MTB light on your handlebars or your helmet?

A question we get a lot at Hilox: should I put an MTB light on my handlebars or on my helmet? Well, there is only one right answer to that.....

Both, of course! Not because we are dying to sell you two lights, but because we want you to have the best night ride possible! If personal reasons (read: your budget) set a limit, we are still happy to help you make the right choice....

The helmet mount

A mountain bike light on your helmet shines in tight corners, because the light is always exactly where you are looking and where you want to go. That way you never miss a slippery root or a pothole. Good for your confidence, and it also saves you a trip to the hospital or the dentist ;) For your helmet you obviously want a light that gives plenty of output and does not weigh a ton. In our book the HX2 is the perfect candidate. A small light with 2 XML U2 Cree LEDs good for 1,600 lumens and a 4400mAh battery!

The handlebar mount

Probably the most popular setup: the handlebar mount. No fuss on your helmet, no tools (which you do not need for the helmet mount either), just a light that throws a big wedge of light in the direction you steer. The upside of this mount is that you have no cable and no extra weight in or towards your jersey. Battery packs start at a mere 70 grams. If you decide to put an MTB light on your handlebars, Hilox has plenty to choose from. The HX3 MTB light sells a lot, and so does the HX6+ MTB light with a full 3,000 lumens. These lights have multiple Cree LEDs that deliver very high light output and a very tight beam.

TIP!

Use the Hilox front mount. This cool mount puts your MTB light exactly in the middle of your handlebars, so your beam is always dead centre. That still leaves enough room for the rest of your gadgets, like a GoPro or a Garmin ;)

New to night riding? Read our how-to on night biking and here are 10 reasons to go biking in the dark ;) Enjoy!

Handlebars or helmet: the differences at a glance

• Where does the light go? A helmet light shines where you look, even when you turn your head in a corner. A bar light shines where your bike points.
• Weight. You feel every gram on your helmet, so that is the place for a small, light lamp. On your handlebars weight matters less, so you can fit a more powerful one.
• Cable and battery. A helmet light usually has a cable running to a battery in your jersey or backpack. With a bar light everything stays on your bike.
• Depth in the light. Riding with two lights? The bar light gives a wide base and the helmet light fills in the spots you are looking at. You see more depth and fewer harsh shadows.

Going for just one light? For most riders the handlebar mount is the logical start. Add a helmet light later if you ride technical trails in the dark more often. You can find all models under MTB LED lighting.

What you need to know about the HX6 handlebar light

According to the product specs, the HX6 was developed specifically to be mounted on your handlebars. Four Cree LEDs with optical lenses in front of them together deliver 3,000 lumens on the highest setting. Because you do not always need that much light, the HX6 has several modes:

• High: 3,000 lumens
• Medium: 1,500 lumens
• Low: 600 lumens, with a battery life of up to 8 hours
• A flashing mode

Riding on public roads? Use the lowest setting. The battery lasts longer and you will not dazzle anyone. The housing is made of hardened lightweight aluminium and the lamp weighs 134 grams. The box contains the lamp, a 5200 mAh battery and a charger. You get a 2-year warranty on the LED and 6 months on the battery.

Tip for a long battery life

Hilox recommends conditioning the battery, so it does not run flat sooner than it should. Planning a long ride at full power? Take a spare battery with you.