I use & like the planet bike superflash for the rear. The switch on the Superfash can be difficult at first. But after some time it has become a non issue for me. The push button switch has been vey weather proof an issue that has come up in the past on other lights

Cygolites Expelion 400 up front. During the day it stays on the bars in flash mode at night its on my helmet on the medium setting. I will be buying another one. For light out put & size, ease of mounting & removal I have found it to be one the best for money spent! A fantastic light for commuting around town & for bike paths with no light.

That sounds like my current setup. I have two Topeak Whitelite HP 3Ws and they went to where I was looking last year and the year before. But now that I'm riding faster and my cruising speed is higher, they aren't enough anymore. They are good enough for me to avoid MUPpets, but anything on the trail and they are useless until it 10-15 feet closer - which is almost to late for me to do anything other than hit it.

I'm going to get the Light and Motion Stella 600 Duel and see if those are better suited for me. https://www.bikelights.com/stella600.html

I think it is worth noting (for those who are not familiar with bike lighting), that if you are commuting only on familiar paths you do not an 800 lumen light source. I recently purchased a 3 pack of LED flashlights from Costco for 20 bucks. Supposedly 150 lumens each. Not an exaggerated claim. They have 50% and strobe capabilities as well. I have yet to mount them to my handlebars, but two of these running at 50% will be more than adequate for familiar areas while providing good battery life as well (run on AAAs). I am very pleased with the output. As for durability...time will tell. (I understand some reviews for these lights said they ate batteries even when not in use because the switch on the back glows. The ones I got do not have that feature so I'm hoping this is an improved version. At this price...well worth a shot.) I'm not saying people don't need more light than this. I'm just saying don't think you need to go buy a 1000 lumen light for your daily 3 mile ride home on a path you could ride with your eyes closed. Just advice for people who have never bought a bike light before (like myself). Just wanted to share my experience.

Decided to take the bike out to a local park that had no light sources. I'm actually amazed at how hard it actually is finding a place with no lights, even out in the middle of nowhere that I supposedly live in.

Just the Cygolite Expilion 400:


Just the Cygolite TridenX 750 (3 LED):


Both lights side by side (400 on left, 750 on right; note how the 400 is brighter at a single point, but the 750 throws much more light further and wider. This is why I went with a combination of two types of lights):


Both lights aimed at the same thing:


I had complete confidence biking through a completely pitch black park with crappy roads.

Upfront I've got a Cygolite 250. I don't ride fast, and it's plenty bright for me. I also use a Planet Bike 2 watt as a flasher. The latter is inadequate as a single light source for me even at my slow speeds.

On the back I've got a Planet Bike super flash on one bike and a Portland Design works RAdbot 1000 on the other. Both work well. Also have a Planet Bike blinky on the back of my helmet.

My new toy is a Fenix LD20 light that I attached to my helmet with a couple of my daughter's pony tail elastics. Plus Eneloop rechargeables.

I have been commuting for years using a pretty simple set up of an old PB Alias 10W headlight and a Super Flash rear. It was enough for my needs -- pitch black MUP 90% of the way, easy enough to be seen and don't need much to see since I'm not competing with too much else (king of night vision, king of insight). But I do like the helmet light as an add on to spot stuff off the path (e.g. deer, perverts) and to make brief "eye" contact with motorists for attention when I'm not on the MUP.

I had been seriously pondering a MagicShine upgrade and was about to pull the trigger when they started going up in flames.

I think if I go large in the future it will be to Dinotte.

I totally agree with your conclusion (i.e. the beauty of a couple of mag lites) but have a slightly different spin on the premise. At play is not whether you are "only on familiar paths." It is a far more complex mash-up of:

1. how straight or twisty things are
2. how fast you're going (your event horizon)
3. how comfortable you are responding to dim outlines vs. requiring things painted by massive candlepower (and how quickly your eyes adjust, etc.)
4. what kind of other traffic is on your route
5. what do you need to see them (e.g. ninja joggers) and be seen by them (e.g. stand out to and be visible to cars in already light polluted area)

The ambient light level along your route is very important, too. The irony is that, except for twisty or off-road routes which require you to pump up the lumens, I find I need LESS light the darker my route is, because I'm not competing with other lights.

