Cheap light for seeing with?

[Sara_H]

Hi all, part of my ride home is on unlit pot holed roads.

Any recommendations for a really cheap light that will illuminate the road?

 

[cyberknight]

Magicshine or xml t6, or if you prefer an all in one unit a torch based on the same chip...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1300Lm-Ul...ing_LightsLanternsTorches&hash=item484b50d7e8
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CREE-XML-...isure_Cycling_Bike_Lights&hash=item2ec334f5be
Listed uk sellers , you can get them cheaper but from china and it takes at least a month

 

[HovR]

This one.

 

[Wobblers]

If you want to stick to a purpose made bike light, probably the Smart Lunar 35 is your best bet: it's around £20-25, or at least used to be. It works off 2 AA batteries, has a reasonable runtime but not too much output, so probably not quite up to the job if you're going at much over 12-15 mph.

Otherwise, I'd go for a torch like the Ultrafire WF-501B or similar. The one I've linked to comes with 18650 lithium ion batteries, a charger and light mount. It's more expensive than cyberknight's link, but I've bought a couple of Magicshines from this seller before, and they've been quick and efficient.

 

[HLaB]

I've been really impressed with my Smart 35lux, it can be had for £18 (I got it for £27 with a smart rear). I use it in conjunction with the other cheap lights I have (usually a cat eye EL 410 or smart 5 led polaris) on the rural (unlit) lanes in Northamptonshire.

 

[Banjo]

Another vote for a cree Torch available cheaply on ebay. They gobble up the batteries a bit though so I use it alongside a flashing front light only putting the cree on in dark places. (Re chargeables recommended)

 

[biggs682]

i use a cree i picked up from tescos a while back ie 2 years still going strong . aldis have one this week £12 i think cant comment as not seen or tried

 

[HovR]

Another vote for a cree Torch available cheaply on ebay. They gobble up the batteries a bit though so I use it alongside a flashing front light only putting the cree on in dark places. (Re chargeables recommended)

I just carry multiple batteries. 2 18650's will last 2 hours on medium with my torch, and medium is great for unlit country lanes, overkill for in the city.

 

[cyberknight]

You have to make
sure when you buy cree torches they are not running on AAA`s, they might be listed as XXX lumen but in reality your not going to get that much light out of those batteries, barely enough to ride by anyhoo.

 

[potsy]

Hi all, part of my ride home is on unlit pot holed roads.

Any recommendations for a really cheap light that will illuminate the road?

What's your budget Sara?

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Sarah: I have recently bought a Cree 500 lumen torch from a local shop for a tenner.
It was marketed for fishing.
I point it to the ground while riding in the park after dark, it does the job. It runs from 3 AAA batteries, so far I've used it for about 6 hours, still no need to change them. Those torches come with a rechargeable battery included.
I have other less powerful light to be seen, so that one stays permanently focused on the ground.
If you buy a torch for the bike, you will most likely have to buy a mount too. I like this one.

 

[cyberknight]

Sarah: I have recently bought a Cree 500 lumen torch from a local shop for a tenner.
It was marketed for fishing.
I point it to the ground while riding in the park after dark, it does the job. It runs from 3 AAA batteries, so far I've used it for about 6 hours, still no need to change them. Those torches come with a rechargeable battery included.
I have other less powerful light to be seen, so that one stays permanently focused on the ground.
If you buy a torch for the bike, you will most likely have to buy a mount too. I like this one.

As said above AAA`s will not give you the quoted lumens, according to the cree website your going to get about 100 lumens and it certainly will not last a long time as AAA`s do not have the storahe capacity.
The LED chip might be rated at that power but its not getting enough juice to produce that output.
I run 1200mah AAA and they last a week on flash in my cree light , if i used it on full power i would need to charge twice a week and even running 2 it was was only just enough to see the road.
Compared to lights running 18560 batteries they do not cut the mustard i am afraid

 

[Cubist]

5w cree torch at Aldi for twelve quid, two pieces of inner tube to mount it to the bars.
Tesco 2xAA torch, tenner, two pieces of inner tube to mount it to the bars.

 

[Sara_H]

I'd prefer a torch to a bike light TBH. I use one of those Velcro handle bar torch mounts so I can easily swop between bikes and find it the best way to mount a light.

Thank for all suggestions, I don't want to spend more than £20 if I can help it, as I prefer to leave lights attached when I park up, so want something I can afford to have stolen!

 

[fossyant]

Woudl't go leaving any lights attached, however cheap. Costs do add up. Best look for a Q5 torch or T6. Aldi have some for £11.99