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Home > Planet Bike 3044 Blaze 1-Watt LED Headlight
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Planet Bike 3044 Blaze 1-Watt LED Headlight
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Show more by Planet Bike
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- Bright light offers three modes: high, low, and flashing
- Reinforced alloy midsection
- High and low power beam along with SuperFlash flashing mode
- QuickCam bracket mounts, adjusts, or removes in seconds without tools
- Includes two AA batteries
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Product Description:
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Ideal for safe commuting and for low-light riding, Planet Bike's Blaze 1-Watt LED headlight will keep your path well lit. The Blaze offers a high and low power beam along with SuperFlash flashing mode, which is highly visible in daylight as well as darker conditions. In addition, the light attaches securely to your bike thanks to the Quick Cam bracket mounts, which adjust or remove in seconds without tools. The Blaze--which offers high/low/flashing run times of 7, 14, 20 hours--runs on two included AA batteries. About Planet Bike
In November of 1996, Planet Bike was founded in Madison, Wisconsin. In many ways, Planet Bike began as a social experiment that dedicated itself to doing business in a different way. Instead of being just another company that develops and sells products with profit as its end goal, Planet Bike wanted to help bring about positive change for people, their communities, and the environment. Despite being a simple machine, the people at Planet Bike have always believed that the bicycle has great potential to help improve the world and the lives of the people in it. From the start, they have embraced an alternative corporate purpose which seeks to help get more people on bicycles by making communities friendlier places for the self-propelled. By donating 25% of company profits to causes that promote and facilitate bicycle usage, Planet Bike hopes to make an impact. Social experiments aside, Planet Bike was born from the heart of a cyclist with a goal of making innovative, high quality, and practical bicycle accessories. Simply put, they strive to design and develop the best bicycle products in the world. In the company's short ten year history, they have made important product innovations within the bicycle industry. Advancements include the 4-line computer which is now a standard in the industry and the world's first self-contained HID light. Not bad for a company that ten years ago started as a one man operation. Today, while still a small company, Planet Bike continues to evolve and improve their product line with the goal of always striving to build accessories that make it easier for people to ride their bikes. Since 1996, Planet Bike's financial support of the grassroots bicycle movement has totaled $500,000. By 2010, they have made a goal to donate $1 million to organizations that are dedicated to making America a friendlier place for cyclists.
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Customer Reviews:
Add Your Own Review |
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 Good light and Good Mount (ignore contrary reviews), November 5, 2008
By David Filmer (Portland, Oregon USA)
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I have both the one-watt Blaze and the 5-LED Beamer lights on my bike (note that I am comparing the one-watt Blaze, not the half-watt Blaze). I use the Blaze for constant-on illumination (to see) and the Beamer as a blinker (to be seen).
First of all, there is NOTHING WRONG WITH THE MOUNT (which is the same for both lights). Please ignore other reviews to the contrary, which were posted by people who are apparently unable to read an instruction sheet.
The mounting strap is ADJUSTABLE. It will accommodate very small handlebars, as well as massively oversized handlebars. If you turn the mounting bracket over and examine the underside, you will see that the mounting strap has ratchet-teeth. There is a keep directly beneath the mount which holds the strap to the desired length. If the mount is too loose, push the strap towards the mount to ratchet it to a smaller size. If the mount is too tight, use a small screwdriver to hold the keep up as you let the strap out. The mount may be further adjusted by turning the set-screw (by turning the cam-lever). Don't make it too tight, or it will be hard to adjust vertically.
The mount is very secure, yet the lights are easily removed (and can easily double as a flashlight when needed - and you could easily hold it in your teeth for roadside repairs).
Photos of both the Blaze and the Beamer look rather similar - I wondered if they used the same plastic housing. But the Blaze is substantially larger than the Beamer (in both length and diameter, even thought they both use the same size (AA) batteries). As I said before, the mount is the same.
In blinking mode, the Beamer is actually brighter (overall) than the Blaze. This is because the Blaze (wisely) does not flash at full-intensity all of the time (otherwise you would absolutely blind passing motorists). The Blaze mostly flashes at low-intensity, but every sixth or seventh flash is at high-intensity. The Beamer flashes at maximum intensity with each flash, which is brighter than the Blaze for most flashes, but not as bright as the occasional max-flash of the Blaze. Overall, the Beamer is brighter in flash-mode, although I am not sure it is better. But it is sufficient for my needs.
Many bike lights are designed like flashlights, where the beam is really visible only from the front - someone viewing from the side would not see any light from the bulb itself (only the things that the bulb illuminated). Both the Blaze and the Beamer have lens bezels which fully expose the bulb to aspect view, giving these lights about 210-degrees of visibility.
In steady-on mode, there is really no comparison in lighting intensity. The Blaze has a high and low mode for steady-on, while the Beamer has only one steady-on mode. My comparison is only using the Blaze in high-mode. The Blaze's intensity is why I give it five stars (I gave the Beamer only four stars because it was lacking in comparison).
The Beamer's steady-on mode is rather hazy and unfocused. The five-bulb light source can be seen in the uneven lighting it produces. The Blaze (which has a single bulb) produces a much whiter and brighter light which is highly uniform. I'm not sure I would recommend the Blaze for absolute pitch-dark riding over difficult surfaces (such as singletrack wilderness and mountain trails), but it is perfectly sufficient for fill-lighting in urban commutes, with occasional very-dark spots. The Beamer is sufficient only for urban fill-lighting - I would not want to use this light in very dark conditions.
If I found myself riding an extended bit of pitch-dark road, I would reconfigure my lights to use the Blaze as a distance light and the Beamer as a close-in light.
Some posters complain that NiMh rechargeable batteries are inferior to alkaline. I am not able to discern any difference in the Blaze. NiMh batteries are 1.2 volts, whereas ordinary batteries are 1.5 volts. However, it is not really voltage, but milliamp-hours (mAh) which determine a battery's power potential.
The Energizer e2 MiMh batteries can be charged to 2,450 mAh (milliamp-hours), while fresh Energizer Alkaline batteries are rated at 2,850 mAh.. So the difference in power is about 8.75%. I cannot perceive this difference. However, a freshly-charged MiMh battery will ALWAYS out-shine a somewhat-discharged (but still relatively new) alkaline battery. There is a temptation to use disposable alkaline batteries until they are absolutely worthless - thereby depriving ourselves of good lighting (few people toss out batteries because they are only at 91% power - the point at which fresh NiMh batteries exceed their 8.75% discharged alkaline counterparts). It is better, IMO, to have a slightly inferior battery that I can recharge each evening, so I always have an absolutely fresh battery, rather than a disposable battery that may be slightly brighter for the first hour or two, but soon looses ground to a freshly charged NiMh battery.
125 of 127 people found the above review helpful.
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Great light for very little money., August 21, 2008
By John Resch (Columbus, OH USA)
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I am the type of person who reads the reviews before buying something. I read many reviews on several bike lights. I knew what I wanted to spend and started reading about the lights in my price range. Many of the reviews of this light complained about the way it attaches to the handle bars. I found that this was not a problem. This may be because my Cannondale has thicker handle bars than some of the bikes in the reviews. I am not sure, but it fit easily and securely. The other complaint was about the strength of the light. Most reviews claimed that you would not be able to see very well on a dark trail, but that it was sufficient in a lit city. This is not really the case. I bought two and mounted them easily on my bike. I ride on dark trails at night and have found that even when riding fast I can see really well. This is true even with only one turned on, though I prefer both on at the same time. They don't light the trail like my Honda CRV, but it is plenty bright. Once while riding through the city I had the lights on strobe so that cars will notice my presence better. They are pretty bright and really show up in the reflective surface of street and stop signs. Two motorcyclists riding in front of me saw this strobe effect and pulled over, only to realize that I wasn't a cop. They were probably drunk, but that is still pretty bright. I am glad I chose this light. The battery life is also great, especially with rechargeable batteries. As for the people out there bashing this light, yeah it probably isn't as powerful as one of those $300, $400, or $500 bike lights. However, this light was $32 and more than does the job. If you are looking for car or truck headlight performance, you are not going to get that with a $32 1 watt LED. If you want a very good and reliable bike light for riding at night in and out of the city, this light is gives great bang for the buck! Hope this helps!
113 of 117 people found the above review helpful.
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Good light and Good Mount (ignore contrary reviews), November 5, 2008
By David Filmer (http://davidfi.. (Portland, Oregon USA)
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I have both the one-watt Blaze and the 5-LED Beamer lights on my bike (note that I am comparing the one-watt Blaze, not the half-watt Blaze). I use the Blaze for constant-on illumination (to see) and the Beamer as a blinker (to be seen).
First of all, there is NOTHING WRONG WITH THE MOUNT (which is the same for both lights). Please ignore other reviews to the contrary, which were posted by people who are apparently unable to read an instruction sheet.
The mounting strap is ADJUSTABLE. It will accommodate very small handlebars, as well as massively oversized handlebars. If you turn the mounting bracket over and examine the underside, you will see that the mounting strap has ratchet-teeth. There is a keep directly beneath the mount which holds the strap to the desired length. If the mount is too loose, push the strap towards the mount to ratchet it to a smaller size. If the mount is too tight, use a small screwdriver to hold the keep up as you let the strap out. The mount may be further adjusted by turning the set-screw (by turning the cam-lever). Don't make it too tight, or it will be hard to adjust vertically.
The mount is very secure, yet the lights are easily removed (and can easily double as a flashlight when needed - and you could easily hold it in your teeth for roadside repairs).
Photos of both the Blaze and the Beamer look rather similar - I wondered if they used the same plastic housing. But the Blaze is substantially larger than the Beamer (in both length and diameter, even thought they both use the same size (AA) batteries). As I said before, the mount is the same.
In blinking mode, the Beamer is actually brighter (overall) than the Blaze. This is because the Blaze (wisely) does not flash at full-intensity all of the time (otherwise you would absolutely blind passing motorists). The Blaze mostly flashes at low-intensity, but every sixth or seventh flash is at high-intensity. The Beamer flashes at maximum intensity with each flash, which is brighter than the Blaze for most flashes, but not as bright as the occasional max-flash of the Blaze. Overall, the Beamer is brighter in flash-mode, although I am not sure it is better. But it is sufficient for my needs.
Many bike lights are designed like flashlights, where the beam is really visible only from the front - someone viewing from the side would not see any light from the bulb itself (only the things that the bulb illuminated). Both the Blaze and the Beamer have lens bezels which fully expose the bulb to aspect view, giving these lights about 210-degrees of visibility.
