Best battery powered light

[Soltydog]

Need to look at lighting on my Genesis for the winter. Was thinking of going down the dynamo route, but I've had a few issues with the bike & dont want to start messing with wheels if I need to send it back again. I dont really fancy the Cree lights with seperate battery pack so wondering what the best light is that runs off 'old fashioned' AA or AAA type batteries. Is the Hope Vision still the light to go for or are there better options for unlit country roads?

 

[azir]

I have a Hope vision 1 - I have no complaints, had it about 5/6 years, never had any issues and it's plenty bright for me, rarely ever use it on the brightest setting. I do have a Hope Vision 4 as well with a separate battery pack but it is overkill for me to be honest so I hardly ever get it out (also I think I've lost the charging cable....)

 

[zacklaws]

I use one of the following Paul:-

http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/LISML25F/smart-lunar-25-lux-front-light

it may be possible to get it cheaper, think I got mine for about £9 and here is a review:-

http://road.cc/content/review/9009-smart-lunar-25-front-and-rear-light-set

I was that impressed with my first one that I bought a second one in white which makes it easier to see in the dark to operate and on the long Audaxes through the night, 2 AA's will last me 12 hours from dusk to dawn with still plenty of life left. Not very good for high speed downhill though as they do not light the road up far enough to plan ahead, but I back it up by just turning on my Cree with seperate battery to illuminate the whole road just for those occasions

 

[andrew_s]

The Philips Saferide 80 and the B+M Ixon IQ Premium (there's also a non-premium version) give the best riding light you'll get from 4xAA.

Both are designed to use rechargeable AA that are left in the light for charging, both are German approved so legal on road here, don't flash, and have high/low modes only.
The Philips comes with the batteries and a Euromains-to-miniUSB adapter, and it's a screwdriver job to open the case to swap in spares or for external charging. The low mode is sufficient for most riding on unlit country lanes.

 

[Soltydog]

I use one of the following Paul:-

http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/LISML25F/smart-lunar-25-lux-front-light

it may be possible to get it cheaper, think I got mine for about £9 and here is a review:-

Cheers Zack, I have a couple of the 35 lux versions already. Think they were about £15 from Planet X & are good as back up lights but after riding with decent lights I find them poor in comparison

The Philips Saferide 80 and the B+M Ixon IQ Premium (there's also a non-premium version) give the best riding light you'll get from 4xAA.

Thanks Andrew, the B&M looks good, longer run time on high setting would be good for me & within budget (not that I had one set )

 

[Wooliferkins]

+1 for the Ixon IQ, been using what is now the non premium for 6/7 winters now and the Premium just ramps it up some. Recommend the anti dazzle strip if you do any out of saddle climbs. I've still not got anything outputwise better than the Smart 1/2W for the rear

 

[Soltydog]

+1 for the Ixon IQ, been using what is now the non premium for 6/7 winters now and the Premium just ramps it up some. Recommend the anti dazzle strip if you do any out of saddle climbs. I've still not got anything outputwise better than the Smart 1/2W for the rear

Cheers, but living in East Yorkshire there's no climbs that have me anywhere near out of the saddle Rear I'm not too fussed about, when commuting normally have 2 lights on bike & one on my ankle & reckon I can be seen from a reasonable distance