Since it gets darker sooner, most of us have to ride in the dark. I’m more than a little paranoid about being seen — especially from the back. Most of us know that the DiNotte lights are the brightest but they will leave your wallet very thin (about $169 bucks). So I gathered what most companies considered their brightest rear lights under $40 dollars.
The Players:
* Half-watt BlazeTM LED plus 2 eXtreme LEDs for visibility up to 1 mile
* Unique, eye-catching flash pattern
* Flashing and steady mode
* Ultra compact vertical design is weatherproof, lightweight and durable
* Includes bike mounts and clip mount for multiple mounting options
* Up to 100 hours of run time on 2 AAA batteries (included)
Thumbs Up: Small, light, dual mounting options, easy to remove, really freaking bright.
Thumbs Down: None.
*seven superbright red LED’s inside a sleek water resistant case.
*Lens optics increase visible distance and side LED’s provide 180 degree safety-boosting visibility.
*150 hour runtime flash mode.
*Batteries included.
*Water resistant.
Thumbs Up: Small, light, dual mounting options, easy to remove, amber LEDs on the side
Thumbs Down: None.
*2 AA batteries
*10 LED’s
*3 flashing modes runs to 100 hours
*Constant mode runs to 50 hours
*18 - 44 mm seat post mounting
*Clothing clip included
*100 Candlepower
Thumbs Up: Dual mounting options, easy to remove, multiple modes, 2 LED’s per side.
Thumbs Down: Not as small or light as the Blackburn or Planet Bike and pricier.
*True Strobe Xenon-white flash tube with high-efficiency circuitry for maximum visibility and impact.
*Unique Pyramid Shape provides 180° of visibility. Does not have to face traffic directly to be seen.
*High-intensity model - 3 to 7 hours; Long-duration model - 7 to 15 hours. 83 flashes per minute.
*Compact & Lightweight 3.5� (9cm) each side. 1.5� (4cm) high. Fits in palm of hand. Weighs 3.9 ozs. (115 gm) with batteries installed.
*Impact & Weather Resistant
Thumbs Up: Multiple mounting options, easy to remove, multiple lenses, remote switch (optional), reflectors, big ass blinkie.
Thumbs Down: Big Ass Blinkie, battery life not as long as the others, No side LEDs, sold in very few places.
Its durable plastic clip enables you to securely attach it to your waistband, belt or even your shirt collar. Wear it whenever you go out at dark and be seen by motorists from up to a mile away. Available in Red, Blue and Green. Batteries included.
Thumbs Up: Small, light, easy to remove, really inexpensive.
Thumbs Down: Expensive battery, clip on only no seat post mount, only sold at www.RoadID.com.
My Opinion
All the lights performed as advertised, they are all very noticeable and very bright. However, one light outshone the others: the Planet Bike Superflash. The Mars 3.0 and the Cateye TL-LD1000 were a close second but the Mars 3.0 is half the price of the Cateye, the Firefly Supernova in third and the Lightman Xenon strobe in last. For being a single LED light and for being the cheapest, I was really surprised how bright the Firefly Supernova is, it will now become my rear helmet light of choice. As far as the Lightman Xenon strobe goes, I’ve owned this rear light for over 2 years and LED technology has come a long way so I wasn’t surprised that it was outperformed.
Here’s a video of the rear lights from about 40 yards away, I know is kind of crappy but you can definitely see which one is the brightest light.
Popularity: 30% [?]
Bike Commuter Essentials at PricePoint.com
17 responses so far ↓
1 Logan // Dec 10, 2007 at 1:57 am
Very much agree with your assessment. Own the mars and the superflash: back-pack and helmet lights. Awesome. Sell a shit-load of these. Best head-light, in case you’re working on that too is the niterider minewt.
2 Ghost Rider // Dec 10, 2007 at 5:29 am
Good reviews….and you couldn’t have picked a better song for the video! “Hit the Lights!”
I am a devotee of the Superflash — that blinkie is amazing.
3 Marrock // Dec 10, 2007 at 7:57 am
Try this, looks like the Firefly but has all the accessories you’ll need including helmet and bike mounts and comes in more colors than the Firelfy.
http://www.nitevis.com/Guardian_detail.htm
4 Ghost Rider // Dec 10, 2007 at 8:30 am
Marrock, that light you put up a link to is AWESOME — I’m gonna have to get me one of those!
