Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets - Wearable lights

I'm looking for lights that I can wear while riding at night or maybe ones that can clip to my messenger bag.

I'm preferably looking for inexpensive ones that run on AA or AAA so they can be recharged.

I have used these leds in many applications.. They are lightweight, have many mounting options and work on inexpensive batteries.. Adventure Guardian LED

http://www.botachtactical.com/novlabguar.html

Did you ever watch that movie, The Electric Horseman?

I think that's the way to go for wearable lights. You've got to be pretty good looking to pull it off, though. ;)

http://www.sover.net/~ozus/electr1.jpg

I've seen similar lights in use. They're effectively invisible from more than a few metres away. Fog or rain? - might as well not bother. My view when it comes to lights and you're on a main road you need as much as you can get, front and rear. Toy lights just won't cut it.

Try the dollar store. http://dealextreme.com/ ebay.

Wear on helmet
http://ecom1.planetbike.com/3010.html

Wear on arm or leg
http://ecom1.planetbike.com/3030.html

Reflective gear is probably the best choice.
http://www.night-gear.com/

Reflective gloves. I have these and other cyclists are very impressed.
http://www.night-gear.com/p/Reflective-Gear_Mens-Activewear_Gloves/88/Glo-Glov-Original.htm
http://www.night-gear.com/Reflective-Gear/Mens-Activewear/Gloves.htm

Look at all Nathan's products including their reflective dots and dashes, helmet stickons, and tape
http://www.night-gear.com/reflective-clothing/Manufacturers/Nathan.htm

Cycling vest
http://www.night-gear.com/p/Manufacturers_Nathan/230/Cyclist-Vest-2-by-Nathan.htm

I've worn almost everything at one point in the extensive night workouts I do. I've used the small tactical clip-on lights mentioned above, Illuminite (Nightgear) stuff mentioned above, Cateye products, FENIX products, MARS, etc.

After all that trial and error, here are my personal rules:

1. BRIGHT rear blinker. Keep the AAA batteries on this one HOT - this is the most important thing you can wear on a bike. The Planetbike Superflash is the best here, since it's super-easy to change out the batts. I will not ride in dusk/dark without this.

2. FENIX or equivalent-powered front-aimed headlamp (Dinotte,etc.) You can shine this thing at oncoming cars and at intersections, as well as use it to effectively see at night.

3. Illuminite sucks. I hate to say it, but it's on my list of do-not buy clothing. I ended up returning over $200 of gear because the illuminite reflective strips rubbed off with minor friction from a backpack and were not bright enough. For similar money, you can get much better reflective wear from a sports company like Brooks or Izumi. *The exception here are the illuminite gloves - which have extremely bright reflective piping - I use them in colder weather.

4. This one's optional, but I definitely notice a difference with it: MARS 3.0 blinker clipped to the front. I know that red blinkies are legally supposed to only be on back, but I put this one up front because the MARS has pretty decent lateral spread so cars approaching from the side can more readily see me. The MARS definitely outperfroms the PB superflash for lateral lide spill. To me, the difference in visibility and respect from laterally-oncoming cars is sufficiently significant that I feel nervous riding at night without it. (The FENIX while super bright, has very poor side-spill.)

I've found that with a front/rear blinkie setup, the reflective gear isn't necessary at all (atlhough more is usually better) - I've ridden in pure black clothing with it, and felt much safer from cars than just wearing reflective gear alone. Just remember to keep those batts hot for the rear blinkie especially - I'd say that the vast majority of folks I see using one have it so dimmed that it's seen too late. I try and wear reflective clothing, but with the 3-light setup, it's not necessary at all.

So, my ultra-minimal setup, but definitely decent for safety: PB blinkie on the back.

And my preferred setup: PB blinkie on back, MARS on front, and FENIX for targeted stuff.

To supplant my superflash and front flashlight, I think I'll get at least one of these to stick on the messenger bag http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.2975 It looks like it has a capable clip.

I'm looking for lights that I can wear while riding at night or maybe ones that can clip to my messenger bag.

I'm preferably looking for inexpensive ones that run on AA or AAA so they can be recharged.

Hmm.. I'm more then sure this can run off AA/AAA only after you modify it. I don't know what the voltage is on this unit as I don't own it. If I did know the voltage it's a simple matter of finding out how many AA/AAA it takes to come as close to the voltage the device needs then removing the wire for the rechargeable batterypack and soldering (or if you don't have a soldering irion crimp the wires back on with a pair of pliers) a 9v battery clip and use a battery holder with a 9v head on it. All can be found at your local electronics store or Radio Shack.


http://www.blt-lights.com/product/signal_vest/