Given that the traffic volumes will be low where and when you say you will be riding, and it sounds like you'll be traveling at modest speeds on those paths, you won't really need one of the more expensive high intensity headlamps. An affordable LED lamp of 150 lumens or more should be enough to be seen on uncrowded roads and to see where you are going. I use the 250 lumen Cygolite ExpiliOn 250, available for about $130. A USB charging capability is also convenient if you need to top off during work hours and don't want to carry the charger with you. I don't recommend a lamp that uses disposable batteries, except as an emergency backup.

If you like to ride fast (>20 mph) in complete darkness, a 250 lumen headlamp is the minimum I would recommend.

For the back, I recommend a combination of a large bright reflector and a Planet Bike Superflash or similar. Big automotive reflectors are best; they are very visible when you hit a bump and your blinky light dies. (And it will - I've had three or four of them of different models and brands fail.) I use two auto reflectors, one amber and one red, on the back of my trunk bags.

Reflective tape/stickers on the back of your helmet, seat stays, and shoes is inexpensive to add.

I use both a handlebar light and a helmet mount light on my dark rides. The helmet-mount is very helpful to pan across motorist's faces/mirrors when I am at intersections, to get better view on turns and curved roads, and to look for deer or other varmits that are about to run across the road right in front of me. They are also useful for seeing what you're doing if you have mechanical problems (flat tires).

My routes include some 30+mph downhills and it's too exciting to outrun my lights in the dark. I also credit the longevity of my tires/tubes/spokes to being careful what I roll my wheels over.

The handlebar lights seem to suffer more problems from road buzz.

I also like having 2 lights in case one fails or if a battery dies mid-ride, particularly the rear lights. Shop for lights with sufficient runtime and some surplus in case you are on the roads in the dark longer than planned.

I wear reflective ankle bands. The pedaling motion distinctly identifies you as a cyclist, not a far-away motorcycle or an inanimate construction barrel. Spokes reflectors also help motorists understand what they are seeing.

I've just started bike commuting, half of which is after dark on roads with few streetlights. I went with a 250 lumen nightrider 250 wireless for the front. People can definitely see me as cars and even dump trucks on side streets have given me the right of way from 100 feet. However, road surface visibility is not spectacular and I find myself slowing down quite a bit in some sections. I would say if youll be anywhere where your headlight is your only source of light spend more than I did which was 120. Other than that I've got a hi vis vest, and ankle/wrist reflectors and reflective tape covering the majority of my bike. Makes me feel pretty safe.

I'm A hub dynamo fan, and a LED headlight will always light ,
a blinking taillight is adequate .

Safety vest is good .. hope you can bring the bike inside ,
or a long walk may be your end of shift surprise.

Folding bike would stow easily..

3M makes a reflective tape that you can apply to the frame of your bike. It comes in various colors. I use it and recommend it along with the appropriate lighting.

I would also recommend that you be a lot more defensive at night. Even if you are highly visible, there is a greater likelihood of impaired (drunk) drivers at night, from my experience. Don't take the same chances that you might in the daytime with fully alert drivers.

Thanks for all the responses, I think I have a game plan.

I'm going to get:
A magicshine headlight
A planet bike taillight
2 Spoke lights
A reflective vest

This will be for starters. My commute is only 4 miles (although I'm sure I'll take the long way though, I'm doing this for workout purposes too), and most of it will be bike path so I'm not worried about cars. I'm more worried about hitting nocturnal creatures on the paths. Also, I'm not worried about the bike getting stolen, I don't work downtown and there is a bike rack at work, I always lockup and the other bike commuters never had a problem there.

Thanks again for all the help everyone.

You might want to take a peek at the PBSF Turbo. Yesterday at REI, I had a chance to check out a PB super flash turbo. It is much brighter than the standard version. I might swap my PDW 1000 with the pbsf turbo.

As for safety vest, check out some of the class 2 or class 3 vest. I think the class is the minium standard for the amount of relective material use along with other ratings.

Lots of good brands of lights out there.
Consider lights that takes AA batteries so you can use rechargables. They are good for the environment and will save you a ton of dough in the long run. Always carry a set of spares.
Carry a head light (the kind that are on a headband) as a back up and work light if you get a flat or mechanical issues.
For a headlight I use a tactical flashlight on a homemade PVC mount that can be swiveled up and down and side to side and also snaps quickly on and off. Handy if I need to "flash" an idiot driver to wake them up. Also doubles as a weapon in a pinch.

Sounds like a plan.
I often feel safer at night with bright lights than I do during the day.

+ a fast battery charger, so every morning there's light , if its dark then or going in.

most of this has been covered.

http://www.mechbgon.com/visibility/index.html

bright flouro clothing is USELESS for nighttime visibility - reflective or it doesn't count -
http://www.bv.com.au/general/bikes-and-riding/92517/
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/re...016-16odw.html

i ride in sub/urban areas so my concern is being seen - there's enough ambient light for me to see where i'm going. i've got reflective sidewall tires, ankle straps and a construction vest. in front i've got a PB blaze 2w and a small yellow blinky. on the rear i've got a radbot-1000 and a bspoke version of the PBSF. monkey-lectric on the front wheel.

rechargeable ni-mh batteries in everything.

during the day i've got my reflectives, radbot and blaze. at night i look like timothy leary's christmas tree.

if i needed light to see, not just be seen, i'd get one of these - http://s.dealextreme.com/search/magicshine

hhmmm.... $80(US), i'm tempted to get one anyway ;)

ENJOY THE RIDE!!!