In steady-on mode, there is really no comparison in lighting intensity. The Blaze has a high and low mode for steady-on, while the Beamer has only one steady-on mode. My comparison is only using the Blaze in high-mode. The Blaze's intensity is why I give it five stars (I gave the Beamer only four stars because it was lacking in comparison).
The Beamer's steady-on mode is rather hazy and unfocused. The five-bulb light source can be seen in the uneven lighting it produces. The Blaze (which has a single bulb) produces a much whiter and brighter light which is highly uniform. I'm not sure I would recommend the Blaze for absolute pitch-dark riding over difficult surfaces (such as singletrack wilderness and mountain trails), but it is perfectly sufficient for fill-lighting in urban commutes, with occasional very-dark spots. The Beamer is sufficient only for urban fill-lighting - I would not want to use this light in very dark conditions.
If I found myself riding an extended bit of pitch-dark road, I would reconfigure my lights to use the Blaze as a distance light and the Beamer as a close-in light.
Some posters complain that NiMh rechargeable batteries are inferior to alkaline. I am not able to discern any difference in the Blaze. NiMh batteries are 1.2 volts, whereas ordinary batteries are 1.5 volts. However, it is not really voltage, but milliamp-hours (mAh) which determine a battery's power potential.
The Energizer e2 MiMh batteries can be charged to 2,450 mAh (milliamp-hours), while fresh Energizer Alkaline batteries are rated at 2,850 mAh.. So the difference in power is about 8.75%. I cannot perceive this difference. However, a freshly-charged MiMh battery will ALWAYS out-shine a somewhat-discharged (but still relatively new) alkaline battery. There is a temptation to use disposable alkaline batteries until they are absolutely worthless - thereby depriving ourselves of good lighting (few people toss out batteries because they are only at 91% power - the point at which fresh NiMh batteries exceed their 8.75% discharged alkaline counterparts). It is better, IMO, to have a slightly inferior battery that I can recharge each evening, so I always have an absolutely fresh battery, rather than a disposable battery that may be slightly brighter for the first hour or two, but soon looses ground to a freshly charged NiMh battery.
109 of 114 people found the above review helpful.
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 Cheapest legitimate "see" light, December 14, 2008
By bjrubble (Seattle, WA United States)
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Generally lights in this price range are "be seen" lights (for others to see you) rather than "see" lights (to illuminate the road). This light (barely) crosses the threshold to be considered a "see" light -- I can ride at 15mph on a completely dark trail and see enough to feel safe. I couldn't find any other light as bright for twice the price, making this the best deal in a headlamp that I know of.
The light has several shortcomings, but they only add up to one lost star because the brightness is really the only critical issue:
* There's little difference between "high" and "low" modes. I haven't investigated whether this makes a difference in battery life, but the "low" mode seems kind of pointless.
* The "flash" mode is at full brightness. The problem here is that the light is so bright, it creates a disorienting "strobe" effect that actually makes it hard to concentrate on the road. Since you'd only use this mode to be seen, the flash could (and should) be at a much lower intensity.
* The mounting hardware is pretty bad -- it's hard to get the light mounted really securely. (The attachment of the light to the mounting hardware, on the other hand, is pretty good -- easy to attach and detach the light even while wearing gloves.)
23 of 24 people found the above review helpful.
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A very good light. At the price and weight, an excellent light, April 6, 2009
By Alan Walker (Australia)
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I ride on rural roads with kangaroos on pitch-black moonless nights.
I have had this light for one week. It scares kangaroos. Truck drivers dip their lights. Motorists slow down and move over.
At a distance of about 20 metres (say 60 feet) the beam is wide enough to light up the whole road. It will pick out reflectors on road side posts at about 400 metres (say quarter of a mile).
The mounting is stable, secure and easy to adjust. The on-off switch is easy to use, even with gloves, and has good tactile feedback. The side illumination is good, to ensure visibility in urban streets, without light shining back into the rider's eyes.
If you want to look into the beam, get some welding goggles.
13 of 14 people found the above review helpful.
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Small but powerful, July 28, 2008
By Mike Tursellino
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This is a good option for road riding, and commuting on lit streets. I use it for a 45 min workout at dusk. The super flash mode is awesome. Pros - high powered spot, only takes 2 AA batteries (easy to carry spares with you) SUPERFLASH MODE. Cons - mounting is questionable (not for off road use) would be nice to have a wide angle option (sliding or swinging diffuser) works well on headlamps. all in all definitely a good buy.
13 of 14 people found the above review helpful.
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Excellent light for slow riding thru the city, June 20, 2008
By A casual stroll through the lu.. (Prague)
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Pretty good Headlight, beam seems strong enough for slow riding thru the city. If used with a flasher Headlight it'll work more than adequate for paced commutes. The construction is a sturdy plastic.
The Headlight uses a cheap mounting bracket that isn't great. It doesn't fit very well on the handlebars so you'll end up using a cut up old tube or tape to help keep it snug. You should still be able to tilt it back and forth for use in high/low beam (level it down towards the street in front of you) and flash mode (level it up towards traffic). The "close" pin doesn't snap back to keep it in "closed" for some reason but my Headlight didn't fall off yet.
#1 beam seems to be "low" for some reason instead of high on my Headlight. #2 high beam is brighter. #3 beam is flash mode.
The Headlight is not heavy, very decent size, compact, detaches easily from quick release mounting bracket. The button on the Headlight is rubber so it doesn't respond very well when you need to change modes quickly while riding. If you are in bright city lights, it's impossible to tell what mode it is in because the beam is barely visible on the ground and there is no extended visible light (or clear lens area) to see the light/mode while you are riding. The side of the Headlight has two clear lens/indents that aren't very visible from the side. The Headlight uses 2 AA batteries (use rechargeable batteries) as there is a low run time on alkaline cell batteries (5-18 hours).
If you are in city lights, the beam is barely visible on the ground, it's best to use the flash mode but level it up towards traffic or it won't be visible. The flashing lights in flash mode in darkness are visible on stop signs for at least 8 or more long city blocks, it's very good. The "flashing" mode bright flashes, are not very disturbing since it's impossible to see the flashes because there is no extended visible light (or clear lens area) to see the flashes while you are riding.
The front end lens area of the Headlight is very small (1 inch across - light mainly visible from front) but 60 feet away, it (on high beam) appears as a larger bright dot to far away traffic. It's best to use the Headlight for seeing the street in front of you with Another flasher "to be seen" Headlight, or as a flashing light in flash mode with Another flasher Headlight, double the flashing "to be seen" lights. If using Headlight on high beam, you can even level it up towards traffic, it is very bright.
The spread of the beam (high/low) is very adequate to see in front of you riding in darkness.
When using the high/low beam it's best to level it down towards the street in front of you, the beam is very adequate for (8-15 mph, slow city riding) (5-12 mph slow trail riding in darkness). It's best to use the Headlight with a flasher "to be seen" Headlight (Blackburn Quadrant Light is very good) in traffic.
In all, some technical/practical issues with the Headlight design, but a very, very good high/low beam for slow riding thru the city.
PROS: Headlight is not heavy, very decent size, compact, uses 2 AA batteries (lighter), the beam is strong enough for slow riding thru the dark city or slow trail riding in darkness, Headlight detaches easily from mounting bracket, flashing lights in flash mode very good, spread of the beam (high/low) visible in front in darkness is very adequate, The "flashing" mode bright flashes are not very disturbing/visible to rider, If using Headlight on high beam, you can even level it up towards traffic for a very bright "to be seen" light, lower price.
CONS: cheap mounting bracket that isn't great, light not very visible from the side, button on the Headlight is rubber that doesn't respond very well when you need to change modes quickly while riding in traffic, impossible to tell what mode it is in (in bright city lights) because there is no extended visible light (or clear lens area) to see the light/mode while you are riding, low run time on alkaline cell batteries.
With this Headlight, riding my bike at night, it allows me to see reasonably well. This is a very nice "to be seen" or "to see" light. Highly recommended for those on a budget and commuting or non-commuting bike riders.
This Headlight is barely visible in the rain. If you commute in the rain or ride fast, invest in something more powerful.
Blackburn Quadrant Bicycle Light
Planet Bike Blinky Super Flash Tail Light
12 of 19 people found the above review helpful.
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A Great Light, October 6, 2008
By Donny (Texas)
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This is a great light for the price but possibly more suited to the recreational rider such as myself.
It has three modes low high and flash although the difference between the low and high settings is not great.
You will need a rubber strip inside the bracket to prevent it from moving this is not supplied at least there was none with mine.
I found the fitting of the bracket somewhat difficult it consists of a ribbed strap which is pulled through a slot and locks into place but it would not lock on the last two ridges, I assume that was because my handlebars are a small diameter but, with the use of a rubber strip providing an increase in diameter and a good grip it was much easier, it can also be tilted without becoming loose.
The light is quick and easy to remove for security.
The bracket can only be fitted facing in one direction as the light only slides on in one direction, that seems an obvious comment but it is easy to get wrong when you're fitting the bracket without the light attached.
It was delivered on time and well packaged.
I considered 4 stars because of the bracket fitting problems but those may be specific to my bike and were solved with the rubber strip plus fitting the bracket is probably a one off for most people.
9 of 10 people found the above review helpful.
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Surpassed expectations, September 12, 2009
By AltoCleffer (Marietta, GA USA)
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When I was bike commuting 14 miles every morning in the dark, I needed floodtides of light ... and I spent big bucks to get it. Now I'm older, wiser, and have scaled back the morning ride ... taking the bus most of the way, but riding all the way back in the afternoon. So I needed a good, strong light for two short jaunts ... one to the bus stop and another from the drop-off point to my office ... about a mile each. And the roads were lightly traveled, but dark.
Not wanting to shell out the hundreds of dollars I had in the past, I tried some of the cheaper lights ... all of which were very disappointing. But after reading the reviews on this Planet Bike 3044 Blaze 1-Watt LED Headlight, it seemed worthy of a try.
And it exceeded my expectations by a long shot ... providing a strong beam ahead of me right where I need it, with reasonably long battery life. It also provides enough light from the side to be seen, but doesn't shine in my eyes, as some of the other models did.
Nice to have two levels of lighting, and also nice to be able to turn on the strobe flash ... great for overcast afternoons on the way home ... or just to enhance my visibility to anyone in front of me.
A great value for short rides in the dark.
8 of 8 people found the above review helpful.
