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I'm managing quite well with a 100 lumin head torch and a couple of dim bike lights, but it's deffo time for a decent-ish light. A headtorch seems pretty good for early indication of large hazards in the distance so this is more about a bright pool of light illuminating the ground in front of the bike.
This is for @1hr30 rides pitch black off road singletrack, but smoothish decent 'towpath' surface rather than drop offs and roots. No road riding at all.
I can (and know I will) compromise on all requirements which are:
- No wires
- 2 hours burn time at decent brightness
- AA or AAA batteries rather than built in battery.
- Rubber band fixings
- Cheap as possible
- Water proof optional
- Needs to be a spread rather than spot, I'll achieve spotlight with a head torch
I'm vaguely thinking Cateye Volt 400 XC might work...
I know this compromises a few things on your list but I’ve used these for years. You won’t get better for price I don’t think. I get a few hours on half strength and around 2 on full. https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F312271494440
AA or AAA cuts a load of the market off for you. Decent UK rechargeable or 18650s and a good charger are the way forwards,
Have a look at what Torchy the battery boy offers.
I have a Fluxient with one 18650 battery. I like the fact that I can take it out to charge and carry a spare.
Not sure why you'd specify an AA or AAA batteries over a unit with a rechargable internal 18650 battery pack?
So in the spirit of STW, I'll ignore your spec's and suggest one of the new Halford Bikehut range, 200/5000/1000/1600 units are available with internal batteries
That bikehut light is epic for the money. Had my first ride with it last night. You will be amazed. As with all rubber mounted lights though it moves in the rough bits so you may want to run the GPS mount that comes with it.
@dazzzbo, thanks that looks great, at that price I'll buy one and it it's not right it can serve as a head torch.
The bikehut light looks like a winner too, thanks zippy and tom. Which one you got, Tom?
Reason AA/AAA would be good is because I have dozens of rechargeable AA/AAAs lying around and it seems an environmental crime to buy new lithium. I wasn't optimistic that the AA/AAA requirement would be met, mind you.
Thanks all, every post was really helpful.
bikehut is no brainer. Just got my kids the 1600 lumen one for £45 (with bc discount) and tried it out the other night - about 1.5hr on full (just to try it out) and still had some (maybe 25%) left.
Another Bikehut user here, it's an amazing light for the money. First ride last week, and while not quite as bright as my Hope R8, it's more than enough light, lighter, and a fifth of the price!! The remote is handy too. 🙂
Zanflare F1 mounted to your helmet with velcro. £22 for the torch, £5ish for the 18650 battery, recharges via usb built into the torch.
I'm using one of these as my main off road light.
Thanks all, I bought a 500 lumin Bikehut light. Suspect it might be underpowered for many and it seemed like I was taking a chance but tried it out last night and it was plenty bright enough and if the 'remaining time' indicator is correct out performs the advertised 2 hours at 500 lumins.
Will probably buy Dazzzbo's suggestion too.
I have also run one of the lights dazzzzbo has mentioned for a number of years. A couple of observations, if I may. The beam pattern is pretty shitty, two circles of light, the outer is really wide and not very bright, the inner is quite a tight spot and plenty bright enough.
On it's own, I found it adequate for riding on the road, Although the outer circle of light doesn't have a cut off and even on low power I found it to be quite blinding to oncoming traffic, even with the spot pointing right down.
Off road was another matter, as a single light, it's not enough. The spot is not wide enough and the wide bit, not bright enough. So I'm always moving it up or down depending on what I'm riding on, which is a pain in the arse. Two of them would be better if you're heading off on a bridleway or byway. Currently I'm only using the one, so YMMV…
Ditch the supplied battery pack, its utter shit. Mine could hardly last an hour after a few months of use. I bought one these to replace it and it lasts for ages on full power, in comparison (they came in multiple flavours of connector, so if you get one, make sure it's the right one). I know this doesn't fit your requirement for AA/AAA batteries, but I think you can get a pack that you can change the batteries in.
Finally, if you cycle through the modes to go from High to Low a lot, you have to pass though Blink and Off, which can be annoying while bumping over rough ground. This light unit is pretty similar, but the light doesn't go into Off while cycling through the modes, and it meets your replacing batteries requirement.
HTH, HAND, etc…
I've just bought another lumen800 from https://www.mtbbatteries.co.uk/mountain-bike-light
Well worth a look as guaranteed good product and after service.