I’m hoping to get some advice on a suitable flashlight to use for cycling at night. I’ve been reading for the last few hours and there are seemingly too many options
I used to use an ITUO WIZ20 for a few years which was great, but it’s now misbehaving and with winter a few months away I may as well narrow something down so I’m ready. It’s also a little heavy and unwieldy.
So here’s some information to help with any recommendations:
Average speed around 23-25kmh
Riding a mixture of on-road and unlit suburban trails. The majority of riding is on unlit trails though
My rides would last anywhere from 90-120mins. I’m not sure what an ideal amount of lumens for riding in unlit areas but I’d like the light to last the whole period at that level if possible.
I have loads of unprotected 18650 batteries from gutting notebook batteries. Some are even new from unused old models. I’ve filtered out most of the bad ones some time ago
I can’t solder but happy to do other DIY if needed
Micro-USB/USB-C charging would be nice but not essential
I have an ‘out-front’ bike computer mount with a GoPro mount underneath so bonus points if there’s a way to mount the light to that securely.
The Convoy S2+ with a strip lens gets mentioned a lot but the only thing I’m not sure about is the runtime. Can it last 2 hours @ say 500 lumens (or whatever lumens are recommended for unlit areas) on a single 18650 battery?
I know there will be suggestions to use a proper bike light but I’m willing to give a flashlight a try.
An S2+ on the handlebar and one one the helmet would work well. Make the helmet light an XPL HI for a bit more throw and the handlebar light a XML2. Running each one at 1.5A would get you about 500 lumens each for about 2 hours if you use a good high capacity cell, and that should be enough light. This is the setup I use for night mountain biking.
I use a Fenix HL55 in combination with the Fenix ALG-03 helmet mount on my helmet.
It has no charging port, but the hl60r has it and it’s almost the same light
The jetbeam hr30 is also a great headlamp with USB C charging port and 20700 batterie inside(more capacity then 18650’s with above Fenix headlamps) and also fits in the ALG-03 helmet mount.It has more throw then the Fenix headlamps, but the color tint is a little bit greenish
When you said unlit areas you mean pitch black dark areas? You'd be surprised how much 20 lumens light up such an area. That way you'll get hours of run time. You'll be comfortable with 80-100 lumens but have the capacity to go up to 300-400 lumens at least. 800 would be better just to be safe.
Yeah, I’ve had problems with all my Ituo lights too, no wonder they’re out of business.
But doubt any single cell flashlight will give you enough light for amount of time you require for your rides, unless you’re okay with stopping and switching out the battery along the way.
If OTOH you’re willing to shell out for a good 26650 cell and don’t mind the extra little weight, there are some fairly decent flashlights in that category that will offer longer run times. I ran my Astrolux MF01 Mini on a 5500mAh VapeCell for about three hours last night and it still had juice left when I got home. Can’t tell you exactly how bright I had it because is on ramping, but that little MF sure can put out! Of course, the Astrolux has known thermal issues but seems so do all similar flashlights. 4000K 95CRI makes it ideal for trails. Plus, USB C. Also, 38mm cover glass diameter easily swaps out with a bunch of common diffuser lenses in case you want to reshape the beam (though I find it fine the way it is with those 7 individual TIR lenses.)
Sofirn SP33V3.0 another 26650 flasher but without any thermal issues. Only problem, 6800K 65CRI kinda cool and bluish, maybe not the best for trails. Great for commuting on asphalt though, makes it look real clean. USB C as well.
And if you’re willing to go for a 3-cell light (since you’ve got all those spare cells) the Sofirn SP36 BLF is really terrific. 5000K slightly cool but 90CRI sorta compensates. And of course runtime is longer than you’d get with any single cell light. But only takes button tops, not flats, so you’d probably have to mod your cells to fit — members here have done it. Also more difficult to mount, I had to jerry-rig my own swivel clamps from off the shelf studio lighting clamps. Again, USB C.
I experimented with an S2+ in Dec/Jan and it’s pretty good but not quite ideal. It’s not going to get 500 lumens for two hours - here are some runtime graphs for the 7135*8 model on 100% and 40. For me 40 is pretty good for riding in rural or suburban areas and adequate for urban riding - I estimate it’s around 300 lumens.
The lumintop B01 is probably the best deal for bike lights right now. 18650/21700, can charge Micro USB and can also be run through the Micro USB for very long runtime. High brightness is right around 500 lumens and runtime on a 3500 mah NCR18650GA is 2h:31m of fully regulated brightness with declining output to 3h:08m. Runtime is even longer on 21700. Here’s a review: Review: Lumintop B01 Bike Light
@andychrist: Those ‘soda can’ style lights look interesting. Most of the paths I ride are asphalt anyway, so the Sofirn SP33 could work. Converting the 18650 to button tops for the SP36 doesn’t seem to hard - an appropriate sized magnet plus a bit of super glue would be all I need? Can you change out the lenses on the SP33/36 to a strip lens if needed?
