I did a quick search and didn’t find MTB specific thread regarding headlights and helmet lights. I’d like a fully contained solution to easily swap between bikes, etc. I seen some good products by both NiteRider and Lezyne.
I’m thinking the NiteRider Lumina 750 mounted on the handlebar w/ a Lumina Flare mounted on the helmet.
ETA: I don’t know why the images of the NiteRider lights aren’t loading. Sorry.
Lezyne offers a MegaDrive handlebar mount and then maybe use a helmet mount w/ a MacroDrive or something?
I run the Niterider Lumina 750 on my helmet and the Niterider 1800 on my bars. Can easily swap them around too depending on where you want more light. Niterider lights are pretty amazing. I know there are other brands out there, they might even be better, but I have never had any trouble with them for the past 10 years I have been using their line.
Look at the Exposure Lights - Self contained, can use USB changing if you need. The mounting bracket is small enough you can just leave it on the bars and helmet and not even notice it. I run a Diablo on my helmet and the reflex on my bars.
I’m sorry - I don’t have any photos. But I use them for racing all the time so there might be a few in the race reports on my blog.
If you plan on doing any actual MTBing at night, you are going to need some serious lumens. I use a bar mounted light setup with a spreader/collimator and a helmet mounted spot. Both are rated to something like 3500 lumens each. These are “Chinese lumens” so I have no idea how many lumens they are really pumping out but they are very bright. They both use external battery packs. There are not very self contained lights that are sufficiently powerful and my understanding is that the ones that are, are very very expensive.
Light and Motion Taz (1000 or 1200) BRIGHT, transferable between bikes, last forever!
X2
Just rode 2 hours at 5 am, completely dark the entire time, Taz 1200 lights up the forest, easily changed from bike to bike. I like a smaller lite on my helmet so I can light up where I look too. Plenty of light that scares most animals away.
I saw an email from exposure about a powerful tap light, but can’t justify more lumens for now.
Light and Motion Taz (1000 or 1200) BRIGHT, transferable between bikes, last forever!
X2
Just rode 2 hours at 5 am, completely dark the entire time, Taz 1200 lights up the forest, easily changed from bike to bike. I like a smaller lite on my helmet so I can light up where I look too. Plenty of light that scares most animals away.
I saw an email from exposure about a powerful tap light, but can’t justify more lumens for now.
x3
Bought a Taz 1200 and and a NiteRider Lumina 750 (for helmet) after reading this thread. Talk about bringing the city to the forest. Overkill with both of them. Letting a buddy borrow the Taz for tomorrow morning’s ride and I am going to try to use just the Lumina. I am anticipating it being plenty of light based on the one use.
My only knock so far would be that you have to really want to ride in the dark to pay retail for these things.
I have two of the Serfas TSL - 750s as well as the Lezyne Macro Drive (Front). Both lights are great for our early morning road rides, however for MTB night rides I use the Serfas True 1500 that I picked up at Interbike two years ago. I’ve ridden the trails at night with both set ups and there’s no comparison. Optimal set up for me is the 1500 mounted on the bars and the 750 on my helmet. The one beam 750 will suffice for easy trail riding but you’ll need more lumens if you want to have fun!!!
I second this light (or similar). I bought one from dx.com a few years ago, and it was so cheap, I bought two just for extra battery and parts. Still going strong, and is as bright or brighter than everyone I ride with on the weekly night road ride. Highly recommended. The only drawback is that the helmet mount doesn’t seem that great, although I haven’t really tried to make that work since my night rides are on the road, not on the MTB.
i doubt it’s 2800lms, but it’s probably about 1200 and i can go for almost 4 hours straight. in blinky mode, which i use most of the time, i can go for almost a week before needing to charge it.
I second this light (or similar). I bought one from dx.com a few years ago, and it was so cheap, I bought two just for extra battery and parts. Still going strong, and is as bright or brighter than everyone I ride with on the weekly night road ride. Highly recommended. The only drawback is that the helmet mount doesn’t seem that great, although I haven’t really tried to make that work since my night rides are on the road, not on the MTB.
We just cut the elastic off of that helmet mount rig. Then we ran 2 sided velcro through the plastic fixture and through our helmet vents. It works well. We like to have our lights on our helmets for offroad and on the bars for road.
