When I last did a night event, the height of technology was a halogen lamp (or 2) powered by 6 D-sized batteries. The batteries weighed a ton, cost the earth and lasted about an hour - which was a good incentive not to take too long on the course.
I guess things have moved on a bit. Can anyone recommend a reasonably priced, lightweight bit of current kit? I not after simulating daylight, I just need enough light to run and navigate by.
Thanks
Tim
Night O Lamps
Moderators: [nope] cartel, team nopesport
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Re: Night O Lamps
A lot of people use these: http://www.brightbikelights.com/
Probably the best price to power ratio you'll find out there. The weaker petzl lights around £50 are no where near comparable. And the £200plus lights are also not massively brighter. I'd say its definitely worth it.
And they've powered Douglas Tullie round to two top 20 performance on the long-night leg at Jukola...
Probably the best price to power ratio you'll find out there. The weaker petzl lights around £50 are no where near comparable. And the £200plus lights are also not massively brighter. I'd say its definitely worth it.
And they've powered Douglas Tullie round to two top 20 performance on the long-night leg at Jukola...
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mharky - team nopesport
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Re: Night O Lamps
I agree with mharky, the "orienteering" or "multi" packs are very good. I've had one for several years and used it for daily cycle commutes through the winter and regular night runs and night orienteering. Much better made bit of kit than any Halogen lamp I've ever had.
- DaveR
- red
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Re: Night O Lamps
Some specialist outdoor shops have a good range of cheaper headtorches for £30 or less. I bought one a while back when I'd forgotten my brightbikelights headtorch, it was Ok for running down paths but I wouldn't want to use it for running across terrain unless I was walking that bit. When my big torch has failed last year, and I've had to use the wind up backup it was a different experience... jog on paths, walk in wood, spend 20 minutes looking for control/needle in haystack, either give up or punch air with amazement when found it. If you want your night O to be a running experience probably best get a big headtorch.
The big headtorches come in handy for lots of other things.. fixing the car in the dark, looking for things in the shed. Yesterday I was using it to look for nits in my sons hair. Either I couldn't find any or the torch irradiated them all.
The big headtorches come in handy for lots of other things.. fixing the car in the dark, looking for things in the shed. Yesterday I was using it to look for nits in my sons hair. Either I couldn't find any or the torch irradiated them all.

- SeanC
- god
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Re: Night O Lamps
The Brightbikelights man is wonderful and the light is fantastically light
by which I mean it is very bright and doesn't weigh anything and even gives me enough confidence to go out after dark in the wild woods. You really don't need to look any further.

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Mrs H - god
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Re: Night O Lamps
Also love my brightbikelights one. Manage to wear the battery pack folded into a buff.
- Jayne
- green
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Re: Night O Lamps
Beware the Brightbike lights batteries fail at regular short intervals. In FVO night-o land we have had numerous problems with these lights.
Thankfully you can buy the exact same light from Hong Kong/China delivered to the UK for less than half the price. If it fails be glad you bought two-for-one!
Thankfully you can buy the exact same light from Hong Kong/China delivered to the UK for less than half the price. If it fails be glad you bought two-for-one!
From small acorns great Oak trees grow.
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Lard - diehard
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Re: Night O Lamps
My brightbikelights lamp has been almost impeccable, using a small camelback backpack for the wee battery has been good too. I only had one battery failure last night season on the Long course at Scottish Night Champs after 90 mins... I shouldn't have been out that long, but that's a different story. 

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plain lazy - blue
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Re: Night O Lamps
I had one battery fail after 2 years and about 40 Kent Night Cups plus various household and camping outings. Mr BrightBikeLight sold me a replacement but it might be worth getting a spare if you're keen to insure against this happening before a big race. It's got a good feature where a red light glows on the back when there's only about 30 mins of charge left, good except when it's strapped to your head.
The only design problem is that there is only one screw holding the light onto the headstrap/unit and this can work loose, then the wires can pull out when the torch falls off your head. I've now glued it in to stop it coming loose in future. Overall definately much more reliable than the old Silva/Mila halogen headtorches ... the electrics soon rattled loose on these and never seem to last more than one KNC season.
The only design problem is that there is only one screw holding the light onto the headstrap/unit and this can work loose, then the wires can pull out when the torch falls off your head. I've now glued it in to stop it coming loose in future. Overall definately much more reliable than the old Silva/Mila halogen headtorches ... the electrics soon rattled loose on these and never seem to last more than one KNC season.
- SeanC
- god
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Re: Night O Lamps
Definiitely recommend you buy from britebike lights rather than abroad if you can. My unit (not the battery) failed after about three uses (in winter so it wasnt overheating) and he replaced it immediately no questions. The light compares very well to other more expensive torches. No battery issues from me. If I had a constructive comment for him re the O kit its that the rubber tension band doesnt seem to keep the light angle that stable at the angle I want - have to keep pushing it up from time to time. Not a huge issue but one for the drawing board.
Orienteering - its no walk in the park
- andypat
- god
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Re: Night O Lamps
Do you need to push it up when you fall flat on your face?
Fac et Spera. Views expressed are not necessarily those of the Scottish 6 Days Assistant Coordinator
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Freefall - addict
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Re: Night O Lamps
The Bikelights lamp is really good, used it when supporting a 100mile runner through the night and was infinitely better than any that the other pairs were using, however it did run out just before dawn without any warning, going from full power to off with no perceptable dimming, but this was after most of the night being in constant use.
Punter Elite
- FRBlackSheep
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