EOS Headlamp

[Sharon Faulkner]

I bought a new caving light, the Princeton Tec EOS, from Howie's Harnesses this past Saturday afternoon (during TAG).

Haven't had a chance to really put it to a test yet, but am happy with the light output so far. I've spoken with a few people who currently use the light and have been pleased with its in cave performance, so we'll see how it goes.

[Kelly]

I've been buying these left and right! I LOVE this new light!!!!!!!!!! A couple of months ago I was caving with some friends, and wearing my old Nite Lite. I had an EOS for a back up, and turned it on during surveying, and WOW it was brighter than my big light (which has one of those big batteries you attach to your waste. Needless to say, that is the last time I carry that big heavy battery caving again! Also, I turned the light on one day wondering how long the batteries would last and it stayed on for a week (7 days)! It was only really bright for the first day then got progressively dimmer, but by gosh it was on for an entire 7 days!

A little bit about the light - It is super small and light weight - It takes 3 AAA batteries - It only has one super-bright LED bulb - and its only $32 at Howie's Harnesses - howiesharnesses.com/catalog/

-Kelly

[Brian Roebuck]

Sounds like a dang good light for light weight caving. I usually drag a big waist mounted battery, nitelite head on the helmet, extra helmet mounted battery and head, plus a minimag strapped to the helmet side for survey and back-up. That adds up to a stiff neck and an overheated caver!

I am looking for a good inexpensive LED unit to be my main light. After seeing some of the $200-300 units at TAG I was impressed with tough intellegent advanced design - but not with high prices (even though they may be worth it). For $32 I can afford two EOS units and wear one while the other rides in my pack as a backup.

So how do they work over time? Any cave trip reports using these EOS lights, failures, shortcomings, etc? How about waterproof abilities? Use in waterfalls, on rope, or other tougher environments. Yes I am interested but need more real user experience from you two or anyone else that uses these lights.

TIA,
DrB

[Kelly]

I haven't used the light long enough to know how well it holds up to caving, but the claims on this web page say it is strong and resists water (doesn't specify if water 'proof' or not): www.howiesharnesses.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=44_45_47&products_id=147&osCsid=b62fd1376d4a90f0f8d6610406a30613

One other feature I forgot to mention is the three levels of brightness, and then a flashing emergency light mode. For those of us that sketch, the dim setting is WONDERFUL for not blinding you when you look at your survey paper.

[L Roebuck]

I have that big waist mounted battery/light, etc. The battery comes in handy for skiing over soupy mud but it is too bulky and big for tight passages. I would love to find another light that will hold up well. So far the EOS Headlamp sounds like it would do fine! But of course, I am interested in how well it holds up.

Guess I should start writing my list for Santa.

[Sharon Faulkner]

Hey guys,

I haven't had an opportunity to put the light thru the wringer yet, so cannot give a true review of the light. However, at this time (only used it on a couple of short trips of ~4 to 5 hours), I can say that the light output has been more than adequate for normal caving. In fact I've not used it in high output mode, no need for it. I will agree with Kelly that for surveying or close up in-cave work, the low output mode is more than adequate. While traversing thru the cave, I found medium output to be optimal. It is super light weight and I am already planning to buy another one for Casey's helmet. She has been previously using a tiny 1 LED Black Diamond light, which pales in comparison to the EOS as far as light output.

I haven't used the light in wet conditions, so can't comment on that aspect, though as Kelly mentioned, the manufacturer's label says it has a strong resistance to water/weather/environment conditions and waterproof up to 1 meter. The specs on it are:

* High output mode - 2 hrs. of constant brightness with 6.5 hrs. of run time.
* Medium output mode - 9.5 hrs. of constant brightness with 12.5 hrs. of run time.
* Low output mode - 44 hrs. of constant brightness with 60 hrs. of run time.

All of these times based upon using 3 AAA batteries. LED bulb life of 10,000+ hrs. And the light has a lifetime warranty. I'd say it is well worth putting on the wish list for Santa. ;D

I, too, have carried the big battery on the waist with two Nite Lites, the last one of which I killed in the low water crawl in Fort Peebles Cave when the cord got caught on a protrusion and jerked out. Danglies are not your friend in some caves. I eventually took the headlamp and cord of the first Nite Lite off and had it connected to a $6 rechargeable battery from Radio Shack, which made a great light (the batteries will only last about two years though).

Maybe someone who's used the light longer than me can comment better on the shortcomings or failures of the EOS. For now, I'm satisfied with the light.

[Brian Roebuck]

Well for the money it sounds like something I would like to try out and do my usual gear test on. I have beat many lights to death during cave trips and only the worthy survive. Not that I am in tough caves - but I am tough on equipment! I know of one other caver that destroys more gear than me but he is not on this forum ;D

Maybe I'll order a few and put them to the test soon enough.

Thanks for the comments and specs! This is good stuff!

DrB