Yesterday I bought a "budget" LED headlamp, the Cateye EL500. I was shocked by how bright it is. I went on the street tonight and it illumantes from curb to curb and forward about half a block. And that was in my neighborhood where there was some other lighting. I am sure in a rural area it will much more pronounced. I would not have imagined one small lamp could produce this much light. I am more than pleased at this point.