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GREAT VALUE LIGHT, August 12, 2008
By N. MONTIJO (BOSTON, MA)
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I HAVE SEARCHED MANY BATTERY OPERATED LIGHTS AND NOTHING HAS COMPARED TO THIS LIGHT. I GO ON A LOT OF NIGHT RIDES USUALLY WITH FRIENDS THAT HAVE LIGHTS TOO. RECENTLY I HAVE BEEN RIDING ALONE AND RELIZED THE LACK OF LIGHT I PRODUCED BY MYSELF AND THE NEED FOR A NEW LIGHT. WHEN I 1ST USED THIS LIGHT I WAS AMAZED. IT HAS A HIGH/LOW BEAM AND BLINK SYSTEM THATS VERY VISIBLE (DO NOT STARE INTO THE LIGHT-IT'S BLINDING!!!). I THOUGHT THE MOUNT WAS QUESTIONABLE TOO UNTIL I SAW I HAD IT ON WRONG. SO MAKE SURE YOU GET THE QUICK RELEASE ON THE RIGHT WAY AND IT SHOULD FIT QUITE SNUG. FOR EXTRA MEASURE I USED A SMALL PIECE OF RUBBER WRAPPED AROUND THE BAR 1ST, THAT USUALLY COMES WITH OTHER LIGHT SYSTEMS AND IT GAVE IT THE EXTRA GRIP I WAS LOOKING FOR. I USE THE LIGHT ON AND OFF ROAD AND IT STAYS IN PLACE JUST FINE ON A THIN BAR. I KNOW THERE ARE BETTER LIGHT SYSTEMS AVAILABLE, BUT THEY USUALLY USE THE BATTERY PACK WHICH MEANS EXTRA WEIGHT AND STORAGE ISSUES ON THE BIKE AND COST WAY MORE FOR LESS LIGHT TIME THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY USE. I BOUGHT THE TOPEAK BAR EXTENDER AND DOUBLED UP ON THE LIGHTS AND HAVE PLENTY OF LIGHT ON THE ROAD, BUT 1 IS ADEQUATE TOO. I WISH THEY HAD IT IN BLACK, MY BIKE IS WHITE SO IT WAS OK BUT I WANT ANOTHER SET FOR MY OTHER BIKES.
7 of 15 people found the above review helpful.
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 decent for mild commuting, January 14, 2011
By Jordan
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I received this item as a gift, and it has been O.K. It illuminates the road well enough that you can feel relatively safe when you hit a poorly lit street, so it is a good performer for the price. My one complaint would be that it seems to handle the cold pretty poorly - the high power beam wont turn on at all, and the low power beam stays on for about 5 seconds and then turns off. If you can get the flashing mode to start up in the cold, it seems to keep going. Obviously the cold can have some negative effects on batteries, but I haven't had this problem with my other headlight, which is a Planet Bike Beamer LED.
The flashing mode on this light is a bit overwhelming. You certainly can't miss it, but it is so intense and distracting that it is difficult to deal with when I'm riding behind it. I can't imagine how unpleasant it is for the people in the oncoming lane.
You'd probably be just as well off getting one of the slightly less expensive Planet Bike Beamer lights for low light commuting. This is an all right light - just don't take it out when it is below 32 degrees.
6 of 7 people found the above review helpful.
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Brightness to price ratio is a winner, March 27, 2009
By the irregular viewer (Hinesville, Georgia USA)
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I've gone through 4 different bike lights, and this is by far the best value. It is the most expensive of the 4, but the performance is easily the best deal. Mounted on my bike, this light overwhelms a Schwinn 3-led light that is shining in the same area. In fact, when I turn off the Blaze, the Schwinn seems almost dead in comparison.
Uses: As others say, this light is great for both seeing and being seen. The light is almost a spotlight, but the light radiates about 10 feet away from the focused beam point. I aim the light to a spot about 30 feet in front of my bike, which gives me good visibility of the road and also positions the light for good sighting by oncoming drivers.
The mount works well. Some users say it is too big, but it is actually adjustable, the package contains some written directions on how to adjusts to your specific bar size. Another good point to this light is that you can buy separate mounts, so you can switch the light quickly to another bike if you want.
I've seen other user comments about no difference between high and low steady modes. The difference is noticeable to me, and I believe that low mode gives extended battery use. My requirements for lights is usually limited to about 30 minutes at a time, so I always use it in high mode.
On black highways in very dark circumstances this light lets you see the road. If you are the type that rides on the sidewalk it will be even brighter. If you have very bright street lights, you may have just minimal improvement on your visibility.
Last good feature is the ease of changing batteries. I have 2 other lights that are really awkward removing batteries. One 5-led Cateye light, which takes 4 batteries, I have to bang on a hard surface to remove the lower batteries. I also have a cheap Bell light which, when I attempt to remove the batteries, the light sometimes falls apart. This Blaze is so easy, just open the top and the two batteries pull straight out like a flashlight.
6 of 7 people found the above review helpful.
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Planet Bike Blaze, March 13, 2009
By A casual stroll through the lu.. (Prague)
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Pretty good Headlight, beam seems strong enough for slow riding thru the city. If used with a flasher Headlight it'll work more than adequate for paced commutes. The construction is a sturdy plastic.
The Headlight uses a cheap mounting bracket that isn't great. It doesn't fit very well on the handlebars so you'll end up using a cut up old tube or tape to help keep it snug. You should still be able to tilt it back and forth for use in high/low beam (level it down towards the street in front of you) and flash mode (level it up towards traffic). The "close" pin doesn't snap back to keep it in "closed" for some reason but my Headlight didn't fall off yet.
#1 beam seems to be "low" for some reason instead of high on my Headlight. #2 high beam is brighter. #3 beam is flash mode.
The Headlight is not heavy, very decent size, compact, detaches easily from quick release mounting bracket. The button on the Headlight is rubber so it doesn't respond very well when you need to change modes quickly while riding. If you are in bright city lights, it's impossible to tell what mode it is in because the beam is barely visible on the ground and there is no extended visible light (or clear lens area) to see the light/mode while you are riding. The side of the Headlight has two clear lens/indents that aren't very visible from the side. The Headlight uses 2 AA batteries (use rechargeable batteries) as there is a low run time on alkaline cell batteries (5-18 hours).
If you are in city lights, the beam is barely visible on the ground, it's best to use the flash mode but level it up towards traffic or it won't be visible. The flashing lights in flash mode in darkness are visible on stop signs for at least 8 or more long city blocks, it's very good. The "flashing" mode bright flashes, are not very disturbing since it's impossible to see the flashes because there is no extended visible light (or clear lens area) to see the flashes while you are riding.
The front end lens area of the Headlight is very small (1 inch across - light mainly visible from front) but 60 feet away, it (on high beam) appears as a larger bright dot to far away traffic. It's best to use the Headlight for seeing the street in front of you with Another flasher "to be seen" Headlight, or as a flashing light in flash mode with Another flasher Headlight, double the flashing "to be seen" lights. If using Headlight on high beam, you can even level it up towards traffic, it is very bright.
The spread of the beam (high/low) is very adequate to see in front of you riding in darkness.
When using the high/low beam it's best to level it down towards the street in front of you, the beam is very adequate for (8-15 mph, slow city riding) (5-12 mph slow trail riding in darkness). It's best to use the Headlight with a flasher "to be seen" Headlight (Blackburn Quadrant Light is very good) in traffic.
In all, some technical/practical issues with the Headlight design, but a very, very good high/low beam for slow riding thru the city.
PROS: Headlight is not heavy, very decent size, compact, uses 2 AA batteries (lighter), the beam is strong enough for slow riding thru the dark city or slow trail riding in darkness, Headlight detaches easily from mounting bracket, flashing lights in flash mode very good, spread of the beam (high/low) visible in front in darkness is very adequate, The "flashing" mode bright flashes are not very disturbing/visible to rider, If using Headlight on high beam, you can even level it up towards traffic for a very bright "to be seen" light, lower price.
CONS: cheap mounting bracket that isn't great, light not very visible from the side, button on the Headlight is rubber that doesn't respond very well when you need to change modes quickly while riding in traffic, impossible to tell what mode it is in (in bright city lights) because there is no extended visible light (or clear lens area) to see the light/mode while you are riding, low run time on alkaline cell batteries.
With this Headlight, riding my bike at night, it allows me to see reasonably well. This is a very nice "to be seen" or "to see" light. Highly recommended for those on a budget and commuting or non-commuting bike riders.
This Headlight is barely visible in the rain. If you commute in the rain or ride fast, invest in something more powerful.
5 of 5 people found the above review helpful.
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LIKE RIDING IN THE DAY!, January 10, 2009
By Bugman (Lewes, DE United States)
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Just got my blaze 1 watt light. Rode home tonight in the pitch darkness, with no street lights at all. I'm thrilled - I have total confidence now, that I can see the road with eaze, riding 16 mph. Fantastic, stable and easy-to-use mount. And a great price. Once you try this, you'll realize that old standard halogen bulbs are obsolete.
By the way, this works fantastic in combination with a Planetbike "Sport Spot" light mounted on your helmet. That's my conbination now. Would recommend this and the sport spot to anyone.
5 of 7 people found the above review helpful.
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Great light, September 23, 2008
By S. Lane (Houston, Tx.)
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Light is exactly as described. Works well, easy to place on bike handle bars. Thanks!
5 of 8 people found the above review helpful.
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 Fell Apart Going Down a Small Curb - Second Time for a Planet Bike Light, March 11, 2010
By psteimel (Germantown, MD USA)
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This light is bright and has good controls...But
Yesterday I was going off a very short curb and the front of the unit came off and it and the batteries tumbled down an interstate exit ramp. What makes this rather troubling is the same thing happened to my Planet Bike Superflash tail light. I don't ride very rough, and this should not happen with a safety equipment.
I really like the design of both this and the Superflash lights. But the lights are not durable enough.
Planet Bike Blinky Super Flash 1/2-Watt Blaze LED Plus 2 eXtreme LED Rear Bicycle Light
4 of 5 people found the above review helpful.
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Great light for a good price... if you have straight handlebars, July 3, 2009
By repto (Blue Island, IL USA)
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This is a great light that is easy to pop-on/off, holds up to day-to-day use (even if your bike falls over a lot... which mine does), and is VERY visible to cars, etc. When my son borrows this and rides behind me, I continually think there is a car coming up behind me!
The ONE negative: you can't orient the light horizontally to the left or right. This is not a problem for my husband or son's straight mountain bike handlebars, but it stinks on my hybrid. My handlebars curve (more like on a cruiser bike or old-fashioned moustache handlebars). I can't get the light to focus forward; instead the beam hares off to the left. Most of the time I set the better made Planet Bike Blaze 1-watt for flash mode (to be visible to motorists) and use a second, lower intensity light (my CatEye) for lighting my path. It's a shame!
For a rear light, NO ONE can beat the Planet Bike Super Flash blinkie for the price. That thing is incredible!
