My bike light, the Zebralight SC62w flashlight. Things I like about it...
* Claims 930 lumens brightness, and at about 2 hours runtime. In reality I expect it to hold a constant 750 lumens closer to 75 minutes before it starts really dimming as the battery discharges, but we'll see as I use it.
* Uses only one 18650 battery. I can carry more easily in case I need to refuel.
* Several brightness levels including strobe. Memory functions, but always starts on the brightest setting with one click or lowest setting with a click and hold.
* Neutral white color flashlight, which means over a variety of surfaces it provides better detail than a cool white/blue color.
* Weighs a pathetic 40 grams, and with one 18650 battery cell the total weight should only be around double that. Very lightweight and easy to carry in your pocket, and has a belt clip!
* No bright steady on or blinking battery level indicator lights, which is a positive for me because I hate annoying things like that.
* Operated using a side push button, which I prefer over twisting the head to change modes or tail end buttons (although tail end buttons provide lockout from standby/parasitic battery drain that otherwise would require unscewing the tailcap).
* Can be used with any cheap flashlight mount.
* Rated to IPX-7 so you could take it underwater up to 2 meters deep for a half hour if you really wanted.
I spent a lot of time researching flashlights and discovered the Zebralight SC62w to be the smallest, brightest, longest lasting flashlight available.
One thing I don't like about the Zebralight SC62w is that it is not USB rechargeable so you have to remove the battery and use a separate wall charger to charge it and then reinsert the battery. But since the battery is removeable you and swap batteries and keep going!
My old favorite Fenix UC40 UE is USB rechargeable, but not as bright, however I do still recommend the Fenix UC40 UE because it can easily be charged anywhere with a USB connection and the 18650 battery is replaceable unlike some USB recharageable flashlights.
Another negative about the Zebralight SC62w is that it does not have very good heat dissipation capabilities due to it's very small size and construction, so it will get hot to the touch after a few minutes. Not a problem when mounted on my bike in the wind though!
Buying flashlights is no simple task. I recommend reading detailed reviews by a guy named Selfbuilt (link below). He has test usage discharge graphs that indicate how long and how bright individual flashlights burn because manufacturer literature can be deceiving.
To compare flashlight brightness you first need to look at the ANSI NEMA FL-1 lumen rating, which may or may not be readily available from the manufacturer. This rating varies from the out-the-front (OTF) value because the ANSI test turns the flaslight on, lets it burn for a minute, and then takes the light reading rather than immediately after turning the flashlight on. Even these standardized tests can have some variance though.
Also some flashlights have a Turbo mode that is meant for very short operation before stepping down to the next lower brightness level to avoid overheating, but manufaucturers will still call the flashlight a XXXX lumen light when in fact the high or normal mode is what you'll be limited to using most of the time. You will need to dig through the manufacturer's literature and read independent reviews to figure this out.
Other things to be aware of include runtime (depending on battery mAh capacity used and with or without fan cooling), the emitter (LED), reflector and beam profile (throw, spread and hotspot), light color (neutral white, cool white/blue), how to charge the flashlight (charger, USB, battery pack, dynohub), what types of batteries it uses (18650 is the most popular), the size of the flashlight (body diameter, head diameter, length), the weight (including batteries), operation (buttons, twisting), the programming (modes, step-down control, indicator lights), thermal regulation and heat dissipation, water resistance and impact resistance.
Flashlights tend to be like bicycles in that you get what you pay for. You want to be careful where you buy your flashlight. The safest place to ensure you get the latest geninue version is direct from the manufacturer or from authorized dealers.
Determining how you will mount a flashlight is also critical in choosing the right light for you.
If you are going to use a regular flashlight as a bike light, don't forget to point it down a bit so it doesn't blind other road users because the beam does not have a cut off.
Zebralight SC62w light
http://tinyurl.com/zebralightsc62w
My light mount
http://tinyurl.com/flashmount
Zebralight SC62 in depth review here (by Selfbuilt)
http://tinyurl.com/zebrasc62
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