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The best headlights under $50 thread

Old 06-29-08, 06:53 PM
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Question The best headlights under $50 thread

Just looking for something cheap but effective. This isn't really for any nighttime riding on the regular, but more for those times when I'm coming from a friend's house at night, for example.
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Old 06-29-08, 07:51 PM
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I have the Cateye EL-500, I like it alot! You can probably get one for under $50
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Old 06-29-08, 08:07 PM
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https://www.fenix-store.com/product_...roducts_id=362
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Old 06-29-08, 09:34 PM
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This light with a Two Fish holder would be great. You'd have enough money leftover for a charger and batteries too.

https://www.shiningbeam.com/servlet/t...CREE-Q5/Detail
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Old 06-30-08, 01:17 PM
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Anything that's not a flashlight? Seems like the last two suggestions were flashlights.
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Old 06-30-08, 01:24 PM
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Originally Posted by K1NJO
Anything that's not a flashlight? Seems like the last two suggestions were flashlights.
Many of us use flashlights with a bike mount. Believe it or not, but they make a great and extremely bright bike light for a fraction of the cost of a bike specific light. For such a small budget you aren't going to get much beyond a little blinkey front light if you insist on a bike specific light.
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Old 06-30-08, 02:06 PM
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MTE SSC P7 C-Bin 900-Lumen 8-Mode LED Flashlight. $45.90 free ship.
Brighter than automobile headlights on high mode, medium and low power modes for longer run times. Flash modes make you visible even in bright daylight.
P7 flashlights are selling out almost as fast as there listed. Hurry if you want one.
https://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.13060
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Old 06-30-08, 03:24 PM
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I have seen NiteRider Trail Rat 2.0/Road Rat 2.0 systems online for $70 on sale every now and again...
It's 20 bucks more here, but with free shipping...
https://www.jensonusa.com/store/produ...Rat+20+06.aspx
Or you could opt for this blackburn system.
https://www.jensonusa.com/store/produ...System+X6.aspx

Neither of these systems are the latest or greatest, but they have come down quite a bit in price.
This is a big step up from the "be seen" lights to the "lights to see with" catagory. You will not be disapointed... Cheers!
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Old 06-30-08, 03:26 PM
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Originally Posted by Ziemas
Many of us use flashlights with a bike mount. Believe it or not, but they make a great and extremely bright bike light for a fraction of the cost of a bike specific light. For such a small budget you aren't going to get much beyond a little blinkey front light if you insist on a bike specific light.
I was skeptical at first also. But many of us on the forum have had a little faith and taken the advice of the original forum members that discovered the great utility and value these "flashlights".

Don't let the bike light/flashlight packaging fool you. A cyclist that I ride with had budgeted $400 for new lights and was astounded at the output and effectiveness of these lights for cycling. He now has one "flashlight" mounted on the bars and another helmet mounted and $250 still in his pocket and could not be happier. He is retired and has been riding at night for years.
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Old 06-30-08, 03:28 PM
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Originally Posted by Inthe10ring
I have seen NiteRider Trail Rat 2.0/Road Rat 2.0 systems online for $70 on sale every now and again...
It's 20 bucks more here, but with free shipping...
https://www.jensonusa.com/store/produ...Rat+20+06.aspx
Or you could opt for this blackburn system.
https://www.jensonusa.com/store/produ...System+X6.aspx

Neither of these systems are the latest or greatest, but they have come down quite a bit in price.
This is a big step up from the "be seen" lights to the "lights to see with" catagory. You will not be disapointed... Cheers!
If you werer able to compare these directly against the fenix flashlight/holders, you would not even consider them.
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Old 06-30-08, 03:31 PM
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Originally Posted by n4zou

MTE SSC P7 C-Bin 900-Lumen 8-Mode LED Flashlight. $45.90 free ship.
Brighter than automobile headlights on high mode, medium and low power modes for longer run times. Flash modes make you visible even in bright daylight.
P7 flashlights are selling out almost as fast as there listed. Hurry if you want one.
https://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.13060
I would personally stick with AA powered flashlights.
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Old 06-30-08, 05:12 PM
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Thanks guys for the info. Sorry for my ignorance with the flashlights. I think I'm interested in the Romisen. And at that price, I could still get 2 of them!

Ziemas, do you know the difference with the RC-N3 and the RC-C3?
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Old 06-30-08, 06:33 PM
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Originally Posted by K1NJO
Just looking for something cheap but effective. This isn't really for any nighttime riding on the regular, but more for those times when I'm coming from a friend's house at night, for example.
Take your pick. No Shipping cost.
https://www.dealextreme.com/products.dx/category.905
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Old 06-30-08, 10:53 PM
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Originally Posted by K1NJO
Thanks guys for the info. Sorry for my ignorance with the flashlights. I think I'm interested in the Romisen. And at that price, I could still get 2 of them!

