Bumer

I feel again like needy noob because I need help one more time.

This week I started riding at night. I have light on the back, so cars approaching me from behind can see me really well.
But I have no light in front, and at times I can see $h!t where I'm going.

Can you recomment very good head light for under $100?

Here are few lights I found:

Cygolite Expilion 350-Lumen USB Rechargeable Headlight $77

Cygolite Expilion 400 Usb Rechargeable Headlight $96

Planet Bike Blaze 1-Watt Headlight $60 (set with back flashlight)

Planet Bike Blaze 2Watt LED Headlight $51

Cateye HL-EL530 LED Bicycle Headlight $46

Cateye HL-EL600RC?Single Shot LED Bicycle Light $75

Thank you!

Vlad

vermilionx

i got my lezyne super drive for 99$

it's pretty bright at 450 lumens and got really good reviews.

i usually just use the flashing mode @ 300 lumens and some times switch to 450 lumens on really dark parts of the ride and it's enough to last more than 2 hrs.

canam73

I'd suggest saving up $5 more and getting the Serfas TSL-500:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005HQ2JC4/..._df_B005HQ2JC4

markinmad

I can vouch for this bad boy. I've bought two.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006QQX3C4

pallen

I've been running this one for almost 3yrs now. In the winter, I run it on the way to work and on the way home 4-5 days a week, and I do quite a few night rides in the summer with it. Still going strong and plenty bright...
https://www.amazon.com/MagicShine-MJ-...rds=magicshine

milkbaby

I use a Magicshine on a helmet mount to see and quickly flash oncoming cars and cars on side streets, very bright. Then I use a Planet Bike Blaze 1 watt on flash mode as an extra be-seen light on front. It's really easy to outrun the cheaper less bright lights light the PB Blaze riding 15-20 mph. I'd go for the more expensive Cygolite out of the original list.

tagaproject6

Magic Shine /thread

jeff_l_scott

We have these on my wife's bike and my bike, and I really like them. We bought ours through DealExtreme, and the only difference is that ours only has 3 modes (high, low, flash).

PhotoJoe 

I am going through the same thought process. I found the Electronics, Lighting & Gadgets forum and this thread in particular got me thinking. I have to outfit both my wife's bike and mine with lights, so I think I'm going with the 26650 flashlight route. I'll order one first to see if it's enough, then decide how to proceed from there. The outputs are amazing for a $25 ebay light. Others will chime in on how it's not the best way, but I can outfit both bikes, with two lights each (if necessary) for a total of $100.

Check out SoCalRider's video here.

grasse

NiteRider Minewt 300 USB. It's rated (as the name suggest) at 300LM. Best thing is I can charge this at work (through USB) before heading back and not having to carray a charger around.

ticktockpedal

check out the dinotte lights. i would say to see well for proper night riding at close to day speeds you would need 1000 lumens, but whatever fits your budget. i personally dont like helmet lights because you then have a heavy light on your helmet or a dangling wire getting in the way, but to each their own.

NWS Alpine

I bought two Leyzne Superdrives and they are great. Bomb proof and solid true to spec output.

somedood

I went a similar route, but with a 18650 battery flashlight. The light itself at the time (a Cree XM-L LED, they're a lot cheaper now) was around $50 and it's medium mode at 400 lumens gives me about 3hrs of life, the 750 lumen mode is really bright but is a little more than an hour. It's super easy to switch between bikes and I can use it for other things off the bike such as camping. For me it was hard to justify spending so much more for less light and battery life at the same price point. I can't even tell that my riding buddies lights are when we're side-by-side in the mornings.

Like PhotoJoe said, take a look at the Electronics, Lighting & Gadgets forum as there is a bunch of great information in there.

Sir Real

If you realy want to see and be seen, get a couple of these. Mount one on your bars and one on your helmet, and still be under $100.

https://www.tmart.com/CREE-XML-T6-120...0_p139499.html

jsigone

niterider minewt 600 for the win

https://www.modernbike.com/itemgroup....FSXhQgodsz0AFQ

real reviews here
https://forums.mtbr.com/lights-night-...ss-726434.html

datlas 

I would vote for magicshine if you are cheap and lezyne superdrive if you are not. Either one is brighter than the ones on your list.

Head to the electronics forum for more than you need to know about lights.

bkdelux

Interesting, I bought the Planet Bike Blaze 1 watt with superflash taillight, but I think I would have preferred this. Thanks for showing it...

bkdelux

Oh, how long does it last?

lgvincent

I'm in need of a headlight as well. I've been leaning towards the Cygolite Expilion 30 Lumen but the price has gone up to around $83 so I'll have to give some of the others mentioned consideration.

Gharp23

I've got a cygolight expillion 400 and its plenty bright. The built in rechargable battery with usb is a nice touch. Good amount of different modes. Good price.

If you want something that will blow the dinotte and everything else out of the water look at the designshine ds-500 for taillight and ds-1300 for headlight. probably overkill though but damn that combo would turn some heads.
[h=1][/h]

Homebrew01

That looks like the best deal.

For regular flashlight, I like the Terralux 300 ($30). Very bright and can use regular AA batteries (I have a rotation of rechargeable AAA and AA batteries for various things).
I take one on night rides as a backup in case my MagicShine dies on the road.

Mike F

Ended up with the Lezyne Superdrive after my Magicshine crapped out after 3 months. Nice not having to strap a battery pack on. Lots of people have good things to say about the Magicshine. I must have got the dud.

hhnngg1

The Magicshine and the amazon link above are lights that in a totally different league than handheld flashlights (which are great - but not for cycling) as well as all the listed options in the OPs list. I wouldn't touch any of those and just buy either the Magicshine or the 1200lumen Amazon light listed above.

I own the Magicshine with the improved battery pack, and it's hellaciously bright. It'll make all the lights the OP listed look like toy blinkies. That degree of brightness happens to also be useful and at least for me, necessary to ride faster than 18mph in the dark without worrying.

The Lezyne looks legit too but that costs a lot more. Should be in the similar league as the Magicshine.

The Tmart light is essentially the same as the Magicshine. It's better on the bars than the head due to heat, but still doable. (I have a headstrap for my MS that turns it into that light basically.)

Genaro

I have the cygolite 350 and love it. I blinded my wife with it when I first got it.
No complaints. The mountin software is pretty solid as well.

PhotoJoe 

Please don't read this as argumentative. I'm truly trying to learn from those who have used these things.

How is the Magicshine/Amazon option brighter than the flashlights?

Amazon Option:
XML T6 bulb
4400 mA battery

Keygos M10a flashlight
XML T6 bulb
5000 mA 26650 battery