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Recommend me a front light powered by AA / AAA batteries please.
I am hoping to be camping & night riding later in the year, mostly country lane based riding.
Wish to buy a decent beamed front light, waterproof, to see potholes well before I fall into them. It won't be possible to recharge anywhere so the light needs to run on AA or AAA so I can just swop the batteries out, mid ride if necessary.
- I can't afford a light with multiple lion packs to swap before someone constructively suggests it.
- I dont want to mess about with USB power packs for phones etc.
- I already have a good rear light
Cheers for any ideas.
I can't think of anything useable that will last sensibly.
You can get many hours out of a joystick whilst on a lower setting which whilst not cheap is probably cheaper than feeding something half decent and waterproof with duracell.
Edit, recommending exactly what you specifically said you don't want isn't hugely helpful, feel free to ignore me - apols.
Wish to buy a decent beamed front light, waterproof, to see potholes well before I fall into them. It won’t be possible to recharge anywhere so the light needs to run on AA or AAA so I can just swop the batteries out, mid ride if necessary.
For road riding, a B&M Ixon premium. 4 x AAs, about 5 hours on full beam.
Get something that uses 18650 li-ion batteries, they can give you a lot more power than the equivalent AAs, and more reliable and easier to charge etc. Can buy more 18650 batteries fairly cheaply, if you want to carry spares.
I'd recommend the Fenix BC21R V2.
Another vote for a B&M Ixon of some sort - mine uses rechargeable AAs
Thanks for suggestions so far folks, very appreciated.
AA cost is not an issue as I use Eneloop rechargables for lots of things. I try to avoid non-rechargeables and one purpose only batteries. I have plenty to take camping as spare sets that I can charge at home and that will carry me over a couple of weeks holiday without needing to 'plug in' and can be used for other equipment in addition to the bike lights.
Hope Vision 1, the original type. Excellent light, usual Hope support (just had a new bracket fitted by them FOC after my ten year old one broke) Takes four AAs.
God only knows where you'll find one now though, maybe ring Hope and ask?
This one
I have just been checking out the B&M Ixons - they look promising, though a couple of comments on the web are a bit down on some of the build quality - can anyone give me feedback on the build of the light and of the mount?
Ironically I had a pair of Hope Visions - one in blue and a red one that look a bit like an undulating coke can 🙂 but I have been out of cycling for around 10 years due to health problems, I know they are here somewhere, have turned house upsidedown looking. Sods law if I buy replacement lights I will find them the next day! However I cannot find them, so hence checking out other options. I did look on Hopes site last week assuming that a later upgraded AA version will exist, but no. Shame as I really liked the bike mount too.
Most bike lights seem aimed now at very well heeled off roaders (£££££) or at short distance commuters recharging at their desks most days. Not knocking office folk, I am one, just very disappointed at the scope of bike light design. It seems assumed everyone has access to the mains every day and does not mind daily recharging or huge financial outlay. Yeh, I am being a miserable git 🙂
I did look on Hopes site last week assuming that a later upgraded AA version will exist, but no. Shame as I really liked the bike mount too.
Give them a call, I got a new bracket really easily, they might have some NOS kicking about in the warehouse somewhere, or maybe enough spares to put one together.
Andrewh, its OK, I did not overlook your suggestion and thanks lots for it. It sounds like they were on the ball for helping you out, good service. I used to be pleased with the mount as you can move everything on/off the bars super easy.
I wonder if as another alternative, I could get the Hope team to search my house for the missing lights ? 🙂
If you are going to be away from a power supply, have you considered dynamo lights? No worries about recharging batteries.
B&M Ixon IQ premium with eneloops here. Build quality excellent. Fork mounted for road use.
If you are going to be away from a power supply, have you considered dynamo lights? No worries about recharging batteries.
^^I have to agree with this^^
I've been using a £10 dynamo light off fleabay for some "unsociable hours commuting" originally it was intended to be just a running light to supplement my BH1000 job, but it's definitely adequate to navigate potholes on unlit Country lanes by on its own...
I have just been checking out the B&M Ixons – they look promising, though a couple of comments on the web are a bit down on some of the build quality – can anyone give me feedback on the build of the light and of the mount?
Mine's been fine. Just make sure you've clicked it into the mount properly, that way it won't fly off at 30mph and smash to pieces...
For overnight rides I take one spare set of rechargeables but I can't remember the last time I needed them.
Thanks again to everyone for all the various ideas and information. Super helpful. Plenty to investigate & think on.
Cheers.