Help illuminate me please

[PH5121]

I know that this is a question that is often asked as the nights draw in in autumn and we are now approaching spring, but I am looking for recommendations for a front light.
I have a maximum budget of £100 for a front light. I know there are many LED lights on Amazon and ebay but would appreciate advice from someone who has actually bought and used a light that they would recommend.

I am hoping to get out on an evening in order to shift some poundage. (I am sad to say I have just noticed I am fat. It has crept up on me and I have been in denial but the fact is I am, and kidding myself that a ride on the weekend with the kids is enough ).

I won't be hurtling through the woods but need something good enough to light my path (not just to make me visible to traffic) as I will stick to off road byways and paths where possible.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

[ecsrobin]

Whilst my lights are slightly more costly the USE outlet has a Joystick mk7 with handlebar mount and a flare rear light for £99.95 http://www.ultimatesportsengineering.com/exposure-...

I have a flare on the rear and it's brilliant.

If you are only off-road and not wanting a front light £100 gets you 100 lumen more http://www.ultimatesportsengineering.com/exposure-...

The build quality is brilliant and I think others will agree you will get what you pay for. There will of course be people recommending cree.

[dudleybloke]

Iv been running an eBay cree cheapo on the front and a magicshine 808 at the rear for about 3 years now with no problems. About £50 for the pair.

[Daveyraveygravey]

CREE Solar storm on Ebay, £15. I commute on unlit country roads and on the dimmest setting it is easily bright enough. You would have to be mad to spend any more...

[Evo Sean]

I run a set of C and B seen dual front lights:

http://www.candb-seen.co.uk/product-xc2400-mtb-kit...

Add the additional spreader lens to diffuse the lights wider than than a spot light. I added the hard mounts rather than the rubber bands. All in £100 delivered.

2400 lumens and holy christ there bright! I've run these for two years, through two winters without the hint of a problem. Both lamps are indivdually adjustable and have all the intensity selections you'd expect.

On full beam with the battery fully charged they'l last around 90-100mins. But will do much much more than that on half beam.

I commute 10 miles in, 11 miles home and they last for that on full beam no problem.

Quality is great, none of this ebay Chinese stuff.

Would buy these again all day long! Bang for buck, ignoring ebay toffee, these are epic!

[PH5121]

Thanks for the responses, I will have a look at the lights that have been suggested.

The last ones I bought were CatEye halogens, are their LED lights worth looking at?

[S2Andy]

Another thumbs up for the Solar Storm. Bought mine about 6 months ago on ebay, after talking to a chap using one. Easy to fit and incredibly bright. Mines got 3 LED's but 2 would probably be fine.

[PH5121]

The ebay Solar Storms look cheap, I am glad to hear that they perform well (and at that price they are disposable I suppose if they don't work after a year).

[tjdixon911]

I've been running the £15 ebay ones for 3-4 years, over the past 2 years they have been used for my weekly MTB night ride through all conditions and are still working fine.

I have considered upgrading in the past but still haven't.

The downside with mine is they give no warning of when they are going to die, it can be on full power one second and off the next - a little concerning when heading down any unlit path - I tend to run one on my helmet with a spare on the bars. I think the newer ones do give some warning.

I have recently purchased a Cateye Volt 100 - its a great little light and bright enough to light up unlit roads etc, not really enough for off road riding though - I got it in a closing down sale for £15 so was a bit of a bargain. They do a 700 version, which I am sure was on offer recently.

[Mr E]

Evo Sean said:

I run a set of C and B seen dual front lights:

http://www.candb-seen.co.uk/product-xc2400-mtb-kit...

I run a single 1200 with a horizontal diffuser and it's perfectly adequate for commuting on unlit paths.
Single charge gets at least an hour an a half on maximum brightness.

[RizzoTheRat]

PH5121 said:

Thanks for the responses, I will have a look at the lights that have been suggested.

The last ones I bought were CatEye halogens, are their LED lights worth looking at?

I've got a Cateye Volt 800 and it's great. Probably doesn't throw forward quite far enough for the high speed road merchants but for commuting on pitch black cycle paths with un-iluminated joggers and dog walkers it's great. USB rechargeable and the battery seems to last for ages.

[ALawson]

I have one of these, paid about £100 through a mate, worked for 1.5 years then replaced under warranty. I never run it on maximum unless on steep narrow descents (road) with bad surfaces. Most of the time its on the flashing mode or lowest setting, especially when in a group. I have used this setting for rides up to 90km at night with no issues. Although cars do flash if you have it on main beam.

The light gets thrown down the road nicely and the beam is wide enough.

https://www.google.co.uk/#q=hl-el1000rc+volt1200&a...