[Closed] The best LED rear light is......?

The smart one at £9 odd on ebay is good although the bracket does not look like it will last.

Blackburn Mars or SMART 1/2 watt

Smart 1/2 watter.

Mars is OK.

Cateye 'holy handgrenade' is shite.

:FACT:

x3 for smart 1/2 watt....

You need two.

The Cateye Holy Handgrenade, eyecatching, fantastic all round visibility:
[img] [/img]

AND the Smart 1/2 seriously bright but focussed:
[img] [/img]

Smart half watt - i have two

Lumicycle one if you already have one of their batteries

This thing is a monster and very bright though quite pricey [url= http://www.noahsark.co.uk/cateye-tlld1100-rear-led-light-p-632.html ]Catseye TL-LD1100[/url]

SMART 1/2 watt - Thread closed

The LD1100 isn't anywhere near as bright as more modern designs like the smart. On flash mode becuase the rows are not syncronised, it dosn't appear to flash at all if you are further than 50 yards away (like most approaching traffic). Its battery life is woeful. Becuase it uses the same clamp design as the lighter units, it snaps mounts all the damn time.

I used an LD1000 and an LD1100 for quite a few years commuting. The only good thing about them is they're fairly robust, both of my self ejecting units managed to just about survive being driven over by a Ford Sierra or kicked around a NSL dual carriageway.

I don't use them anymore, I use a smart and a mars.

+1 for AnalogueAndy's response

I run a Hand Grenade on the bike and then a wonderful little Vista VL Eclipse on my helmet.
[img] [/img]

I think the Eclipse is discontinued now, sadly. Essentially, one big light and one smaller flashing light, combined with good reflectives, like some ankle bands, is the way ahead.

On the frame only one option:
Knog [url= http://www.knog.com.au/Product.aspx?productId=160 ]BullFrog[/url] on the seat post for lit commute. Very bright and no crappy had bracket to brake.
Smart 1/2W is very good as is the cateye [url= http://www.cateye.com/en/product_detail/468 ]TD-L610[/url] if you are mounting off the frame or on clothes due to the clip they come with.
Exposure [url= http://www.exposurelights.com/products/redeye/index.php ]Red-eye[/url] for unlit roads.
Lots of reflective panels are very effective.

Pedal reflectors (or orange reflective tape wrapped round std MTB SPDs), wheel reflectors and scotch brite by the mile on your lid/bag/jacket also help hugely.

I am impressed you still have the Vista CFH. They were discontinued about 5 years ago. I used to use them and was sad to see them go.

Thanks all

Just to add i already have a Exposure red eye on my helmet. A hump back pack cover and a couple of them flashy led arm bands, oh and me helmet is already covered in black 3m reflective tape.
I'll be riding a bit on fast A roads so i want to be as bright as the Vegas strip

Those Smart 1/2 watt lights are bonkers bright. I see a guy most mornings who has 2 of them, can see him a mile off. They're almost too bright at close range.

Smart 1/2 watt again. Have three on my road bike.

Smart 1/2 watt again. Have three on my road bike. You need it on the pitch black lanes of rural Herefordshire.

Has anyone mentioned the Smart 1/2 watt yet?

Anyone know the difference between the Smart polaris and the Smart Lunar?!

Mister P, when something is worth looking after, I do! It's a great little light.

This one is the best rearlight i have owned, attach to your bag, no flimsy mounts, lights up real good. can be put loads of places.
Check their others things two.

http://www.niteize.com/collections/led/products/led-clip-on-marker

Loved my Blackburn Mars, right up to the point last week when I lost it. B*gger. Might have to buy one of these Smart 1/2 watt thingies. They any good?
😉

I find these pretty effective.
[img] [/img]

Bugger, just seen this to mix things up a little

http://www.thebikechain.co.uk/store/product/19691/Niterider-Cherry-Bomb/

Bought a Niterider Cherry Bomb for mrdomino it is very bright.

Balckburn Mars 4 and a Fibreflare.......

Is the new Niterider Cherry Bomb the new Smart 1/2w?

Cherry has a 1/2w led plus 2 smaller leds - maybe better side view?

