Last Updated 2021.12.25
Recommended headlights for each scene
The current trend of headlights for road bikes is from those that use dry batteries to the majority of rechargeable headlights that have a built-in battery and can be recharged and used repeatedly. Rechargeable headlights are also popular in shops. Even at major cycle equipment stores, 60% to 70% of headlight sales are rechargeable. The advantage of the rechargeable type is that it is brighter and more compact than the battery type. If you want brightness, the rechargeable type is good. Since it can be charged with a USB cable, you can also charge it with a PC while working during the day and prepare for a night ride. If you have a mobile battery, you can charge it quickly even if it runs out on the go. You can eliminate the disadvantages of rechargeable headlights by using a mobile battery.
Urban commuting
Ride on the way home and drive around the city center at night for about 30 minutes. I don’t want to wear too big and heavy headlights, and I like the cheapest ones possible. What is the recommended headlight for such a person that this is enough for the time being? We recommend the brightest model possible, but it is quite difficult because of the price and weight. The VOLT100XC and VOLT200 from CatEye are highly recommended because they have a good balance between price and brightness. We also recommend Lezyne.
Speedy night training
Train at night on easy-to-run roads in the suburbs. What is the best headlight for such a hobby racer? I want a brightness of at least 400 lumens, preferably 800 lumens because it will be faster than when I commute. We recommend CatEye’s VOLT series and Lezyne’s 600 lumens. With the VLOT800, you can see up to 50m or more, so you can run hard even on roads without street lights. For the rear, we recommend the Cateye Rapid Mini and the Rapid X2 Kinetic, which automatically brightens when decelerating.
Brevet and Night Long Ride
Continue to run all night on dark country roads and mountain roads. Those who ride such hard brevets and long rides need high-performance lights to match them. The Cateye VOLT1700 has 200 lumens in low mode for 15 hours, so you can use it overnight. You can also attach multiple lights, make it battery-powered, and have a spare battery. Even if it is a rechargeable model, there is a model that has a replacement battery as an option, so it is safe to run with the VOLT800, VOLT1700, and these spare batteries. For those who run hard even in the rain, Lezyne’s 1300 lumen model, which claims to be completely waterproof, is safe. However, many of today’s headlights are highly waterproof, so you may not need to worry too much about them.
Brightness and easy-to-use headlights
Do you know a maker called Olight? As I recently learned, the maximum lumen is 1500 lumens and the light distribution pattern is adjusted, it is a very easy-to-use light with a light distribution that does not illuminate much upward and illuminates the road properly. .. It can be said that the IPX7 waterproof standard is almost completely waterproof. It still has a built-in battery indicator and has a function to notify you of the remaining battery level in 3 stages. And a convenient feature is that it adopts USB type C, and it can also supply power to other devices from a large capacity battery of 5000 m / Ah. In other words, it can be used like a mobile battery. I think that the price of about 10,000 yen with such functions and performance is quite cheap.
Excellent design that matches road bikes
The attractive looks are from a manufacturer called Adept. The body is machined from aluminum, which is rarely seen in other manufacturers, and is simple and stylish. Since it can be mounted in the center of the handlebar, it does not break the smart silhouette of the road bike. It goes well with classical steel bikes. In addition to silver, there are red, blue, black, etc., which you can choose according to your bike. There is also a rear version with a similar design.
