Budget Bike Lights - Good Enough or Worth Avoiding?

Winter can often prevent us from riding our bikes, whether that's on or off road. One important part of our fun and safety is having a decent set of bike lights. Lights can range from very expensive to very cheap, in this video ill go over some of the cheaper lights I've used throughout this winter.
Its been a while since I last posted a mountain bike video due to many reasons (another video), but I hope you are all doing well?
Lights used:
SL100: www.decathlon.co.uk/p/vioo-10...
Powlaken: www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...
Nestling: www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07F6TDSPZ
Chapters:
0:00 - Intro
0:33 - SL100
1:16 - Powlaken
1:51 - Nestling
2:21 - Recommendations
3:46 - Outro
*The asterisk was just to let people know that the 1.5hrs is a rough number from my own experience (in often very cold conditions) - you may get more use time than this! and the upper number was from the upper limit of the manufacturers specifications.
#WinterRiding
#NightMTB
Music: Glacier - Patrick Patrikios

[@bikeandbeyond]

Awesome content. Such a great quality video. Keep it up!

[@DJFXC]

Cheers! I really appreciate the support!

[@DJFXC]

Its been a number of months since my last upload, so I hope you are all doing well? I'm hoping to start producing videos regularly again at the end of the month (when I have my weekends free again), so please stay tuned to the channel! Cheers for watching!

[@willmag7212]

Great vid 👍 keep up the amazing work, thanks Will

[@DJFXC]

Cheers. thank you for the support!

[@yetti423]

the nestling triple light i have used since 2015 in all weathers, one on helmet and two on bars the badly wrapped battery can be messed sweats inside killing the circuit protection board in months. I removed the blue plastic wrapping then electrical taped from 5mm off the bottom to 5mm from the top. now they breathe they are reliable and one lasted 4 years. burn time on low is about 4 to 5 hrs and with 3 then theres enough of light for off rd. I do 40 mile nigh time runs with theses using 4 batteries. just make sure your in when charging..........and the two lights on the bars are steadied with a bent spoke and wire ties.

[@trailmaster]

Nice vid man. All my bike lights are cheap and powerful, and still working after years of use. Here to support your channel too. Cheers!

[@DJFXC]

Thank you so much, really appreciated!!

[@CyclingwithRuss]

Great points for new riders not wanting to spend a lot on lights. I used to use the halfords 1700 lumens light before I got my 6pack and that is a cracking light. I bought the 1000 lumens halfords light for the road bike I likes them so much. Great video buddy amd a new subscriber from me 😉

[@DJFXC]

Cheers Russ I really appreciate it! Would you recommend the SixPack for the price?

[@FloatingCroc]

Straight up review and very helpful 👍🏼

[@DJFXC]

Thank you!!

[@richwilliams9895]

As you say it’s well worth using 2 front lights as a lot of these narrow beam lights are are simply too narrow. You also need a more flooding based light too. Cateye ampp lights are more of a flood light than a pin spot.

[@TrailTrackerSwitzerland]

Great review mate. I've been looking for a light to complement my helmet mounted one for a while, but have been put off by the cost. Thanks for posting.

[@DJFXC]

Thanks, I really appreciate it!!

[@northyland1157]

My conclusion is you need 2 lights... one for up close and one for distance.. I bought a $24 and $40 dollar light.. I use them both. the $24 for close and the $40 for distance. I no longer hit pine cones.. 2 light system just works... Of course 2 lights is better! I live in a hot area and only time I like to ride after dark when it starts to cool off, traffic is much less also...

[@MrSmalley300]

The powerful light that use the battery packs are ok, but the battery pack can short out and cause a fire. The way to go is buy the light and buy 18650 rechargeable batteries and a holder that holds the batteries and it will be cheap enough and safe. If you have the battery pack you can split it down carefully and use the 18650 batteries in a holder. I did this and have plastic cases to carry them then replace them in the holder as required.

[@plunder1956]

LEDThe The Powlaken has a roof mount LED so you get a flat (even) beam of light. I like these for road use. But my older ones use AA batteries & are not so powerful.