Note: I lead bike rides, year round, mostly in the evening/night, so I know pretty much all the lights that are available out there. Planet Bike products are excellent and overall are my first choice because they support cycling advocacy, because they work well and because they are priced well.
4 of 5 people found the above review helpful.
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Excellent for my purposes, December 23, 2008
By NoGreed
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I use the Blaze on those days where I can't get out to ride before dark. After the sun goes down, I ride urban bike trails, which are generally unlit. This light is perfectly adequate and illuminates the trail sufficiently at a maximum speed of a 20 mph. Because the light snaps into its mounting bracket, I was worried that there might be some shaking, but I haven't noticed any vibration even on the short sections of the chipseal roads I ride.
4 of 5 people found the above review helpful.
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Excellent for my purposes, December 23, 2008
By 29er
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I use the Blaze on those days where I can't get out to ride before dark. After the sun goes down, I ride urban bike trails, which are generally unlit. This light is perfectly adequate and illuminates the trail sufficiently at a maximum speed of a 20 mph. Because the light snaps into its mounting bracket, I was worried that there might be some shaking, but I haven't noticed any vibration even on the short sections of the chipseal roads I ride.
4 of 5 people found the above review helpful.
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Excellent bike lamp, December 19, 2009
By Adrian W. F. Ashfield (near Philadelphia PA USA)
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As good as they get, unless you step up to the >$100 range.
Smaller than expected.
No problem attaching it to the bike
Bright enough to see by, if you have young eyes like my daughter.
Not had it long enough to judge battery life
3 of 3 people found the above review helpful.
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Another Suggestion About The Mounting Bracket, October 10, 2009
By prendee (San Diego, CA)
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I'm with what several other people have written here about the Blaze - the light is good, but the mounting bracket can be difficult to mount tightly on the handlebar. Always take a look at the rather cryptic instructions. Like others, I put some electrical tape on the handlebar to help tighten the bracket. And - when you are adjusting the clamp, always make sure the cam lever snaps firmly into place before you attempt to mount the bracket on the handlebar. If the cam lever doesn't snap into place before mounting the bracket, the bracket won't be on the handlebar tightly. The bracket is poorly designed. Expect to fight with it for a bit.
As an aside, I also have a Power Beam one-watt headlight on my bike. Although the lamp is inferior to the Blaze, I easily mounted its bracket tightly on the handlebar in seconds without having to put any tape on the handlebar. Although I don't recommend the Power Beam (Amazon seems to only sell a less expensive Power Beam), I notice that Amazon sells a one-watt Avenir that has a mounting bracket that looks quite similar to the easy bracket on my Power Beam. If you have concerns about mounting the Blaze, you might want to consider giving the Avenir a try. Unfortunately, at this writing, there are no user comments for the Avenir here at Amazon. You might find some elsewhere.
3 of 3 people found the above review helpful.
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Super Bright!, November 13, 2008
By Ted Tung (Taipei, Taiwan)
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This light really is super bright!
It's a little too bulky though and the base doesn't really lock tight onto my handle bar... Other than that... It's Super Bright!
3 of 10 people found the above review helpful.
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economical front headlight, April 12, 2010
By Ronald C. Pacanowski (Yardley, PA)
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This light is very well made as is the clamping mechanism. One drawback is that a handlebar bag obstructs the light beam. But that is not the fault of the light. I fashioned a bracket out of a metal rain gutter strap and mounted it off the handlebar stem so the light sits just above the fender on my touring bike. It works great there too. The beam of light is enough for riding on roads but don't expect to light up your back yard with this light.
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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Puts out great light!, March 10, 2010
By S. Beal (Winter Park, FL USA)
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I had a 5 LED headlight before, but when I was in a very dark setting, I found it difficult to see ahead. With this 1-Watt LED, there is a significant increase in the amount of light it puts out. I can now ride with confidence on the very dark portions of my ride knowing I can see the road well. Highly recommended for those who ride in dark settings and need enough light to see what is ahead on the road.
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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works great!, December 9, 2009
By C. Carroll (Maplewood, MN United States)
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Very happy with this little light. I've been using it for commuting and it works great even on some really dark trails. I may end up picking up a second one eventually so I can direct one for closer distances and the other for further out, but it already throws a pretty wide beam. Great light.
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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 The bracket does not tighten on the handle bar, October 6, 2009
By Thomas A. Catalano (New York, New York)
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I read the directions very carefully and adjusted the strap appropriately for my type of handle bar. But the bracket just does not lock tight and the light remains loose on the handle bar. It can be easily rotated and I'm sure it would move if you hit bump. I returned it.
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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Blaze is good to go. Safe, simple and easy., October 4, 2009
By meatballsandwichponydog (ohio)
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Observations:
* Bright, white led light that does a good job & gets noticed by motorists.
* Settings for switch are: Off/Low/High/Flashing light.
* Not a substantial difference between high and low beam performance, just low beam claims 2X battery life.
* Light installs easy with no tools, can be easily removed or reinstalled in seconds.
* Big, soft, easy to actuate switch, located on top of the light, not at the back or side.
* Batteries let you know when they are going to give out. They don't just give out at once. It takes an hour or two to fade down and I notice it in time to change batteries before my next ride.
* If the do batteries die, you can change them if you have spare AA's on hand, in complete darkness if necessary. You won't have to remove the light from the mount either because the lens/switch (front) assembly is removed with a quick twist. Just feel how batteries are installed outward (+ or -), then tilt headlight body down in front and old batteries slide out. Replace by feel, the new batteries oriented the same way as old ones and replace the lens /switch assembly and turn it on. This can be done in less than 30 seconds.
* The flashing mode is very fast and too bright: this will make you "buggy" if you try to ride by it, so don't use it this way unless you enjoy staring into strobe lights or need to summon help. I'd prefer the Blaze have a third lower beam state to replace the flashing state for helping to conserve battery power further instead of flashing, but hey maybe Planet Bike will read this...
* LED means no bulbs to replace ever. Very efficient use of power. I use about 4 AA batteries a year.
* Plastic housing, lens, latching mechanism is quality manufactured, not cheap looking or feeling.
* Considering it takes 2 AA batteries, its very light in weight. Feels like it should weigh more for how well it performs and how long it lasts.
My riding style:
I ride in the evenings, generally at or just before dusk, in the 14 to 18 mph range for 1 to 2 hours at a time, and this light works out pretty good for me. I ride at the low beam setting 90% of the time on rural, familiar roads and switch up to high beam in oncoming traffic situations or when the sun is down. People slow down when coming at me so this light is noticed.
I'd say any faster riding than mine and you risk "overdriving your Blaze headlight" even with it set at high beam. I can see familiar potholes coming at me and avoid them. But if I were to ride faster or on unfamiliar roads this light wouldn't be enough power for me.
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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Great light!, August 24, 2009
By Jenifer Diaz (Brooklyn, NY)
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I got this to replace my Planet Bike Beamer 3 LED light when I got a new bike. With the single 1 watt LED, it's considerably brighter than the 3 LED Beamer, but the battery life is still excellent. I sometimes put both on my bike, with the 3 LED Beamer aimed a bit down for near field light and the 1 watt Blaze aimed forward for visibility and far field illumination.
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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Planet Bike 3044 Blaze 1-Watt LED Headlight, June 5, 2009
By A casual stroll through the lu.. (Prague)
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Pretty good Headlight, beam seems strong enough for slow riding thru the city. If used with a flasher Headlight it'll work more than adequate for paced commutes. The construction is a sturdy plastic.
The Headlight uses a cheap mounting bracket that isn't great. It doesn't fit very well on the handlebars so you'll end up using a cut up old tube or tape to help keep it snug. You should still be able to tilt it back and forth for use in high/low beam (level it down towards the street in front of you) and flash mode (level it up towards traffic). The "close" pin doesn't snap back to keep it in "closed" for some reason but my Headlight didn't fall off yet.
#1 beam seems to be "low" for some reason instead of high on my Headlight. #2 high beam is brighter. #3 beam is flash mode.
The Headlight is not heavy, very decent size, compact, detaches easily from quick release mounting bracket. The button on the Headlight is rubber so it doesn't respond very well when you need to change modes quickly while riding. If you are in bright city lights, it's impossible to tell what mode it is in because the beam is barely visible on the ground and there is no extended visible light (or clear lens area) to see the light/mode while you are riding. The side of the Headlight has two clear lens/indents that aren't very visible from the side. The Headlight uses 2 AA batteries (use rechargeable batteries) as there is a low run time on alkaline cell batteries (5-18 hours).
If you are in city lights, the beam is barely visible on the ground, it's best to use the flash mode but level it up towards traffic or it won't be visible. The flashing lights in flash mode in darkness are visible on stop signs for at least 8 or more long city blocks, it's very good. The "flashing" mode bright flashes, are not very disturbing since it's impossible to see the flashes because there is no extended visible light (or clear lens area) to see the flashes while you are riding.
The front end lens area of the Headlight is very small (1 inch across - light mainly visible from front) but 60 feet away, it (on high beam) appears as a larger bright dot to far away traffic. It's best to use the Headlight for seeing the street in front of you with Another flasher "to be seen" Headlight, or as a flashing light in flash mode with Another flasher Headlight, double the flashing "to be seen" lights. If using Headlight on high beam, you can even level it up towards traffic, it is very bright.
The spread of the beam (high/low) is very adequate to see in front of you riding in darkness.
When using the high/low beam it's best to level it down towards the street in front of you, the beam is very adequate for (8-15 mph, slow city riding) (5-12 mph slow trail riding in darkness). It's best to use the Headlight with a flasher "to be seen" Headlight (Blackburn Quadrant Light is very good) in traffic.
In all, some technical/practical issues with the Headlight design, but a very, very good high/low beam for slow riding thru the city.
PROS: Headlight is not heavy, very decent size, compact, uses 2 AA batteries (lighter), the beam is strong enough for slow riding thru the dark city or slow trail riding in darkness, Headlight detaches easily from mounting bracket, flashing lights in flash mode very good, spread of the beam (high/low) visible in front in darkness is very adequate, The "flashing" mode bright flashes are not very disturbing/visible to rider, If using Headlight on high beam, you can even level it up towards traffic for a very bright "to be seen" light, lower price.
CONS: cheap mounting bracket that isn't great, light not very visible from the side, button on the Headlight is rubber that doesn't respond very well when you need to change modes quickly while riding in traffic, impossible to tell what mode it is in (in bright city lights) because there is no extended visible light (or clear lens area) to see the light/mode while you are riding, low run time on alkaline cell batteries.
With this Headlight, riding my bike at night, it allows me to see reasonably well. This is a very nice "to be seen" or "to see" light. Highly recommended for those on a budget and commuting or non-commuting bike riders.
