Helmet lights for commuting

[confusedcyclist]

Just ordered a helmet light mount for my Cateye Volt 300 front light as I’d like extra visibility at night. It got me wondering, just how bright the lights are on your lids?

I find 300-400 lumen pointed down at the road is generally ok and doesn’t dazzle oncoming cars/cyclists, but how bright would you go on your lid? Brighter obviously isn't necessarily safer, can you go bright enough to illuminate the road without dazzling other road users?

When all the lights are competing out on the road the extra lumens on top would really come in handy for spotting those potholes, particularly when the road is wet and orange glow from street lights dominates.

I bought some el’ cheapo lights from eBay but they are hopeless at illuminating the road, and having spent not very much they turn themselves off periodically so aren’t the most reliable.

So what are you using up top?

 

[gaz]

I have two helmet lights that I use for different outcomes. both pack a punch at over 500 Lumens but I use them mostly on the lower power modes.

Exposure Joystick for seeing, it is a classic torch with a focused beam.
Exposure Axis for being seen, it has a diffused lens that spreads the light out over a very wide area.

It's wise to spend money on a good quality light, mostly for the mount, zip tieing something in place is going to damage the integrity of a helmet in a crash, so it is not wise.

Something with a focused beam is much better for actually seeing, but be careful with these in built up areas, a helmet light can easily blind another road user temporarily.

I would also suggest only using a helmet light on a constant setting. A flashing pattern is extremely annoying that high up, even exposures pulse setting is annoying. Remember your head is moving and you can easily attract attention just by moving your head side to side.

 

[ianrauk]

There is nothing worse then a City/Town commuter with an over bright or flashing light on his helmet.

 

[Rustybucket]

I have the Exposure Joystick on my helmet - got it on offer last year think it was £80 - Rutland cycling always have good deals on them.
I always have mine on flashing (lowest beam level), commuting home thru London - Should I change to constant then?

 

[ianrauk]

Should I change to constant then?

Yes, on the lowest possible setting.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

There is nothing worse then a City/Town commuter with an over bright or flashing light on his helmet.

Unless it is two such lights on their helmet.

One nobber in the 'sham uses three. It is like having a Close Encounter...

and they are fairly cuffin' annoying on rural commutes too.

 

[glasgowcyclist]

I have the 6 LED version (4 white/2 red) of this light which I got from Argos's ebay shop for about £6. The switching options are 2x wide, 2 x narrow, or all 4 on; I find 2 x wide is sufficient.



It is easily bright enough to be seen in traffic without having a beam that will dazzle other road users. Nothing more is needed in a head/helmet torch for commuting.

GC

 

[Rustybucket]

Unless it is two such lights on their helmet.

One nobber in the 'sham uses three. It is like having a Close Encounter...

and they are fairly cuffin' annoying on rural commutes too.

I must fit into this category, I have 2 Cateye 600 (thinking of upgrading this winter) on my handlebars & joystick on my helemet.
In my defence I have been knocked off my bike twice in London last winter in the dark -

 

[GrumpyGregry]

I must fit into this category, I have 2 Cateye 600 (thinking of upgrading this winter) on my handlebars & joystick on my helemet.
In my defence I have been knocked off my bike twice in London last winter in the dark -

Then you need one of these

 

[mgarl10024]

Then you need one of these

Looks interesting - added to my reading list. The local library has it too.

 

[glasgowcyclist]

Then you need one of these

That looks rather good, it's now on my wishlist.

GC

 

[Arjimlad]

On my way to work there's sometimes a chap with one of those XML T6 jobbies on his bonce, and even in broad daylight it is dazzlingly bright.

A Moon Gem 1.0 adorns my helmet at the moment.

I may yet swap it for the Alpkit gamma 1W headtorch which is used on the lowest setting until I hit the unlit country lanes.

Main illumination is always on the bars, though, and angled down.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

I may yet swap it for the Alpkit gamma 1W headtorch which is used on the lowest setting until I hit the unlit country lanes.

Main illumination is always on the bars, though, and angled down.

I'm running with an Alpkit Viper. The Gamma is a well thought out bit of kit, mind.

 

[crazyjoe101]

Like Arjimlad I have a Moon Gem 1.0 on my helmet, and I always ride with it on flash mode, having read the comments above though I'm considering changing this.
I use the light mainly to point at cars on sideroads and waiting to turn right from the oncoming lane and since it's used as a 'be seen' it's always on flash. What makes a flashing light on a helmet worse than one on the handlebars? I understand that bright lights shouldn't be on helmets as this makes it exceedingly easy to dazzle or blind people but I didn't realise flashing was an issue.

 

[mr_cellophane]

Just as long as you have something lower as nothing is more confusing that a light 4 ft in the air. It doesn't say "Cyclist"