Front light

[eldridge]

Smart 700 lumen USB for £30....?

Any reviews on this light? Is it ok for the money?

Still haven't bought a light yet still looking.

Thanks for the help though.

 

[mjr]

Still haven't bought a light yet still looking.

A Lidl near you might still have some of the £10 40 lux USB-chargeable sets that went on sale on Monday. Looked worth a punt, although I didn't check for K-marking (German standards marking, which should mean it meets UK regs).

 

[eldridge]

+1 to the cateye volt recommendations. 300 on full power does me for 12-15mph through country parkland in proper dark

Also Smart 700 - somewhat OTT on full power in urban areas but like daylight in the aforesaid country park. (Edit TMN to carcharodon - it really is a good light at a bargain price)

depends on budget and weight considerations etc but for a long term overall easy answer you could consider a hub dynamo and Trelock/B&M made lamp????

Hi ya
Would you say the Smart 700 is a good piece of kit, have you had personal experience with it, seems awfully cheap to me, is it going to be a good long term light?

Thanks for any help, just looking to make the correct purchase.

 

[phantasmagoriana]

I liked my Smart 700 so much I bought another one as a backup. I like the fact that it doesn't need a bulky external battery pack like the ubiquitous Cree lights (which I also have), but if I'm going on a longer night ride I can simply take a standard USB battery pack to extend the battery life. I use it for night rides involving unlit country lanes and descents, and it works well.

 

[carcharodon]

I agree, the maximum setting is OTT, and because the beam pattern is spread, you can annoy other cyclists/ drivers.
My main criticism.

I like the long run-times. Just wondering about the strobe setting.Would this be illegal in Germany?
Strobe is great for day use. Unmissable.
I have had the unit for a year with regular use - no problems.
Also use a Smart Lunar 25 that has a spot beam, so it's a versatile set-up.

 

[shouldbeinbed]

Hi ya
Would you say the Smart 700 is a good piece of kit, have you had personal experience with it, seems awfully cheap to me, is it going to be a good long term light?

Thanks for any help, just looking to make the correct purchase.

I have alternated daily throughout this winter between it and a my cateye volt 300. The volt 300 is through its 2nd full winter and I bought the Smart very early 2015 so it's had a winter and a half. I have absolutely no concern at all recommending either based on my personal experience. I was concerned on the apparent cheapness but for both too, but they;re both believing the price quite happily - likewise my volt 50 rear light - I feel I've already had my moneys worth out of them and neither show any signs of slowing down, losing charge more quickly or faltering beam intensity.

If i had to criticise the Smart it is that the bar mount mount loop& clip is their usual one and IMO whilst solid and not in danger of falling off, not quite as good as it could be nor as good as the cateye ones.

 

[flake99please]

I have used 2 volt700 since December 2014. They have been used at least 5 days in 7, for a 3am, 6 mile commute, in typical weather associated with living in Edinburgh. I cannot recommend these lights enough.