MadManMike Posted November 10, 2015 Report Share Posted November 10, 2015 Anyone here got lights that are suitable for night time trail riding? A quick browse on eBay brings up a million different lights, from £££££ to Chinese-based £, all with claims of 15 lumens to 9,999,999,999 lumens. I know I'll need one with an external battery pack if I want decent light output, but I'm not sure what to go for. I'm aware of the expensive brands, but I wondered if there's a good cheap-ish eBay one that'll do the job and have everything I need out of the box (Many don't come with battery packs). Anyone got experience of powerful lights? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross McArthur Posted November 10, 2015 Report Share Posted November 10, 2015 This is what I use. Cheap and cheerful. Does the job just fine. Use it for trail riding, commuting and even on my 24hour MTB 100 mile trip. Obviously the battery didn't last 24 hours but for the time I needed it in the hours of darkness it was fine. http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00SFCLIK6/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?qid=1447152287&sr=8-3&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=cree+lights&dpPl=1&dpID=51bd6ohrh1L&ref=plSrch I'm going to buy another soon. So far I've used this on my helmet, which I attach with elastic bands, but want another for my handle bars, not because 1 isn't bright enough, trust me it is, but because it means I can point the handlebars light in the direction my bikes pointing and use the head lamp to see where I'm looking. Makes all the difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadManMike Posted November 10, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 10, 2015 What about battery? The photo just shows a lead going nowhere...? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross McArthur Posted November 10, 2015 Report Share Posted November 10, 2015 Does it aye? Have a wee search about and see what you can find. You might decide to go for moar lumins with a picture of the battery included? I run the cable with battery attached into my top pocket in my bag pack. It's a bit weighty to attach to my helmet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkeyseemonkeydo Posted November 10, 2015 Report Share Posted November 10, 2015 The thing second from the right at the bottom of the image is the battery pack. Quote Package include:1 x Bicycle Headlamp1 x Battery Pack1 x Charger2 x Spare O-ring Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadManMike Posted November 10, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 10, 2015 It's good that my eyes work properly... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
haydon_peter Posted November 10, 2015 Report Share Posted November 10, 2015 I have owned a few Chinese lights over the years and they have all failed. It's usually the connection between the battery and the light that becomes unreliable or stops working. Recently I had another light fail so decided to treat myself to an Exposure Joystick. I know I could buy many more Chinese lights before having paid the price of the Joystick but I am happy to finally own a light I can trust and I have read a lot of reviews from people saying their Exposure lights are still going strong after several years. I use the bar mount on my road bike and the helmet mount for when I'm on my MTB, I can quickly move the light between the mounts and I don't have to piss about attaching an external battery somewhere. On high (800 lumens) it runs for 1.5 hours but by switching between high and low power it obviously lasts much longer so I haven't had any issues with battery life so far. I only use the high setting when descending off road, anyone who needs to use a high powered light at full power when climbing or riding on the road should go and get their eyes tested http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/exposure-joystick-mk-10-front-light/rp-prod137174 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Quigley Posted November 10, 2015 Report Share Posted November 10, 2015 I use this.... The Sun on your bars! It's been great for me on the pitch black cycle track home from work. A young lad at work uses the less powerful 5000 lumen one for trail ridding through the forest and says it's great. For £20 you can't go wrong! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duncy H Posted November 11, 2015 Report Share Posted November 11, 2015 I've used the chinese lights mentioned by ross and they are great, incredibly bright and last a decent amount of time. Seeing as they're so cheap I always carried a spare with me but I never had an issue with mine, (they can be bought as a pair for roughly £20). That's not to say I haven't heard of friends having issues with theirs but I don't use lights too often, and only really for pitch black trail riding. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkeyseemonkeydo Posted November 11, 2015 Report Share Posted November 11, 2015 I'm on a CREE XML T6 thing as well on the bike and agree it's spot on. I wish the cable were shorter but that's either modifiable or liveable with. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadManMike Posted November 11, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 11, 2015 Do you guys have the battery packs in a backpack or something? I prefer to ride without a backpack on (I have essentials in a small saddle bag). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ogre Posted November 11, 2015 Report Share Posted November 11, 2015 i have the big 4-5led one and its great, my batteries all came with pouches so you could hang them off your stem etc but i found keeping them in a jersey pocket was the way to go. when i get back to mtbing i'd like a single led jobby for my helmet and another large unit for my bars. it's quite easy to fit a gopro mount to the lights (just drill out a J mount and bolt the light onto it) then you can bar/helmet/whatever mount it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross McArthur Posted November 11, 2015 Report Share Posted November 11, 2015 Is that were you keep spare tampons too? As I say, I keep the battery pack in the top pocket in my camelbak. It's not a big bag, it's very flat and has waist and chest straps so doesn't flap about unless it's fully loaded with a jacket or something. I'd normally ride without a bag too but to hold a battery it isn't so much bother. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duncy H Posted November 11, 2015 Report Share Posted November 11, 2015 I used to strap mine to the underneath of my top tube, not sure if it'll fit as nice on my new bike yet, I always mounted it on the bars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lankyri Posted November 23, 2015 Report Share Posted November 23, 2015 I'm running two crees great little things 24 quid off amazon as well 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadManMike Posted November 25, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 25, 2015 I ended up going for a Lezyne Hecto Drive 300xl as I found one mega cheap. It's not as powerful as those Cree ones with the battery packs, but it packs more of a punch than my current set up. USB rechargeable is a nice touch too. Certainly bright enough for what I do, not quite bright enough to go full whack across trails though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusevelt Posted September 30, 2016 Report Share Posted September 30, 2016 (edited) Speaking of lights, the £12.99 Bikemate aluminum cob lights currently on offer at ALDl stores are pretty darn impressive for a small compact usb rechargeable unit. https://www.aldi.co.uk/aluminium-white-front-bike-lights/p/072177067464001 Edited September 30, 2016 by Rusevelt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadManMike Posted October 3, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 3, 2016 Shame it's only front, I could do with a good rear light for a bargain price! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forteh Posted October 3, 2016 Report Share Posted October 3, 2016 (edited) I picked up one of the aldi lamps above, is really bright, small and mounts perfectly to my helmet just above the visor. It's more of a floodlight than a focused beam so not sure if it will project far enough for trail riding but as a second headlamp it should be pretty good Edited October 3, 2016 by forteh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusevelt Posted October 6, 2016 Report Share Posted October 6, 2016 On 03/10/2016 at 7:44 PM, MadManMike said: Shame it's only front, I could do with a good rear light for a bargain price! Its available in both front & rear, I just posted the link and photo of the front light so that viewers don't get confused with the cheaper and slightly less powerful Premium light set at ALDI. Can't go wrong with whatever light set you buy and way better value than the overpriced Moon lights. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusevelt Posted October 7, 2016 Report Share Posted October 7, 2016 Some reason I can't edit this in my earlier post send by phone. Old 2015 video testing £10 premium lightset. £13 Aldi cob lights Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Booth Posted October 11, 2016 Report Share Posted October 11, 2016 Cree T5s still running over here. I don't even discharge the batteries when it comes to summertime which I really should do. Still as bright and long lasting as ever! Funnily enough I fitted mine up this weekend for the night rides that are coming up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamieC Posted November 22, 2016 Report Share Posted November 22, 2016 Hi, I use the Lumenator and Lumen800 from http://www.mtbbatteries.co.uk/ The Lumenator on the bars gives you a good spread but throws the light a long way too, and the Lumen800 on my helmet gives me a slightly more focused beam. More than enough light for night riding and really good battery life. I've a few friends who bought the cheap ebay lights, some set on fire whilst charging and a few just randomly cut out whilst riding with absolutely no warning, so I would avoid those. That pair cost me about £160 and the guy is amazing. He's a member of the singletrack mountain bike forum and is known for his amazing customer service and knowledge. Really can't rate him enough Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusevelt Posted July 25, 2017 Report Share Posted July 25, 2017 Dunno if this link will work but purchased these from ALDI last week and wrapped them on my hubs https://www.aldi.co.uk/bikemate-premium-bike-light-set/p/077353143709200 Similar to premium lights but more compact design. Better waterproofing, small enough to sit on wheel hubs using the rubber strap. Rechargeable. Winner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny Posted July 30, 2017 Report Share Posted July 30, 2017 Just don't leave the chinese ones unattended while charging. The chargers/batteries are known to be a bit on the dodgy side. Example: http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/psa-warning-lights-bought-off-ebay-batteries-exploding 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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