Bike front headlight recommendation?

[Jdm]

Since it’s almost Black Friday, I’m thinking about getting a new front headlight. I currently use a Cygolite Epsilon 850 that’s 9 years old (battery and circuit board replaced in the last 18 months).

I need something brighter for fast road biking in the dark on poorly it streets so I can see potholes. I think my night vision is getting worse with age.

My requirements:
- really bright light for road riding. High mode needs to last at least 90 minutes. Longer is better
- good daytime flash mode. I use a headlight every time I ride.
- fits a GoPro mount upside down under my Garmin
- lightweight
- waterproof
- easily removable for charging
- <$100 unless there’s a strong reason to spend more.

The Knog Blinder 1300 has good reviews and is on sale for $75.

[Derosid]

I’m commuting with the Lumina Micro 900 that I quite like. It mounts under my Karoo2 on a mount as you describe.

[ChainNoise]

https://www.outboundlighting.com/products/detour

Outbound lighting Detour if used for road. It is worth the extra money. End of thread. It has a cutoff exactly like a car headlight so you don't blind other road users, be it other cyclists, cars, walkers, etc. Customer service is amazing. They stand by their product 100%. 'Merican designed and made.

[Derosid]

Originally Posted by ChainNoise

https://www.outboundlighting.com/products/detour

Outbound lighting Detour if used for road. It is worth the extra money. End of thread. It has a cutoff exactly like a car headlight so you don't blind other road users, be it other cyclists, cars, walkers, etc. Customer service is amazing. They stand by their product 100%. 'Merican designed and made.

Wow, that looks fantastic. I might have to try it. One of the most annoying aspects of most bike lights is how they blind everything/everyone in their path.

[biker72]

I'm currently using Lezyne headlights. Brightness range from 500-2400 Lumens.

My night riding is usually fairly lit streets so the 600 Lumen works for me. Also works well as a daytime flash.

[ChainNoise]

Originally Posted by Derosid

Wow, that looks fantastic. I might have to try it. One of the most annoying aspects of most bike lights is how they blind everything/everyone in their path.

I had the first gen and it was insanely good. The updated road version no longer has an external battery pack and I believe the optics were tuned a bit for a better pattern. I do have the Detour but havent used it yet. I moved to a different area that is far busier and am a little intimidated to ride road in the dark around here.

[benb]

Right now I still have an old Niterider 650 and I have the Garmin UT800 which I got more recently.

I really, really like the double sided mount where the light mounts to the bottom of the computer mount. (Basically go-pro style to 1/4 turn)

However the UT800 is bizarrely complicated... the light is fine but the computer/smart aspects are overly complicated. The "auto beam forming" and adjustments seem like they were programmed by Syd Barrett and Jerry Garcia on a bad day. Probably not an issue in rural areas with no lights or on trails but very weird in urban areas. There are a lot of options in the computer but they are not explained well. The big issue is it will just about turn the light completely off on you when it shouldn't. And even with some of the auto beam forming off if you have a head mounted light and you look at the computer it will make the bar mounted light start flashing as the computer thinks the sun came up from your head mounted lamp! I think the UT800 has a lot of promise for areas that aren't super dark but only if you get those options set just right.

I kind of like having the helmet mounted light too.. if I look at drivers who are entering traffic they notice me really fast... one of my big worries is one of them popping me coming off their stop sign when I have the right of way. The light on the handlebars isn't pointing right at them and can be washed out if there are cars following me. No need to make it harder for them to see me.