Princeton Tec’s All-American Helix Lanterns

   01.17.17

Princeton Tec’s All-American Helix Lanterns

While doing my normal thing at the 2017 SHOT Show, which is to walk every aisle at least once, my tired feet took me by the Princeton Tec booth, where I spied some really interesting little lantern lights. So I stopped to check them out and had a nice chat with Princeton Tec marketing manager Caitie Caroleo.

The Helix lantern is an interesting creation from this all-American company. You essentially have a short, squat disk that composes the body of the thing. Four rugged-looking hook thingamabobs serve as easily-adjustable feet for leveling it to use as a lantern or for hanging it for use as an area light.

For brighter light, such as when hung overhead to serve as a room light in a tent, you can remove the “globe,” which is a nifty flexible rubbery white thing. It serves to soften and distribute the light, and it can be collapsed for transporting the Helix.

They come in two sizes, the 4.7-inch-tall Backcountry and the 6.4-inch-tall Basecamp.

The Backcountry has a swipe control, so there are no buttons or knobs on the smaller model. The Basecamp features a knob for control, reminiscent of an old Coleman gasoline lantern.

Princeton Tec Helix Basecamp Lantern (Photo: Princeton Tec)
Princeton Tec Helix Basecamp Lantern (Photo: Princeton Tec)

For 2017, Helix lanterns will be available in five models:

Backcountry

  • Power: 150 Lumens
  • Lamp: Maxbright White, Ultrabright Red
  • Max Burn Time (white, low): 24 Hours
  • Batteries: 3 AAA Alkaline (included)
  • Weight: 155 Grams
  • Water Resistant: IPX6

Backcountry Rechargeable

  • Power: 150 Lumens
  • Lamp: Maxbright White, Ultrabright Red
  • Max Burn Time (white, low): 18 Hours
  • Battery: Lithium rechargeable (built in)
  • Weight: 155 Grams
  • Water Resistant: IPX6

Basecamp

  • Power: 250 Lumens
  • Lamp: Maxbright White, Ultrabright Red
  • Max Burn Time (white, low): 30 Hours
  • Battery: 3 AA Alkaline (included)
  • Weight: 358 Grams
  • Water Resistant: IPX6

Basecamp Rechargeable

  • Power: 250 Lumens
  • Lamp: Maxbright White, Ultrabright Red
  • Max Burn Time (white, low): 18 Hours litium, 30 hours AA
  • Battery: Lithium rechargeable or 3 AA Alkaline for backup
  • Weight: 313 Grams
  • Water Resistant: IPX4

Basecamp Bluetooth

  • Power: 250 Lumens
  • Lamp: Maxbright White, Ultrabright Red
  • Max Burn Time (white, low): 18 Hours litium, 30 hours AA
  • Battery: Lithium rechargeable or 3 AA Alkaline for backup
  • Weight: 313 Grams
  • Water Resistant: IPX4
  • Bluetooth controlled from smart phone or tablet
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Editor & Contributing Writer Russ Chastain is a lifelong hunter and shooter who has spent his life learning about hunting, shooting, guns, ammunition, gunsmithing, reloading, and bullet casting. He started toting his own gun in the woods at age nine and he's pursued deer with rifles since 1982, so his hunting knowledge has been growing for more than three and a half decades. His desire and ability to share this knowledge with others has also grown, and Russ has been professionally writing and editing original hunting & shooting content since 1998. Russ Chastain has a passion for sharing accurate, honest, interesting hunting & shooting knowledge and stories with people of all skill levels.