Headlights
 

I'm in the market for a headlight for my roadbike. I'm liking the cree XML t6. Seems very bright and relatively inexpensive (eBay- 50 dollars) the only thing I don't like is the battery pack that you have to attach. The other option is the cygolite metro 300. Downside is it doesn't seem nearly as bright however there is no battery pack and I can get a combo headlight/taillight combo for 75 dollars. The taillight is the hotshot, which was the one I was planning on getting regardless...any opinions on this?

The battery pack on those easily straps to stem our under top tube. Also can helmet mount light and put battery in jersey pocket.

Another option is a very LED flashlight powered by a single 18650 LiOn battery. I have an MTE SSC P7 that is very bright and easy to mount on bars with a Two Fish Lockblock. Shiningbeam or DealExtreme are good sources for the lights, batteries and chargers. It is easy to carry a second or third charged 18650 if you are going for longer rides.

Get the T6 you will love it...Get Two at this price.
I have two of them. 4 hr run time on high strobe, 8.5 run time on low for night riding.

$25

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00..._email_1p_4_ti

WOW. For that price, there is no other way to go.

I have one of these, and it works great. I am also a fan of the NiteRider MiNewt (I have the 600). Cordless, USB recharge, comes with helmet and bar mount.

Actually got mine on sale for $21...Great Light.

http://dx.com/p/ultrafire-th-t60-ha-...-x-18650-57007

http://dx.com/p/trustfire-protected-...pack-blue-5790

http://dx.com/p/trustfire-tr-001-mul...-charger-12594

http://www.amazon.com/Two-Fish-Lock-.../dp/B001P9EWKE

That would set you up with a good headlight / flashlight combo, charger and batteries that you can use on and off the bike, helmet mount, toss in the back pack when camping etc. I take my 18650 flashlight camping all the time. In fact, heading out Friday night for a weekend at Camp James Ray on Lake Texoma and it will be in my pack.

REVISED LINKS FROM MERITLINE TO DEALEXTREME. Hope they work. Thanks 10Wheels.

You can go this way with the 18650 flashlights and have the cool road bike look.

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/h...ure2012022.jpg

Or use a small bag to hold the T6 battery pack.

I am currently using a 400 lumen Cygolite Pace/Expilion series light. This is like the metro you mentioned, but has a replaceable battery, so it's a bit more in cost. I've been really pleased with the runtime. I usually run it at the 300 lumen setting, going to 400 when needed. I get 2 to 2 1/2 hours out of it. I do carry a spare battery, but have only needed to use it a handful of times when the days are shortest. The only real issue I've had is the handlebar bracket swivels and that tends to loosen up over time. A blob of silicon rubber fixes it.

I've experimented with the 18650 flashlights and been dissapointed in the reliability and runtime of the models I chose.

A few people I ride with have bought the $30 headlights on Amazon and been fairly pleased. One of them had his handlebar mount break a couple of weeks back during a ride.

The one i was looking at seemed to have five bulbs instead of one. Is there any real difference ?

5 bulbs would give you a very short run time. Like maybe just 1 hour.

Aka not worth it?

I have the cree on my commuter. Works great.

What is your budget???