Princeton Tec Aurora

“Five-way switch tailors light to meet your need: select from low, medium and high settings, as well as two different strobe options
Triple LED bulbs arranged in a triangle configuration provide even lighting throughout your field of view with no blank spots in the beam
Adjustable headband holds the light securely in place.
Made in USA
Weight 2.6 ounces
Batteries 3 AAA
Battery life at 70 degrees 200 hours
Focus type Fixed
$29.95

I purchased one from REI today! should be here by the end of the week!!! If you purchase one from REI and you're not using a dividend...type in TAKETEN in the coupon code box and get 10% off!

KEWL!!!!!!”

“WW, do you have to be a member to get that discount (is REI membership something that you pay for, like the Barnes & Noble membership?)”

“Lifetime membership is $15 (one time only fee)
I'm not sure if you have to be a member to use that coupon.
You can still try it ...if it doesn't give you the discount don't enter your credit card information and hit cancel or close the browser.”

“Oh its lifetime, not annual, that makes things much more interesting, thanks!”

“just got a $30 rei gift certificate for my birthday.

i'm in like flynn.”

“well Happy Birthday rad!”

“I just sent them an email asking if they were going to stock that doodad while the dividend sale was still on.



I still say, "Gort! Deglet ovrosco!!"”

“Received my Aurora today. (Karst Sports, $31 including shipping.)

Will use it this weekend and will let you know how I like it. However, note that I don't have much basis for comparison to other models.

I'll see if I can get SirPete to take a look at it and let you know his observations.”

“whats that strobe look like?”

“Now ya made me go and get the thing... LOL, I had not had a chance to really look at it yet.

There is one button that controls all five modes, H/M/L and fast/slow strobe. The strobe looks like the high setting, it stays on distinctly longer than a camera's flash but definitely less than a half-second. Fast mode, flashes about twice per second, slow mode a little less than once per second.

What else ya wanna know?”

“Stick it in the bath tub and tell me if it's really waterproof...LOL!
Just kidding :)”

“I can see it now ...bunch of old timers sitting 'round the camfire with their strobes on having flash backs from 60's and 70's.”

“Oh, so that's why you were interested in the strobe!

Adequate for reading on the low setting (with fresh batteries.)

By the way, it seems very well made. I'm a happy camper!”

“i want one of these...anyone want to buy my black diamond...used 3 times. I'll throw in 12 new batteries...PLEASE!!!”

“Flattery will get you nowhere...”

“Put your Black Diamond on Ebay, you'll probably get most of your $$$ back.”

“Must.....have.....this......headlamp........


I think Sauron would love to have a nice new Tikka that's only been used once. Who'm I kidding? The instant he sees the Aurora, he's going to want one too. Anybody want to buy a Tikka?”

“Y'all are some sick puppies!”

“Who needs a Tikka, I have a Zipka and a Photon II backup!”

“"I can see it now ...bunch of old timers sitting 'round the camfire with their strobes on having flash backs from 60's and 70's."
Wind Walker
11b:13:09 PM
03/04/02

"bunch of old timers" ?? From my viewpoint those would be a bunch of kids. How 'bout flash backs from 30's and 40's? Heck, even that would make me an old timer, and >I don't feel old. Maybe those dates should go back further. LOL”

“Thanks...nobody calls me a kid anymore :)

I was making reference to the things that were done in the 60's / 70's not the age of those doing those things....like strobe lights and drugs that would cause flashbacks....so no need to thump me on the ground ;)”

“Wind Walker - Nothing intended. I was just bragging in that I do a lot of things that few people my age can attempt. It's difficult to keep my big mouth shut, and my foot gets in it often while I'm forced to eat my own words. TownDawg pointed out that we have to blow our own horns. So it's all in fun and besides, maybe no one is real on the Internet.

I'm in this string because I can use a good light. Best.”

“I know nothing about drugs except those that the doctors give me. I did have my highs from alcohol and I regret it. But no more.”

“So Splash, does that mean you don't want my Tikka? Or the Aurora either? Or are you a gear hound in denial? ; )

.”

“Sauran and me could have used the strobe on that along with the glowstick he had!...lmao”

“Scully, I don't know. Somehow I can't get too excited about headlamps. Yes, I do want one. I figured that I would get a Tikka, but then everyone started talking about the Aurora. But I have very poor night vision. I really want to see one in action before I buy one, to make sure that I could see well enough to hike with one.”

