Over the last couple years I've accumulated several bike lights. Unfortunately, most lights under $100 are usually pretty dim and are usually more useful for being seen by car drivers than actually lighting up the road. Fortunately, with newer LED technology, inexpensive bike lights are becoming more capable. The Blaze is a big improvement over the Cateye EL-500 (LED) and the Planet Bike 5000x (halogen) that I have been using. The LED in the Blaze is brighter than both of those lights, its only drawback being that it is more of a spot beam than a flood. Depending on your needs, this can be a good or bad thing. I've found the Blaze very useful as a helmet mounted light to be used in addition to a handlebar mounted light with a brighter, wider beam. The Blaze is enough light to manage with on its own, provided you keep your speed below about 15 mph. It comes with both handlebar and helmet mounts and runs on 2 AA batteries. It appears just as bright with rechargeables as with alkalines. All in all, the Blaze is an impressive little light, given its low price. For light that rivals a car's headlights, you'll still need to spend well over $100, but the Blaze proves that advanced LED technology is starting to trickle down into the really cheap lights, and that's a good thing. Even a year ago, it would have been impossible to find an LED light this bright for less than $50. Highly recommended for those on a budget or as an addition to a brighter light with a wider flood beam.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Planet Bike Blaze 1/2-Watt LED Bicycle Light with Helmet and QuickCam Mounts
Product Description:
The Blaze 1/2 Watt LED Bike Light from Planet Bike lights up the night at an affordable price with a Nichia 1/2-watt LED bulb that's several times brighter than a standard white LED bulb. Ideal for commuters and regular night riders, the Blaze helps you see clearly at night while alerting drivers and other cyclists to your presence. This lightweight and efficient light uses just two AA batteries, reducing bulk and expense, and has up to 100 hours of battery life.
Noted for its sturdy construction, compact design, strong light beam, and long life battery operation, the Blaze is a favorite of commuters and frequent riders. Equipped with a Quick Cam bracket mount as well as a helmet mount, the light installs, adjusts, or comes off in seconds without tools, making it a breeze to hop on your bike at a moment's notice.
While the Blaze LED Light offers plenty of light to illuminate the road and alert cars and other riders of your presence as a stand alone, its compact design and helmet mount make it an ideal companion to other lighting devices. Designed to fit 25.4 to 31.8 millimeter handlebars, the Blaze offers both flashing and steady modes with a strong beam that is just as bright with rechargeable batteries as with alkalines. The Blaze is a well-constructed, practical light offered at a great price and backed by a limited lifetime warranty.
Specifications:
Nichia half-watt Blaze LED
QuickCam bracket mount
Helmet mount
Mounts adjust or remove without tools
Fits: 25.4 to 31.8 millimeter handlebars
Modes: Flashing and steady
Runtime: Up to 100 hours
Batteries: Two AA
What's in the Box?
Planet Bike Blaze 1/2-Watt Blaze LED Bicycle Light, helmet mount, QuickCam mount, two AA batteries
Manufacturer Warranty
Limited lifetime
About Planet Bike
In November 1996, Planet Bike was founded in Madison, WI. In many ways, Planet Bike began as a social experiment that dedicated itself to doing business in a different way. Instead of being just another company that develops and sells products with profit as its end goal, Planet Bike wanted to help bring about positive change for people, their communities, and the environment.
Despite being a simple machine, the people at Planet Bike have always believed that the bicycle has great potential to help improve the world and the lives of the people in it. From the start, they have embraced an alternative corporate purpose which seeks to help get more people on bicycles by making communities friendlier places for the self-propelled. By donating 25% of company profits to causes that promote and facilitate bicycle usage, Planet Bike hopes to make an impact.
Social experiments aside, Planet Bike was born from the heart of a cyclist with a goal of making innovative, high-quality, and practical bicycle accessories. Simply put, the company strives to design and develop the best bicycle products in the world. In the company's short 10-year history, it has made important product innovations within the bicycle industry. Advancements include the four-line computer which is now a standard in the industry and the world's first self-contained HID light. Not bad for a company that 10 years ago started as a one-man operation. Today, while still a small company, Planet Bike continues to evolve and improve its product line with the goal of always striving to build accessories that make it easier for people to ride their bikes. Since 1996, Planet Bike's financial support of the grassroots bicycle movement has totaled $500,000. By 2010, they have made a goal to donate $1 million to organizations that are dedicated to making America a friendlier place for cyclists.
No comments:
Post a Comment