REVIEW: Princeton Tec Byte Tactical Headlamp

An ultra-light headlamp at a low price? Practical in the field and in the tent? Today we show you the Princeton Tec Byte Tactical.

This is what the Byte Tactical looks like. Minimalist design that leaves nothing to be desired in terms of performance and price range.

The Byte has a removable headband that is elastic and adjustable.

The Byte Tactical is powered by two AAA batteries, housed in a non-waterproof case. The lamp is IPX4 certified, so it is only waterproof against splashing water.

The headlamp is operated via a large button on the top. White and red light are available. Holding the button for 5 seconds activates a lock-out mode.

Here is the operation and range explained in each stage. In short, the lamp has two modes in low and high for each color (white/red) and has a maximum runtime of 160 hours in red low. The range is 20-30 meters as tested by us. The light output is stated to be 100 lumens.

When turned on for the first time, the lamp always goes into red mode (low). The light is sufficient in most cases to illuminate the essentials and not create too large of a signature.

The lamp is extremely small and handy. Additionally, it is barely noticeable at just 64 grams including the headband. It fits perfectly under a baseball cap.

Here is the red light spot at 3 meters.

White light at 3 meters.

We were able to test the Byte extensively for a few months and are quite satisfied with the result. So far we have always had the Petzl eLite Plus - SPARTANAT Review HERE - as a headlamp with us, but due to the higher performance, conventional batteries, and more comfortable headband, it will now be the Byte in the future.

CONCLUSION: If you are looking for an affordable headlamp with essential functions and low weight, you should get the Byte Tactical. We find it very successful and stylish, there is not much else to say.

HERE is the video for the review on YouTube.

The Byte Tactical is available in black or tan for just 25 euros at the Marines Shop.