Run-time | 100 hrs | 175 hrs | 70 hrs | 100 hrs | 220 hrs |
| Measured Weight | 5.8 oz, 165 g | 3.1 oz, 89 g | 4.5 oz, 127 g | 2.7 oz, 77 g | 2.9 oz, 83 g |
| Battery Type | 4 AAA | 3 AAA | 3 AAA | 3 AAA | 3 AAA |
| Water Resistance | IPX4 splash proof | Splash proof (dubious IPX8 claim) | water resistant | IPX4 splash proof | IPX4 splash proof |
| Manuf Claimed Lumens | 165 lumens | 300 lumens | 285 lumens | 140 lumens | 150 lumens |
| Beam Type | flood/spot | flood/spot | flood/spot | flood/spot | flood |
| Red Light | no | yes | no | yes | no |
| On Switch Lock | yes | yes | no | no | no |
Our Analysis and Test Results
Princeton Tec needs to step up their headlamp game at this $50 price point. The market is now crowded with excellent products. The competition offers much more performance, for the same, or even much lower prices.
Trail Finding
Scoring a 5 of 10, the Remix Plus has fairly poor trail finding abilities for its price.
Beam Distance Photos
Princeton Tec Remix Plus
Black Diamond Spot
Close Proximity
The Remix was disappointing for close proximity use, earning a poor 3 of 10 rating.
Battery Life
The Remix's battery life score is a mediocre 3 of 10, with only 1.6 hours in our measured high mode runtime tests using the ANSI standards, and 43 hours in low mode.
Weight
The Remix is large and bulky compared to competitors, coming in at 5.8 ounces or 165 grams, and a two part package with batteries in back and the light element in front.
Ease of Use
Ease of use is a relative high point for the Remix, but even there it scored only about average.
Conclusion
We can't say the Remix Plus offers great value. The Petzl Tikkina is 60% lower list price, and scored much better. Other $50 lights, like the BD Storm left the Remix in the dust. Not recommended.
—RJ Spurrier
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