Planet Bike Blaze Dynamo Headlight - 1watt Review

I have used the Planet Bike Blaze 1-Watt Generator Bicycle Light for about two months now. It is light-weight and very easy to mount and adjust. What I like the best is that they make my commute hassle free. I no longer need to think about if I left my regular battery lights at home or at work and I don't have to worry about battery levels.

Pretty good Headlight, beam seems strong enough for slow riding thru the city. If used with a flasher Headlight it'll work more than adequate for paced commutes. The construction is a sturdy plastic.

The Headlight uses a cheap mounting bracket that isn't great. It doesn't fit very well on the handlebars so you'll end up using a cut up old tube or tape to help keep it snug. You should still be able to tilt it back and forth for use in high/low beam (level it down towards the street in front of you) and flash mode (level it up towards traffic). The "close" pin doesn't snap back to keep it in "closed" for some reason but my Headlight didn't fall off yet.

#1 beam seems to be "low" for some reason instead of high on my Headlight. #2 high beam is brighter. #3 beam is flash mode.

The Headlight is not heavy, very decent size, compact, detaches easily from quick release mounting bracket. The button on the Headlight is rubber so it doesn't respond very well when you need to change modes quickly while riding. If you are in bright city lights, it's impossible to tell what mode it is in because the beam is barely visible on the ground and there is no extended visible light (or clear lens area) to see the light/mode while you are riding. The side of the Headlight has two clear lens/indents that aren't very visible from the side. The Headlight uses 2 AA batteries (use rechargeable batteries) as there is a low run time on alkaline cell batteries (5-18 hours).

If you are in city lights, the beam is barely visible on the ground, it's best to use the flash mode but level it up towards traffic or it won't be visible. The flashing lights in flash mode in darkness are visible on stop signs for at least 8 or more long city blocks, it's very good. The "flashing" mode bright flashes, are not very disturbing since it's impossible to see the flashes because there is no extended visible light (or clear lens area) to see the flashes while you are riding.

The front end lens area of the Headlight is very small (1 inch across - light mainly visible from front) but 60 feet away, it (on high beam) appears as a larger bright dot to far away traffic. It's best to use the Headlight for seeing the street in front of you with Another flasher "to be seen" Headlight, or as a flashing light in flash mode with Another flasher Headlight, double the flashing "to be seen" lights. If using Headlight on high beam, you can even level it up towards traffic, it is very bright.

The spread of the beam (high/low) is very adequate to see in front of you riding in darkness.

When using the high/low beam it's best to level it down towards the street in front of you, the beam is very adequate for (8-15 mph, slow city riding) (5-12 mph slow trail riding in darkness). It's best to use the Headlight with a flasher "to be seen" Headlight (Blackburn Quadrant Light is very good) in traffic.

In all, some technical/practical issues with the Headlight design, but a very, very good high/low beam for slow riding thru the city.

PROS: Headlight is not heavy, very decent size, compact, uses 2 AA batteries (lighter), the beam is strong enough for slow riding thru the dark city or slow trail riding in darkness, Headlight detaches easily from mounting bracket, flashing lights in flash mode very good, spread of the beam (high/low) visible in front in darkness is very adequate, The "flashing" mode bright flashes are not very disturbing/visible to rider, If using Headlight on high beam, you can even level it up towards traffic for a very bright "to be seen" light, lower price.

CONS: cheap mounting bracket that isn't great, light not very visible from the side, button on the Headlight is rubber that doesn't respond very well when you need to change modes quickly while riding in traffic, impossible to tell what mode it is in (in bright city lights) because there is no extended visible light (or clear lens area) to see the light/mode while you are riding, low run time on alkaline cell batteries.

With this Headlight, riding my bike at night, it allows me to see reasonably well. This is a very nice "to be seen" or "to see" light. Highly recommended for those on a budget and commuting or non-commuting bike riders.

This Headlight is barely visible in the rain. If you commute in the rain or ride fast, invest in something more powerful.

The flashing diodes are bright enough to catch the attention of other drivers.

The savings on not having to buy/recharge batteries will hopefully make up for the higher price in the long run.

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Product Description:
You don?t need any stinkin? headlights with batteries?you have your own generator hub. Hook up your 6v, 2.4, or 3-watt generator to the Planet Bike Blaze Dynamo Headlight and revel in the knowledge that your beam is pedal-driven. Set this headlight on steady or SuperFlash mode while you ride. Since stumbling around in the dark until your pupils adjust isn?t ideal when you stop pedaling, the Blaze Dynamo uses a power-reserve function to keep the light working even after you stop. *Generator hub not included.

Product Features

Bulbs: LED
Modes: Flashing, steady, & power-reserve function
Lumens:
Batteries: None, that?s the point
Battery Run Time:
Weight:
Recommended Use: Biking in the dark
Manufacturer Warranty:

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Princeton Tec Eos Bike Light Review

LED headlights are getting better all the time. This little guy is a one Watt Luxeon LED with very good power regulation. Regulation means that the light gets the most from a set of batteries and keeps the light at a given brightness instead of dimming as the batteries weaken. The Princeton Tec EOS has three brightness settings and a flash mode. I actually find the flash mode to be too slow to be useful on the bike and it flashes at full power but these are minor nits. I'd also prefer if the light used AA instead of AAA cells. So I guess there are two things I don't like about this light.