This Headlight is barely visible in the rain. If you commute in the rain or ride fast, invest in something more powerful.
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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Panet Bike Blaze 1watt light, November 18, 2009
By Pokey (Clearwater, FL)
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Overall a very nice light for the price. Lightweight and bright in the high mode. Low mode is also good. I like the flashing mode for dusk. One problem that I have experienced that I am surprised that wasn't mentioned on other reviews is that in low light conditions the flashing and low modes causes my wireless Flight Deck speed to be so erratic that it is unusable. I probably would not have purchased this light had I known that. I ride home from work late in the afternoon and it's dark by the time I get home, so it is a frustrating issue.
2 of 3 people found the above review helpful.
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LED Bike Headlight, May 26, 2009
By PC Guy (Boca Raton, FL)
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I now own three Planet Bike products and couldn't be HAPPIER! I only have an old Cateye light to compare the new LED one against, but what a huge difference. The light has three setting, low, high and flashing. There is some difference in the low vs high and if you are in some really dark place (trail) I'm sure it would help. I use the flashing mode for riding on the street and it pops off the stopsigns at half a mile away. I don't have any signs more than the half mile by the house to check if it can be seen a greater distance. The light came with everything, just added the filler rubber pieces to make up the size difference and adjusted the bottom screws to finish it off and that was it. Having owned all Cateye lights, computer, etc and seeing the difference in Planet Bike items, I wouldn't waste my money on the Cateye again. The Planet Bike Wireless Bike Computer works great too! It is sealed, haven't got rained on yet to test out the seal, but from the looks of it there shouldn't be any problems.
2 of 3 people found the above review helpful.
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Fantastic, Bright, and Cheapish, January 10, 2009
By Matthew Emerson (Virginia Beach, VA United States)
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I have owned this light for about 6 months and it is fantastic. During the day you can put it on Super-Flash mode and been noticed by drivers. During the night put it on High or Low mode and you have a decent spot light in front of you that will light up the street signs two blocks down. Now I do wish it was a little brighter, and a touch wider spot light, but there really isn't any more I can as for from this light.
The mount is just fine, I use it on drop bars that have a changing diameter so it actually doesn't clamp on to well because of that, but that is my fault for mounting it there. Even so it stays where I put it and works great. Love this light!
2 of 3 people found the above review helpful.
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Not bad............, April 1, 2009
By ShoNuff00007 (Chicago, Illinois)
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The problem with this bike headlight is the same as most others. The LED technology used lags behind what is available on flashlights. I was thinking that this was not really that bright. I went to my local Walgreens, and found a $10 mini flashlight that nearly blinded me. I wish they had made this one a little bigger, to hold more batteries, and then made it brighter.
2 of 11 people found the above review helpful.
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good for alerting cars, not great for lighting up the road, November 6, 2011
By Tucsonchef
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Our family started riding together this summer and I decided to get some lights so we could ride at night as we started losing daylight with winter approaching. It's been years since I bought a bike light and when I first got a 1 watt Planet Bike light I was impressed by how bright it was vs. my old incandescent Cateye that ran off two C batteries. It has a strobe setting that is good at making you more noticeable at dusk to cars. As we continued to ride though and it got darker on us, it didn't throw off enough light to make me comfortable riding on roads without street lights. For example, we live near a state park that has a great paved biking trail but I didn't want to ride it with my kids using the Planet Bike light. I even doubled up the lights to see if having two would do it - not much better.
My wife picked up a higher end light (Niterider 150) and I gave it a try. Night vs. day so to speak. It produced way more light and had a broader beam that allowed you to see into turns much better than the narrow focus on the P. Bike light. I felt much safer when we started using it.
Bottom line: I'd recommend the Planet Bike light if you want to alert cars you're there and you have some incidental light to guide you. If you want to illuminate the road yourself, I'd recommend going with a lithium ion powered light. The difference is dramatic.
BTW, I also ordered the 1/2 watt P. Bike like to try to use on my helmet. That didn't really work for me but I thought that the lower cost 1/2 watt light put out almost as much light as the 1 watt, especially in strobe mode.
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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Nice while it lasted...which wasn't that long, September 3, 2011
By dirtdog
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This light was great to me while it was fully functional - it's bright, compact, and made me feel much safer riding at night. However, after using it for three months, I rode over a particularly deep pothole by mistake and the bump caused the front part of the light to fly off at high speed. No matter, I'd just put it back on, right? Nope, after that one event I had to tape it closed with several layers of electrical tape to keep it from spontaneously going into orbit during a ride. Subsequently, the next time I went on a ride in pouring rain the whole thing became filled with water and would not turn off. I removed the batteries and let the whole thing dry, but it seems to have died. I expected more from something so well reviewed!
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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Blaze is good to go. Safe, simple and easy., October 4, 2009
By meatballsandwichponydog (ohio)
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Observations:
* Bright, white led light that does a good job & gets noticed by motorists.
* Settings for switch are: Off/Low/High/Flashing light.
* Not a substantial difference between high and low beam performance, just low beam claims 2X battery life.
* Light installs easy with no tools, can be easily removed or reinstalled in seconds.
* Big, soft, easy to actuate switch, located on top of the light, not at the back or side.
* Batteries let you know when they are going to give out. They don't just give out at once. It takes an hour or two to fade down and I notice it in time to change batteries before my next ride.
* If the do batteries die, you can change them if you have spare AA's on hand, in complete darkness if necessary. You won't have to remove the light from the mount either because the lens/switch (front) assembly is removed with a quick twist. Just feel how batteries are installed outward (+ or -), then tilt headlight body down in front and old batteries slide out. Replace by feel, the new batteries oriented the same way as old ones and replace the lens /switch assembly and turn it on. This can be done in less than 30 seconds.
* The flashing mode is very fast and too bright: this will make you "buggy" if you try to ride by it, so don't use it this way unless you enjoy staring into strobe lights or need to summon help. I'd prefer the Blaze have a third lower beam state to replace the flashing state for helping to conserve battery power further instead of flashing, but hey maybe Planet Bike will read this...
* LED means no bulbs to replace ever. Very efficient use of power. I use about 4 AA batteries a year.
* Plastic housing, lens, latching mechanism is quality manufactured, not cheap looking or feeling.
* Considering it takes 2 AA batteries, its very light in weight. Feels like it should weigh more for how well it performs and how long it lasts.
My riding style:
I ride in the evenings, generally at or just before dusk, in the 14 to 18 mph range for 1 to 2 hours at a time, and this light works out pretty good for me. I ride at the low beam setting 90% of the time on rural, familiar roads and switch up to high beam in oncoming traffic situations or when the sun is down. People slow down when coming at me so this light is noticed.
I'd say any faster riding than mine and you risk "overdriving your Blaze headlight" even with it set at high beam. I can see familiar potholes coming at me and avoid them. But if I were to ride faster or on unfamiliar roads this light wouldn't be enough power for me.
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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BLAZE AND BLINKY RULE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, September 18, 2010
By RF Man (Clifton New Jersey)
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NO OTHER LAMP THAT RUNS ON 2 AA BATTERIES AND LASTS 16 TO 20 HOURS DELIVERS THIS MUCH LIGHT!!!!
THIS LAMP MOUNTS TO ANY HANDLEBAR AND YOU DON'T NEED A SCREWDRIVER!!!!
BUY 2 AND HANG THEM OFF YOUR HANDLEBARS.THIS IS A 5 STAR PRODUCT...!!!
Just for the heck of it I went to see what problems the 1 star folks could be having.The first person stated the light fell apart and the second person stated the light flickered and would not stay on and it was loose on the handlebars.SOLUTIONS:1 After replacing batteries turn lamp head closed all the way(they actually give you a little arrow showing you how far to turn it lol!!!)2 screw the clasp down then lock the clasp in place till it dos'nt move on the handlbars. 3 the reason the light flickers and won't stay on is because the batteries are low and to ride with them would leave you stranded(its a built safety feature..really).
This product is made in NY state and that means manufacturing jobs for Americans. Also they donate a large percentage of sales to bike charites.
If you can't aford enough of their lamps for all your bikes, keep in mind that they sell mounting cams for ALL the lamps they sell (on AMAZON) for 3 to 5$ a piece so just unclip the lamp off the cam and slide it on to another cam, even the on tail lights!! Awfully generous of them!!
1 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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Planet Bike 1 watt LED headlight review, August 3, 2010
By Bornahusker
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This light is pretty much perfect for the biking that I do. I use it for commuting to and from work. Sometimes I don't get off work till 11PM so its completely dark outside when I do get off. It works very well to help me see potholes and other obstacles in the road in front of me. I haven't had any problems with this headlight so far, but I've only had it for 3 months now. The only thing I would say is that I had a hard time getting the light to stabilize on my handlebars, but once I tightened it more, its been working perfectly. Great headlight for commuting at night! I would buy this again if I had the choice.
1 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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Planet Bike Blaze Headlight, September 11, 2009
By Richard G. Snyder
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I have only been using this light for about a month, but so far it is great. I live in a rural area(no streetlights)so it is pretty dark but the headlight puts out a good beam on the road ahead. The only problem with the light is the way it fastens to the handlebar. I could not get a tight fit and had to use the clip to my old headlamp Planet Bike Super Spot 1(lucky they are interchangeable) and was able to keep the headlight from moving when I am riding. Other than that, seems to be a good product. My other light lasted 2 years so I will see what I get from this light.
1 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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easy to attach; lights up bike path, August 31, 2009
By REP (columbus, ohio)
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I got this light for my kids and myself. It works great. Once you figure out the adjustments the mounting system is easy and flexible. There are 2 ways to adjust the size of the clamp and can be put on a variety of tube sizes. the light is bright enough to light up the way in front of the bike. I have no complaints. this seems to be very good value for the money.
1 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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Great light for others to see, September 9, 2010
By Magdalena
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I've read a lot of reviews before I purchased this light. It works as described, and it's really, really bright. kids on bicycles and other (slower) cyclist will get out of your way. The plastic piece that attaches to handle is not that geat, but if you actually buy Plane Bike 3" Blinky (which is awesome) http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000RYAKHC/ref=ox_ya_os_product
you can use the two rubbers which came with Blinky (cut off a small piece on end to make them fit around handle for blaze). Blaze really lights up the way in high mode and i love it's blinking mode (really makes everyone aware of you approaching). Worth the money. If you are into night bike riding (can't really see what's in fron of you, and there are no other light sources I would pick something different). Only 4 stars because I had to use rubber from Blinky to have a better attachment Blaze.
