What head torch for MTB?
What head torch for MTB?
Author
Discussion

Theoldfm

Original Poster:

400 posts

216 months

Thursday 28th October 2010
quotequote all
I have just bought a new front light - Exposure MAXXD (Daddy) 1200 lumes. It is fantastic but on twisty single track I could do with something mounted on my helmet too


Digga

48,056 posts

312 months

Friday 29th October 2010
quotequote all
Theoldfm said:
I have just bought a new front light - Exposure MAXXD (Daddy) 1200 lumes. It is fantastic but on twisty single track I could do with something mounted on my helmet too

They do a small (about 1.5" diameter cylinder) torch which is light enough to go 'up top' and comes with a neat ball socket type bracket that can be clamped through a vent on most types of helmet. This gives enough light.

Here on Wiggle

That's what I've been using for the last year.

The only snag with any helmet mounted light is at certain times if/when you're breathing hard and blowing out clouds of 'steam' - creating your own fog - because the light reflects back.

stewies_minion

1,167 posts

216 months

Friday 29th October 2010
quotequote all
+1 for the Joystick.

It's simply amazing.

I run it with a bar mounted Enduro Maxx (700 lumens) and it's very nearly as good.

The directional light makes such a difference to depth perception and makes a lot of difference in the deep, dark woods. I got one with a lanyard and it's a handy little torch for the loft / walks with the kids. The wife uses it when running too. You can also get a bar mount if you decide you want to use it that way.

supertouring

2,228 posts

262 months

Friday 29th October 2010
quotequote all
I have an UltraFire 502 on my helmet, works well.

I mount it with a carefully cut inner-tube as show below. Works well and is easily removed, unlike cableties.




Tomatogti

383 posts

198 months

Friday 29th October 2010
quotequote all
stewies_minion said:
+1 for the Joystick.

It's simply amazing.

I run it with a bar mounted Enduro Maxx (700 lumens) and it's very nearly as good.

The directional light makes such a difference to depth perception and makes a lot of difference in the deep, dark woods. I got one with a lanyard and it's a handy little torch for the loft / walks with the kids. The wife uses it when running too. You can also get a bar mount if you decide you want to use it that way.
+2 - I use it MTBing with an original Maxx D (960 lumins) on the bars.

R.P.M

1,977 posts

250 months

Friday 29th October 2010
quotequote all
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.29489

All you need for your head. Great value too. Bike radar rates them too
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/accessories...

Mojocvh

16,837 posts

291 months

Theoldfm

Original Poster:

400 posts

216 months

Friday 29th October 2010
quotequote all
R.P.M said:
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.29489

All you need for your head. Great value too. Bike radar rates them too
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/accessories...
These look unbelievable value - well as long as you buy them from DE at any rate. Has anyone actually bought any from there? I would be worried about them not turning up!!

rhinochopig

17,932 posts

227 months

Friday 29th October 2010
quotequote all
Theoldfm said:
R.P.M said:
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.29489

All you need for your head. Great value too. Bike radar rates them too
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/accessories...
These look unbelievable value - well as long as you buy them from DE at any rate. Has anyone actually bought any from there? I would be worried about them not turning up!!
Not that particular torch, but I've ordered from them about 10 times and never had a problem.

_rubinho_

1,237 posts

212 months

Friday 29th October 2010
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I run a iBlaast II from this site http://www.nightlightning.co.nz/endurenz%20details... It's extremely bright and great quality. They have a bunch of configuration options and you can buy as components for self assembly.

pdV6

16,442 posts

290 months

Saturday 30th October 2010
quotequote all
Another vote for the Joystick. Been using one for the past year and simply can't fault it.
Even the optional little plug-in rear led is fantastic (for commuting).
Off road, there's plenty of light even if the main bar-mounted lamp fails.
Having tried many different dodgy helmet attachments over the years, the Joystick's mount is by far the best I've used; it's easy to get it pointing in the right direction and on the odd occasion the light gets hooked up on passing flora, it releases easily enough but doesn't fall due to the lanyard. Good, simple bit of design.

