Best value lights for proper night riding?

[Glover Fan]

Thanks again,

Had a look at the magic shine and it quotes a battery life of 4 hours which isn't good enough. Is this figure correct?

 

[dellzeqq]

Thanks again,

Had a look at the magic shine and it quotes a battery life of 4 hours which isn't good enough. Is this figure correct?

work out how long you'd need it on for. It's light enough in mid-August not to need a big light at 5 in the morning. You'll be under streetlights for some of the time. If it's a clear night you'll need a big light only when the road is overshadowed. If it's overcast and raining you'd need to take spare batteries, but if it's clear four hours should do

 

[cyberknight]

That is 4 hours at full power , unless you are riding on completely pitch back , unlit roads in the middle of winter you do not need full power, you can probably get double that on low power .

10 o clock last night it was not what i would call dark and its light before 6 am.

The hope vision 1 has around a 3 hour run time , most of the lights to actually see where you are going are going to be in this ball park for power usage.

I tend to use a 3AAA powered torch light as a back up / main light for lit roads and only put the MS on for the bad bits , you can pick them up with a mount for around £10.
I reckon they come out around 50 -100 lumens .

 

[dellzeqq]

For that money, you could get 2 Smart Lunar 35 lights from planet-x/on-one.

The Cateye is a bit long in the tooth and you might find a single Lunar 35 to be as good or better.

I used to have a Lunar 35 side by side with the EL530 on the Brompton, and, to be honest, the EL530 was much the better light. It makes a good 'second light' although there's a cheapie Electron which is about as good.

 

[Flying Dodo]

The hope vision 1 has around a 3 hour run time , most of the lights to actually see where you are going are going to be in this ball park for power usage.

That's on full strength, warp factor 4. On roads, you don't really need it that bright. The second level is bright enough and depending upon which batteries you've got in it, that should last 8-10 hours.

As mentioned above, I'd use a second light (such as another Hope!) for when the batteries give up, in case you do run it at a higher level..

 

[Origamist]

I run a Fenix TK35 torch, very bright and well within your budget. I mount mine on my stem - it looks a bit ungainly, but it throws light a long way down the road.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

I'd have a second, less powerful, less thirsty and less expensive light as well. You can use it in town, or when it's bright enough to do without the big light.

That's what I do, Smart light for town and Hope V1, with rechargeables, for out of town stuff!

 

[zigzag]

if only the battery technology had advanced so much as led technology in recent years.. i agree, most lights mentioned above are good value, i've got b&m ixon on special price (£36), so using that now. on bright setting it's about the same as hope vision1 on 4 (same led maybe?), while low setting is adequate on dry smooth roads.

 

[Baggy]

work out how long you'd need it on for. It's light enough in mid-August not to need a big light at 5 in the morning. You'll be under streetlights for some of the time. If it's a clear night you'll need a big light only when the road is overshadowed. If it's overcast and raining you'd need to take spare batteries, but if it's clear four hours should do

Streetlights on the Exodus are few and far between - it's mostly rural and unlit...I'd heartily recommend taking spare batteries, just in case.

 

[Soltydog]

On your budget i'd go with a couple of Smart Lunar 35 £15 each delivered from planet-x
If you want a cateye el530 I have one that's a couple of years old, you can have it for £15 posted & i'll get a smart 35 but i wouldn't recommend the cateye for use alone on unlit roads, unless the new model is much improved.

 

[MacB]

I run a Fenix TK35 torch, very bright and well within your budget. I mount mine on my stem - it looks a bit ungainly, but it throws light a long way down the road.

820 lumens on high, that's a lot of light

 

[Glover Fan]

Streetlights on the Exodus are few and far between - it's mostly rural and unlit...I'd heartily recommend taking spare batteries, just in case.

Ah, I forgot you were involved with the event! Do you have an idea on what most people use?

I like the idea of the 2 smart ones for £30. I am aware I am being a complete cheapskate now, but I rarely do any night riding!

 

[MacB]

Ah, I forgot you were involved with the event! Do you have an idea on what most people use?

I like the idea of the 2 smart ones for £30. I am aware I am being a complete cheapskate now, but I rarely do any night riding!

why not get one of the Fenix torches with a lockblock mount, gives you a decent torch for home as well.

 

[Baggy]

Am not quite convinced the Smart Lunars would be powerful enough. What about an Asteri 3 LED or as I think it's been re-branded now, Asteri One23
It's rechargeable, reasonable price and we've used ours a lot for unlit rural commutes.

 

[Baggy]

Ah, I forgot you were involved with the event! Do you have an idea on what most people use?

Bah! Bloody wireless internet, lost half my reply! Bar mounted torches seem to have been very popular, but we see everything from blinky commuter lights through to top of the range Ayups and Lumicycles.

Cheddar Gorge is more fun with a bright light!