1 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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Excellent light, June 30, 2010
By Brian
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This is a great little light! Plenty bright for my nighttime city riding, flash mode when you just want to be seen, easy to switch between bicycles, and weeks later I have yet to replace the included batteries. When my girlfriend is riding in front of me, she always comments that she feels like there's a car headlight behind her!
1 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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faulty switch in cold weather, February 3, 2010
By K. Melin
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I've had this for about six months now, and it is finally dead. About three months ago (when it started getting cold), the light would not turn off at the end of my ride - I had to open it and disengage the battery to turn it off. Then about a month ago, it would suddenly shut off mid ride home and refuse to turn on again - scary! Now it won't turn on at all - if I push the button hard the light will flicker, but as soon as I stop pushing it goes off.
I took this light off my bike whenever I parked it, but I do ride in the rain and snow occasionally; apparently this light can't handle that. I really expected more for $39.
1 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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A breeze to install, December 14, 2009
By Dennis Fortna
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The Blaze 1 watt headlight is a great product. I've never had a headlight so easy to install. The trick is to get the adjuster bolt set to the correct length. The bolt has adequate length to cover a range of handlebar sizes. No tools required makes it even easier. For the all the complaints I read about the mount before purchasing, I can only say it was most likely user error and not the design.
1 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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Excellent light, April 29, 2009
By bymore (Atlanta)
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I purchased this light for an electric SLX scooter with relatively small diameter handle bars. Regarding mounting the bracket to the handle bars, the instructions are very clear. The mounting strap has ratchets that allow 3 clicks. When I clicked it to the tightest position and then used the cam lock for the final adjustment it was fairly snug, but since the handle bars of the scooter were just over 3/4" dia and a regular bike handle bar diameter is 1" I found that using a rubber shim strap that I have from previous Cat Eye light made for a more secure fit. For a regular bike handle bar the built in rubber shim that only covers part of the strap should be more than adequate. I doubt it was designed for the very narrow handlebars of scooters.
As to the light itself it definitely lives up to its name, having a much brighter and whiter spectrum than the Cat Eye incadescents which take 4 AA's. The Blaze is very bright easily lighting up refective signs and this from only 2 AA's and at a very reasonable price. Another useful safety feature is the "cutouts" around the sides of the lens that help make you more visible to motorists from the sides. The power switch has 3 settings first steady light, second a noticeably brighter constant on and lastly the flashing setting with a brighter flasher every 6th flash.
I have been very impressed with several Planet Bike products and this is no exception. Hope this review helps.
A brief update. Having received a similar model - the 1/2 watt Blaze and mounting it to a regular bike handle bar, I have come to conclusion that if you want a really secure fit it requires using a rubber shim - these are widely available - that fits between the bracket and the handle bar itself. The small included shim, which is permanently attached to the mounting strap, does not cover enough area to really allow the bracket not to slip. Most lights come with these rubber shims and their Protege 9.0 computer comes with several of differing thicknesses.
Still a great light and still would give it 5 stars, but does require a little modification for a really slip free mounting.
1 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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all good, November 9, 2008
By S. Leamer (Sacramento, CA)
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This is the first headlight I have ever bought or used. I rode on a totally dark bike trail (paved) with it, and was able to see adequately although I chose to ride slower than I would have in the daylight. I think that this light is good for my type of riding, i.e. not terribly extreme. I think it is a good value for the $$. It's excellent as a road light, for drivers to see me riding. The three settings are useful, low steady, high steady, and blinking. It's super easy to clip on and off its' included mount.
1 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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This light makes you visible but doesn't light your way, June 23, 2010
By Jody Brooks
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I elaborate here. The light is not bad but it is not quite powerful enough to light your way without the help of a lot of ambient light: [..]
1 of 5 people found the above review helpful.
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Good light for riding at night., March 12, 2012
By Jones
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If you want to ride at night I'd recommend this light. Some of the cheaper lights are just not bright enough but this one will do the job.
1 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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Great light, March 11, 2012
By T. Fricke (Baton Rouge, LA)
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I love this light: it's bright, lightweight, the batteries lasts a long time, the design is cool, and the construction is solid. The mount is secure and the quick-release is very convenient. Even the "dim" mode is surprisingly bright; the bright mode provides a very satisfying illumination of the road in front of me. I highly recommend this light.
1 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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Perfect light for urban commuting, November 7, 2011
By Gyorgy
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I use this light for almost a year. It provides enough light even in dark streets in a city (it is good enough to see not just to be seen). The flashing mode really makes you visible. The mount works well for me and the built quality also seems to be good (e.g. batteries compartment works reliable, which is not the case with a number of cheap lights). I am also happy with the battery life. I never measured, but I think it can really work 10 hours with full power (I use NiMH rechargable batteries). I think for this price this is one of the best light you can get, as most of the headlights for this price only give enough light to be seen.
1 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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Great Value, Essential Equipment, October 18, 2011
By Jonathan West (Los Angeles)
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Despite its low price, this light is bright enough to see potholes in the road, even in a busy glaring urban environment. The superflash setting is great for being seen when you are riding in the worst situations but too bright and annoying for constant use. In an era when when generally expect less, it is pleasing to discover that battery life is actually as good as claimed. I have had one light go bad after perhaps 1000 miles of commuting but Planet Bike quickly replaced it under warranty. --all it took was one friendly email to get an RMA. The only improvement I could imagine would be to recess the switch more deeply as the light is to easy to turn on when it is in your bag rather than on your bike. I have used two other brands of lights within the last few years and this is best combination for factors for me: It is very easy to put on and take off, bright enough to see dangerous potholes, uses cheap and easy to find AA batteries, has long battery life, and is very affordable.
1 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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not as bright as the reviews led me to think, September 9, 2011
By username_5 (Midwest USA)
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On the brightest setting the advertised runtime is 7 hours on 2AA batteries. The LED tech in bike lights seems to be lagging behind the tech in flashlights and headlamps by a pretty wide margin. I do not consider this a see light, but rather a be seen light that is brighter than most be seen lights.
I have a Fenix HP10 7 Level 225 Lumen LED Headlamp which runs on 3AAA batteries and has a run time of 7.5 hours. It is approximately 1 bazillion times brighter than this bike light is. The beam from the headlamp is so bright that the beam from the bike light isn't visible within the head lamp's radius. It has multiple brightness levels and multiple flashing/strobe levels. It is so superior to this bike light I am tempted to return the bike light, but will probably keep it for using the flasher during dusk hours so I don't need to wear the headlamp. Also, the law says I have to have a mounted white light to ride at night so...
Rather than spend hundreds of dollars for a real see light at night I recommend simply buying a quality headlight. The tech is so much better so you get much more brightness, much more throw distance, much more well lit spill radius and for the same runtime with the same number of batteries or slightly more batteries. The advantage of a head lamp is that it shines at whatever you are looking at so if you turn your head, you see what you are looking at unlike a fixed mount bike light. The downside to a head lamp is they won't fit on your head if you use a helmet. Certainly they can be adapted to a helmet if you are a clever DIY person, but otherwise I suggest buying a roll of velcro tape and a modern LED flashlight and use the tape to secure it to the bike handlebar. Many of the newer LED flashlights have multiple power modes as well as a flashing mode(s). Another option would be to use those plastic tie strips to secure the head lamp and battery pack to the handlebar.
I just can't believe how old the LED tech is in this light when it costs so little to use modern LED tech. Quite disappointed that all I really got was a decent white flasher instead of a be seen light.
1 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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Excellent light, April 29, 2009
By Bymore (Atlanta, GA, United States)
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I purchased this light for an electric SLX scooter with relatively small diameter handle bars. Regarding mounting the bracket to the handle bars, the instructions are very clear. The mounting strap has ratchets that allow 3 clicks. When I clicked it to the tightest position and then used the cam lock for the final adjustment it was fairly snug, but since the handle bars of the scooter were just over 3/4" dia and a regular bike handle bar diameter is 1" I found that using a rubber shim strap that I have from previous Cat Eye light made for a more secure fit. For a regular bike handle bar the built in rubber shim that only covers part of the strap should be more than adequate. I doubt it was designed for the very narrow handlebars of scooters.
As to the light itself it definitely lives up to its name, having a much brighter and whiter spectrum than the Cat Eye incadescents which take 4 AA's. The Blaze is very bright easily lighting up refective signs and this from only 2 AA's and at a very reasonable price. Another useful safety feature is the "cutouts" around the sides of the lens that help make you more visible to motorists from the sides. The power switch has 3 settings first steady light, second a noticeably brighter constant on and lastly the flashing setting with a brighter flasher every 6th flash.
I have been very impressed with several Planet Bike products and this is no exception. Hope this review helps.
A brief update. Having received a similar model - the 1/2 watt Blaze and mounting it to a regular bike handle bar, I have come to conclusion that if you want a really secure fit it requires using a rubber shim - these are widely available - that fits between the bracket and the handle bar itself. The small included shim, which is permanently attached to the mounting strap, does not cover enough area to really allow the bracket not to slip. Most lights come with these rubber shims and their Protege 9.0 computer comes with several of differing thicknesses.
Still a great light and still would give it 5 stars, but does require a little modification for a really slip free mounting.
1 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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This Light is Awesome, August 26, 2011
By S. Ellison (Byron Center, MI United States)
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I read a lot of Amazon reviews before purchasing this product. It was obvious that the Planet Bike brand had a very good reputation. The challenge was to decide which light was right for me. I have a mountain bike and generally ride on a paved bike path. I need a light bright enough to light the trail in front of me at a speed of 11-12 MPH. I however did not want it so bright that I might blind other bikers, walkers or joggers on the path in the early monring. I decided I probably did not need the 2 Watt version, as reviewers said this 1 Watt version was bright enough to light a dark path at a moderate speed. And it is! I was able to point the light out a fair distance in front of me on the lower of the two brightness settings, and could see quite well and ride relaxed. The blinking setting is interesting, giving 3 lower beam blinks followed by 1 brighter blink. It does give quite the strobe effect, and can't believe anyone could miss you coming on this setting. I wonder if it might be too bright or confusing for oncoming motorists, but the main point is that they definiltey will see you! I do understand some of the complaints about the bracket not being tight enough to fit snuggly. I adjusted the strap to it's smallest setting and it was still a bit loose. However, I had bought the companion rear blinking light, and that came with a couple of rubber incerts, and I used one of them on this light, and was able to tighten the light snuggly to my handle bars. Without the additonial insert, I'm not sure I could have connected the light snuggly to the handle bars. It seems obvious that this has been an issue for others to, so hopefully the manufacturer will do something to correct this. Overall I'm extremely pleased with this product. It performs very well, seems to be made rugedly, and was very reasonably priced, with both this light and the companion blinking light on Amazon for about $50.00. Highly recommend.
