Below are a selection of lights from the top brands, and cheaper alternatives.
To enable direct comparison of brightness, all beam photographs on the road are taken at: 6400 iso, f2.8, 1/8 sec
New additions will be tested in an integrating sphere to measure the actual output and compare to the manufacturer's claims.
Click on the images to enlarge.
Cateye Volt 80XC - measured output: 114 lumens
Looks worse on the road than the test results would suggest. The photo below is meant to show the beam (it is switched on), but it didn't register with the camera.
It's only around £10, but even so, a waste of money in my opinion.
Magicshine Altty Mini- measured output: 243 lumens
Cateye Ampp 400 - measured output: 349 lumens
A decent spread of light and decent enough brightness to use on unlit roads at a push.
At around £25, it's a pretty decent light for commuting.
Cateye Ampp 500 - measured output: 349 lumens
Cateye Ampp 500 - measured output: 349 lumens
The integrating sphere says it's brighter than the Ampp 400, but to the naked eye and camera, it looks the same.
At around £45, the small size means a small battery, and a run time of less than an hour on the highest mode. An excellent commuter light if you don't mind frequent charging.
Torchy BK 650 - measured output: 656 lumens
At around £40, it maintains the 650 lumen output with good heat and power management .
Fluxient Elite S3 - measured output: 500.2 lumens
A large pool of very bright light with just enough light ahead of the front wheel.
At around £50, the Elite S3 is very much a light for the road, with a reflector designed to put all of the light on the road. Amnd a good job it does too, much better than the Specialized Flux.
Soshine TB1 - measured output: 814 lumens
At around £30, it's also a pretty good commuter light
However, at around £60, this light is a waste of money. The output drops from the moment the light is switched on, and was down to 541 lumens after 5 minutes. The bar mount comes with cable ties to secure it - you don't have to be a genius to realise this will never work. Switching modes is achieved by slightly unscrewing the two halves of the light then tightening again Impossible to do while moving as it needs two hands. Do not buy one of these lights.
Gemini Xera - Measured output - 1046 lumens
Suffers from the same heat management issues as the flashlight version with an initial 1046 lumens dropping to 126 lumens after 5 minutes as the light dropped to the lowest mode.
At around $79.99, the beam is very narrow ,better as a helmet light with another light on the bars.
Bikehut 1000 - measured output: 1187 lumens
A good spread of light and good distance.
At around £40, it suffers from the output dropping as it heats up, but should give around 800 lumens in use. For the money, you get a lot of light.
Fluxient F2- measured output: 1724 lumens
At around £50, produces a nice distribution of light that is pretty much as bright as you need.
Bikehut 1600 - measured output: 1928 lumens
At around £50, you are still getting a lot of light for a reasonable price.
Bright centre with moderate light to the wide areas.
At around £80, the Moom Meteor Storm Pro 2000 puts out a decent beam bright enough for fast road use. May not be a wide enough beam for off roaders.
Magicshine Monteer 1400 - measured output: 1743 lumens
At around £80, the Moom Meteor Storm Pro 2000 puts out a decent beam bright enough for fast road use. May not be a wide enough beam for off roaders.
Magicshine Monteer 1400 - measured output: 1743 lumens
A wide spread of light and good illumination well up the road.
At around £60, the output was over 1700 lumens initially, however this had dropped to just under 950 lumens after 10 minutes. However, that was enclosed in an integrating sphere, it shouldn't drop so much on the bike with a flow of air to help keep it cool.
M-Tigersports Hyperion - Measured output: 5749 lumens
Unfortunately a very unreliable light with the switch unit and lamp unit prone to packing in without notice. With a wide beam, a spot beam and two medium beams give even illumination from the front wheel to the far distance when it is working.
At around £150, I would expect a reliable light that you could actually use.
Fluxient F5 - measured output: 5038 lumens
At around £60, the output was over 1700 lumens initially, however this had dropped to just under 950 lumens after 10 minutes. However, that was enclosed in an integrating sphere, it shouldn't drop so much on the bike with a flow of air to help keep it cool.
Fluxient F4 - measured output: 3605 lumens
Not far off the claimed 4000 lumens, the two spot beams and 2 wide beams can be operated separately or together to give plenty of flexibility in the light distribution.At around £80, it's probably brighter than the average cyclists needs.Definitely gives a presence on the road.
Unfortunately a very unreliable light with the switch unit and lamp unit prone to packing in without notice. With a wide beam, a spot beam and two medium beams give even illumination from the front wheel to the far distance when it is working.
At around £150, I would expect a reliable light that you could actually use.
Puts loads of light everywhere. Two wide beams and three spot beams can be selected separately or together.
At around £100, it"s one of the brightest lights on the market. Great if you wan't to get your own back on inconsiderate oncoming traffic.
Exposure Six Pack Mk10 - measured output: 6120 lumens
Medium wide beam with very large bright centre area
At around £350, it puts out a lot of light and it's well distributed, and the good news is Exposure are improving their lights without raising prices. The Mk10 costs about the same as the Mk6 did.
Cateye Volt 6000 - measured output: 7353 lumens
Cateye Volt 6000 - measured output: 7353 lumens