2016 Bike Lights Shootout: Headlights
2016 is an exciting year for lights with brighter lights, more affordable options and new features such as wireless. We’ll have mountain bike trail headlights here in one section and commuter lights on RoadBikeReview with many tail light options in another section.
The components to this light shootout are:
1. Integrating Sphere Lumen Measurements – View actual measured Lumen charts of each light
2. Beam Pattern Shots – Compare all the beam patterns photos side by side
3. Individual Reviews – Click on each light below to read the editorial review
Blackburn Central 700 Front
Blackburn delivers a self-contained light with a very useable dual beam pattern. It features a GoPro compatible mount too. Read more »
Blaze Laserlight
Primarily a commuter light, it’s bright enough to get around on the trail or supplement a bar light. But you may get too distracted playing with the laser in the forest. Read more »
Bontrager Ion 700 RT
Going up in price with a sophisticated remote, the Ion 700 RT is the same compact light that can now be part of a unified system of lights. Read more »
CandlePower Tech TrailTorch TT3000
With the highest levels of U.S. craftsmanship, CandlePower Tech delivers a light with a very bright and even beam pattern. The GoPro compatible mounting is a big plus as well. Read more »
CandlePower Tech XFlare
LED bike lights have become so handy now that we end up using them for all kinds of other purposes. Here is a light from CandlePower Tech uniquely designed for all those other applications. Read more »
CatEye Volt 1600
The Volt 1600 continues to be one of our favorites as the output bumps up to 1600 Lumens now. Chassis and mount are getting a bit dated now for this much light but this is still a self-contained powerhouse. Read more »
CatEye Volt 400
The CatEye Volt 400 will not wow you with its blazing output or diminutive size relative to its brightness. Rather it will impress you with its day-to-day performance and solid design. Read more »
CatEye Volt 6000
The brightest light we’ve ever tested also has the widest beam. And it has a trick up its sleeve, an integrated cooling fan. But is it flawed or perfect for trail use? Read more »
Cygolite Dash 450
The Dash 450 from Cygolite offers a unique form factor with four auxiliary LEDs to complement the main lens. Read more »
DiNotte XML-3
The XML-3 is light at 355 grams, bright at 1573 Lumens yet it does not break the bank at $229. Read more »
Fenix BC21R
This is a surprising light because of its quality construction and really nicely shaped beam pattern and warm color for only $80. Field-replaceable batteries are a nice bonus. Read more »
Gloworm X2
Gloworm X2 comes up aces once again. Though not a huge improvement from last year, it keeps marching on with a beautiful beam pattern, a well-conceived package and good value. Read more »
Indigo INDIGO5.01
The Indigo5.01 is a self-contained powerhouse boasting 1850 Lumens. But the best part about the light is its uncompromising quality and very big and clean beam pattern. Read more »
ITUO Wiz1 800
Great construction, beam patterns and honest output are the highlights of these two lights from ITUO. One delivers two hours of run time and the other keeps going for an impressive three hours. Read more »
Knog Blinder Arc 640
Knog from Australia makes a serious effort in lights with a staggering selection. Honest outputs, good beam patterns and the best form factors in the business are some of its virtues with this 640 as their brightest offering. Read more »
Lezyne Deca Drive 1500XXL
Lezyne made their mark with honest, infinite battery lights. But with the dangers of loose Lithium cells, they are going with sleeker and more compact designs. Read more »
Lezyne Power Drive 900XL
Good optics, good price and form factor make this a good purchase as long as the customer is able to access the hidden Overdrive mode from right away. Read more »
Light & Motion Urban 850 Trail
This latest Urban 850 Trail model remains very bright and light. Now the side lights have been turned down to optimize for trail use. GoPro mount compatibility is offered now as well. Read more »
Lupine Betty R 15
Lupine Betty came in at 4711 Lumens last year. This year, it clocked in at 4989 forest piercing Lumens. We don’t know how they do it but they keep extracting more light from this little beast. Read more »
Lupine NEO 2
At 188 grams, it is the ideal helmet light with the battery mounted at the rear of the helmet to provide balance to the light head up front. Read more »
Lupine Piko 4 Smartcore
From its humble beginnings of 550 Lumens, the new Lupine Piko 4 now sports 1500 Lumens, a wireless remote and smartphone app. Read more »
Lupine Wilma 7
The Wilma 7 is the ‘practical’ exotic light of the Lupine line. Its incredible brightness is balanced out by light weight and good runtime. The new remote is a very welcome addition. Read more »
NiteRider Lumina OLED 800
This latest Lumina bumps output to an honest 800 Lumens. It also incorporates an OLED display to make switching through modes very easy. Finding out remaining runtime on any light level is handy as well. Read more »
Sigma Buster 600
The Buster 600 puts out an honest 600 Lumens in a handy, no frills package for $90. Impressed with this offering from Sigma of Germany. Read more »
Specialized Flux Expert Headlight
The Flux Expert is a great commuter light that can be complemented with a helmet light for trail use. And while not a bang-for-the-buck winner, it is a sleek, high-quality device. Read more »
Trail LED DS
Already an excellent light year, Trail LED improved their light with 400 more Lumens and an elegant new mount. This is American ingenuity and manufacturing at its best. Read more »
This article is part of Mtbr and RoadBikeReview’s 2016 Bike Lights Shootout. See the 2016 Mtbr Headlights Index and the RoadBikeReview Commuter Lights Index.
The post 2016 Bike Lights Shootout: Headlights appeared first on Mountain Bike Review.