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Cheapest "Seeing" Light on Market, August 20, 2011
By Avery Anderson
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I reviewed tons of lights before deciding on this one. The light is very bright and lasts longer than the label says. I use it on my Trek Earl and i can see everything in front of me. I wanted a light that I could use for actually seeing the road at night and this light does just that. The mounting bracket just needs some adjustment and it actually works very well. For the price, you just can't find a better light!
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Exactly what I was looking for, June 13, 2011
By JasonR
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I ordered this light because I recently started bike-commuting to work and grad school. Some of my rides are early morning as the sun is rising and some are at night in the dark. I was looking for an inexpensive light that could first make sure I was seen by cars on the road and second allow me to see the occasional pothole and other obstacles. The handlebar mount was very easy to attach, taking only seconds to put in place. There is a moderate difference between the low and high beams. So far I have kept it on low just to increase battery life. The flash function makes the light into a strobe. Its fun to play with inside, but not sure I'll use it on the bike.
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very good for the money, June 10, 2011
By john withers
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Good light for the money....local bike shop charges significantly more for the 1/2 watt version. Beam is nice and white - none of the "blueness" you seem to get with some LED's. Swith has a good solid "feel" to it....makes you think it will last a while. We'll see. And mounting bracket is NOT as flimsy as some other reviews make it out to be.....I've seen better, but it ain't bad. And the white color is cool if you have a black/white bike like my Breezer. Good buy for the $$.
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Nice Features, March 25, 2011
By siesta171
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Ride a lot after dark so a good light is important. Previous lights started out great but had issues (not well sealed, short battery life, poor beam) but so far this looks like a winner. One watt beam has very good coverage. Compact well sealed design has survived soaking rain. The high/low/flasher switch (nice feature) is totally waterproof and cannot be activated accidentally. Lot of hours on orignal batteries. Bit pricey but if it keeps going will be worth it.
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Awesome, December 29, 2010
By hydro (Birmingham, AL United States)
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amazing, from 2 little AA and it is amazingly bright and very light. I was able to get it very tight even with my tri-bars.
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Bright light, December 18, 2010
By David Debaeremaeker
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This light works exactly as advertised. The light is really bright, and once mounted correctly is stable on the handlebars of my bike. My one complaint is that the mounting hardware is not as intuitive as other systems I've used, but once I figured it out the light mounted quickly and hasn't moved since.
I normally bike in the daytime and bought the light for safety, as a result I have the light on flash mode most of the time. People can see me from hundreds of feet away, and I feel safer with the light on.
I would recommend this to a friend.
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Good buy, December 10, 2010
By GSH
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Hello,
This light is very bright and easy to mount on your bike, and after two years it still works and I am still happy.
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Headlight, November 19, 2010
By weekendrider
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The light was bright and easy to install in my bike... The delivery did not take any longer than what they mention.... The price was great compared to other places....
This was a good buy....
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Experienced Commuter - Great Light, November 14, 2010
By The Droidiphile (SF Bay Area)
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I am a very experienced bike commuter. I work evening shift, so I ride to work in the daylight, but commute home at midnight. I have been using twin Blaze 1W lamps for my commutes along rural roads with no street lights. These lamps are plenty bright to give ample advance warning of any obstacles in the road. One lamp is sufficient to be seen and/or see in suburban areas with street lamps. I use twin lamps for three reasons: 1) I can see well enough to ride fast, 2) they can be "aimed" for broader road coverage than a single higher wattage lamp, and 3) two lamps provide a fail safe as one lamp may die, but it's very unlikely that BOTH will fail. And trust me, the last thing you want is a blackout while cruising at 15-20mph along a lonely, pitch black road. If you are regularly riding at night, a pair of these is cheaper than a trip to the emergency room. They are light weight, long lasting, powerful, and functional. I highly recommend these headlamps. For me, they are nothing short of required equipment, at a price that is not scary.
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Planet Blinky 1 watt headlamp, November 8, 2010
By R. Heiland (Seattle)
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Nice construction, mount seemed to take a bit of effort to secure, did wrap the handlebars with a layer of electrical friction tape which made the mount solid. Light does seem bright, but do have trouble seeing if the pavement is black and wet and faced with oncoming cars. The light is plenty bright to be seen by cars and anything else.
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Amazing Bike light, October 22, 2010
By Fer from Cary (NC, USA)
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I replaced a dead cateye .5-W light by this Planet Bike Headlight and what an improvement. It provides clear visibility even in black-pitch roads and I do not even use the full 1-Watt power. It has also blinking capabilities at a lower power, which I find just perfect for pedestrians to notice you in shared paths. Installation was easy and shipping from Amazon was right on time. Great purchase!!
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Good light for the money., October 11, 2010
By marianojf
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Being a LED light I expect this one to last, if it does, then it is the perfect product. The light is a bit focused on a small area, but the little light out of this spot is still enough to see a wide enough area in front of you. Not the perfect light to see, but certainly above my expectations to be seen. I have noticed that the cars really see me when riding at night, which is usually my case. Also I can easily see the holes on the road and avoid them without a problem. Seems that can fit almost any bike, and the light detaches quite easy from the holder so you can take it with you as a flash light or simply to keep it away from thieves. If the light spot could be adjusted to be larger, this would be an instant 5 stars product.
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Planet Bike does it right, October 2, 2010
By Wayne Brehob (Livonia, MI United States)
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I have not used a lot of bike lights, so I can't offer comparisons, but from a design perspective, Planet Bike does a good job. The quick-release mounting hardware works well, and makes it easy for my daughter to put the light in her backpack after she rides to school. It's straightforward to use with one button, 4 modes -- medium, bright, blinking, off. If you want to do fast night riding you might want something brighter than this, but of course that's a trade-off in price and battery life. The tiny packaging is appreciated -- no pound of plastic to cut open, just a small box to hold the light and its mounting hardware.
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much brighter than I thought, September 20, 2010
By Gary J. Williams (Hamburg, NY United States)
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This little light is great. The distance and brightness is exactly what I was looking for. I live out in the country where there is little or no street lights. This light paves the way beautifully. It is also easy to mount and take off when leaving the bike unattended. Have been using it now for about a month and the battery seems to last forever. I am super pleased and highly recommend. It may cost more than the cheaper ones(which I have also purchased) but the quality and brightness is worth it.
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Incredible brightness for the price, February 7, 2010
By J. Chin
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This light performs incredibly. The cast distance and width is far for what your paying for. Everyone who rides at night needs to purchase this light. I can illuminate reflective signs from over a block down.
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Excellent light to be seen with, November 24, 2009
By producer dude (Chicago)
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I have 2 of these mounted on the front of my bike. I frequently ride early in the AM, at dusk, or at night in Chicago. I'm really happy with these lights. They're frequently described as "blinding", which actually worries me a little, but I figure in this case that's not actually a drawback. I am always confident that oncoming or turning vehicles can see me.
Recently I saw another bicyclist coming towards me with an incredibly bright flashing light. I thought to myself "dang, I wish I had a couple of THOSE instead of these on my bike." As I passed, I looked at the light and realized that in fact, they had the same light as I did - the Blaze 1-watt (easily spotted by the shape and white casing).
In short, these are excellent for being seen by those sharing the road with you in dark conditions. In my opinion the visibility of these lights easily surpasses any other lights you (or motorists) are likely to encounter. I can only imagine what the 2-watt lights are like.
If your primary need is to be seen, rather than see where you're going in total darkness, these lights should be your first choice, they provide great performance at a good price. Other lights in this category look pretty pathetic in comparison.
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Very Good, October 7, 2009
By Vladimir Gurin (CA, USA)
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Owned it for couple weeks.
Very bright: reflection in STOP sign
can be seen from over 500 ft
(have not tested with more).
VERY easy to remove, which is not always good,
but I still give it 5 stars.
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Excellent Bicycle Light riding thru the city, January 3, 2009
By A casual stroll through the lu.. (Prague)
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Pretty good Headlight, beam seems strong enough for slow riding thru the city. If used with a flasher Headlight it'll work more than adequate for paced commutes. The construction is a sturdy plastic.
The Headlight uses a cheap mounting bracket that isn't great. It doesn't fit very well on the handlebars so you'll end up using a cut up old tube or tape to help keep it snug. You should still be able to tilt it back and forth for use in high/low beam (level it down towards the street in front of you) and flash mode (level it up towards traffic). The "close" pin doesn't snap back to keep it in "closed" for some reason but my Headlight didn't fall off yet.
#1 beam seems to be "low" for some reason instead of high on my Headlight. #2 high beam is brighter. #3 beam is flash mode.
The Headlight is not heavy, very decent size, compact, detaches easily from quick release mounting bracket. The button on the Headlight is rubber so it doesn't respond very well when you need to change modes quickly while riding. If you are in bright city lights, it's impossible to tell what mode it is in because the beam is barely visible on the ground and there is no extended visible light (or clear lens area) to see the light/mode while you are riding. The side of the Headlight has two clear lens/indents that aren't very visible from the side. The Headlight uses 2 AA batteries (use rechargeable batteries) as there is a low run time on alkaline cell batteries (5-18 hours).
If you are in city lights, the beam is barely visible on the ground, it's best to use the flash mode but level it up towards traffic or it won't be visible. The flashing lights in flash mode in darkness are visible on stop signs for at least 8 or more long city blocks, it's very good. The "flashing" mode bright flashes, are not very disturbing since it's impossible to see the flashes because there is no extended visible light (or clear lens area) to see the flashes while you are riding.
The front end lens area of the Headlight is very small (1 inch across - light mainly visible from front) but 60 feet away, it (on high beam) appears as a larger bright dot to far away traffic. It's best to use the Headlight for seeing the street in front of you with Another flasher "to be seen" Headlight, or as a flashing light in flash mode with Another flasher Headlight, double the flashing "to be seen" lights. If using Headlight on high beam, you can even level it up towards traffic, it is very bright.
The spread of the beam (high/low) is very adequate to see in front of you riding in darkness.
When using the high/low beam it's best to level it down towards the street in front of you, the beam is very adequate for (8-15 mph, slow city riding) (5-12 mph slow trail riding in darkness). It's best to use the Headlight with a flasher "to be seen" Headlight (Blackburn Quadrant Light is very good) in traffic.
In all, some technical/practical issues with the Headlight design, but a very, very good high/low beam for slow riding thru the city.
PROS: Headlight is not heavy, very decent size, compact, uses 2 AA batteries (lighter), the beam is strong enough for slow riding thru the dark city or slow trail riding in darkness, Headlight detaches easily from mounting bracket, flashing lights in flash mode very good, spread of the beam (high/low) visible in front in darkness is very adequate, The "flashing" mode bright flashes are not very disturbing/visible to rider, If using Headlight on high beam, you can even level it up towards traffic for a very bright "to be seen" light, lower price.
