Bicycle Head Light ?

[KDC1956]

What would be the best head light to use on a bicycle as some here knows I am going on a long trip to Bangor Maine soon here.The light I had just stop working today.But now I want a good head light this time around.Don't know if I should use two head lights or should I just use one. Its not like I am going to ride that much in the night I just want to be seen when I leave early in the mornings or coming in a little late in the day.The last light was a Bell light it did put out good light but now that I got my self a real good bike for touring I want a better light what do you all think would be the best to use.Any input will be nice have a great time riding to all.

[staehpj1]

I just use a backpacking headlamp and a cheap blinkie on the back.  It seems adequate to me for use on tour.
http://www.rei.com/product/751757

[TCS]

I use & would recomend a Fenix 2xAA flashlight in a TwoFish handlebar mount.

Rugged, reliable, light weight, small, uses common batteries, lots of light, useful off the bike & in camp.

HTH,
tcs

[KDC1956]

Thanks to all guess I;ll go back to my cheap light then lol.
Every one have a safe and great ride to our health.

[whittierider]

In the last few years, LED headlights have improved dramatically, to say the least.  The best ones rival the HID headlights, but I'm sure you don't need that much light or want to spend hundreds of dollars and have a separate rechargeable battery pack.  You can get a small LED headlight for $50 or so that puts out plenty of light to see where you're going, not just to be seen, and it will still go dozens of hours on a set of AA alkaline batteries, unlike the halogen lights.  I usually use two lights so I can have one on full time for seeing where I'm going plus another smaller one on flashing that's pointed higher to command drivers' attention.  The smaller flashing one goes 100-200 hours on a pair of AA batteries.  These lights unclip from the handlebar mount in a second and are useful as flashlights as well when you're at camp.  Look at Cateye, especially the EL-520 and 530.  http://www.cateye.com/en/product_listing/56

[johnsondasw]

I use the $30 ones that quickly mount on the handlebars and use 2 AA batteries.  I use 2 of them, and find them to give out lots of light.  They are easy to take on and off and can be thrown in a pack or even in the back pocket.  This is such a huge improvement on the lights that were available even a few years ago!

[Rep]

With all due respect to our host, I hope it is not too rude to send one to another site for a specific purpose.

Examine the, "Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets" forum over at:  Bike Forums, http://www.bikeforums.net/index.php

You will gain much information.  I gravitated to a P7 flashlight and am very happy with the decision.   In fact, I just ordered a third set as my wife bought a new bike this afternoon and I want her set up.

I run a light whenever I leave my driveway.  Just like the car I drive turns its headlight on so the car is seen by others, I now do the same with my bike.

[johnsondasw]

Rep:

What batteries does this take, and how long do you get out of them?

[Rep]

Rep:

What batteries does this take, and how long do you get out of them?

The batteries are an 18650.  I only use them on strobe, day or night and they last several hours.

My next purchase though would be a charger that charges at a faster rate.

The lights are great but you are adding weight with extra batteries.  To me, that is no problem though.

[johnsondasw]

Thanks. 

[litespeed]

I agree with staehpj1. I have a camping headlamp I picked up at Wal Mart and a triple-pattern blinkie to stick on the back of my belt or under the seat. Both have worked fine for years.

[conifir]

i have been down your trail.....
after going the tire rubbing generator way.....
and the planet wazoo handle bar blinkey.....
i broke down and bought a helmet light ...
that can also be used as a handle bar light....
from dinotte.com.....
google it.....
cost about 150 smackers
but it is like having a little reactor on your head ....
it lights up the road....
and where ever you turn your head
this bad boy lights up everything

[katekosar]

May I ask some dumb questions?  Do you put the headlamp over the helmet?  It doesn't stretch the headlamp elastic too much?  Does the headlamp unit stay in place?  One would think it would slip up and off.  Does the little visor thingy on the helmet interfere with the angle of the beam?  Thanks for your thoughts ~~

kate

[johnsondasw]

I have done the elastic over the helmet thing in the past, but now you can get a mount that goes on the helmet and stays there, and you clip the light into that when you need it. 

My front lights are an handlebar mounts now.  And the mounts themselves take about 30 seconds to take on and off, so you dont have to leave them on all the time.

[staehpj1]

May I ask some dumb questions?  Do you put the headlamp over the helmet?  It doesn't stretch the headlamp elastic too much?  Does the headlamp unit stay in place?  One would think it would slip up and off.  Does the little visor thingy on the helmet interfere with the angle of the beam?  Thanks for your thoughts ~~

kate

Basically I don't.  I put it on my head and then put the helmet on.  I guess it may depend on how low your helmet fits on your head, but it works fine for me.