Helmet light

eyebee

After a couple of roundabout incidents (near misses) I was thinking of a helmet light/torch. I have a good light set up however with a helmet light am thinking maybe a look in the direction of merging traffic I would be more noticable. Any suggestions for a decent set-up.

Wooliferkins

Topeak Headlux?

BigLights

I've got an Exposure Joystick, with a Redeye for the rear (including the silicon diffuser). Nice purpose built helmet mount that snaps off in the event of a fall. Veeery bright, you can point it at drivers, and it's rechargeable. Not that cheap but it has already lasted me 2.5 years of daily use and going strong.

rubertoe

Smart Mini

Its what i use and they are cheap and pretty light and reasonably bright.

eyebee

do you use these on flashing mode?

rubertoe

Flashing for me

redvee

I've got a few of these adorning my helmet. Three on the visor up front and 2 on the back.

supersonic

Velcro a torch to the helmet :

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/UltraFire-900 ... 1c259dbc63

Tried and tested set up with MTBers, the multi mode allows you plenty of settings. Is the most efficient LED and battery set up out there.

DrLex

supersonic wrote:

Velcro a torch to the helmet :

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/UltraFire-900 ... 1c259dbc63

Tried and tested set up with MTBers, the multi mode allows you plenty of settings. Is the most efficient LED and battery set up out there.

+1, albeit with zip-ties. Also way convenient if need to fettle bike/fix puncture on the ride.

schemieradge

I am looking for exactly the same thing for exactly the same reason.

I have to say I wouldn't recommend a Topeak Headlux.. great idea but the electronics on mine are just too unreliable. It generally won't turn off if it gets cold unless I take the batteries out - which I can live with.. but it also randomly turns off at the back or front (which you never notice until you get home).

Are these Ultrafire things fairly waterproof?

cookeeemonster

supersonic wrote:

Velcro a torch to the helmet :

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/UltraFire-900 ... 1c259dbc63

Tried and tested set up with MTBers, the multi mode allows you plenty of settings. Is the most efficient LED and battery set up out there.

Are these lights any good for a main light on the handlebar? (are they really 900 lumens?) And do they come with mounts? And (sorry for all the questions!) how long does the batteries last...and are they the type with a separate battery pack or not?

Cheers!

eyebee

supersonic wrote:

Velcro a torch to the helmet :

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/UltraFire-900 ... 1c259dbc63

Tried and tested set up with MTBers, the multi mode allows you plenty of settings. Is the most efficient LED and battery set up out there.

Thanks for the link, just ordered one.

supersonic

CookeeeMonster wrote:

supersonic wrote:

Velcro a torch to the helmet :

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/UltraFire-900 ... 1c259dbc63

Tried and tested set up with MTBers, the multi mode allows you plenty of settings. Is the most efficient LED and battery set up out there.

Are these lights any good for a main light on the handlebar? (are they really 900 lumens?) And do they come with mounts? And (sorry for all the questions!) how long does the batteries last...and are they the type with a separate battery pack or not?

Cheers!

Very good on the bars - there is a big guide in the MTB buying forum which links to mounts.

The torch ones are exactly that, a torch with no external pack. They are light, and when fully driven on high are about 900lumens - this equates to about an hours runtime. But with 5 modes, even the lowest setting (about 150 lumens) is good, and this lasts a very long time!

You can get the same LED with external pack:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CREE-XML-XM-L ... 2a24dc7a38

That is a an absolute bargain! Is 900 lumens again, rather than what they claim: I use one myself.

lostboysaint

BigLights wrote:

I've got an Exposure Joystick, with a Redeye for the rear (including the silicon diffuser). Nice purpose built helmet mount that snaps off in the event of a fall. Veeery bright, you can point it at drivers, and it's rechargeable. Not that cheap but it has already lasted me 2.5 years of daily use and going strong.

That. Still the head torch daddy, even if it doesn't satisfy the lumen brigade.

cookeeemonster

supersonic wrote:

CookeeeMonster wrote:

supersonic wrote:

Velcro a torch to the helmet :

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/UltraFire-900 ... 1c259dbc63

Tried and tested set up with MTBers, the multi mode allows you plenty of settings. Is the most efficient LED and battery set up out there.

Are these lights any good for a main light on the handlebar? (are they really 900 lumens?) And do they come with mounts? And (sorry for all the questions!) how long does the batteries last...and are they the type with a separate battery pack or not?

Cheers!

Very good on the bars - there is a big guide in the MTB buying forum which links to mounts.

The torch ones are exactly that, a torch with no external pack. They are light, and when fully driven on high are about 900lumens - this equates to about an hours runtime. But with 5 modes, even the lowest setting (about 150 lumens) is good, and this lasts a very long time!

You can get the same LED with external pack:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CREE-XML-XM-L ... 2a24dc7a38

That is a an absolute bargain! Is 900 lumens again, rather than what they claim: I use one myself.

cheers might get one. What's the benefit of the external pack then - I take it its lasts a lot longer? And how long do the batteries take to charge?

The only thing I'd be worried about is how safe the chargers and batteries are...although it's stupid as 99% of the stuff regardless of make is made in the same place anyway

supersonic

The external pack at least triples the run time with these - mine charges in about 5 hours. No probs with it, but I am always in when it charges (with any charger), just to be on the safe side.

Mettan

I use an Ultrafire P10 (with an XPG-R5 emitter and SMO reflector) as my front (training) helmet light - it's quite a bit lighter than the 501b and it throws as far as the ~ 1.5a XML (I've got both lights, and others, C8's, 502's etc) - I'd certainly recomend it as an alternative to the 501b - in ''horrific'' traffic during the daytime I put in on flash, whilst at night I use it on Med/High depending on lit/unlit sections etc - it's got better runtimes than the XML P60 aswell - well worth considering. I use electrical tape to secure mine tightly to the top of the helmet. (Spend 30 minutes and do a good job of taping it rock-solidly to your helmet - flush, looks good) - (for Crits and TT's use other helmets so there's no hassle with it being taped on ''permanently" - just create a training/commuting helmet).

http://dx.com/p/ultrafire-p10-r5-cree-x ... 8650-42972

DF33

Surely you want it to 'break away' in the event of a high impact head plant.
A metal tube / ball ramming into your skull isn't a pleasant thought.

FreeFlow Bikes

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jthef

Hi
I use a tourch similar to one above knocking out about 900 lumins.
I mount it on the helmet with 2 of theses http://dx.com/p/universal-nylon-mount-for-flashlights-and-lasers-12000?rt=1&p=1&m=1&r=3&k=1&t=1&s=42972&u=12000
but even this on flash you still get this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuwcYhGzNGU :roll:

but I think it is better in town on flash but defo good enough down the dark lanes on full power.

jthef

A mate has an exposure set up and does sware by it.
He has had no problem all the time he has had it, where as I had to strip the tourch down twice to get it working correctly.

get what you pay for.

fret

I use one of these (I got a free sample) as we are Unilite stockists at work.
Easy to turn on and off by waving your hand in front of the sensor, batteries last a couple af weeks twixt charges.
http://www.uni-lite.com/led-headlights/ ... adlight-2/
And one of these on my spare helmet
http://www.uni-lite.com/led-headlights/ ... headlight/

Just be careful to avoid dazzling drivers.

father_jack

You'll probably get arrested for indecent exposure if you put a light on your helmet.