[@psvialli]

How did you attach it to your Helmet is it like a Go pro slot as i have that already attached to my helmet

[@ingopaul67]

I have the Nestling light - used it at dusk at the end of a ride around Cannock Chase and some road riding, works fine for me but as you say probably requires an additional helmet light for proper night riding.

[@AayanKhan-me3to]

Would the nestling light be ok for evening riding?

[@ingopaul67]

@@AayanKhan-me3to yes its a good well built bright light for the price, 3 settings, brightest should be ok for most rides.

[@AayanKhan-me3to]

@@ingopaul67 ok thanks

[@NightOwlGames]

any suggestions for a solar powered light with phone charger on? i see a nhoss bike light sounds great but its £72.

[@ronclarke8546]

Please correct me is I'm wrong but it seems the best light you had but did not show was the Solarstorm X3. Yes the batteries can be junk but easily replaceable by some really good Korean or Japanese 18650s in a waterproof light box. You can go for 4 or 6 capacity and have incredible run times at full power (over 8 hours) with for example a Panasonic/Sanyo NCR18650GA 3500 10amp x 6 for about 10,000mah that are much better batteries than what they come with. BTW I have two X3s and when the batteries died I replaced them with the above described set up - then bought even better lights - Brighteyes 1800 stamina.

[@DJFXC]

Hi Ron, thank you for this comment! I have always been wary of the X3’s batteries but actually hadn’t considered a safer replacement battery. I will have a look into the battery setup you have described as 8hrs sounds outstanding! I’m glad you’ve brought this to my attention, as the X3’s are one of my favourite lights hence why they got a small mention in the video. Cheers!

[@ronclarke8546]

@@DJFXC You're welcomed Bud. I've had the x3s for about 4 years without a problem from the light head. The test was with the more powerful Brighteyes Stamina 1800lumens. The X3 would probably last longer! I also bought a Vapcel S4 plus fast charger that can measure internal IR, capacity, sense and charge, charge up to 3A per bay and repair batteries! No all in one I know can compare with the flexibility of this type of setup.

[@djibazz7705]

Problem with video is lights always look a lot brighter on film than thay actually are

[@DJFXC]

I agree it’s more difficult to portray it through video as everyone has different screen brightness, for me the video makes the lights look dimmer than they are in person.

[@Basement_CNC]

does anyone know how i can get a voodo bizango carbon to austria/germany

[@DJFXC]

I'm afraid they are very difficult to get them anywhere at the moment :( . Your best bet would be to scout eBay until one comes up, you may be able to get someone to post it overseas. Best of luck though, they are amazing bikes!

[@rabbitrampage]

+1 for supervising the batteries, I had a €30 bike light explode when charging, it had done most of the damage during transit but when I plugged it in it decided to start smoking and sparking again

[@psvialli]

******* Went for the Nestling Just a warning to Everyone DO NOT GET IT FOR MTB the mount is terrible and it falls off on the slightest bump Save you Cash buy a better one with a decent mount **************** Maybe review the mount as well next time as no idea how you managed to go over anything with that mount

[@DJFXC]

My mounts survived been thrown over multiple fences with the light on, going over rock gardens etc for the past year or so… been absolutely fine. They must have changed the design or you may have got a faulty one…

[@psvialli]

@@DJFXC must have as it lasted under 20 sec coming down the first run , and kept falling off until it broke the back of the light -it kept popping off the the mount so the mount is good just the clip holding the light - But Great bright light so will just try and find a better mount for it now :) thx for the reply !

[@robhingston]

I just wish more cyclists would have lights... I see too many cyclists riding around in the dark with no lights and in dark clothing it’s ludicrous.... I have premium lights which have lasted me years and even on the lowest setting they are-super powerful and I’m always getting the General public screaming at me that me my lights are way too bright .... but No one says nothing about bikes with NO LIGHTS on, I’m always passing other cyclists and I shout from the top of my lungs LIGHTS!!!