The Princeton Tec Switch MPLS offers not only a variety of mounting options, but a gooseneck lamp extension so you can point light where you need it.
If you partake in nocturnal activities like fishing, hunting, camping, pub crawling or recreational coal mining, you need a personal light. To keep your hands free for whatever activity you do, you’ll want a light that you can mount on your hat, clothing or gear.
I’ve been working with the neat little piece of gear to fit this need called the Princeton Tec Switch MPLS. It’s a tactical light, but really more than that. You can use it for a wide range of activities that require “working-level” illumination.
I originally got it to use for general navigation and administrative tasks while at the Crimson Trace Midnight Three Gun event. Last year I made the mistake of using a small white LED lamp equipped on the bill of my hat. It sounded like a great idea at the time, but I quickly learned that people don’t appreciate the use of bright white light as it tends to spoil everyone’s night vision. Red, blue or green LED lights are much more eyeball friendly in dark conditions.
Talking with the folks at Princeton Tec, I explained that I didn’t yet know how I was going to mount the light. Since the light would be used for loading guns and magazines, taping and resetting targets, and finding the next stage in the pitch dark, a handheld light was out of the question. Since I didn’t know how I wanted to mount this new light we decided to try out the Switch MPLS system.
The battery and lamp of the Switch are contained in a housing that’s designed to accommodate multiple mounting attachments. Since the lamp is at the end of a short gooseneck fixture, you can orient the lamp independently from the body and mount of the unit.
The standard Switch MPLS comes with two mounting options:
MOLLE: You can mount the Switch MPLS to a load-bearing vest or backpack.
MICH: If you wear a helmet for a living, this is probably your best mounting option. With firm attachment to the lower side, the light is pre-oriented towards the front and it’s easy to reach for activation and deactivation. A screw clamps the mount firmly to the helmet.
If you need different mounts, just order the MPLS Accessory kit which has these additional mounting adapters:
PICATINNY: You can mount the Switch MPLS to a compatible rifle rail, or more practically, any range box, case or other accessory with a rail segment. Of course, you can always attach a Picatinny rail segment to just about anything, so use your imagination for solutions such as internal vehicle mounting.
ACH-ARC helmet rail mount.
Four mounting options are available – two included and two more available as options. In this photo, the light it mounted on the MOLLE adapter.
The Switch MPLS has three light modes: low-intensity color, high-intensity color and 10 lumen white light. You can order models with red, blue, green or infrared light. All models have the white light option included.
One of the things I like most about this piece of gear is the built-in protection against the user whipping on that bright white light inadvertently. To activate the default red light, just press the main button. To make the red light a little brighter, press it twice. If you really want white light, and are sure you’re not going to ruin your, or your buddy’s night vision, you have to hold the button down for a couple of seconds. This, and only this, activates the bright white light, so you have to be very deliberate about wanting the white light activated.
Cool piece of gear – check it out. You can find them at street prices of about $50.
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