Debate + test on here:
[url= http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=215648 ]http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=215648[/url]

I did some "testing" in the shop at the start of the winter. The Smart 1/2 Watt and the Cherry Bomb are about the same overall brightness, but the CB has a really wide beam "spread" so I opted for that.

+1 on the Smart 1/2 Watt, amazing light.

The CB also has the bonus that it has a reflector.

CB 1
Smart 0.

Get one of the regular ones and if you can run to it get a [url= http://fibreflare.com/ ]Fibre Flare[/url].

Very impressive it its own right, gets a bonus driver noticing WTF factor and gives 360 degree visability.

I feel happier on my commute for having got one.

The fibre flare lets water in from experience.

Fibre Flares on my bikes too, never had problem with water although I did put some tape around the ends.

Also great for a quick game of star wars 🙂

Well i went for the Cherry Bomb, i'm a leader not a follower 8)

I'll report back tomorrow after the postie delivers it in the morning 😉

Ive tried most of the popular ones on this thread and the 1 smart i had failed the quickest. The longest lasting have been the cateyes although i have had 2 bounce out of the brackets. The mars 3 is nice and bright but the last one of the 3 i have had stopped working.
Go with any and keep it warm and dry when possible and change batteries weekly and i dont think you will go far wrong.

what about the RSP astrum, that has two 1/2 watt leds

http://redbikes.blogspot.com/2009/10/rsp-astrum-2-x-12watt-user-review.html

never had a problem with the LD1000 myself, been using it for 4-5 years now.

Does nobody here ride in the rain? The Smart's certainly have awesome light output, but they're notorious for being poorly sealed (I have one which works fine, but then I don't night ride in the rain 😉 )

I use a smart (7 LEDs) and the Cateye one with the BS reflector. I bought the Cateye for legal reasons b4 the change in the law. The Smart is brighter than the Cateye but I always have 2 in case one falls off / fails

I use the Cateye one with the BS reflector - uses 2 AA bats, can't remmeber the model. Then a Smart one with 7 LEDs. With fresh batteries in each they're both bright enough, but the Smart is brighter. I always use 2 in case one falls off / fails

I use one of these on side-to-side niterider mode

[img] [/img]
/p>

quote from a friend (after busting a gut to catch me up on a commute)

"that new light of yours is very noticeable"
"blinding bright noticeable"
"no, very eye-catching"

and one of these 2 x 1/2 W jobbies

[img] [/img]
£16 from Merlin.

Which is much brighter and I leave it on steady so as not to dazzle too much.

Add a couple of small dangly LEDs from tesco and I'm much more visible than I used to be.

Obviously I can't say "this is better than yours", but it does seem to be a decent combo.

Both get left on overnight in the rain and frost, the cat-eye has lasted perfectly so far, the other one is too new to say anything useful.

HTH

Just bought a 1/2 watt smart one because of this thread!

anotherdeadhero - Member
The LD1100 isn't anywhere near as bright as more modern designs like the smart. On flash mode becuase the rows are not syncronised, it dosn't appear to flash at all if you are further than 50 yards away (like most approaching traffic). Its battery life is woeful. Becuase it uses the same clamp design as the lighter units, it snaps mounts all the damn time.

I used an LD1000 and an LD1100 for quite a few years commuting. The only good thing about them is they're fairly robust, both of my self ejecting units managed to just about survive being driven over by a Ford Sierra or kicked around a NSL dual carriageway.

You forgot to mention they cost nearly £30 quid 😉

Not sure what you mean about 'not synchronised' - just push both 'on' buttons at once 😉

I like the effect of them when they're not synchronised anyway, the light appears to 'pulse' rather be merely 'on' 'off' 'on' 'off'

Know what you mean about battery life but then it's dead easy to change the batts (the side comes off, fingers only, no need to remove from the bracket even) - I use rechargeables and keep them fully topped up.

The Smart 1/2 watt is a fantastic light but like I said it's very focussed and not as good as the Cateye for all round visibility.

Like I said, you need two.

Or three. You said you already have a helmet light. If you don't, mount one of these on the back:

[img] [/img]

I like the Knog lights for the reason already mentioned (no shitty plastic brackets), but they also seem totally waterproof. They are about the only 'accessory' that I can get remotely excited about. Super bright lights are no use if they are facing the ground or waterlogged!