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I'm going to buy a new light - it will be an Exposure* as I already have some of their kit and love it.
Choices are Strada 1200lm or Toro Mk8 (2400lm boost - 1800lm constant)
Light will be used 90% road riding on very dark (and quiet) country lanes - and 10% mincing around the woods on my MTB.
The Strada 1200 looks like everything I need, but noticed the Toro Mk8 puts out a lot more lumens for the same money.
Anyone got any experience with either - would the Toro be better on unlit lanes?
*not interested in eBay Chinese fireworks - ben there, done that.
Either will be fine for what you describe - its a case of
I care about car drivers and don't want to dazzle them. (Strada)
vs
I might like to do some more difficult off-road someday. (Toro)
The Strada is a lot more pointy and less floody, making it ideal for road as you're not dazzling everyone.
I've got a Reflex and Strada 6. The Strada is perfect for the road, but if I use the reflex, I get both cars and cyclists coming the other way shielding their eyes.
Hmmmm - as I thought - the Strada 1200 would be a better bet on the road, and probably be good enough for my MTB mincing.
The new strada 1200 has a totally different lens set up to the previous versions. I've had one for a while now and it's great onroad as you'd expect. The beam is wonderfully full - i.e. You aren't chasing a dot and it's isn't overly flood either.
It's gone off road for CX and gravel - canal paths etc. The 1200 doesn't tell the full story, the beam really is very good.
EDIT, if you can't decide, I'd recommend buying both and return what you don't want. No problem taking them down a dark lane and having a shine. It's a lot of cash to drop of on a light that isn't working for you.
Cateye hase some interesting lights in the Volt series (1200 and 1600 lm, respectively).
Another self-contained option is the Fenix BC30r (high 800, boost 1600lm), which I own.
If you don't mind the price, Exposure are very nice indeed.
Thanks guys -
Having just studied the specs on the Exposure website I think the Strada 1200 would be the better compromise, especially as I already have a Joystick Mk10, which can go on my lid for MTB rides.
The Strada 1200 has exactly the same optics as the previous Strada 6, it's just driven fractionally higher to achieve 1200 lumens as opposed to the Mk6's 1000. There are some nominal hardware changes to the buttons and rear display, but that's it.
I also use an Equinox on my lid.