Front light suggestions

[Dogtrousers]

I've got a Magicshine light. I can't remember the model or how much it cost, but I'm perfectly happy with it

I didn't over-think it. I just went to an online bike stuff seller and picked one I liked the look of.

 

[Jenkins]

Another option is look out for bike gear specials at Lidl and Aldi.

My Lidl set was ~£8 in March 2020, for a Strzo compliant front light and a shield shaped rear, plus I have some Moon (Meteor?) clones from Aldi from ~2015, both of which I still regularly use today.

Lidl did a bike gear thing at end of June, so it might be a while for their next one.

Lidl have a few bike bits in from Sunday - one of which is the front & rear light set: https://www.lidl.co.uk/p/crivit-led-bike-lights-with-emergency-brake-function-2-piece-set/p10052967

 

[gcogger]

I've have one of these (recommended by someone but, apologies, I forget who!) for about 3 years:
Rockbros front light
It has the advantage of having a very well shaped beam (as do the Ravemen lights, I believe), so it won't dazzle anyone. Way better in that regard than my previous Moon Rigel, and feels at least as well made. It also can be mounted using a Garmin style mount, which I like. I find the rubber band type mounts move too much when the light has such a precise beam shape.

 

[N0bodyOfTheGoat]

Lidl have a few bike bits in from Sunday - one of which is the front & rear light set: https://www.lidl.co.uk/p/crivit-led-bike-lights-with-emergency-brake-function-2-piece-set/p10052967

That front looks very similar to my 2020 one, albeit that doesn't means the specs match.

 

[cyberknight]

the magicshine 1200n is pretty powerful and maybe a bit over kill unless your riding on unlit areas , i had 2 on minimum setting and was able to navigate the lanes at 4 am this week .

 

[Oldhippy]

Why all bikes don't have hub dynamo lighting baffles me. Simple and no batteries, charging or other faffing. I'm sure technology could devise a slimline version for the weight conscious roadies with small flashing lights. Seems a no brainer to me.

 

[N0bodyOfTheGoat]

the magicshine 1200n is pretty powerful and maybe a bit over kill unless your riding on unlit areas , i had 2 on minimum setting and was able to navigate the lanes at 4 am this week .

The plus is you could use low light mode and have loads of hours per charge, while having an emergency power bank for gizmos like a mobile.

 

[cyberknight]

The plus is you could use low light mode and have loads of hours per charge, while having an emergency power bank for gizmos like a mobile.

thats my thought too, on low mode i can commute all week without having to recharge . I do find when im commuting against the traffic flow on the cyclepath at night as the lane is only on one side of a dual carriageway i do get lorries flashing their lights at me regularly .

 

[a.twiddler]

Regarding the current mindset of carrying a spare light rather than spare batteries:-
I took my own advice and nipped into my local Halfords to pick up a Cat Eye AMPP400S for a backup as they were showing in stock online. £23.99 which seems to be the best price locally. Naturally, none on display but after a lot of rooting about one was found in a storage drawer. I had to go downstairs to pay (bike dept upstairs) and on checking inside the box, no charging lead. Curiously, a 50p coin was in the box. After some consulting of managers I was offered 10% off as the mount and the light itself were as new. I hung on to the receipt (and the 50p). On getting it home it charged up OK. The S denotes that it has a USB C connection for charging while the previous version has a micro USB. No problem for me as I have both leads already. Still, an unexpected experience.