Best Headlight for Bike Dark Roads and Trails

[Grun]

Suggestions for a headlight for the bike? I guess, around 300-500 lumens, but would like good run time, say maybe 3h-3.5h or more.



I was first considering getting a pair of M90X Rattlesnakes from Wolf Eyes. These are rugged and have a runtime of 5 hours, and would throw out around 340 lumens, which is pretty good. The only problem is they are kinda big, around 8 inches long. The mount is not a problem since I have made some really sturdy quick release clamps.
One benefit I can think of is that if newer LED dropins come out, they can be put in the Wolf Eyes flashlights. As well, as the 18650 batteries improve in longevity, they can also be used.
http://www.pts-flashlights.com/products/product.aspx?pid=1-99-112-6382

The other option was to get the Cygolite TridenX, but using Ni-MH instead of Li-Ion, since the NiMH lasts for 3.5h and not 2.5h. Probably dishes out about 500 lumens, three SSC LEDs.
http://www.cygolite.com/2-Products/18-TridenX-NiMH.htm

Which would you go for? Other options to take? I have decided against NiteRider Trinewt because of the reliability issues of their products. They haven't won me over yet.

 

[Szemhazai]

For certain it won't be the flashlight…

I'm in the middle of collecting triple led bike lights data :candle: so wait for a moment...

 

[Grun]

For certain it want be the flashlight…

I'm in the middle of collecting triple led bike lights data :candle: so wait for a moment...

I see it is the apparent, but what is your reasoning for the flashlight option and not Cygolite?

I read about new Dinotte light out too, that is plenty bright. 600 lumens , in your other thread (i posted there too!)

 

[Szemhazai]

Argh... sory it should "won't"

As for the light choose I don't know . It depends what you want - if you want race ready lamp with guarantee and customer service Cygolite looks very good.

On other hand you can buy iBlast and battery pack fro i.e. batteryspace then for 350$ you can get the same amount of light (or more) and much longer burn time, about 7 hours from the 14,4v 4,4Ah battery pack

And there is a third option - you can wait for this Min-T pre-built head will cost about 350$ but it will be one of the best lamps in the class – so adding battery and charger the whole light will probably costs about 450$. But it will have abut 20mm less on diameter than iBlast.

 

[greenLED]

That WE will be too big. I use 2x123-sized lights on my bike, and my Pila GL3 (3x123). Plus, I have a helmet light.

 

[Grun]

Argh... sory it should "won't"

As for the light choose I don't know . It depends what you want - if you want race ready lamp with guarantee and customer service Cygolite looks very good.

On other hand you can buy iBlast and battery pack fro i.e. batteryspace then for 350$ you can get the same amount of light (or more) and much longer burn time, about 7 hours from the 14,4v 4,4Ah battery pack

And there is a third option - you can wait for this Min-T pre-built head will cost about 350$ but it will be one of the best lamps in the class – so adding battery and charger the whole light will probably costs about 450$. But it will have abut 20mm less on diameter than iBlast.

yes, thanks!

I will look, but I found one from Dinotte, the 600L and it looks very nice!

i just read something really neat, it uses 3x LEDS, but with redundant circuitry, meaning that if any light fails, and the others are not broken, they will still work to get you out of the dark in case anything happens. if the cygolite fails, or the niterider fails, just one or two of the bulb circuits fail, the whole thing fails and you are left in the dark!

 

[znomit]

You always need a redundant light, redundant battery as well as circuitry! Get a really bright light for the bars (any of the ones mentioned will be fine!)and a reasonable helmet light(I like my minewtx2). I also keep a tiny key ring light in my seat pack for when all else fails.

 

[Grun]

You always need a redundant light, redundant battery as well as circuitry! Get a really bright light for the bars (any of the ones mentioned will be fine!)and a reasonable helmet light(I like my minewtx2). I also keep a tiny key ring light in my seat pack for when all else fails.

Yeah znomit, exactly, redundancy and backups to backups, especially when heading into dark trails. It happened! Two lights, both failed! However, I carried a third! That one, the third, was a Fenix L2DCE, and golly, it saved my hide!

This is what I am going to do: Get a 600L as the main light, then have another one on the handlebars, which will be one that uses an 18650, Cree Q2, probably around 150 lumens. I will also have two Fenix P3D CE's on my helmet. Maybe I will add another Fenix P3D CE to the handlebar, in the off position, but there as a backup.

znomit, do i know you? bikeforums? we are now invading another forum and we are EXPANDING! MUwAhHAHHAHAHHAAAA!

 

[znomit]

Yeah I get around!

For my road bike I run a dual Q5 taskled homebrew and a modded cateye EL530. The EL530 has 9hr runtime so I keep it on. It is fine to get home on when your badly heatsinked micropuck driver turns into smoke and the LEDs go out! Use my minewt too on helmet though a bit overkill.

For the MTB quad Q2 cree again taskled driven. I use my helmet mounted minewt, you need a helmet light for trails unless you have crazy bright front light!
Last week I was playing down the river 5min from home so didnt bother with a backup light... darkness hit suddenly just before I dropped into a 2m deep riverbed. Oops lesson learned. Batteries can rattle out of battery holder! I managed to stop in time.

 

[Grun]

Q5 looks fantastic. Sounds darn good too. Excellent!:thumbsup::twothumbs