The snow has mostly melted and I dusted off my bike. I'm planning on getting back on the saddle this week. I really need to upgrade my lighting, though. Curious to hear what others think is the best bang for buck headlight on the market. Some information that may or may not be irrelevant:

1. I want a headlight to see on a bike trail through the woods at night with minimal to zero external lighting.

2. I need a minimum 2 hour run time, since my commute is 45 min to 1 hour each way. It is possible that each way will be in the dark.

3. Weatherproof or at least weather resistant lighting is required. I may be be caught riding in the rain.

4. I'm not averse to spending $250 or so, maybe even more. I've come to the realization that I can no longer be a cheapskate with my lights. Last fall, I could barely see the trail with my homemade flashlight/handlebar mount combo. I nearly collided with a pedestrian (and nearly crapped in my pants) on a cloudy night coming home. It is scary not seeing people, animals, and trail debris until it is almost too late to avoid hitting or running over something.

I'm considering the Cygolite Mitycross 350. Any other suggestions?

https://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.29489

or

https://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.14029

Pretty much what vmaniqui gave you links to. If you are spending that much there are a lot more choices including Dinotte just about everyone raves about as well. You also may want to browse the Electronics forum as well.

I love the Cygolite Mitycross 350.That is a fantastic lamp with 6 settings. It Will give you 3 levels for brightness and last several hours. I use min in flashing mode in daylight & dusk mostly but in the dark you will not be disappointed. This will be my second season with mine.

Dinotte is having a sale on now.

I read some posts complaining about dealextreme taking a real long time to ship. The geoman website sells some of the same stuff and ships faster. However, the main complaint I saw about the 900 lumens light is that it isn't waterproof and can be ruined by a good rain.

I'll have to check out the Dinotte sale. Good to hear some positive feedback on the mitycross.

The waterproof concerns I read relate to the battery pack, not the light itself. I've seen several people plasti-dip the battery packs. I have one on my bike, and my first ride in a light rain today. I figure I couldn't afford the $300+ lights right now, so I took a chance on the MagicShine. So far so good, I think but I haven't been in any downpours yet.

I ran my mightycross for an entire season rain or shine, seemed more rain than shine last year. I had no issues with the lamp at all and the battery was on top of the neck. I will say it never occurred to me to be concerned about the battery pack. I wanted a decent lamp but wasn't willing to spend over $250 for one. I thought that was more than I was willing to spend as it was but I wanted a decent lamp. As I said I am very pleased with it so far. I don't know anything about any of the other lamps mentioned, I can only comment on the one I own.

I would check out Dinotte lights since they are having a sale right now. Lots of cyclists were raving about the Magicshine LEDs last fall, but some are reporting problems with them, particularly waterproofness. I got a Magicshine (0nly $85) last September and haven't had any problems with mine, and it puts out an incredible amount of light with 3+ hours of run time per charge. I also have a Fenix L2D that I've used commuting for 2+ years but it may not be bright enough for trail riding. BTW, if you are riding in really dark conditions, you actually need less lumens to see well. Where the really bright, high lumen lights make the most difference is in conditions with a lot of competing light sources, such as roads with street lights, neon signs, etc.

I'd go for a dynamo hub &c. Nuts to batteries.

A word of caution relating to the Magicshine though...If your a idiot like me and leave it on for several hours while the bike is hanging (no air flow), then burn your hand trying to turn it off (it gets really hot), then douse it with the entire contents of your water bottle trying to cool it...you MAY just kill it like I did..BUT the light served me well through all weather and was a beacon of hope on my daily commute, so much so that two more are on the way..For now it's a Planet Bike Blaze ductaped to the bars..

https://sheldonbrown.com/harris/light...no.html#wheels + https://www.thebikebiz.com/Busch_Mull...light-bm01.htm + https://www.thebikebiz.com/Busch_and_...oplight-02.htm (I just ordered those two lights, and already have an Alfine dynamo hub wheel.)

Dynohubs mean never having to say "$#&%, I can't see!"

