Which is the best rechargeable front light in the UK for bikes?

[Hacienda71]

Another magicshine 808 user here. Excellent on my unlit commute route.

 

[rualexander]

B&M Ixon IQ is a great light.
It uses four AA batteries, so easy to get spares or carry a spare set (although with a 5 hour burn time on max and 20 hours on low, you don't really have to carry a spare set).

 

[nightoff]

Another +1 for the magic shine.

 

[marinyork]

Not the cateye singleshot whatever else is posted on this thread!

 

[MrRidley]

B&M Ixon IQ is a great light.
It uses four AA batteries, so easy to get spares or carry a spare set (although with a 5 hour burn time on max and 20 hours on low, you don't really have to carry a spare set).

Did you buy this with the charger ? and does it come with a battery pack ?

 

[magnatom]

I'm a user of the Ixon IQ, and whilst it is a good light, I probably wouldn't recommend it. I've had two of these (one destroyed when it flew off. Both have suffered from intermittent problems which developed after using it for about a year. Sometimes it works fine, other times it conks out without warning and can be difficult to get back on (not batteries). I suspect that there is a loose or dry solder inside the light, but it doesn't look an easy light to take apart.

I personally rate the Hope 1's much higher. They are better for seeing with as well, but as others have pointed out, there are a host of new, good lights out these days.

 

[fossyant]

Hope 1's are quality bits of kit !

 

[rualexander]

Did you buy this with the charger ? and does it come with a battery pack ?

No, I just bought the Ixon IQ without charger or batteries.
It uses four AA batteries, I already had plenty rechargeable AA batteries and a 15 minute charger.
Had it for three winters now without any problems.

 

[andrew_s]

Did you buy this with the charger ? and does it come with a battery pack ?

In the UK it mostly comes with a charger and a set of 4xAA.
If you order from Germany, you can get light only for about 20€ less than the package price.
Taking the batteries out to charge them is a bit of a faff, but the supplied charger charges them in the light.

 

[MontyVeda]

+1 for one which carries AA rechargables rather than some built in thing... as you can pickup a working battery in almost any shop if need be.

 

[CorsairC]

I hadn't heard of that Philips one before . Looks like a good unit.

http://www.bike24.com/p214244.html
http://www.xs4all.nl/~swhs/fiets/tests/verlichting/Philips_LED_bike_light/index_en.html

 

[rusky]

PPPete has just posted

Evans - Extra 20% Discount Code on lights e.g. Hope Vision 1 @ £57.59

https://www.cyclechat.net/

 

[PpPete]

Thank you Rus !
Saved me the trouble.

Just to recap on Hope Vision 1....

Advantages
Solid aluminium casing, seems robust and waterproof
Excellent mounting for standard & O/S bars
Uses readily available AA battteries
3 light settings + flash

Disadvantages
Short battery life if used on max setting (2 -3 hours)
No battery gauge/indicator..... just cuts out without warning when it's had enough (although can be restarted in low power for a while)

 

[AuraTodd]

I hadn't heard of that Philips one before . Looks like a good unit.

http://www.bike24.com/p214244.html
http://www.xs4all.nl...t/index_en.html

These two look really good lights. Which is the better of the two, are they weather proof and where can I buy them in the UK please?

 

[CorsairC]

both links are the same light...

No idea sorry. Think there might have been a UK link earlier.