You mean your familiar paths... some of us have commutes that mix city, park, and unlit unpainted creekside trails (Stevens Creek trail, along the approach to the airstrip at Moffett Field, is intentionally darkened, twisty, tree-covered, and poorly marked -- did I mention the clusters of ninja pedestrians filling both sides of the path? -- and it lets out on either end to brightly-lit multi-lane expressways with bike paths).

If there was one good answer, there'd only be one kind of bike light.

(fwiw I'm pretty happy with 300w niterider helmet light and a cygolight "2w" hotshot taillight along with some random little blinkie accent lights on the frame that I think I really use just because they're lying around -- unified usb charging for all lamps is a big plus too btw)

That was why I mentioned that some people will in fact need more light. I just wanted share my experience with others. In reading about lights there are people that say that 150 is REALLY BRIGHT, and people complaining that their dual 800 lumen plus 150 lumen on their helmet is not enough. I just wanted to provide some perspective. Heck, after reading what people had to say about some high power lights I was starting to think 100 lumens was what my cell phone LCD screen produces. I just wanted to provide a balanced source of information for those searching for lights. And sure...more light is always better than less. But not all of us can afford to spend hundreds of dollars on lights. (Yeah, yeah...I know...You cant put a price on your safety........blah blah.) If that was the case we would all be driving Bentleys and Rolls Royces because they are safer than a Mazda 3. Bottom line...people new to this might be surprised just how bright 200-300 lumens really are...I know I was.

Einstein was right - all things are relative. Every time I've gotten a new light, it renders the previous one useless - My first light, a real cheapo, was replaced with a ViewPoint Gen3 from PerformanceBike - a one watt LED. It was amazing! (Remember, all things are relative -). After about a year, I got a Dinotte, one of the single 5 watt LEDs that used 4 AA batteries. I don't remember the model #, but it put the Gen3 to shame. I used that for about a year, then replaced it with a NiteRider MiNewt 200, and suddenly the Dinotte was too dim to use. Now, about a month ago, I got the MiNewt 600 Cordless and I fail to see why the 200 impressed me! So the other night, for kicks, I put the ol' Gen3 on the handlebars of the Rig and rode around in the dark for a while - I felt like I could barely see, that the light that had blown my mind was nearly useless, it was so dim. Yep - All things are relative. So, now I'm eyeballing the Dinotte XML3 - - Hahahaha

On my E3 Pro it also puts out a disappointingly small amount of light. I've seen button-cell keychain lights that are on par with the Supernova standlight after a 30-second pause. When I'm stopped in the middle of a busy arterial intersection, waiting for a gap to make my left turn, I like to have something a little better than a keychain light, so I also run a compact high-output flashlight as a secondary headlight.

Regarding cost of dynohubs, the Sanyos are down around $40: https://www.longleafbicycles.com/prod...ting/dynohubs/ I'm still waiting for some brighter, new-generation dyno headlights before I'll really be sold on dyno lighting... maybe by 2015?

Going back to the original topic, I think the lithium-ion 18650 cells and charger are worth the investment if you're looking for lots of light. Once you're on the 18650 platform, flashlights and bar mounts are available at competitive prices to AA-powered lights, but 18650 has more power-storage capacity so you can get more light, or longer runtimes, or some of each.

It's very American to go with the more is better approach. tractorlegs, you're right on with your theory of relativity.

fizbiz, kudos to you for reminding us that more may be better but enough can be enough and a little modest luminosity can go a long way in some situations. I attempted to elaborate on those situations, which I don't think bjorke even read because he disputed us by basically repeating things I had already said. Neither of us pretended to present the grand unified solution to all luminosity needs.

Anybody want to go halves on a Bentley?

My current lights just barely reach my event horizon in the darker parts of the trail I ride home on. So there are to many ninjas to night have brighter/better lights. I'm certain I know the route very well as I've been riding it a few years now, it is the ninja threat that worries me.

