2014 Lights Shootout, Bike Light, Lights, Lights Shootout, Serfas, True 350, TSL-350 - October 22, 2013

Review: Serfas True 350

The top dog in this series is the the True 750 for $160 but the sibling, the True 350 can be had for $120. The other advantage besides fitting it in the budget is the run time increases to the coveted 2-hour mode in the highest setting.

Instead of sticking with the light chassis from last year, Serfas stepped it up with a brand new, more robust chassis this year. The new one seems bigger with more cooling fins. It has air ports in front near the lens that serve to funnel air through the heat sink and cool the light down at speed.

This light also has a removable battery that can be replaced on the trail for ‘infinite’ run time. The battery is encased in a proprietary plastic carrier to keep it protected and less prone to shorting out.

A unique feature with this light is that the lens is replaceable, so the optics can be focused or wide. The optional lens is included in the package and it is a very useful tool for optimizing one’s setup. One could run a wide beam on the bar and narrow on the helmet for example.

Beam pattern is good as it has a spot and a nice wide halo around it. The case and switch ergonomics seem excellent, as there is a positive click when activating the switch. There’s three light modes and a flashing mode to scroll through before the light shuts off. Another way to shut the light off is by depressing the switch for about 2 seconds.

One thing we noticed with this light is it stayed cooler than competitors during our bench test in front of the fan. That means that it has excellent heat dissipation qualities and it will not only protect the circuits better, but it will also stay brighter longer under hot or non-moving conditions.

Packaging for this light is top-notch with a host of accessories included in the box. One handy accessory included is a USB 110 volt charger. While all other manufacturers assume you have a USB charger already and cut costs by not supplying one, Serfas supplies a pretty nice one in the package.

There are three lights in this family with the 750, 550 and the 350 Lumen version. Since they all share the same chassis and battery, the 350 stays very cool and runs the longest at 3:30 in the highest setting.

Specifications

Price: $120
Claimed Lumens: 350 Lumens
Measured Lumens: 420 Lumens
Measured MTBR Lux: 39 Lux
Lumens per $: 3.50 Lumens
Lumens per gram: 1.79 Lumens
Time on High: 3:30 Hours
Charge Time: 4 Hours (Wall adapter included)
Mounted Weight: 235 grams
Category: Flashlight/Commuter

Strengths

Excellent light output and beam pattern
Optics are replaceable for a wide or narrow beam pattern
Good switch action and logic
Light stays cool even at high power and some airflow
USB charger is included
Great value at $120
Battery is replaceable even on the trail if one has a spare.
Bar and helmet mount are included
Long, 3:30 run time on highest setting

Weaknesses

Some may consider it bulky for a self-contained light
Overbuilt for a 350 Lumen light

Mounting

Handlebar mounting is done with a quick release mount that works quite well once snug. It can be aimed left to right. The quick release lever is non-intuitive at first, as it seems to be reversed. Mounting on different diameter bars is a bit tricky, as two pins have to be aligned in the right holes to get the proper bracket size.

The helmet mount is included.

Mtbr Light Meter Measurements

This light measured 39 Lux on our ambient light measurement facility. The light output measurement is performed by placing a Lux light meter beside the light. Both are pointed at the ceiling (five feet above) of a dark room. This measurement uses the ambient light produced by the bike light.

Integrating Sphere Measured Lumens

This light measured 420 Lumens in an integrating sphere. Claimed Lumens by the manufacturer is 350 Lumens. The Lumen-hour graph below shows how the light performs over the first three minutes of its battery cycle.

Compare all Lumen Tests here »

Tunnel Beam Pattern Photo

The location is useful since it has walls and a ceiling that can display a bike light beam pattern. The walls have a lot of graffiti on them and actually show detail when they are lit up by a light with a wide angle. Cones and targets are set up with the far target set up at 120 feet.