I remember reading somewhere that green or amber light gets more attention at night — especially since there are so many other red lights out there (cars, other bikes). I use a cheap green blinkie on my messenger bag in addition to my regular red blinkies…mixing up the colors seems like a good idea regardless.
5 db // Dec 10, 2007 at 8:51 am
Wow, those Guardian lights are cheap. Even their batteries are cheap. Nice.
I might just blind every Boise driver yet…
6 Rear Blinkies under 40 bucks — The Bike Geek // Dec 10, 2007 at 10:24 am
[...] Mars 3.0, Cateye TL-LD1000, Firefly Supernova and the Lightman Xenon Strobe on BikeCommuters.com. Click Here to read my [...]
7 Mike Myers // Dec 10, 2007 at 5:56 pm
Planet Bike sets the standard for affordable blinkies, no doubt. I have one on my helmet and one on my rack—Planet Bike sells a rack mount kit for cheap that’s excellent. BUT—if you want a serious light, DiNotte is worth the money. If you watch their website you’ll catch sales quite often, and Nashbar puts the taillight on sale a lot too. The DiNotte taillight is so bright there really is no competition.
8 Moe // Dec 10, 2007 at 6:02 pm
Mmm. I wonder if I would get busted if I get 2 sets of red and blue Guardian lights (2 for the front, 2 for the back)… and a siren…
9 Laura // Dec 10, 2007 at 7:13 pm
I adore my Super Blinky. The batteries last a long time in it, clips in and out easily, and everyone can see it. I cried when I lost it! But I immediately purchased a new one and have been the happiest girl on a bike since.
10 Marrock // Dec 10, 2007 at 7:59 pm
Just trying to help a bit, glad you liked them.
As for using red and blue ones together, you can try but I think then you’d have to stop at every donut shop on your route.
I was thinking of using red and green, red on the left, or port side, of my bike and green on the right, or starboard, side… Hey, it works for boats, right?
11 Moe // Dec 11, 2007 at 12:29 am
Mmmm donuts (with a Homer Simpson voice)
12 Moe // Dec 11, 2007 at 10:48 am
http://www.RoadId.com is offering a $1.00 off discount with coupon code: ThanksMoises319076. They also offer the Firefly Supernova in multiple colors and a wristband option.
13 Kona Smoke 2-9: Update | Bike Commuters // Mar 7, 2008 at 1:14 pm
[...] my Banjo Brothers Panniers. I’ve also installed the Planet Bike SuperFlash Blinky (click here for the review) and a Banjo Brothers Top tube [...]
14 Planet Bike Superflash "Stealth" | Bike Commuters // Apr 10, 2008 at 7:56 pm
[...] Same great light, with a 1/2 watt Blaze red LED and two smaller eXtreme red LEDs. The rubber gasket sealing the two halves of the light has been improved, too, after some rider feedback suggested that the original gasket allowed water into the case. The Superflash has a unique light pattern, and it is truly DAZZLING. Moe did a rear light comparison back in December, and his article included a video that demonstrates just how powerful this little light is. Check it out here. [...]
15 Jim Larsen // May 13, 2008 at 11:16 am
Re Guardian lights, try http://www.viewit.com/
They let you order on line.
The ideal would be to place lights as far apart as possible, mix colors, put reflective fabric (like Reflexite)(see http://www.jogalite.com) behind them, and put on moving body parts (ankles).
Motion, color, & size attract the eye. Eye is most sensitive to green (but green means GO). Two lights inches apart look like one larger light, etc.
16 Jim Larsen // May 25, 2008 at 10:49 am
Guardian source is http://www.essentialgear.com/p74/The-Guardian/product_info.html?osCsid=fbpi596m86c58b32fli1i22t07
17 Barry Stephens // Jul 17, 2008 at 7:46 pm
Of the Blackburn Mars and Planet Bike Superflash I prefer the Blackburn.
The Planet Bike Superflash has only 2 modes, flash and solid on. In the solid on mode it is very bright, but in flash mode the actual light that I have flahses too quickly. What I am saying is that the bright LED does not stay on long enough/stay lit long enough for the full brightness to be properly seen by human eyes.
Possibly this is due to variations in manufacturing but the Superflash that I purchased does not seem as bright as the Blackburn Mars in flash mode. Remember, human eyes are not electronic devices and need time for chemical processes to send nerve impulses to the brain.
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