I currently commute w/ a Fenix L2D (also 180 lumens). This is fine on dark paths, but I don't feel safe when biking in and out of lit areas, or near dusk. Note that I think this is a wonderful flashlight, and its beam is at least as good as the 180-N mentioned below (compared w/ a friend's).

So I'm looking at upgrading and I'm a bit confused by the allure of LED systems when there seem to be much brighter halogen lights available for the same price. The stella 180-N is 180 lumens for ~$180.

By contrast a 35W halogen light (http://www.batteryspace.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=2251), plus 14.4 volt battery (http://www.batteryspace.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=3261), plus a $10 mount is ostensibly 2287 lumens, for ~$150.

The former is certainly prettier, lighter (no pun intended), and smaller. I've also read that LED's have a better tone/color, last longer, etc, but the latter should still be an order of magnitude brighter. I've also read some opinions that anything on the order of 1000 lumens or above are unsafe for cars. I don't buy this, as the car lights are certainly brighter than that, and the bike light would be angled down just like the car lights.

So what am I missing?

For about $130 you can have a bar mounted and helmet mounted Fenix pair of flashlights that imho meets most cyclists needs, including unlit roads. One Fenix's spill will completely illuminate a 2-lane country road with a hot spot as good or better as lights costing 3x as much. Even if your light is $150, you only have a bar light. Since I have got a helmet light this winter I would not be without a bar and helmet combination if I can help it. It is so nice to be able to see where I am turning.

My buddy had allocated $300 to replace his old lights. Prior to seeing the Fenix flashlights, I did not think that was enough money. Once he saw a Fenix in action he was sold. He ordered the mounts for two flashlights (bar & helmet) from Fenix and is pleased with the result. And he spent less than half his budget. This is a retired cyclist with decades of cycling/night riding experience that could really afford to spend as much as he wanted to on lights but did not want to spend more than he needed to. He is very appreciative that I made him aware of the product.

As always, YMMV.

I do not make recommendations lightly, but it is so easy to sing this product's praises. But I would never argue with anyone that wants to pay more money for more powerful lights. I am just saying that a pair of Fenix's will meet most people's needs.

BTW - I have read many reviews praising the light you are considering but enough negative ones to steer me away. Again, YMMV. Everybody has the right to play it as they see it.

I brought a Stella home for test and took it back the next day. Not enough light for the price and a NiMH battery/dumb charger. Light and Motion is really behind the competition.

^^
pretty much what he said.
I have some experience with hi-power halogen lights and I do like the light color & throw of a nice overvolted bulb. however, complexity, weight, short runtime, and lack of reliability finally drove me away from halogen.

I run 2 fenix on the bars - a good amount of light. Also, built-in redundancy: if one fails for any reason, you still have another. An issue with the Halogen was short bulb life, complex switchgear, big heavy touchy battery, etc.

You might want to try supplimenting your single light with another either on the bars or helmet.

Cheers

If I go w/ the halogen, I'll still have my fenix as backup/helmet-light.

I guess I'll probably try the halogen. My ride is not long (30 minutes each way), so I don't care about charge duration. I don't care about bulbs dying, as they are ~$3 each, and I'll have the fenix as a backup.

I still think it's odd that most people here seem to say that the more lumens, the better, and yet it's the expensive dim options that get all the play. I can see going w/ two fenix's instead of the halogen, they might be light enough (360 lumens), and add redundancy. But it seems, *based on the specs*, that many folk going for 500-600 lumen systems pay 2x - 5x too much.

I am tempted to try Halogen again for the reasons you mention.

Oddly, all commonly available commercial halogen systems use MR11 bulbs, instead of Mr16. The 16's are about 200% as efficient at turning energy into light on the road. I have no idea why commercial light companies don't use them: It's not that the light is "too big", as I think HID bulbs are mr16 size, and many "large array" led lights are pretty big as well.

Mr16 seems to be competitive with HID or LED or anything else in terms of efficiency. Why it's not used, I dunno.

btw, I am referencing this: http://nordicgroup.us/s78/wattslumens.html
(borrowed from another thread)

Of particular interest to me is the 10% overvolted 10watt light. 500+ lumens from a single, relatively lo-power light! and conservative overvolting to maintain decent bulb reliability.

A dual system of these guys, mouted under the handlebar for clean looks, & run off a compact battery slung under the stem, would be awesome.

getting 1000+ lumens out of a commercial LED system takes many emitters and many $$ - the Dinotte 600L Dual is around $750. I bet a heck of a good halogen system could be built for 1/3 the price, and be comparable in weight.

I am tempted to try Halogen again for the reasons you mention.

Oddly, all commonly available commercial halogen systems use MR11 bulbs, instead of Mr16.


The torch I cite above uses an MR16.

getting 1000+ lumens out of a commercial LED system takes many emitters and many $$ - the Dinotte 600L Dual is around $750.

And is only 600 lumens. The system I cite is 2200 lumens for 1/5 the cost.

I dunno, maybe *perceived* brightness goes up logarithmically, or some such. I guess I'll soon know.