Best cheap headlight?

[pbarry]

This seems like a good deal, but I haven't been up on light tech since night sun was King..

https://www.rei.com/rei-garage/produ...ke-light-combo

[trener1]

I have used both Cygolite and L&M they both seem good.
I think anything above 500 Lumans will be more then enough of course if you spend another $20-$30 you can get up into the 700 range but I thunk that would be overkill.
I have never used any Serfas lights but that REI deal does seem pretty good, especially if you need a rear as well.
Check out your LBS as well.

[m_sasso]

Bike Tires Direct todays special, Light and Motion Urban 650 Light, $39.00



https://www.biketiresdirect.com/prod...=daily_special

[Keith A]

Originally Posted by m_sasso

Bike Tires Direct todays special, Light and Motion Urban 650 Light, $39.00



https://www.biketiresdirect.com/prod...=daily_special

That's a great deal! I've got a couple of L&M lights and they are a solid product.

[rousseau]

I'm an aficionado of the Cree XM-L T6 lights. They're nice and cheap, and give you 1,200 or 1,800 lumens.

https://www.amazon.ca/RioRand-Light-...ee+lights+bike

They've got sizable battery packs that you remove to recharge. They're a tiny bit cumbersome putting on and taking off, I suppose. Meaning? You don't toss them on in the blink of an eye, you might spend thirty seconds or so attaching everything like I have in the pics below, but the result is that you've got yourself some serious headlamps.

I do lots of riding at night in the dark countryside during this, the dark half of the year (I prefer riding after 6 pm because there's less traffic). I see everything in front of me and feel completely confident having two of these on my handlebar. They've even got normal/high beam settings accessed by the green button.

I think these are made in China specials, and I suspect the quality control could be touch and go, but, you know, they're cheap. I've had mine for several years now. Last year I spent $30 getting the wiring on one of them redone by a local guy because I'd dislodged some soldering when pulling the plug by grasping the light and yanking on it, instead of getting hold of the plug itself and pulling from there. But the repair was totally worth it.

[cadence90]

I see lots of votes for Cygolite and L&M here, and then a few single votes for others. I have no experience in lights, but need some.

What about NiteRider? Don't those have an excellent reputation as well?
.
.

[jghall]

Originally Posted by cadence90

What about NiteRider? Don't those have an excellent reputation as well?
]

NiteRider makes nice lights. In similar vain/price point, so is the Cateye Volt, Bontrager Ion, etc.

I personally like L&M as I prefer their beam pattern more.

Thankfully a lot of good options out there. The Urban 650 for $40 is a heck of a light for not a lot of cash.

[zzy]

+1 on cheap Chinese LEDs with external battery packs. I agree about the XM-L T6 - very powerful with decent efficiency and not too much heat. With a good 4-cell 18650 pack they can stay on high for 8 hours. The self contained units need too much recharging, so you always forget if you use it frequently.

[Keith A]

Originally Posted by cadence90

I see lots of votes for Cygolite and L&M here, and then a few single votes for others. I have no experience in lights, but need some.

What about NiteRider? Don't those have an excellent reputation as well?
.
.

I also have a NiteRider 700 Lumina and it's a great light too. Both L&M and NiteRider have features that I like better than the other one.

NiteRider Lumina
• Stronger/sturdier strap
• Light can be removed from the base
• Has a "walking" low light mode
• My 700 is at least as bright as the L&M Urban 800
• This appears to be more user serviceable, but I'm not certain on this point

L&M Urban
• Can swivel the light on the base
• Has a fuel gauge, my Lumina doesn't

Beam patterns are slightly different, and I don't have a strong preference of one over the other.

[trener1]

If you are still in the market, Performance has the Niterider Lumina 550 on sale today for $40 and the 750 for $48

[Keith A]

Originally Posted by trener1

If you are still in the market, Performance has the Niterider Lumina 550 on sale today for $40 and the 750 for $48

When I looked, it has the 750 for $60...
http://www.performancebike.com/bikes...551_1209438_-1

[cadence90]

Originally Posted by Keith A

When I looked, it has the 750 for $60...
http://www.performancebike.com/bikes...551_1209438_-1

Is the NiteRider Lumina 750 Boost + Sabre 50 Tail Light for $80 a good deal?

http://www.performancebike.com/bikes...00000005207_-1
.
.

[charliedid]

Originally Posted by cadence90

Is the NiteRider Lumina 750 Boost + Sabre 50 Tail Light for $80 a good deal?

http://www.performancebike.com/bikes...00000005207_-1
.
.

Yes

Very good lights.

[trener1]

Yeah it looks like the price went up...

That combo deal seems like a good deal as well.

[trener1]

Also a heads up, they have the 550 + Tail light for $56, though the extra 250 Lumans might be worth the extra $25.
https://www.performancebike.com/bike...551_1209415_-1