Need a couple of LED rear lights for the commute, nice and bright, what can you recommend?

The smart one at £9 odd on ebay is good although the bracket does not look like it will last.

Blackburn Mars or SMART 1/2 watt

Smart 1/2 watter.

Mars is OK.

Cateye 'holy handgrenade' is shite.

:FACT:

x3 for smart 1/2 watt….

You need two.

The Cateye Holy Handgrenade, eyecatching, fantastic all round visibility:

AND the Smart 1/2 seriously bright but focussed:

Smart half watt – i have two

Lumicycle one if you already have one of their batteries

This thing is a monster and very bright though quite pricey Catseye TL-LD1100

SMART 1/2 watt – Thread closed

The LD1100 isn't anywhere near as bright as more modern designs like the smart. On flash mode becuase the rows are not syncronised, it dosn't appear to flash at all if you are further than 50 yards away (like most approaching traffic). Its battery life is woeful. Becuase it uses the same clamp design as the lighter units, it snaps mounts all the damn time.

I used an LD1000 and an LD1100 for quite a few years commuting. The only good thing about them is they're fairly robust, both of my self ejecting units managed to just about survive being driven over by a Ford Sierra or kicked around a NSL dual carriageway.

I don't use them anymore, I use a smart and a mars.

+1 for AnalogueAndy's response

I run a Hand Grenade on the bike and then a wonderful little Vista VL Eclipse on my helmet.

I think the Eclipse is discontinued now, sadly. Essentially, one big light and one smaller flashing light, combined with good reflectives, like some ankle bands, is the way ahead.

On the frame only one option:
Knog BullFrog on the seat post for lit commute. Very bright and no crappy had bracket to brake.
Smart 1/2W is very good as is the cateye TD-L610 if you are mounting off the frame or on clothes due to the clip they come with.
Exposure Red-eye for unlit roads.
Lots of reflective panels are very effective.

Pedal reflectors (or orange reflective tape wrapped round std MTB SPDs), wheel reflectors and scotch brite by the mile on your lid/bag/jacket also help hugely.

I am impressed you still have the Vista CFH. They were discontinued about 5 years ago. I used to use them and was sad to see them go.

Thanks all

Just to add i already have a Exposure red eye on my helmet. A hump back pack cover and a couple of them flashy led arm bands, oh and me helmet is already covered in black 3m reflective tape.
I'll be riding a bit on fast A roads so i want to be as bright as the Vegas strip

Those Smart 1/2 watt lights are bonkers bright. I see a guy most mornings who has 2 of them, can see him a mile off. They're almost too bright at close range.

Smart 1/2 watt again. Have three on my road bike.

Smart 1/2 watt again. Have three on my road bike. You need it on the pitch black lanes of rural Herefordshire.

Has anyone mentioned the Smart 1/2 watt yet?

Anyone know the difference between the Smart polaris and the Smart Lunar?!

Mister P, when something is worth looking after, I do! It's a great little light.

This one is the best rearlight i have owned, attach to your bag, no flimsy mounts, lights up real good. can be put loads of places.
Check their others things two.

http://www.niteize.com/collections/led/products/led-clip-on-marker

Loved my Blackburn Mars, right up to the point last week when I lost it. B*gger. Might have to buy one of these Smart 1/2 watt thingies. They any good?
😉

I find these pretty effective.

Bugger, just seen this to mix things up a little

http://www.thebikechain.co.uk/store/product/19691/Niterider-Cherry-Bomb/

Bought a Niterider Cherry Bomb for mrdomino it is very bright.

Balckburn Mars 4 and a Fibreflare…….

Is the new Niterider Cherry Bomb the new Smart 1/2w?

Cherry has a 1/2w led plus 2 smaller leds – maybe better side view?

Debate + test on here:
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=215648

I did some "testing" in the shop at the start of the winter. The Smart 1/2 Watt and the Cherry Bomb are about the same overall brightness, but the CB has a really wide beam "spread" so I opted for that.

+1 on the Smart 1/2 Watt, amazing light.

The CB also has the bonus that it has a reflector.

CB 1
Smart 0.

Get one of the regular ones and if you can run to it get a Fibre Flare.

Very impressive it its own right, gets a bonus driver noticing WTF factor and gives 360 degree visability.

I feel happier on my commute for having got one.

The fibre flare lets water in from experience.

Fibre Flares on my bikes too, never had problem with water although I did put some tape around the ends.

Also great for a quick game of star wars 🙂

Well i went for the Cherry Bomb, i'm a leader not a follower 8)

I'll report back tomorrow after the postie delivers it in the morning 😉

Ive tried most of the popular ones on this thread and the 1 smart i had failed the quickest. The longest lasting have been the cateyes although i have had 2 bounce out of the brackets. The mars 3 is nice and bright but the last one of the 3 i have had stopped working.
Go with any and keep it warm and dry when possible and change batteries weekly and i dont think you will go far wrong.

what about the RSP astrum, that has two 1/2 watt leds

http://redbikes.blogspot.com/2009/10/rsp-astrum-2-x-12watt-user-review.html

never had a problem with the LD1000 myself, been using it for 4-5 years now.

Does nobody here ride in the rain? The Smart's certainly have awesome light output, but they're notorious for being poorly sealed (I have one which works fine, but then I don't night ride in the rain 😉 )