“Well, essentially it's a Tikka with a few extra perks. It costs less than a Tikka but weighs a few ounces more. Does that help?”

“Try one on an elderly neighbor who is almost blind, and walk her up a trail at night. If she gets home okay while nighthiking on rocks, then I guess I could see well enough with it...(kidding, ...really just kidding)”

“Yeah, I'm pretty nightblind myself. Like, can't see my hand at the end of my nose. I'll do a thorough gear review for you. It should be just as bright as the Tikka because it's also 3 LEDs but in a triangle configuration instead of a line. I'm thinking it should be slightly less diffuse that way.”

“Well thanks, I appreciate the information. Do you want the Aurora because the Tikka is a little too dim for you?”

“Why are there suddenly so many Tikkas on E-Bay?

I want one too!”

“OK.
How in the world am I going to justify an Aurora when I already have a Zipka, a Petzl Zoom, and about a dozen misc. flashlights?

Normally, my capacity for rationalizing a "want" into a "need" is very reliable.
Must be having a bad day...”

“I understand that most headlamps will break if ‘accidentally’ dropped from a great height.

Instant need.”

“<

gearjunkie,

It ain't so bad when it's only lights- you need to see my collection of fly rods!!

and the new Temple Forks are sooooooooo cheap for what you get, I just might *need* a new 4 pc. 8 wt.... ;-)”

“Splash, the Tikka is plenty bright. My main complaints with it are that the light is a little too diffuse, it shines in everybody's eyes when I look at them, and it only has one brightness level. The Aurora solves all those plus it's waterproof. I only wish I hadn't been so quick to replace my lost Tikka with another one. I could have waited and just replaced it with an Aurora.”

“Hmmm, so strap the Tikka onto your knee and get the Aurora for your head, and that way you won't blind Goose, and will be able to really light up your night hiking.”

“Good idea Splash - You've just justified why I need to buy yet another piece of gear, and my fourth headlamp. Thanks much!”

“Shoot, steiny, just wear them all. Elbows, knees, chin. I can just hear the stories the bear cubs are going to be telling their mamas!”

“Maybe this is where the stories of alien visitations come from? People encountering hikers with many headlamps strapped to their bodies?

"All I could see was a humanoid form, bathed in light....."”

“Yeah... like Chevy Chase and Dan Ackroyd in Spies Like Us...”

“my Aurora arrived today from Karst Sports - WOOOHOOOOOO

Splash - you should check one out - I found it to be well focused - enough so that even on low power there was plenty of light to handle typical camping tasks. I would probably use mid power to night hike with it however - I will need to try it (soon). The hinged assembly makes it real easy to put the light where you want it without bending your neck too much.”

“Okay, sounds great HOI! .....but..er.. where are you putting it that you need to bend your neck a lot?...do I want to know, hmmm, maybe not

Now I'm going to get one and then of course, Petzl will come out with something that everyone will covet even more.”

“More Questions...

How would you quantify the range of motion of that semi-steerable doodad?

How far can you see with it on 'high'?”

“Tilt, you can ...um, tilt the thing ALL the way down til it shines straight in your eyes.

Distance, I dunno. I'll know tomorrow night. Let ya know Sunday or Monday.”

“Cool! Thanks

Seems like there should be a pretty good beam on the 'high' setting if you can hike with it set on 'medium'.”

“I just got mine at EMS,, $30,, and when I went to ring it up,, the clerk said he didn't know they were in yet, he'd been waiting for it too,, he got one just after ringing me up! I wasn't too hot on the headlamp part, but not uncomfortable, and much brighter than I expected. I like the instructions too, the manual says that even if you do get water in the unit, just dry it and it will work fine,, plus lifetime warrantee,, I'm impressed.”

“I keep seeing the ad on here for the Petzl Tikka...and I am feeling quite smug about the fact that I don't own one of those pieces of junk! Just kidding, I'm happy with my Aurora, and will be until the next latest and greatest comes out, just like Splash said.”

“Yep, I figure if I rush right out to get one I'll have a year to enjoy it before they come out with something 'better'.”

“Yeah, I was lusting after a Tikka, then...

I think they timed it perfectly. You shouldn't release something like this for Christmas --- wait 'til the Dividend Checks are in the mail!”