Princeton Tec

Light makes anything possible. It’s a symbol of hope and innovation. It’s also a daily necessity for everyone from backpackers to fire fighters. For over 45 years, Princeton Tec has pushed the limits of possibility with reliable, durable lights that shine bright in every situation.

Our story begins 40 years ago in Princeton, New Jersey. Bill Stephens was running the dive shop he founded with several friends and punching the clock at his day job. When Bill’s engineering firm tried to relocate the Stephens family to land-locked Indianapolis, far from the Atlantic Ocean where he loved to dive, Bill quit and focused on creating the industry’s first automatic dive timer, called the Bottom Timer. Princeton Tec was born.

Today, Princeton Tec operates from two large facilities that house manufacturing, engineering, assembly, distribution and office space. We have over 200 employees, and we run every part of the business right here in New Jersey. We’re proud to be an American manufacturer and a local employer.

Most importantly, our catalog has expanded to feature lights for nearly any situation, condition and environment. We love hearing from customers who use our products in every corner of the world. From Alaska to Afghanistan to Brazil, we know that people rely on Princeton Tec to scale mountains and save lives. It’s a responsibility that we take seriously. If you don’t have plans to deploy into the desert or spend a month in the Brazilian rainforest, we also know that a great light can make it easier to dodge raccoons when you take out the garbage.

We first supplied the U.S. military with underwater strobe lights for Navy SEAL training swims. Today, we create both standard and custom products for law enforcement, first responders, military and other everyday heroes. We’re always refining our design and manufacturing to create headlamps that can withstand just about anything. In the early 2000s, we knew our customers needed a better lantern. We envisioned a durable, user-friendly light with lots of intuitive features. We’ve continued to expand this product line with new lamps, more lumens, and rechargeable models.

From the very beginning, we’ve chosen to use engineering-grade materials and name brand components, including the batteries. Our polycarbonate plastic is the same material used to make motorcycle helmets, bulletproof glass and aircraft windshields. It’s virtually indestructible. Our lights can take a beating, but they won’t crack or break. We also create lights with chemical and UV resistance for customers who are working in extreme and hazardous conditions.

Our designers and engineers sweat every little detail. They push to ensure the controls are straightforward and intuitive, and the components work seamlessly. Once you’ve experienced our products, using a Princeton Tec light should feel like coming home.