All,

I am looking at upgrading lights for my bikes and getting the other half a set for hers.

Several years back I started with a Cygolite Metro/hotshot combo pack that worked OK for a few years. However, I was recharging the headlight off a USB cord powered off a bigger 12v battery (LiFePO4 12Ah) with a 12v to USB adapter one time and I think the power button on the light must have got pressed so the light was on when it was trying to charge. I rode most of a day that way before I caught it and the light never worked after that. The tail light I dropped too many times to count, the red plastic broke, and the rubber button strip disappeared. It still "works" but is a pain to use.

About 2 years ago I replaced the tail light with a Nite Rider Sentinel 250. I like it a lot, but it is pricey.

After my headlight went out I was using my every day carry flashlight on a mount - Fenix PD35. Its a great light that has many brightness levels and runs on an 18650. However, it doesn't have any flash modes other than a self-defense disorientating flash. The Metro I ran before had cycling-specific daytime and night time patterns that I really miss.

All that said - I like the convenience of the USB rechargeable versions. For shorter riding/commuting I think they are superior. However, on my longer trips the battery life and recharging is a bit of a hassle - more so the battery life. If I use a light for a while I need to recharge it. So in the morning if I run lights then I need to recharge them during the day before I am confident in using them again that evening.

On longer trips I'll have a 12v battery along. Some suggestions I got a while back are to get "e-bike" lights with a cord. That might be the way to go there, but I still like the compactness of the USB rechargeable ones. For the other half's bike especially - I think thats what I should get her.

Are there any of the USB rechargeable lights that are better quality than others?

From my experience between the Cygolite and Nite Rider brands on tail lights - the Nite Rider I run now appears to be the better build. Is that what others agree with? What about the head lights? Or are there other options that are even better quality still?

Has anyone replaced the internal batteries of any of the USB rechargeable options? I am hoping if I buy nice ones that come 3-5 years down the road if they aren't holding a charge I can replace the batteries, as opposed to replace the whole thing. That is where the 18650 cells (or A123 cells for that matter) are nice - but they usually require removing from the light and charging in a separate charger - which is why the USB rechargeable option is favorable.

Thoughts?