Best flashlight to use as a bicycle headlight? Stock not modded. Preferably 18650 or 21700.

Hey everyone I do a lot of biking on the trails and at night time. I have a thorfire headlight kit for one of my bikes but that don’t fit my hybrid bike. I was just curious if any other members bike at night and what light they use flashlight wise? Preferably 18650 or 21700 cell lights. C8 size or smaller. Maybe a little bigger. I’m open minded.

I have a twofish flashlight mount if that matters.

Something with good light output and decent runtime. I can always carry some extra cells in my bag in the proper battery holders.

Thanks,
Mike

I use a BLF A6 on the front of my bike, and a Zebralight headlight on my head. The front light gives a bright, floody beam ahead of me, while the headlight allows me to see wherever I look. That’s the combo I like best. Oh, and a rear red light, but that doesn’t help me see, of course.

Pretty much any 18650 EDC flashlight will do. They’re all small, with good flood.

Zebralight’s have the best efficiency and run-time, so I occasionally will use one on the front of my bike if I’m going more than a couple of hours and don’t want to change the battery. Any of the SC64/SC600 series are good for that. The other advantage over cheaper lights (like the BLF A6) is that thermal regulation is based on temperature, so when you’re riding the light stays cool and won’t step-down. The BLF A6 uses a timed step-down, so max is only viable for brief periods. Not that using max on any light is practical anyway, since it will drain your battery fast.

Sometimes I don’t bother with the headlight, if I know I’ll be on roads the whole time. Its main benefit is when I’m on paths, where I’m looking around more.

Ive never heard of Zebralight before. SC64/SC600 are the Zebralights? I do most trail riding and some riding on the back roads here with no street lights at all. So i like having some kind of light on me. I also need to get a rear light thanks for the reminder Walkintothelight

I also use my BLF A6. It seems to have a good flood/beam combo to cover it all for biking on the flat. I do switch out for the TK18 or VG10, but A6 is the go to.

18650 seems to give long consistent usage in a small form. I havent gone any smaller.

I’ve heard a lot of awesomeness about the A6 and have seen videos also. I do mostly trail riding but it’s also really dark here with no street lights at all.

I am using Convoys S2+. One in the city, 1 or 2 outside. I carry a pack of 2 spare 18650s. And a Liitokala Li-100. In this way, I can refuel my flashlight or my phone. :slight_smile:

I have been told that the quads and triples can be more efficient at usable outputs since you are not driving a single LED closer to the edge and can be more floody as well depending on model and optics.
I would think you could get a slightly larger but much brighter quad and run it on medium and have great flood and output.

Left handlebar Fenix BC30, right handlebar fenix a-10 mount with sc600. About 4,000mi a year. Not much by some standards, but works for me.
I use two taillights as well. I find motorist appreciate(move over) easy to see riders.

I’ve currently been testing out a few of my lights on my bike this week.

Using this mount I’ve been using a Rofis MR70 (26650 light) and will be testing it out with a Lumintop ODF30 when it arrives sometime soon.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Bicycle-Light-Flashlight-Mount-Bracket-Holder-Bicycle-Bike-Handle-Bar-Handlebar/162398838657?var=461426360981&hash=item25cfb99f81:m:mE7YKzBpT-kuXeSY3776VWA

I’ve also been using my Zebralight SC600 Mk III.

Apart from the Convoys, I use a pair of cheap but quite visible blinkies (from Lidl - they come in pair - white/red) attached to my helmet. The white one facing forward and the red one, the opposite direction. This way, am I more visible to motorists as I move the head (towards them).

I would just get a $30 bike headlight with 4 18650s in the battery pack.

Reasons:

it will mount better

range/brightness will be ok for riding over an hour - a single 18650 at 700 lumens will be dead in 20 minutes

charging will not require removing the light or the batteries (they come with a charger that ‘replaces’ the headlight during charging)

\light pattern will be optimized for bike

wle

The Nitenumen X8 from banging looks decent for the price.

I’d recommend Astrolux S41/S41S with quad Nichia 219C (\TIR optics), because it has a very wide and floody beam pattern. Since I have it, I ’forgot to use’ both my Convoy S2\ lights and my BLF A6 (I intend to modify both of them later, however).

Yes, Zebralight SC64 and SC600 are their main 18650 flashlights. Small, bright, and efficient. Lots of modes with a great user interface, too. They come in a variety of models from lots of flood to a decent amount of throw, and a good choice of tints.

Anyway, they’re somewhat expensive ($70-$90 US), which is why I don’t always use one on the bike, since if I park it I usually leave the light on it and don’t want an expensive light to get stolen. (The BLF A6 I often use is an inexpensive light ~$25, but still good.) But if you’re always with your bike or you take the light off, then a Zebralight is a great light.

For a bike light, a Zebralight SC600w MkIV (or the older MkIII) is a good option. Good balance of flood and throw. Remove the clip for easy installation to a light holder.

An SC64w is also a good option too, if you want something slightly smaller. Though, personally, I prefer a light a little larger, so that it sticks out from the holder and the air flow can keep it cool.

I like to travel quite light and I never leave my bike unattended with all the gear (light, odometer etc.) attached; as I make many stops traveling in the city, you can imagine what would mean to get the 4 pack on&off the bike.

The problem I have with very floody lights (like the S41 quad), is that it bothers drivers coming towards you. Too much of the light goes in all directions, including driver’s eyes.

I find even the BLF A6 is pushing it, when it comes to flood. I sometimes turn it down one level if drivers are coming towards me.

actually the 4 pack just velcros on in about half a minute


click image for album - 2 more pics

Flashlight - Thorfire TK-15

Bike mount

I see - just don’t be surprised when the lumens start dropping off at 20 minutes :slight_smile:
wle

Do you have any suggestions as far as the multiple emitters go?