Only if we go total weight weenie with it....

I have used dual Fennix flashlights attached by velcro to my helmet. Extremely bright, requires rechargeable AA batteries and works well.

I travel the C & O canal at night and have to watch out for deer and fallen trees.

Nothing beats my Jet lite. Yes it is $200 but......................i never have regretted buying it because I feel very safe

Alot of good advice on this thread. I want to add one more.

I consider the safty vest very important. My lights are not that great but the motorist do notice my safty vest. The best out there is CLASS 3 with gloss tape. The one I use is from Occulux.

https://www.envirosafetyproducts.com/...fety-vest.html

The one that did so well at 24 hours at Le Mans would be fun..

I use a Niterider Pro 700 Race in front with one or more Niterider Lightningbug 3s on my helmet if I'm on my heavy commuter, OR I have the two bugs on my bars and the 700 light on my helmet for the road bike. Seems almost anything bigger than those blinkies will jam the cyclocomputer on my roadie.

When it's helmet mounted, I nicknamed it the "Eye of Sauron". Brings cars to a quick halt who were just about to roll through a stop. I love the Niterider. Beautiful color temp, beautiful even light pattern, excellent battery life, and built like a freakin tank!

Then I've got either two superflashes (one on me and one on the bike) or a superflash and a Cateye TL-LD560-R. I always like to have two in the back just because I've had batteries quit suddenly leaving me invisible from the rear - a bad situation!

I also got a couple of these as a gift yesterday: https://bikeglow.com/ -- blue ones. They make a funny high-pitched noise so I'm thinking they'll go on my rain bike.

I also received one as a gift; they aren't terribly bright, I found. Probably okay for total darkness, or near total darkness, but I doubt they add much visibility in light polluted suburbs.

The noise is weird, but I don't notice once I'm riding - I keep the battery case in my seat bag.

I own this and am very happy with it as I travel 25 miles in the dark 3 days a week. Looks like they've dropped it $50 because it an end of the year model.

https://www.amazon.com/CygoLite-MityC...891717&sr=1-42

It's the best money I've spent. My only advice is if you're going to be riding in the dark -- spend the money on something nice -- whatever model it is and be seen. It's only your life.

Been using one of the above mentioned COSTCO 3 pack crees.
Very bright and at 3 for 20 bucks you can't go wrong.
Honestly, if one of these is not bright enough for you it may be time for an eye exam.

Fenix flashlights--one on helmet in blink mode, and a 150 lumen on the bars. Save a few $--I use 2 heavy duty rubber bands to "mount" the flashlight to my handlebars.

Two generic Cateye red flashers on the back.

Safety vest.

Large early 70s vintage AYH reflective triangle on saddle bag.

Random Scotchbrite tape.

would 2 minewt 600 cordless up front with a minewt 250 on a helmet be overkill? I have 2 planetbike superflash on the rear and they are glorious! people see me forever away! I usually ride around 20 mph

If you're happy with 2 superflashes, then I suspect two MiNewt 600's would be overkill.

On the other hand, I just got a MiNewt 600 last week, so I'm still in the "wow, that's bright" phase and haven't yet settled into the "I could use more light" phase. The first time I hit that level, I may be able to just start using it on high.

My experience in one week is this: If I'm on a well-lit road (lots of street lights), any of the 600's modes is overkill and does little more than add highlights to what's already visible. If I'm on a marginally lit road (some street lights), any of the 600's modes is sufficient and does a good job of lighting the road surface but has little effect on peripheral objects which are already visible from the street lights. If I'm on a poorly lit road with no traffic, any of the 600's modes is sufficient and does a good job of lighting the road surface and revealing peripheral objects. If I'm on a poorly lit road with oncoming traffic, the medium and high modes do a decent job of lighting the road surface and overcome the pupil dilation effect of the oncoming headlights.

In my garage with the lights out, it's easy to see the dramatic difference between medium and high. On the road, it's harder to see the difference.