@spoonrobot: I did look at the lumintop B01 and while it looks like it might do the job, I’m not sure about the cut off beam as I’ve never ridden with one. I know its more friendly for fellow cyclists but around this part of the world nobody seems to really care about that. I’ve lost count of the amount of times I’ve been dazzled by oncoming lights! Hence why I wouldn’t mind trying something like a Convoy where the lens can be changed in/out. If the strip lens works for me, great. If it doesn’t at least I can change it back and use it as a regular torch.
I do remember reading on reddit that the Jaxman E2L and FW3A torches were suggested, any thoughts on those?
Well I myself know nothing about converting flat tops to buttons, only that others have done it.
And no, AFAIK there are no off the shelf “strip” lenses that fit either the SP33 or SP36, only the Astrolux MF01. But there is a really good, ridiculously inexpensive TIR lens from Kaidomain that is a drop-in replacement for the aluminum reflector inside the SP33, which I highly recommend — just about eliminates the terrible tint shift you’d otherwise get with the CREE XHP70.2. DIY Reflector Shields for Magicshine/Clones (& Flashlights!) | Mountain Bike Reviews Forum
Another option with that and actually all flashlights is to apply a layer of d-c-fix self-adhesive “Milky” diffusing film under the cover glass. This will scatter light resulting in a softer wider beam but without appreciable tint shift but reduced throw. Have compensated somewhat myself for this with DIY reflecting shields, which keep spill from being wasted upwards. Used copper foil tape on the ones for the SP33V3 to reduce the bluish tint somewhat, works mostly in the foreground though. DIY Reflector Shields for Magicshine/Clones (& Flashlights!) | Mountain Bike Reviews Forum
Also found these 8.5mm diameter clear bumpers that fit perfectly over the SP33 power button, makes it a lot easier to use and magnifies the little LED charge indicators too. No idea where you’d find them down under but bet something just like them would be available on AE.
As a random thought bubble, what about 2x Convoy S2+ on the bar? Running two on the bar on a lower mode would probably give the right runtime whilst still giving good light? GoPro mounting would be nice but it’s not a deal breaker.
I know there’s a helmet option but every time I run into someone on a path wearing one you almost always get dazzled. I guess for MTB’ing most people are only going the same way on a track so the headlamp isnt as much of an issue.
Or running any two lights on the bar, nandystam. I myself run seven to nine headlights on my recumbent bike set to medium-low, plus a couple little blinkies for dusk. But the ’bent’s chopper bars offer a host of mounting options which you wouldn’t have on a diamond frame and I’m sort of a lighting maniac (duh.)
Question for you, can you store your bike in proximity to the mains? Because in that case USB charging would be quite a boon, as you’d never have to take the flashlight off the bars or remove the cell[s] to charge (though with the 360º rotational mounts it’s quite easy simply to tip the light up or down and slide the cell in or out, only thing is you still have to unscrew the body tube each time plus deal with a separate charger, and that grows old kinda fast.) Anyway, as it’s probably pretty dry where you live, magnetic cables and adapter plugs are a viable option for USB flashlights, makes charging a breeze. Just that some flashlights’ USB port recesses are a bit too slim for the round style adapter plugs to fit properly, in which case you’d need the type of cable like this with oblong ends instead. But I’ve only found that one vendor for those and seems like they’re entirely out of stock now; showed 4 available but Quantity lozenge was grayed out and unresponsive. However I was able shave down the plastic base from one side of those round Twitch adapter plugs to make them fit my Sofirn SP33, process kind of a kludge though.
It’s true the regulation of 8x7135 drivers especially with relatively high Vf emitters like XPL is not great. The Vf at 3A is about 3.5V plus the dropout voltage of the 7135s is 0.12V so a sanyo GA cell hits that at 1.5Ah in. So only half of the capacity is typically regulated output. And since the low modes are PWMed the regulation time suffers for them as well.
A lower Vf emitter like the SST20 should do better. Better yet I saw convoy has S2+ and S21A with the (very low Vf) SST40 and constant current driver that actually is constant current in lower modes, so it should be regulated for practically the whole discharge. The mode levels on these drivers might not work for everyone, but the 5A driver in the S2+ has a 30% mode which is 1.5A so should work for the OP. They offer 5000K and 6500K LEDs.
Are there any other lights similar to the Convoy S2+ that have USB charging and can take a strip lens if needed? The Convoy seems to be one of the most flexible/moddable lights around which makes it more advantageous.
My main reason for the strip lens is to keep it ‘cyclist’ friendly on the paths. If pointing it down at an appropriate angle is good enough then I’m fine with that. Pointing down is what I’ve always done in the past but in all honesty I wouldn’t know if passing cyclists get dazzled by it or not. I’ve never really had any complaints, but I wonder if everyone just puts up with it
However I was able shave down the plastic base from one side of those round Twitch adapter plugs to make them fit my Sofirn SP33, process kind of a kludge though.
