anyone recomend a decent budget front light

andy83

rechargable batteries died in my front light and want to get a new one on a budget around £20 can go £30 max

basically want something that wont eat the batteries and is bright, currently got halogen one which i like so anyuthing similar would be good

thanks

cougie

Push your budget to £37 and get a Fenix L2D - you'll get about 4 hours really bright on high. Theres also an ultra strobe for when you want to just be seen rather than see where you are going.

These are good enough for off roading in the dark - so on road - not a problem.

andy83

cheers for that, might have a look into it but rather summin little cheaper

Finbar Saunders

Or try the Tesco 3w Cree. Search on here for the thread. I have one and it is pretty bright. Still using the batteries it came with but I only use it for part of my 40 min commute.

Surf-Matt

Cateye EL510 is pretty good (got two) and now half price at £19.99 from Wiggle.

Tesco torches are good but need mounting.

cougie

The EL510 is about three years old now - technology has moved on a fair bit.

Andy - do you need it to see where you are going, or just to be seen round town ?

Surf-Matt

EL510 is old but plenty if you just need to be seen.
Used mine for the 5 mile Avon cycle path in total darkness for 2 years without problems - just rode it quite slowly!

amaferanga

Tesco torches can be mounted on old cateye light brackets by drilling a few holes and looping a couple of cable ties around the torch. Might work with other light mounts as well. Two lights seems to work much better so you'd be looking at £20 + about £15 for a good charger and batteries if you don't have them already.

Surf-Matt

People do seem to be struggling to fit rechargeable AAs into those torches (I have one) as opposed to disposables. I had no idea that they were a different size!

Charger wise, just got one of these (this morning) and a set of the best batteries currently available (according to many)

http://www.batterylogic.co.uk/technolin ... -bl700.asp

http://www.batterylogic.co.uk/hybrio-aa ... attery.asp

The charger is amazing - you can literally bring semi knackered batteries back to life by" refreshing" them, it spots duds, and does everything. Never has recharging been so fun...!

apreading

Another option is the Fenix E20 focus.

This gives as good a beam as the L20D on high. Lacking the Turbo mode but definately much better than the Tesco. Cost about £25 so right on budget too.

I anyone wants a Cateye EL510 I have a boxed/unused one I would be happy to sell for £12 plus postage.

scoobers

If it's to be seen rather than to see (i.e. cycling in lit areas) the Cat Eye EL135 is pretty good

simon_e

Agree with Scoobers, the EL135 is cute and tiny, takes 2 AAA which take ages to run down. It has quite good output and visibility for such a small unit, much better than the cheaper ones. However, it's not good for lighting up the road/path surface immediately in front of you.

EL510 (supsersed now IIRC) and EL320 have quite a narrow spot so good up to a point but have poor spread on the floor. 4 x AA which don't last terribly long so always carry spares or a backup unit (e.g. EL135).

EL600/610 have much better spread and power, and have their own rechargeable pack.

See Cateye's front light performance comparison (PDF). The only alternative I have seen in use is the Halfords Ultra White front. Good spread of light on the floor (better than EL320) and good visibility from front and side. About £35 IIRC, I'd try one if they were cheaper.

Recent thread on rechargeables and chargers here.