Looking for a small front commuting/be seen by front light.
USB chargeable what's good?
Thanks
My knog lasted a few years. It had a built in usb connector so easy to charge.
I’ll have a look for a link
https://www.merlincycles.com/knog-blinder-square-rechargeable-front-bike-light-200469.html
After it stopped working I bought a ‘lil cobber’ but it has a fiddly strap thing, I prefer the cheaper one above.
I got a few Moon lights recently - half price from Merlin etc. I bought them after eldest_oab has spent a year caning them three times a week doing Deliveroo... They are superb.
https://www.merlincycles.com/moon-nebula-rechargeable-front-bike-light-1-157563.html
https://www.merlincycles.com/moon-comet-x-rechargeable-front-light-93602.html
EDIT: to add, I got one rear much more 'clever' rear light. While by far and away the brightest and cleverest (I have an automatic 'brake light'! and it turns into an standby 'off' automatically when I go to the cae), it is a pain to remember the near morse-code button press sequence to change anything.
Whatever you get, make sure it's got a wide field of vision. Some of the case/lens designs I see make it near impossible you'll be seen from an angle much outside head on.
I'd go for something with a proper stvzo beam so the ground is lit up and not all the oncoming people's faces. they work really well. ie https://www.tredz.co.uk/.Lezyne-Lite-Drive-STVZO-Pro-115-Front-Light_238079.htm
in a classic recommend what you own
Ravemen PR1200
dual LED - single led "dipped" beam for road use, shielded for oncoming traffic, both LEDS for max light flood beam.
Fine for me for road/gravel riding on cross bike commuter. easy to mount and remove
Up to 21hrs on 100 lumen (ok on known roads with no street lights, seems accurate) or up to 1200 lumen for 2hrs (never measured time for this, but light amount fine for New forest gravel/paths at speed)
Never used the remote button, not to hard to switch to main beam if cutting off road or 'flashing' oncoming car
have used it as powerbank for dying garmin on long day out
PR1200 review
(mount improved since that review)
Nice thing about the Ravemen is you can charge other things with it. Has been very useful on occasion.
I like my cateye xc500. It's done the job for 6+ years now. Good value
+1 for small Cateye got a Volt100xc, had mine for 5+ years for my commute, lasts forever on flash and a couple of hours full beam, and is just about bright enough to get you home from a country ride but not enough for a proper night ride.
It's on its second elastic.. bought from Amazon.
Moon meteor storm done me good 5 days a week in winter weather for errrr will need to check... A few years at least!
Whatever Lezyne Micro/Hecto/whateverDrive is in budget. I've had a 500XL Microdrive for gawd knows how long and it's good enough to light the way on the backroads home. Good bar mounting too, the rubber strap type, just works.
+1 for STVZO compliant lights.
No dazzling of oncoming motorists/pedestrians.
Beam pattern means that light goes where you need it.
Mine uses AA rechargeables(which last ages, BTW) so doesn't meet your criteria, but I'm very pleased with it.
I've also fitted an Exposure quick release clear, to make it easier to take off the bike - as well as being much more secure, whilst riding
If you can wait a couple of weeks, there are a number of STVZO 'type' lights on Aliexpress. I have a couple of Newboler lights and the LED is in the top of the light. Means I've got upto 1000 lumen of light with a cut off at about bar height. Thet are really good for the money. The only modification I did was to apply rubber grease to the lense water 'rubber' to ensure no rain got in the front.
You can get Garmin mount ones too.
I thought OP wanted a be seen light. If you want to see, get a B&M, as bright as y can afford.
I bought the planet x ones that are about 8 quid. Plenty bright enough to be seen.
I use the rear one for night rides on the mtb and it is stupidly bright
Can the OP say what the remit is ?
Day/night, to see with ?
For a 'be seen' during the day, I stick a couple of Lezyne Zecto Drives on the road bikes - the really bright 250 lumen ones on a day flash. Lasts forever
Be seen? At night? Two of these £5 Planet X ones.
https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/LIPLAZBEAT160FR/plazma-beat-160-lumen-front-bike-light
I use one as an addition to a brighter 500 lumen light with unlit street power. Really good and cheap enough and small enough I don't worry leaving it on my bike 24/7.
Exposure Strada - I commute as much as I can - fun in the snow last night heading home - I've used exposure for 10 years now and when they break - they have an excellent repair service - I read about this on STW - its good and a reasonable price. I sent them 3 lights they all came back tip top!
These are a billy bargain
https://www.merlincycles.com/moon-meteor-auto-x-pro-rechargeable-front-bike-light-2019-157535.html
I use a moon aerolite on the lid for added visibility
Generally, the difference between 'be seen' and 'see by' is brightness.
This tends to drive the decision over which to choose, as the ones bright enough to see by are usually too bright to use on the road, without dazzling people.
STVZO lights change this, as they address the dazzling issue, whilst still making you visible - and utilising the light output better.
If you can afford the extra cost, I feel that they're worth the extra cash, to cover both bases (especially considering the current pothole situation)
There are some lights that sit somewhere in the middle, having 'shaped' beams, but they do seem to be a bit of a compromise.
For being seen (in the daytime) I use an Exposure Trace, which has a very distinct pulse when set in “daybright”mode.
At night I put this on the lowest setting and combine it with a Ravemen 1600, if I’m out on the gravel bike. The cut off works well on the road sections.