Originally Posted by
MTBJason
I am looking to supplement my current Magicshine 900 lumen handlebar mounted headlight and Bontrager Flare rear light with a helmet light. My riding consists of 75% commuting on local paved trails with a short stretch along a paved shoulder and 25% mountain biking. My main focus is for a helmet light so I can see better when I am mountain biking, but I would like to be more visible on my commute as well, though I don't often deal with a lot of traffic. I would prefer it to have a front and rear light in one and I would like it to stay around $100 or less.
A few I have seen that I like the designs are the VIS360 from Light & Motion
Vis 360 - Light & Motion and the Lezyne Macro Duo
Lezyne - Engineered Design - Products - LED Lights - Macro Duo
Any other recommendations would be greatly appreciated. I'm not sure what to look for as far as Lumens.
Tonight I'm burning the early morning hours so I might as well kick in some thoughts...
It's hard to recommend helmet set-ups to other people because so many helmets nowadays have very little mounting options. I see you use a MS on the bars so I'm thinking that the L & M Vis 360 you bought is going to be a waste of money. My reasons for saying that is because the MS is simply a brighter lamp. The 250 lumen that the L&M has will barely be noticed except perhaps when making turns. I know you wanted an all-in-one rear and front lamp but truthfully that is not a good idea.
For a rear helmet lamp you might have some problems finding something that will mount on back of your helmet and still be at an angle that will make the output viewable from behind. My helmet rear lamp mounts perfectly on the lowest part of my helmet so I'm lucky that my old helmet allows such an option. Others may not have the same options but with so many types of rear lights nowadays you should be able to find something that works.
For a helmet front lamp I'm going to recommend the
Gemini Duo ( duel emitter lamp ) and I recommend ordering it with two spot optics and two cell battery. The Duo should compliment your bar mounted MS right nice and give you tons of throw. Not to mention the newest versions come with a wireless remote so you can control the lamp from the bars. If you chose to buy with a two cell battery you can mount the whole sha'bang on the helmet.
Time for my disclaimer; I've taken free promotional lights from Gemini to do reviews.
... That said I use all different brands of bike lights including Gloworm and ITUO. Most of those I bought with my own money. I love the Duo on my road bike because of the "two button" wireless remote. One button gives you momentary press/hold high beam while the other is for basic on/off /mode selection...not to mention all modes are programmable.
Order it through Jim at ActionLED and mention CAt-man-do and he might give you a discount....also Action is having a sale on refurbished Gloworm X2's so lot's of options if you buy from Action.
Edit: If the Duo is too expensive you might buy one of the all-in-one
Niterider Lumina flares.. It won't be as bright or as wide a beam pattern as the Duo but the Lumina Flare has a rear light built into the lamp and looks to mount very easily to a helmet ( as long as your helmet has the right vent hole arrangement ) At 650 lumen on high it should be brighter than the L&M you just bought. The rear light won't be so bright but that's what you get with an all in one. BTW, REI is very good on taking stuff back...if you should choose to do so.
