Headlight Suggestions Please

[soprano]

I agree that the technology is changing rapidly. It's amazing how much prices have come down in the past few years. You can now buy a "see by" light for <$100.

I ordered this light just this week for commuting. It arrived yesterday and I haven't had a real after-dark commute with it yet, but I zoomed around the neighborhood a little last night and I was very pleased. I had retina surgery recently and my night vision is greatly reduced, but I had enough light that I'm not worried about riding home in the dark now.

[radacrider]

For my rainy weather/winter lighting I use a Dinotte 300r tailight and the XML-3 headlight. The headlight is like riding in the daylight, which is good as my night vision has decreased over the years Worth the dollars to me.

[Melalvai]

I'll throw in a plug for a hub generator powered light. This is the most expensive option initially because you have to buy or build the hub into your front wheel, that'll mean at least new spokes in addition to the hub. But the convenience of never having to worry about batteries! Unlike the old sidewall generators, the hub generator doesn't slow you down.

It doesn't blink and if you want the convenience of no-batteries for a blinky as well, try reelights. They are pretty easy to install, you just attach the magnets to your spokes and the light goes on your wheel.

Regardless of batteries, magnets, or generators, multiple lights are a good idea. I don't know how many times I've found myself out in the dusk or dark and realized that one or more of my lights needed new batteries or had lost a connection or something. By the way the reelights are the exception to that. I have NEVER found them inoperable. They last forever!

[DebW]

I use a MiNewt, originally 150 watt, upgraded to 200 watt when I had to replace the head unit. Now they have 250-350 watts for the same price. Love the nice wide even spread of the beam. I prefer a headlight on the bike and another on my helmet so I can direct light where I want it - into the woods around the bike path to look for animals, around a corner before I turn, at a car to make sure I've been noticed. I have a Vis360 helmet light which provides both a blinking rear and 110 lumen front light. I've very happy pedaling in total darkness with both lights, either light alone is OK if there are streetlights around.

[pll]

I start my weekday rides before dawn. I currently ride with a NiteRider Minewt 600 (now discontinued -- they have a 650 lumens model instead) in the front, as well as a Blackburn Flea set to blinking. In the back, I have a Light & Motion Vis 180. I also use "Nite beams" ankle bands, set to blink, too.

The reason I use the blinkie in the front, next to the Minewt, is that when you see the headlight of a bike on the road at a distance, it looks like it is not moving, static. I hope the blinkie provides drivers and additional visual cue.

Light & Motion has a 1200 lumens self-contained light. That might be my next purchase, once the MiNewt battery dies. I like the self contained lights as opposed to the ones with external "bricks" because I found the bricks unwieldy, a pain to deal with. Also, I prefer not add weight to my helmet (not good in case of a crash), so the light goes on my handlebar.

[Crankin]

I don't find the external battery cumbersome at all. I either put it on the other side of my handlebar or on the top tube. And I have 2 very small bikes.
Sometimes I forget which way to do the velcro, but that's my own weirdness...

[pll]

I don't find the external battery cumbersome at all. I either put it on the other side of my handlebar or on the top tube. And I have 2 very small bikes.
Sometimes I forget which way to do the velcro, but that's my own weirdness...

It could very well be that the last light brick I had was almost the size of a real brick! Since you put them on the handlebar, they must much smaller now. However, since the 600 lumens work for me now and my rides when it's dark are under 90 minutes, I'll stay away from bricks.