Similar claimed output from lights like this. Fairly obvious that it’ll be nowhere near those figures but even so I’d be interested to see just how bright they are and how usable the spread of light is.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bicycle-HeadLamp-Headband-6400mah-Charger/dp/B00E59JOMC/

There some beam shot here. You’ll need to be a mtbr member to see them & the shots are too cluttered to make a great comparison, other than there a lot spread but not huge increases in overall output.

I have one, as I couldn’t resist one for £25. I can’t tell you what the beam is like as I’ve simply used it to ride (with another light) & not sat in a field playing with the beam – very bright is all I’d say.
I have quickly compared it side by side with one Neninja’s old Inton dual XML (the MS880 is similar) & that had the edge on the X2 output wise, but is a huge light/reflectors & cost £125 (£150 for a MS880?)

It’s a small unit, so I’d say a great head light, the head unit being half the height of my single XML light (though the Luminator and gloworm I’ve seen quickly, were a lot smaller). My scales report it as 97g including mount, my old MTB Batteries V1 XML (with a Electron handlebar mount) weighs in at 140g. Though I’d want to use a different mounting to attach it to my helmet (not seen a good way yet), as mounting it on the ’normal’ MS helmet mount will lift it away from the helmet and lose the point of the low profile

Anyone know of anywhere that sells 8x 18650 cells that will fit the SolarStorm light?

Kevin, try contacting MTB batteries[/url] not the cheapest but great products. My longest serving battery is one he supplied -3 or 4 years old now. Also his aftersale support is legendary.
I’m use an old MS-828 battery with mine, as my supplied battery was very poor, so any MS connector should work.

EDIT: See that ^^^ he edit that in after I started posting 😳 though you can never have too many recommendations

Ta, have dropped them a mail

So many people missing the main point here, you can buy it in RED!! 😯

Must therefore be bags of awzum fast! as red is always fastest

I took some rough and ready beam shots for a mate which you can find ->>> http://www.thetestteam.cc/component/kunena/kit-review-advice/263-cheapo-chinese-lights-for-night-riding

Mine arrived today, the under-the-desk test = bright! Some colleagues going home with arc eye tonight! 😉

As for waterproofing, I’ve previously stretched a standard party balloon over the battery pack and zip-tied the nozzle round the lead. Worked a treat, and fits back in the battery pack.

Mine was ordered Monday to arrive yesterday from these UK guys.

Isnt £51 for a battery pretty steep??im needing a battery for my light but for that price i’d rather buy a whole light system for that,
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2013-model-Fluxient-XM-L-U2-1100-lumen-Race-with-helmet-mount-and-bar-mount-/290981345342?pt=UK_SportGoods_CyclAcces_RL&hash=item43bfd6f83e

Battery from Torchy Boy. £30

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/290969390722

I gave mine a quick comparison test in the back garden last night:

Full Whack:

Medium:

Low:

My old MJ836:

Four4th Exodus 1200lm (my helmet light):

SolarStorm/FandyFire, MJ836, Exodus

The SolarStorm has a tighter beam than I would like, my MJ836 is wider. It is however a lot brighter than the other 2, so prob around 1500-1600lm in comparison. Will be riding with it next Wed eve to see how it is on the bars. I’m using my Samsung battery that I bought to run the MJ836 on, so not too fussed about the one that came with it (wifes got that now 🙂 ).

Used mine for the first time last night too, and as a helmet light. I cut down the frankly enormous helmet mount that came with the light to just use the middle D-shaped bit and the rubber band to attach it to a cross-member on my helmet (if that makes sense).

The light has a definite spot with a lighter ring round, so perfect as a helmet light. On full, its slightly brighter than my Lumicycle XPG on boost, so I’d concur with around 2000 lumens.

I ran it on full for 1.5 hours and it started to fade a bit by the end, and showed 1 light on the power indicator. I’ll give it a go on medium (which is plenty – others were complaining about shadows) next time and see how long that lasts.

I just need to play with helmet mounts now – its a bit high off the top of my helmet and prone to tree-whacking. I’ll have to make something to mount nearer the front – however it gets bloody hot so need to insulate it from the helmet a bit (ie not metal mount) or my lid will melt!

So I got mine yesterday.

Not used in anger yet but its plenty bright.

Medium is a good bit brighter than a Hope HID light that I’ve had for a while.

As for the mount well its a bit basic but fine for handlebar mounting using the rubber band. However the mount is just attached by a single screw so its pretty easy to just remove the screw and then attach whatever mount you want.

I had an old Cateye doubleshot that although is well past it had a pretty decent helmet mount so I am using that for the new light.

A Hope mount from a Hope Vision 1 also fitted fine and made for a better handlebar mount.

ok Lumens aside then – it gives me more light than i need. is that better? 8)

I have bought loads of led lights over last few years. So cheap now… unless you are buying from the UK…

I have the one in the first post. It’s a great light.

I also just bought the 5 x cree t6 trustfire with 10000mah battery.. i looked into it on high when i got it.. it was like being on mushrooms for much time after.

Lightman, what’s your thinking behind buying that light?
I can see from the beam shot it does look wider than my solarstorm and none of the others on sale give a beamshot to compare.

Had a quick play with my torches in the back garden after last nights night ride, the Solarstorm is definitely still a round central spot, that is wider/bigger, brighter with a better spread round the central spot than my old single XML unit.
It’s been great so far, and for £25 I’m not complaining & would recommend it over the single XML units.

Probably a stupid question. I have ordered one of the solar storms and was looking to double battery life. Would a xy connector work to use another battery pack at same time and what to do about waterproofing the battery pack.

Batteries from torchy or candbseen, can’t afford mtbbattery.

Thanks

If you buy the Solarstorm from lightmalls.com you can purchase an additional battery. I bought a waterproof 4400mah for about £9 along with the light

Before I suggest this to someone, from buzzing through this am I correct in saying these battery packs are unprotected?

p.s. love the lumen guessing

unprotected in that there is nothing to stop you over or under charging them