Bug Shield

My wife and I have been commuting on our tandem for the last week.

That bike is not outfitted with a dynohub and headlamp like my regular commuter and after several cases of people passing with us as oncoming traffic (during good daylight conditions), it was clear that we needed a headlamp. I chose a helmet-mounted light and am frankly amazed at how much more useful it is as a be-seen device than the bar-mounted unit I have been using. I've already seen a couple cases where I have evidently stopped people from doing something stupid by sweeping them with the headlamp.

I'm a fan. I wouldn't want to be without it. I highly recommend trying one if you haven't already.

TransitBiker

If i did not have a good B&M dyno light, i'd be thinking about a helmet mounted light right about now, especially with the darker months coming up. I still may get one.

What have you learned so far using yours?

- Andy

Null66

I ride with a L&M 360 viz+.
Commute is too long to use this as my primary light. SO I use it where there's lots of traffic, or other visibility challenges.
Marvelous to see by.

I loaned it to my daughter one night ride, it is amazing to be seen by!

However, one great use of a helmet headlight:
Dogs with ill intent. Just beam them with it. Blink mode is even better.

Bug Shield

Mostly I've learned that there is MUCH room for improvement of daytime visibility to the front even over running my Luxos B - amazingly so. I have found the ability to wake people from their daze quite helpful.

I've been running my Vis 360 on solid mode, so I think it's the ability to sweep the beam not the flashing feature which I prefer not to use.

I keep the beam aimed a little lower than my natural gaze, to avoid beaming people who are already paying attention.

no motor?

Once you get a good helmet mounted light you'll wonder how you ever got along without one before.

mstraus

Another vote for the Light and Motion VIS 360+. I got this for last winter and it was great. Have had it off my helmet recently, but might put it back on for increasing visibility to cars.

I use mine in low stead most the time, and it is surprisingly effective for its lumen rating. Regular 360 is a good option too if you don't need as much light, but it was the extra battery life that made me go for the VIS 360+

I use this along with a brighter light on my handlebars.

Here is what I love about this light:
1. It isn't a zillion lumens to blind people, but the beam is surprising effective and enough to see by in many situations.
2. The flash mode, which I only really use on very foggy days, isn't as annoying as some.
3. The rear light with its pulse isn't obnoxious either.
4. Overall placement of the light being higher and 360 degree light output means it really increases visibility, 360 degrees around me, and high enough for SUVs next to me to still see it as its on the helmet).
5. Easy to angle the front light up and down depending on my need during the ride.

Generally a helmet light is nice to both get drivers attention and to be able to see where your looking, vs where you handlebars are going.

PaulRivers

I tried using a helmet light back in the day, but what I didn't like about it was that to look behind me I often had to accidentally flash people in the face with my helmet light. It shines where you look, so it's cool because you can aim it with your head, but it means you don't have a choice in pointing the light anywhere you need to see. I was at a stoplight, looked behind me, realized I was shining the light right into the car drivers face next to me in while doing turning my head to look back.

Anyone gotten around this somehow?

TransitBiker

Sounds like what i'd do. Hm, things to think about as those short days approach..

- Andy

fietsbob

Battery life is an issue how long will re charge take etc.. weight on your neck.. etc.

dramiscram

I tried it for a week or two and it didn't like it, too heavy for me, after 20 min. my neck was hurting so I went back to my regular headlight.

ItsJustMe

I put one of these on my helmet last month:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GR7DADE

I really like it. It's ridiculously small and in flash mode it runs for many days. It's pretty bright too even in daylight I can see it reflecting off speed limit signs 50 feet away and more.

BobbyG

I added "be seen" lights to my helmet last year; a flasher in back and a modest white constant beam up front. This is in addition to my bike's flashers and my bar mounted headlamp. I found even front facing helmet light works great! If I am looking at a vehicle, even off to the side, they usually see me. (So now they can aim better to hit me...)

Bug Shield

I use a mirror. When I turn around it's a double-check for the most part.

J.C. Koto

I tried one, loved it for the first 15 minutes but started getting disoriented by the way it would essentially create an illusion of tunnel vision by the way the beam would frame things in my field of view. I might have had better luck with it in a well-lit urban environment where the negative effect on my peripheral night-vision wouldn't be so pronounced.

PaulRivers

Hmm. Thanks for the thought, though I've never used a mirror I didn't feel compelled to look behind me to verify anyways, which still leaves me doing the same thing...

no motor?

I've used a VIS 360 and a "1000 lumen" flashlight on my helmet for a few years, and they've both got their benefits. Every now and then I feel like just poking along, and the VIS 360 is all I need then.

jyl

I have a very bright spot beam light mounted on my helmet. It points down at the road when I am in normal riding position. To put the beam on a driver, I lift my head and point.

I don't usually use it, but when lighting or weather or traffic conditions make me feel concerned, the helmet light goes on. I find that putting the beam into a windshield, a side window, or even on a rearview mirror makes the driver immediately take notice and stop whatever worrisome thing they are doing - pulling out in front of me, starting to turn left in front of me, or starting to right hook me. It is a fairly aggressive tool so I use it sparingly.

Ideally I'd have a less bright, modulated helmet light as well, but that starts to be a lot of stuff hung on the helmet. I used to have a red blinky on the back of the helmet, but when I started riding a drop bar bike with a backpack, that location became useless so I moved the blinky to the top of my backpack.

linnefaulk

Every time I think about it, I envision a light looking all around the neighborhood much like a cat chasing a laser light.

no motor?

Mine works good for finding skunks off the side of the bike path.

gdhillard

I just got the Light and Motion VIS 360 off Ebay, and should have it in a week. Thank you for the tip!