https://cyclingtips.com/2017/08/knog-pwr-lights-review/

Prices range from $75 for the Commuter to $160 for the Trail https://www.knog.com.au/bike-lights/pwr-range.html. These use a proprietary power pack which is just the right size for being made from a single 18650 Li-ion battery. The spare power packs are $70 for a 3350 mAh for the PWR Bank Small to $90 for the PWR Bank Medium. If you compare that to the cost of buying a genuine Panasonic/NCR 3400 mAh battery for $10 or less, it makes carrying spare proprietary batteries pretty darn expensive. We are starting to see some bike lights that actually use a non-proprietary 18650 battery which would make a lot more sense than the Knog lights. Also, remember that Li-ion batteries recharge about 300 times before their output drops to 80% of the original value which makes using standard batteries an even better deal.

it would be nice if they would avoid the proprietary battery cases. I have a Cygolyte expillion, same problem. Although the battery is "only" $40. Still would be nice to be able to reload that case once the battery goes for that kind of money. I have wondered if that was 3d printable

Those are pretty poor run times.

45 minutes?

I've really gone off Knog as a company after hearing about all the problems and complaints that accompanied the launch of their Oi Bell.


They seem to be too much about the marketing and not enough about the engineering, so unless one of their products is massively discounted, I avoid them totally.

If they had made it to where you can just drop 18650s into the lights, I'd be ordering one ASAP. Or better still, 26650s. The world does not need more proprietary batteries.

Only have one knog product, one of those little AA battery lights. It is great, for the 20 minutes it takes to drain a new battery.

So, what are some good lights that use the 18650s or 26650s?

I'd love to have a spare set of batteries in my pocket for replacement if necessary.

When saw these, I liked the long run times (6 hours at 250 lumens for the Road), and that you can change the brightness of the various settings (I often don't like the ones that come stock). I didn't like the price. I don't care at all about the modular thing. I suppose being able to recharge something else might be handy it an pinch (but that presumes I brought a cable).

The only 18650 battery lights are generic no name flashlights with bike mounts, and don't give any indication of brightness. They're cheap enough. How do these work for folks?

I had a few. They all had problems.

I had to remove the battery and insert it into a charger. That's not awful, but being able to plug a cord right into the unit is much nicer.

I had to try lots of mounts. Most rattled or went out of adjustment or just aren't well made.

Beam shapes are generally horrible. Usually, there is a hot spot in the middle of the beam. My eyes gravitate towards it, even when it is not illuminating the important stuff.

Battery life is unpredictable.

Information on how bright they are is bad.

Some of the lights failed, especially the expensive one.

A light designed to be used on a bike is better for me. The mount is designed for the rigors of riding a bike. The beam is more evenly dispersed. Battery life is similar to claims.

I have a B&M USB rechargeable headlight (IXON Core). Beam shape is excellent, and battery life is amazing. It doesn't flash. The rubber band mount is a little too loose. Construction otherwise is excellent.

I have a Cygolite USB rechargeable headlight. Lots of good modes. Beam shape is OK. Battery life is good. Construction is excellent, and so is customer service.

I have several dynamo powered setups, and I like these the best, though output is lower. Beam shape is excellent. Construction is excellent. Battery life is not a question. The lights bolt onto the bike, so convenience is maximal unless there is a risk of theft, but I haven't had a problem locking the bikes up outside. Reliability is maximal. Cost is high. Weight is low. The drag from the hub is imperceptible. For easier setup and lower cost and lower weight, you can use a sidewall dynamo, but drag is perceptible, and it's noisy.

If I had bought the expensive stuff in the beginning, I would have saved money.

I've been using a XinTD C8 flashlight in a $2 rubber U shaped flashlight holder (holds 1" diameter light which is the common diameter of C8 form factor lights.). Probably about 700 lumens. On the helmet I have 5" barrel flashlight, about 400 lumens. Mine is a Shiningbeam S-mini, but the Convoy S2 is an excellent inexpensive light.

I have been using the same lights and mounts for 10K miles over several years. I had other mounts before these, but I am so happy with these I stopped looking. Total investment for lights, batteries, charger, mounts about $100. I'm with you on the convenience of carrying a spare battery.

I do like my Cygolite Metro 550 for daylight flashing light, but it won't last the 1.75 hours on highest steady beam when I decide to bike home at night.

Here are photos of the two holders:

https://www.outdoor-oprema.com/image/...03-600x600.jpg

https://img.dxcdn.com/productimages/sku_12000_1.jpg

Its a proprietary system which isn't compatible with components from other companies.
For example no 18650 cells are useable.

'Fenix'. I double checked the post dates on this thread to make sure this wasn't an old discussion. Anyway, this BC21R bicycle headlamp model has been on the market for almost two years. The user can replace a depleted 18650 cell with a fresh one and either recharge cells used separately or in the light housing via USB. Improved beam shape, side lights, four brightness levels, last level memory, flashes if that's your thing, charge level indication, over temp protection, limited lifetime guarantee.

Ixon IQ Speed Premium if you buy or build your own battery pack. It just needs 7v (2 x 18650 in series).

Shaped beam, high quality, long run time. I supplement it with a helmet light.

I love the mounted look of these lights and how small they are. Might buy when I need one.