tourdecomp
07-30-04, 06:31 AM
leds are best
Mountain Biking - Night Lighting
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willtsmith_nwi
08-03-04, 05:38 PM
Howdy folks,
What are the pros and cons between LED front lights as apposed to halogen , Krypton and others. Which are the better alternatives. I have a fully equiped Raceline Mountain bike that does some serious hauling both in the day and night. I have a halogen front ligt by cateye but want another and are leds the better lighting alternative. :) :)
My understanding (and experience) is that the LED units just cannot put out the "turn night into day" experience of halogon and krypton bulbs yet. For hiking at night, a single 3 bulb LED unit is perfect. However, that light does not penetrate well.
For now, those 5 LED cateye units are probably perfect for visibility but not driving illumination.
I think one day all those halogen and Krypton units will be relegated to the scrapheap as the high output LED arrays become cheaper. Until then, you're probably stuck with those expensive energy sucking halogen units to ride trail on moonless nights.
BTW, there is ONE exception to this. If you ride snow on a moonlit night, an led headlamp is all you need.
What are the pros and cons between LED front lights as apposed to halogen , Krypton and others. Which are the better alternatives. I have a fully equiped Raceline Mountain bike that does some serious hauling both in the day and night. I have a halogen front ligt by cateye but want another and are leds the better lighting alternative. :) :)
My understanding (and experience) is that the LED units just cannot put out the "turn night into day" experience of halogon and krypton bulbs yet. For hiking at night, a single 3 bulb LED unit is perfect. However, that light does not penetrate well.
For now, those 5 LED cateye units are probably perfect for visibility but not driving illumination.
I think one day all those halogen and Krypton units will be relegated to the scrapheap as the high output LED arrays become cheaper. Until then, you're probably stuck with those expensive energy sucking halogen units to ride trail on moonless nights.
BTW, there is ONE exception to this. If you ride snow on a moonlit night, an led headlamp is all you need.