But the positives far outweigh the negatives. The light is small and is supposed to be waterproof to one meter. (I don't ride under water so I haven't tested that feature!) It's easy to operate and the batteries are easy to change. The light pattern seems to be just right for my riding. I use this light on my helmet but it also comes with a handlebar mount. I run the light at the lowest power setting most of the time and that's fine for reading my bike computer or cue sheets. The middle setting is better for general riding, spotting road signs and potholes and things like that. At the highest setting, you get the brightest beam but of course that eats through the batteries quicker.

I'm pretty sure the circuit in this light was designed by Willie Hunt, a real guru in bike lighting circles. And yes, I'm enough of a nerd that I actually keep track of things like that. Anyhow, the Princeton Tec EOS is my latest favorite bike toy.

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Product Description:
EOS BIKE LIGHT.The award winning Princeton Tec EOS Bike light takes self contained battery lighting to the next level! The combination of a Luxeon 1 watt L.E.D.and the Princeton Tec designed optimized lens collimator maximizes the beam by balancing long throw with localized lighting.

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Cateye HL-EL530 LED Bicycle Headlight Review

I bike to and from work most days and bought this light for those dark nights when I work late. While it is brighter than a lot of other choices out there it definitely doesn't turn a dark road into a well-lit one.
The biggest flaw with this light is that it puts out a very, very bright center spot and a fairly weak corona around this small spot. When biking along the corona simply doesn't give you enough visibility to see an object in the road with a lot of time to avoid it.
Thankfully I bike somewhere that has enough ambient light from street lights that I don't have a lot of dark spots to worry about, but if that isn't you, spend more money to get a more powerful light.

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Product Description:
Fifty percent brighter than Cateye's HL-EL500 model, this extra-bright one-LED white headlight generates 1,500 candlepower thanks to Cateye's OptiCube technology that optimizes lens and reflector brightness. It runs on four AA batteries and produces 90 hours of run time. Other features include side visibility and a tool-free mounting bracket.
About Cateye
Founded in 1946 in Osaka, Japan, CatEye is the leading manufacturer of cycle computers, lights, and reflectors to cyclists in the world. In 1964, CatEye was the first in the industry to create a flashing lamp for bicycles, followed by their first battery headlamp in 1982, and the very first bicycle head lamp using white LEDs in 2001. The company's Opticube lens and reflectors make the brightest and most efficient LED headlights. while their LD500 remains the only rear safety light that can meet the rigorous CPSC standards for reflectivity.

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Cateye HL-EL135 LED Bicycle Headlight Review

I have had one of these for about a year now, riding with and using it at least three times a week. The battery life is looooooooooong. Really economical. It was probably a good 6 months before I changed out the batteries, and that was only because I was paranoid. The center of the beam is small, and there is not a lot of radial light outside of it, but it does go out far enough ahead of you to see what's in front of you with plenty of reaction time. In city streets this thing is perfect. If you have to go in pitch darkness it probably won't be enough. However, for the price and the quality, it's worth getting two. They are small enough that they don't take up much room on your handle bars; I have two of them on mine. I will warn you though, the clip where it locks into the frame broke on one of mine from taking it on and off too much. I was able to rig with no problem.
Pros: Long battery life. Definitely visible to other drivers.
Cons: Locking mechanism broke on one, not bright enough for pitch dark.

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Product Description:
Cat Eye EL135 Headlight White LED Light White Body BE SAFE - BE SEEN! Includes all batteries, 320 hrs battery life maximum (flashing mode), 80 hour runtime in steady mode Three superbright, white LEDs. Batteries Included. 80 candlepowe.r 80 hours runtime in constant mode, 320 hours in flashing mode. OptiCube lights use superbright, long-running, white LED technology. Tool-free Flex-Tight mount is secure; fits all bar diameters.

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Planet Bike Blaze 1/2w Headlight/Superflash Taillight Review

I bought this combo because I really needed a tail light and the extra headlight would be a bonus. Well, here's the story. The Superflash tail light is simply incredible. Whether in blink or steady mode, this thing is BRIGHT, even in daytime with direct sunlight. I have two of these Superflash tail lights and motorists can't miss me - in flashing mode you look like an emergency vehicle! The Superflash has survived falling off my bike while riding with only minor scuffs (I failed to clip it in completely - you need to be careful about that). The Blaze headlight is, on the other hand, disappointing. It has a very narrow, focused beam of only moderate brightness. In flashing mode, the beam is way too narrow as a "be seen" light, unless the observer is dead center in front of the beam. I use the Blaze as a spot light supplement to a wider angle headlight, but I would not recommend it as a sole headlight.

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Product Description:
When you bike to your friend?s house or home from work after dark, use Planet Bike?s Blaze ?-watt Headlight and Superflash Taillight to help ensure motorists and other cyclists see you from as much as a mile away. The Blaze Headlight illuminates the road during your low- to moderate-speed commute, and the Superflash?s unique flash pattern warns anyone coming up behind you that you?re there.

Product Features

Bulbs: [Blaze] ?W LED; [Superflash] ?W LED, 2 eXtreme LEDS
Modes: Flash & steady
Lumens:
Batteries: [Blaze] 2 AA; [Superflash] 2 AAA
Battery Run Time: Up to 100hr
Weight:
Recommended Use: Casual cycling in the dark, commuting
Manufacturer Warranty:

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Planet Bike Blaze 1/2-Watt LED Bicycle Light with Helmet and QuickCam Mounts Review

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.

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