Bike light?? but how does it fit under a helmet?

[edit...this time with something useful?]

a 5 star, 4 star, and 3 star review that says they would buy another if it dropped below $20

http://www.amazon.com/eGear-Focus-Control-200-Headlamp/dp/B003IDN9R2

It probably doesn't fit under a bike helmet, but it could fit over a helmet.

I bought the Woot Remington headlight (8/8/2010) and have been using it as a bike headlight ever since (also for leaf raking). Since a helmet isn't shaped like a head, or made of the same materials, I had to tie the light to the outside of the helmet (so it is on the helmet all the time).

Head mounted light has its good points, can look at points not in front, can see to open bike lock.

Also disadvantages, for best vision, a light should be located as far from the eyes as possible, which isn't head mounting. It's harder to see in fog when the near fog is lit up. Bugs sometimes target the light, then veer off to the nearest hole (the pupils or mouth).

Also, living in a town where many lovely young women inhabit the streets at night, having the light follow the head is not always best.

The Remington, like this one, has gimmicks it could do without. Front red/blue lights, which at least have their own switch. A rear mounted red LED that's too dim for biking, though it did once satisfy, sort of, a cop who stopped me for not having a rear light. To be fair, that light was targeted at hunters and the rear light is adequate for use as a target by your hunting "buddy".

hippie19 wrote:Bike light?? but how does it fit under a helmet?

I have a very similar light, I believe marketed by Remmington that I bought on woot quite a while ago.
At least with that one, the straps were actually large enough that I could stretch it OVER my helmet. I added a zip tie or two to keep it secure, and good to go!

Ah, there it is!
Looking at the straps, they appear very similiar, so I'd venture to bet that would be a valid use.

Edit: I see aojle bought the same light I did, for the same use. I find following the ladies with your eyes and not your head to be a very helpful skill.
As for the rear red light, agreed, it is not nearly bright enough to constitute a rear light for night biking. However, the front is quite bright.

This seems a bit pricey for what it is.
I am a big fan of the head lamps, the ones with the battery pack remotely located seem way old school as far as design since the technology has arrived to contain everything needed for three setting in one small up front mount.

a bike lamp? someone posted will fit under your helmet. LOL how could you use it if it were covered by a helmet? got a clear helmet?
why would they have three colored Led lights coded for the brightness and focus intensity of the lamp? You can't see them when you are wearing them after all, and anyone looking at you , if they cared what you had it set on, would be able to tell that it was on bright because while you were looking at them you would be blinding the crap out of them with the main beam. Right? seems like a waste of power to me. why is this things price so hi? the ones I have work excellently and they cost 3 bucks each, although I would like to see the ones with no Blinking option and instead have an even more bright option. 3 setting, on 1st level, nice for walking to see where the dog doo is in the park. second setting, more intense and handy for small electrical work and getting splinters out of lions paws. 3rd setting, extremely annoying blinking.

anyway. I am thinking this is an old school model that has had it's day and some one must have way too much in them and can't sell for cheaper. I'd use them for back ups if they were free and maybe for parts to build a better model. no way it's worth paying for.

PS never buy one of these head lamps that is not LED. they are horrible.

I'm wondering how much of a dork you would look like with that battery pack on the back of your head? I have seen more compact ones where the batteries are up where the light is.

I use headlamps almost daily for hours at a time for projects and general handyman stuff. They are indespensable for my nocturnal lifestyle.

My favorite features are:
- flood option for close up work
- battery pack on the back for comfort, balance and capacity
- 3-4 AA batteries; I use rechargeable Eneloops and runtime is great
- strap over top to keep it in place, but after a few hours you will get a reverse mohawk.

Sure they look geeky - sort of like carrying a multi-tool on your belt, which I do as well.

When putting the helmet on over the light, the helmet covers the straps, not the light or batteries.

Unfortunately, there isn't really room between the eyes and the helmet for a light, things get kind of cramped.

Putting the battery pack in back has two advantages. It better balances the weight. It encourages the use of AA cells which I prefer over AAA or button cells.

As for looking like a dork with the battery pack, the light alone will label you a dork. Refer to "Sixteen Candles" geek side kicks.

Well as I sit here on a ship in the middle of the North Sea I can tell you that I use these head lamps for everything from minor surgical procedures and dentistry to performing rescues at night and needing light immediately while keeping my hands free.

I agree about the balance of having the battery pack on the back of your head. I have both types of lights here right now, and I only take the light with the pack in the back.