Dinotte lights - best quality... but pricey

Magicshine - best value (along with P7 emitter based flashlights)

I have a Magicshine and a P7 flashlight. There are US dealers for both, which will get you your product in just a couple of days, or DealExtreme, which will almost certainly (but not for sure) get it to you in less than a month.

www.geomangear.com has both Magicshine headlamp and the flashlight version. A few bucks more, but ABSOLUTELY worth it for the shipping speed and for the customer support. I buy from DealExtreme quite a bit, but for this I went to GeoMan. I generally buy from DX for toys that I don't really need right away and don't particularly care if they show up broken.

My feelings: I mount my lights on the bar. If I were doing it again right now, I'd go for the flashlight. I find that for my ROAD RIDING, medium mode on a P7 is enough, and it gives me 2+ hours of runtime. And, it's waterproof.

The headlight is great, 3 hours runtime on high, but not waterproof and more screwing around to mount.

The flashlight is a little cheaper, typically $65 or so from DX (I got my P7 flashlight from DX since I was just experimenting and didn't need it fast) including 4 batteries and a charger. The headlight cost $85 from GeoMan.

So it comes down to whether you need waterproof (do you ride in the rain), how long you want to wait, whether medium mode is good enough for you and just over 2 hours runtime is enough (or if you're willing to stop for 45 seconds to change batteries in mid ride), and how much you care about wires running around and having to find a place to mount the lighthead and the battery.

Note, the Magicshine lighthead is really pretty waterproof (I don't think you'd have any trouble in rain, no matter how heavy, but don't immerse it - the bottom wire entry point is not sealed) - the problem is the battery. If you can put the battery inside a jacket (like for helmet mount) or in a ziplock bag, there's really no problem.

If you want a light that is expensive, high quality, will last for years, and comes with great service, get a Dinotte. I have three (600L, 140L, 140A) and am have been very happy with them for several years.

If you want a light that is bright, economical and are willing to gamble on quality and lifespan, get the Magicshine. I have one of these (my wife uses it) and it's been working fine. Quality is nowhere near Dinotte quality, and I take care not to let the battery get wet.

if 10 others haven't already suggested it: magicshine from geomangear.com :-)

https://www.geomangear.com/index.php?...roducts_id=138

the battery goes in an empty water bottle

just get it and get on with it ...

NEXT!

A backup light is going to be helpful regardless of whatever light you end up with for those days the inevitable happens and you can't use your main light.

I see a lot of old technology recommended here. I think it is fine for backup but thats just me.

I just got this Romisen light and mounted it on the forks. I was gonna order another one after I received it, but they were out of stock. 3 day shipping from NY to CA. I also re-ordered another Topeak Bar X' tender. Great light for the price. I plan on running some on the bars (extender) and forks.



https://www.shiningbeam.com/servlet/StoreFront

I just ordered the Mitycross 350. Performance has a sale ending today. I got it for $180 including free shipping.

The Dinotte lights are quite pricey, even with the sale. The flashlights offer a better lumens per dollar ratio, but I really wanted to get something made for a bike. I made my own flashlight handlebar mount using conduit hanger (what I use now for lighting). It works, but the beam pattern is less than ideal and it is hard to adjust the light position. Thanks for the suggestions. New wheels are probably the next upgrade for me (maybe next year?), and I might consider a dynamo hub then.

Thanks again for all the information. I'm excited to have a better light. Depending on the route I take, up to 10 miles of my current commute is on an bike path with little or no lighting. Hopefully it will be easier now for me to see the critters, commuters, and crap on the path.

You will have no problem with running out of power. It will burn 3.5 hours on High and 17 hours on low. Thats a great price, I paid $220 for mine and do not regret it. It killed me to spend the money on a light but now that I have it I couldn't imagine not having it. Good luck, I am sure you will be pleased with it.

I've got a pair of Dinotte 400L, one on the bike, one on the helmet. Turns night into day through the dark forest trail that I commute through. Great run-time and no problems in the rain.

Agree.