Headlamp vs Mounted Light
 

First post. New job = 10 mile one way commute. Set up the good ole 1996 Trek 830 and the last thing I need is a light. I'll only need it in the morning, I need to be at work at 6:30 am.

My question: should I get a headlamp or should I just get a light that mounts to my bike? I'm leaning towards the headlamp because it's a multi-functional item. The Black Diamond Icon to be exact. 200 lumens, takes AA batteries.

Thoughts?

You should consider running with a light on the bike and one on the head. When it comes to lighting, redundancy is not overkill.

I just looked up that light. At this store there on sale 29.99. http://www.campsaver.com/icon-3-watt...lamp-clearance

At 3 watts I think you will be seen but not be able to see much with it in the city. On back roads you be able to see some what. I have a Cree Head/ Bake light that I got for 36.00 and it's 9 watts. From here: http://www.amazon.com/Bicycle-Light-...EE+XML+XM-L+T6. This will put out way more light then that 3 watt head lamp and you'll be seen as well as be able to see.

Get both if you can afford it. Don't use a blinky on your head and don't light up people's eyes expecting them to move after you've blinded them.

If you can afford it, lights running 18650 batteries put out a lot more light but the batteries are around $10-20 each and another $20 for the charger. My 500 lumen (manufacturer claim) light powered by one 18650 will run for about 2 hours per charge. I carry a spare battery just in case.

Personally, both my lights are handle bar mounted. My blinky is a Planet Bike Blaze, it sucks and it was expensive, always runs in blink mode if I'm riding. Same goes for my PDW Dangerzone rear blinky. I use rechargeable AA and AAA batteries in the blinkies so it's less than 1/2 cent for electricity to operate my lights for an entire week. Since I've paid for the lights and batteries, I may as well use them -- there's no harm in running them. Motorcycles run blinking front lights whenever they're running, I may as well do the same.

At night, or times of low-viz, I run the front blinky plus my 500 lumen light in steady mode. I figure in this way, the blinky gets more attention, but it's impossible to light up the road and difficult to judge distance, but that's where the steady light comes in. Also the steady light is bright enough on it's own that it is difficult to ignore. More than about 30m from the front of the bike though, the blinky disappears into the ball of light coming out of the 500 lumen light.

+1 great idea!

Great idea, I am going to keep that one in mind for when my commute changes to darkness later this year. Thanks!

CigTech: The one you looked at is the older one. The new one is 200 lumens. I think that is 6 watts?

Appreciate the help. Anyone have any suggestions on a good mounted light?

I personally don't like a head mounted light on the road. Off road they are great, on road they tend to get in car drivers' eyes. I have a Lupine Piko 3 mounted to my bars and it gives me all the light I need. I keep it adjusted so it isn't blinding oncoming drivers.

+1 on the helmet and bike light. I generally aim the helmet light lower so I have look up more, keeping the light out of driver's eyes unless I want to get their attention.

I have a headlamp (Black Diamond Sprinter) & a bar mounted light (NiteRider MiNewt 350-although f I were buying it now, I'd go with the 600-it wasn't out when I bought). The Sprinter is OK. If I had to, I could get home with just that light & it would probably work fine if I lived in an area with lots of streetlights. I have one major hill on the way home from work & I would need to slow way down to navigate it on the headlamp's beam. I get a much better field of view with the NiteRider.

I don't know the specs on the sprinter, but you can probalbly look them up & see how it comapres to the headlmap you are thinking about. I bought the Spritner for running at night & it works great for that. I wear it when I ride at night, since like was mentioned above, the extra light isn't a bad thing (it also includes a flashing taillight so that's nice on the bike).

Depends on your needs and your budget. I personally ordered every item from this post, but ended up sourcing the charger from Shiningbeam, since the DX one was back ordered.

You might also want to peruse this thread as well.

I don't think you can go too far wrong downgrading any manufacturers ratings you see by 50%. Using that logic your light is 100 lumens. My NiteRider Classic is also 100 (real) lumens. I know what that looks like. It ain't enough. But if you think it is you can have mine. I've upgraded to a MagicShine. It is a claimed 900 lumens. Most people believe it is around 400 (real) lumens. It is enough light. Not more than enough. Just enough.

I think it is also safe to make the following assumptions: if it uses AAA batteries it is for flashing duty only. If it uses AA batteries it is for main light back-up or helmet mount duty only. If it uses rechargeable battery packs with three or more 18650 cells you just might have a real headlight that you can see with.

Good mounted lights are the MagicShine, Gemini Titan or their clones. Better lights than these will cost as much as your bicycle and all your peripheral gear. One headlight of a car puts 1500+ lumens on the road. Most cars have two. Think about that and ponder why so many cyclists get excited at the thought of going out at night with under 200 lumens of headlight power.

H

Piko 3, it is small and very bright.

Whoa! Did I read that right? You will give me your old Niterider Classic? If it still works, I'll gladly take it and use it.

I use both and love them. They both serve a different function.