Ziemas, do you know the difference with the RC-N3 and the RC-C3?
The RC-N3 uses a CR123A battery, which looks like the below photo. The RC-C3 can use either a CR123A battery or standard AA rechargeable batteries. I strongly suggest that you go for the RC-C3 model because finding AA batteries and a charger is much easier should you need replacements, and the run time is very good. Also AA rechargeable are cheaper than CR123A. I use AAs in my light, and am very happy with them, plus you can use the charger to charge batteries for all the other AA and AAA batteries you stick in stuff.

Buy the light from the link I gave you as his lights are brighter than the ones at DealExtreme (he has them specially made with brighter LEDs that the DX models), they are in stock (sometimes you need to wait a few weeks for DX to get product from their suppliers), he ships a lot faster, and they'll ship from within the US. Even when I placed an order from him to be shipped to Latvia it came very quickly.

Have you looked for a mount yet?




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Old 07-01-08, 01:12 AM
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I thought the N3 has the AA battery option? That's what it says on the link. Anyway, I've only looked at the Two Fish holder, which seems pretty good.
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Old 07-01-08, 07:05 AM
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Originally Posted by K1NJO
I thought the N3 has the AA battery option? That's what it says on the link. Anyway, I've only looked at the Two Fish holder, which seems pretty good.
You are correct. I got it backwards. Go for the N3 in the link.
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Old 07-01-08, 07:23 AM
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Originally Posted by dekindy
I would personally stick with AA powered flashlights.
P7 flashlights are not available for use with AA batteries. DX has a pair of 18650 Lithium rechargeable Battery's for $10.
https://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.5790
and a fully automatic charger for $8.80.
https://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.6105
You could power a P7 flashlight for 2 hours running in high mode swapping out batteries only once. Running in low mode the flashlight will operate 8+ hours on a single Lithium battery or 4+ hours on medium mode. These two batteries would allow you to run all night in medium mode swapping out battery's once.
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Old 07-01-08, 07:26 AM
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Originally Posted by n4zou
P7 flashlights are not available for use with AA batteries. DX has a pair of 18650 Lithium rechargeable Battery's for $10.
https://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.5790
and a fully automatic charger for $8.80.
https://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.6105
You could power a P7 flashlight for 2 hours running in high mode swapping out batteries only once. Running in low mode the flashlight will operate 8+ hours on a single Lithium battery or 4+ hours on medium mode. These two batteries would allow you to run all night in medium mode swapping out battery's once.
Did you actually read the OP? He needs nothing like what you have suggested.
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Old 07-01-08, 07:36 AM
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Originally Posted by Ziemas
Did you actually read the OP? He needs nothing like what you have suggested.
I disagree. N4 posted some options worth looking at. The OP did not give a lot of detail other than the occasional trip at night from a freinds house. How far is that? How long will it take? What time of the night? What is the ambient lighting like? all of that should factor in to a decision. That said, the flashlight with multiple modes and rechargeables is a very flexible option and reasonably priced.
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Old 07-01-08, 07:37 AM
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Originally Posted by ModoVincere
I disagree. N4 posted some options worth looking at. The OP did not give a lot of detail other than the occasional trip at night from a freinds house. How far is that? How long will it take? What time of the night? What is the ambient lighting like? all of that should factor in to a decision. That said, the flashlight with multiple modes and rechargeables is a very flexible option and reasonably priced.
Would all of that be less than $50?
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Old 07-01-08, 07:44 AM
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Originally Posted by Ziemas
Would all of that be less than $50?
$10 batteries
$ 9 Charger
https://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.6145
$17 flashlight

$36 total...add a mounting system and total for about $40 you would have an adequate lighting system for the occasional ride home at an easy pace and 1 or 2 hour ride.

While the light originally posted by N4 was overkill, it is a very nice light.
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Old 07-01-08, 07:49 AM
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Originally Posted by ModoVincere
$10 batteries
$ 9 Charger
https://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.6145
$17 flashlight

$36 total...add a mounting system and total for about $40 you would have an adequate lighting system for the occasional ride home at an easy pace and 1 or 2 hour ride.

While the light originally posted by N4 was overkill, it is a very nice light.
That style of light has already been suggested, although with a brighter LED.
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Old 07-01-08, 07:58 AM
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Originally Posted by ModoVincere

While the light originally posted by N4 was overkill, it is a very nice light.
Lights are never overkill unless you actually kill someone or something with it!
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Old 07-01-08, 11:24 AM
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The night ride for me would be something small...around 5 miles. Also, I already have rechargeable batteries and charger. So those items wouldn't factor into the total cost. I think I have decided on the Romisen suggested by Ziemas. Maybe the pics from this review sold me on it.
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Old 07-01-08, 11:31 AM
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Originally Posted by K1NJO
The night ride for me would be something small...around 5 miles. Also, I already have rechargeable batteries and charger. So those items wouldn't factor into the total cost. I think I have decided on the Romisen suggested by Ziemas. Maybe the pics from this review sold me on it.
Please let us know how it turns out for you.
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