I think you are reading a little too much into this study. Fluorescent clothing isn't useless, it just that reflective items on moving parts are more effective for catching someone's eye. Personally, I depend on all of the help I can get in making myself visible -- headlights, taillights, bright clothes, and reflective ankle bands, tires, etc.

Numerous studies have found that fluourescent/neon yellow-green is the most visible color to the human eye. If you don't believe me, Google it. This subject has been well studied by highway departments, etc. It is also borne out by simple observation. I can spot a jogger wearing a neon green jacket at least a half-mile away, but the ninjas wearing black you sometimes don't see until you almost hit them. There is a reason why highway departments use neon green for worker vests, traffic signs, etc.

Night commuting tips?

My basic adage is to make yourself as visible as possible and assume nobody sees you. Also at night, watch for cars, not just headlights. Finally, I seriously avoid bikepaths in the dark. FWIW.

Check out youtube videos comparing Planet Bike taillights with the Portland Design Works Radbot and Danger Zone.

Also think about the fact that if you're going to buy a MagicShine headlight, for $30 you can get their taillight and a Y adapter. If you were going to spend $20 on the Planet Bike taillight anyway, the MagicShine taillight is a lot brighter for just a bit more money.

However, if you will only be riding at NIGHT and not at night in bad conditions, one of the AAA powered taillights is sufficient and is less screwing around (the MagicShine taillight can be a little bit of a pain to mount, and you'd have to run an extension cable to it from the battery). I'd seriously consider something like the Danger Zone though instead of the PBSF.

planet bike superflash strobes for the rear and a magicshine for the front

very true...I have both. but I switched to a SuperFlash in back because the combination of the headlight and taillight drained the battery after about 30-40 minutes, not enough for my 1-hour commute. but if it's enough juice for you, it's a great way to go!

in the daytime, the flouro stuff is great. at nighttime it is, for all practical purposes, useless. read the study - Cyclist visibility at night - perceptions of visibility do not necessarily match reality -
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1079188/Stud...at%20night.pdf

at night it makes little difference whether someone is wearing black or flouro. reflectives make a huge difference.

There's definitely something wrong with your battery. I got 3 hours on just the headlight, on high, about 2.5 with the taillight. I now run with a Tenergy 8 cell pack, and I run both for 45 minutes in the morning, tail only on the way back, for a week before charging.

Get a mirror so you can watch the cars coming from behind you. Making sure that they're doing what they are supposed to do. On lights, they have good posts on lights under $50 in the Electronics, Lighting and Gadgets forum. You learn a lot from those folks.

sheesh I've never seen battery life like that. sure you aren't running it in a dim or flashing mode?

When my MagicShine was new I got 3 hours on hight with a full charge.

Yes, I did extensive testing when I first got it. Even with the battery pack in the freezer I got 2.5 hours. You have a 4 cell pack, right? 45 minutes = dead battery pack. Maybe you have a bad cell.

FWIW, with the Tenergy lasting a week, I do run on high for about 25 minutes (until I get off the horribly washboarded/potholed gravel road) then on low for the remainder (another 20 minutes). The taillight is on flash the whole time.

But the 3 hours on the original pack is a measurement with a new pack on high.

I have a catseye light that I got from my LBS for $11. It's not too bright but it makes me visible to traffic, and it has the same 2 AAA batteries in it since I bought it a month ago. And it gets used for about an hour every night.

No, no, no. The most important thing is a great tail light. Buy the absolute best tail light you can afford. In my opinion, a DiNotte 140L is the minimum if you're going to be riding regularly for any period of time in the dark. Remember, if you're going to be riding regularly in the dark, you'll be investing in your safety for the long term. Spend more than you want on a good tail light and it'll serve you well. Take out a loan if you have to.

I have commuted hundreds of times/thousands of miles in the dark. I have found the headlight is of secondary concern. You'll probably be riding with traffic, so the headlight isn't as important. On-coming traffic will be at least a lane away, and often the street lights and car lights will light your way.

1- get a good tail light, the absolute best you can buy.
2- get a reflective vest. I've found the $5 Harbor Freight one to be better than the $40 Amphipod vest.
3- put lots of reflectors on your bike: I have 4 spoke mounted reflectors on each wheel, a rear reflector, and ton's of DOT reflective tape (also called conspicuity tape) on virtually any flat surface.
4- get a decent headlight. If you can't afford one after spending all your money on a great tail light, a $20 Maglite LED will do until you can afford better. I've commuted in the dark with one. While it wasn't anything like a good headlight, it was enough to see by when the street lights were distant.

My favorite headlight is the Baja Designs Strykr, though I like my DiNotte 200L, Fenix L2DQ5, and Magicshine as well. I have found one drawback to very bright headlights, however. Unfortunately, the critters (rabbits and opossums, mainly) are attracted to the light. There's nothing more annoying that cruising down the MUP at 18 MPH in the dark and having a rabbit run to the side of the trail, turn back, and then at the last minute dart out in front of you. I've had rabbits do that, as well as opossums, and one skunk. Fortunately, I didn't hit the skunk. So far, I've only run over one opossum and one rabbit. On a side note, I was surprised at how much softer a rabbit is than an opossum.

OP's gonna be riding in the dark, on trails.

IMO the dinottes are good for being seen in daylight or when there's glare from the sun. for the OP, i think a radbot, danger-zone, PBSF/turbo, cherry-bomb, etc would all be reasonable choices. and then he can spend some big money on a headlight suitable for the trails; not a mini-mag.

my radbot 1000 can hold it's own against car taillights... add on a decent 2nd rear light, ANSI safety vest, ankle straps, and other miscellaneous reflectives... if motorists don't see me from behind at night, i don't think an extra $100+ worth of rear-facing light is gonna help.