I also work in the jungles of South America and these have proven valuable there as well.

I know people always wonder what to get certain people for gifts. I think beyond sports, this is a great gift for large animal veterinarians, outdoor adventure enthusiasts, donations for medical mission work (really handy for them) and anyone who lives closer to the Northern or Southern latitudes that are plunged into darkness for really long periods of time.

Have a great day all, love these types of lights...

LastApeMan wrote:This seems a bit pricey for what it is.
I am a big fan of the head lamps, the ones with the battery pack remotely located seem way old school as far as design since the technology has arrived to contain everything needed for three setting in one small up front mount.

a bike lamp? someone posted will fit under your helmet. LOL how could you use it if it were covered by a helmet? got a clear helmet?
why would they have three colored Led lights coded for the brightness and focus intensity of the lamp? You can't see them when you are wearing them after all, and anyone looking at you , if they cared what you had it set on, would be able to tell that it was on bright because while you were looking at them you would be blinding the crap out of them with the main beam. Right? seems like a waste of power to me. why is this things price so hi? the ones I have work excellently and they cost 3 bucks each, although I would like to see the ones with no Blinking option and instead have an even more bright option. 3 setting, on 1st level, nice for walking to see where the dog doo is in the park. second setting, more intense and handy for small electrical work and getting splinters out of lions paws. 3rd setting, extremely annoying blinking.

anyway. I am thinking this is an old school model that has had it's day and some one must have way too much in them and can't sell for cheaper. I'd use them for back ups if they were free and maybe for parts to build a better model. no way it's worth paying for.

PS never buy one of these head lamps that is not LED. they are horrible.

Your $3 headlamp would nowhere near compare to a headlamp like this one. And you need to try a headlamp with the battery in the back before making an assessment. I have used both and the only time having a battery pack in the back is a nuisance is when I am on my back and my head has to rest on the ground. Otherwise, all of these comments about it bringing balance are spot on. Batteries up front with the light tend to flop forward. The colored lights in the front are not indicators...they are LED's themselves for "night vision" (main light off, and either blue, green, or red light on...great for reading maps in the dark or starcharts while using a telescope at night...anytime you need to maintain a dark environment while giving you just enough light to see). The main light is way bright at that lumen rating...and you cannot go wrong with cree LED's...

product page:
http://www.egear.com/egear_site/Root/focus_control_200_headlamp.html
Has data sheet, but I can't directly link to it.

aojle wrote:I bought the Woot Remington headlight (8/8/2010) and have been using it as a bike headlight ever since (also for leaf raking). Since a helmet isn't shaped like a head, or made of the same materials, I had to tie the light to the outside of the helmet (so it is on the helmet all the time).

You wear a bicycle helmet while raking leaves?

These headlamps are awesome for a lot more then just biking.
I have a sailboat and just love these of sailing on moonless night when and if you have to look at fixing or adjusting something. Espesically the red one to maintain your night vision.

Also use constantly around the house on handyman chores inside and out.

Now....if I can combine with my awesome Swann Freestyle HD I could combine fo some really cool 1080p video of of home repair or fixing a boat part.

Great to wear while walking with the kids on Halloween night

Would this be good for someone who is doing close up work? IE - looking into the innards of a computer?

Wow I am missing all the good stuff today.

Wow! Gone already! sheesh...I needed two for Christmas gifts.

Bummer

spgriffin4 wrote:Well as I sit here on a ship in the middle of the North Sea I can tell you that I use these head lamps for everything from minor surgical procedures and dentistry to performing rescues at night and needing light immediately while keeping my hands free.

I agree about the balance of having the battery pack on the back of your head. I have both types of lights here right now, and I only take the light with the pack in the back.

I also work in the jungles of South America and these have proven valuable there as well.

I know people always wonder what to get certain people for gifts. I think beyond sports, this is a great gift for large animal veterinarians, outdoor adventure enthusiasts, donations for medical mission work (really handy for them) and anyone who lives closer to the Northern or Southern latitudes that are plunged into darkness for really long periods of time.

Have a great day all, love these types of lights...

That's a quality post. Gives me a great idea for possible gifts, wish I had ordered more before they sold out.

craigthom wrote:You wear a bicycle helmet while raking leaves?

Not only that but...you rake leaves in the dark?

Well, it looks like a Bear Trap

maurakid wrote:I'm wondering how much of a dork you would look like with that battery pack on the back of your head? I have seen more compact ones where the batteries are up where the light is.

Doesn't matter, because I'm a fashion model.