Parrot of Doom

23,075 posts

263 months

Saturday 30th October 2010
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I've ordered tonnes of stuff from dealextreme, never had a problem.

mchammer89

3,127 posts

242 months

Saturday 30th October 2010
quotequote all
Theoldfm said:
R.P.M said:
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.29489

All you need for your head. Great value too. Bike radar rates them too
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/accessories...
These look unbelievable value - well as long as you buy them from DE at any rate. Has anyone actually bought any from there? I would be worried about them not turning up!!
I've got 6...

American iv

468 posts

225 months

Saturday 30th October 2010
quotequote all
I've got that MagixShine unit on the front of the bike and this set up on my helmet http://www.mtbbritain.co.uk/mountain_bike_lights_r... All bought from DealExtreme.

Works very well for me and is bright enough to press on through the woodlands. The torch on the helmet is a little heavy, but not overly so and only takes a little while to get used to.

R.P.M

1,977 posts

250 months

Saturday 30th October 2010
quotequote all
Theoldfm said:
R.P.M said:
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.29489

All you need for your head. Great value too. Bike radar rates them too
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/accessories...
These look unbelievable value - well as long as you buy them from DE at any rate. Has anyone actually bought any from there? I would be worried about them not turning up!!
Yep, first time I bought five, and just this Friday I bought another 6!
Have ridden with some folk who have £300-400 lights and there is honestly no real noticeable difference. full power on a full charge lasts just over 3hrs.

Theoldfm

Original Poster:

400 posts

216 months

Sunday 31st October 2010
quotequote all
R.P.M said:
Theoldfm said:
R.P.M said:
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.29489

All you need for your head. Great value too. Bike radar rates them too
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/accessories...
These look unbelievable value - well as long as you buy them from DE at any rate. Has anyone actually bought any from there? I would be worried about them not turning up!!
Yep, first time I bought five, and just this Friday I bought another 6!
Have ridden with some folk who have £300-400 lights and there is honestly no real noticeable difference. full power on a full charge lasts just over 3hrs.
What is the quality of these lights like though - looking on some of the sites there appear to be a lot of people showing how to fit o-rings and silicon sealant to these lights... does that mean that you need to re-build them yourself before use or are they OK as they are?

Also, what is the helmet attachment like?

R.P.M

1,977 posts

250 months

Sunday 31st October 2010
quotequote all
Nothing dodgy about them, it's honestly a good deal. I just loop the o ring on my helmet to fix it others attach the clamp thing with zip ties. They have the fit and finish of a £150-£200 unit.

pdV6

16,442 posts

290 months

Monday 1st November 2010
quotequote all
Batteries aren't well sealed though. Wrap the battery pack in a sandwich bag before riding in the wet!

Theoldfm

Original Poster:

400 posts

216 months

Monday 1st November 2010
quotequote all
American iv said:
I've got that MagixShine unit on the front of the bike and this set up on my helmet http://www.mtbbritain.co.uk/mountain_bike_lights_r... All bought from DealExtreme.

Works very well for me and is bright enough to press on through the woodlands. The torch on the helmet is a little heavy, but not overly so and only takes a little while to get used to.
I have taken the plunge and decided to buy one of these:



For the money there appears to be nothing to touch it. I will let you know what it's like when it turns up... I will be running a total of 2100 lumen by then so that should certainly be enough fire power for the forests!! shoot

Trevelyan

729 posts

218 months

Wednesday 3rd November 2010
quotequote all
I'm trying to decide on which lights to get for my bike at the moment. The bulk of the night time use will be for commuting on lit town roads and a few unlit country roads, but I'd like enough light up my sleeve for the odd play around on rough tracks and woodland paths.

Ideally I don't want to spend much more than 50 quid, so the bulk of the advice I've read on various forums seems to be pointing towards the various offerings from DealExtreme. The only concern I've got is the delivery time. I'm happy to wait 2 or 3 weeks, but much longer than that and I'll have to look elsewhere. Has anyone bought anything from them recently, and if so what were the delivery times like?

Also has anyone got any recommendations for rear lights? Ideally I'd like a couple - one fixed, one strobing.