CONS: cheap mounting bracket that isn't great, light not very visible from the side, button on the Headlight is rubber that doesn't respond very well when you need to change modes quickly while riding in traffic, impossible to tell what mode it is in (in bright city lights) because there is no extended visible light (or clear lens area) to see the light/mode while you are riding, low run time on alkaline cell batteries.
With this Headlight, riding my bike at night, it allows me to see reasonably well. This is a very nice "to be seen" or "to see" light. Highly recommended for those on a budget and commuting or non-commuting bike riders.
This Headlight is barely visible in the rain. If you commute in the rain or ride fast, invest in something more powerful.
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You may need a little mechanical inclination to mount this thing..., September 13, 2010
By L. Harkavy (Florida, USA)
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The light itself:
After reading many reviews here for many different lights I chose this light because I wanted a true headlight, not just something to have me be seen. I ride before dawn on unlit country roads and need to see what's ahead. This light works great. On the low setting I can see ahead 40-50 feet to the width of the 2 lane roads that I'm riding. On high it can create a bit of glare and I really don't need the extra illumination.
The mount:
Let me say that the mount works very well if used properly. It is very possible that you will need an additional strip off rubber between the mount and the handlebar to get it spaced and fastened appropriately. The hold down lever will also need some trial and error adjusting by rotating it on its threaded post before clamping down to get the appropriate tension. Once properly adjusted it works great.
0 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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really good buy, September 7, 2010
By Al
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I am using it for the past month - I mostly use it in flashing mode - the light is bright and traffic coming towards me can see it. I have not used it in the night, but appears to be bright enough.
0 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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Great light!, November 30, 2009
By Paul Murphy (San Jose CA)
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I was hesitant to pay twice as much for this light as a basic front light, but it turns out to be well worth it. For various it is much more important to me to have a strong front light than a strong rear light. You can tell this is strong because it lights up stop signs blocks away. The attachment is the same Planet Bike uses on all its front lights, so if you have one laying around you can use it on your second bike and never have to fuss with taking it on and off, which I find convenient. And Planet Bike is a swell company that gives a portion of their profits to bike advocacy.
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good light for city road night ride, November 9, 2009
By Kin P. Lo
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fit over a 31.8 mm handle bar, bright enough for riding at night on city road. I would like the beam pattern to be wider though. Not bad for the price, and it looks quite good.
0 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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I got two, May 14, 2009
By BWX
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I bought two- one for each side of the stem on my MTB. I point one down a little and one up a little further for a high/low beam affect at the same time. With just one light on it isn't quite bright enough for me, but it would do the job, with two however, the light is plenty bright enough for moderately fast speeds. I recommend getting two with some good rechargeable NiMH batteries. I.m thinking of getting a third for my helmet but I cannot find the mount anywhere.
0 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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Great, January 9, 2010
By Andy_Pianist (Mexico City)
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This light met my expectations. It's not the light you would use to make an expedition, but it's perfect for riding through the city.
0 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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Light was not included in my shipment, December 24, 2010
By J. Stott
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The box I received did not include the light, only the bracket. I returned the box, and requested a replacement. The second shipment also did not contain the light. This has been a major hassle.
0 of 11 people found the above review helpful.
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DOES NOT WORK ON SOME ROADBIKES, April 13, 2012
By Krakovianka (Midlothian, VA United States)
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This is a great light, well made but does not work on NOVARA bikes and as sb else mentioned Cannondales. There is no way to attach it to a Novara, the ring attachment is way too small and no other way to fix the problem by using a wire. The sellers should state clearly what diameter of handlebars it is intended for and say IT DOES NOT WORK ON ALL BIKES. I tried it on my daughter's Trek bike too and it was too loose, could not tighten it enough. It works great as a light and I like the shape but useless if you cannot attach it!!!
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Great product but be careful with shipment, February 21, 2012
By kgs499
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I have only had this item for 3 weeks now, it works great, has a long battery life, and feels sturdy. The light is really bright and I would say it's worth the extra money for the half watt.
Unfortunately my experience was not the best. It was being shipped by Ensenda, some hole-in-the-wall company that, by looking at reviews and from my experience, I have gathered is completely and utterly incapable of shipping a package.
The light was supposed to come in on a wednesday, I live in an apartment and on wednesday night I tracked the package (which contained this light and a u lock) and it said online it was delivered to the main office. I checked the main office every day for a full week. When the next wednesday came around I gave up on Ensenda. DO NOT GET A PACKAGE SHIPPED BY ENSENDA.
Luckily the people at amazon were wonderful. I called costumer support and they immediately shipped out a new light (through UPS, thank you) and gave me my money back for the U-lock, which was not sold directly through amazon so they were unable to simply ship another.
Over-all, great product, don't get anything shipped by Ensenda, and Amazon did an amazing job fixing everything.
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bright light, nice flash, faulty switch???, February 12, 2012
By tbbbbb
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This light is bright and the flash seems to make cars and things notice you more. Could have been my imagination but people didn't seem to be pulling out on me as much. HOWEVER, the first time I used it it started to change mode and turn itself off without me pressing button. I changed batteries and it kept doing it. Sometimes it seemed to be when I hit small bumps, but not sure if this was why. Bit rubbish, as I'd cycle down the road thinking my light was on and it wasn't! For the same price I then bought a NiteRider Mako 2Watt which seems to be made of more solid plastic, has a more solid feeling switch, seems brighter, has a similar crazy flash, and doesn't turn itself off.
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Great Light for City Riding!, January 14, 2012
By koissu
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I commute 2.5 miles to work everyday from Berkeley to Oakland. I got doored last year (during the day) and decided when daylight savings came I needed to get much better lights for my bike. I was going between this one and the 2 watt and went for this one. It's plenty bright to be noticed and even on the brightest setting, pretty good for seeing. I leave it on strobe all the time for the added visibility. It's a really great strobe - I think every 3rd and then 4th is brighter but it's eye catching and goes pretty far. I've actually had a few cars pull over which was extremely satisfying.
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Awesome light, great if you need a solid affordable light, November 8, 2011
By mhjett
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This is a sweet light. I bought it for commuting and am very satisfied. Small, lightweight, great beam pattern, and gets real bright for a AA-battery-powered light. I especially light the low/high feature which is great for conserving juice when you're on well-lit streets and only need enough light for cars to see you. In the backwoods on high this thing can really throw light down the road/trail. Can't comment on battery life as I haven't used it long enough, but I bought some rechargeables to save $ in the long run.
Some have said the handlebar clamp is flimsy but I actually think it's well-designed; it has both a ratchet mechanism and a clamp. You get get it tight enough to hold solid but still be able to adjust it on the flight.
As others have said, check the beam-comparison tool on Planet Bike's website before going for something cheaper. If you're looking for an affordable light that actually performs, this is it.
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nice and bright, November 6, 2011
By LumpyOatmeal (near San Francisco, CA)
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I'm too dumb to figure out how to make it sufficiently tight on my handle bars. I have to slide the band in another click I think. Not a perfect design, but what is these days? Overall I'd say it's well worth buying
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Reasonable performance, October 30, 2011
By Jason K
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While the mounting bracket is pretty awful on this light, it has performed reasonably well otherwise. Best for smooth road riding however, as the entire lamp wants to come apart if you go over a curb or if you hit a good pothole.
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Planet Bike never dissappoints, October 28, 2011
By P. Robichaux
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Installation:
Very simple with easy to follow instructions. Bar mount fits tight on the bar and doesn't move once installed, but can be forced to adjust for optimal angle. Headlight portion easily snaps in and out of bar mount.
Durability:
To be determined. There are things that I see that may be prone to breaking such as the plastic release lever to remove flashlight from bar mount. Flashlight feels pretty solid. There is a screw used in the bar mount that can be tightened/loosened to adjust to different handle bar sizes that may be prone to rust, although that is yet to be determined. Looks like it is of exceptional quality to prevent rust and you probably won't be switching from bike to bike too often anyway.
Light:
I don't see too much of a difference between high and low beam. That being said, even the low beam is really bright. I had no trouble having excellent view riding in complete darkness to moderate visibility. I did notice that the light beamed onto my brake cables and reflected into my eyes, causing me to have less visibility than optimal. This can be fixed by adjusting break cables or more carefully positioning light on handle bar.
Complaints:
A major complaint I have is how much the light rattles while riding. It's actually pretty noisy. Not that you need silence to ride a bike, but I like a smooth quiet ride, especially when I take the time to keep my bike highly maintained. Another minor complain is I noticed the light pointing slightly to the left upon initial installation. A simple tug made it straight and it seemed to stay straight. So not really a major issue as long as it stays where I move it.
Conclusions:
Overall, I'm really pleased with this headlight. I no longer fear mowing over crazy people who decide to run in the dark with absolutely not lights or reflective gear. Also, not worrying if I'm going to fall off the bike path and down one of the two cliffs on either side is a huge plus too. I'll probably use my own fix to make the light not rattle in the holder and then it'll be perfect. The mounting design is really neat. Never saw anything like it before. Hopefully it holds up like the traditional screw tightened mount models.
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Works great on Giant TCR and Diamondback Cyclecross, October 19, 2011
By Danny Truong (Bay Area, CA)
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I've used this bike only a bit, but more so my brother-in law has been using it to commute on his bike. He's very abusive with many times and leaves things outside in the rain, drops the bike in the back yard...he cares even less because it's not his. With that said, with the miles he's put on and the unnecessary abuse he's applied. The light and the mount are still functioning so that's a big + on my end.
From a lighting perspective, it's pretty darn bright for one watt, and the life of it is very good. I agree with other reviews that you'll want to use two for dark trails or streets. Just mount two on the handlebar and call it a day. I would think two of these is better than one light costing you 100 bucks.
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Disappointing, September 28, 2011
By J. Fullerton (Sterling, VA)
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While the light looks nice and is well built, the bulb output is very weak in my opinion.
Compared to my Nu-Flare Luxeon LED Flashlight which has 210 lumens this Planet Bike light output is very poor. It does not throw light as far or as white. The light is slightly blueish looking and frankly not very bright. I planned on using this for biking at night, but it is not suitable for anything more than slow speeds as you cannot see very far ahead.
I had been using my Nu-Flare flashlight and hoped to replace it, but at this point I am going to keep using the flashlight and return this underpowered product.
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Good buy, December 10, 2010
By GSH
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Hello,
This light is very bright and easy to mount on your bike, and after two years it still works and I am still happy.
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Planet Blinky 1 watt headlamp, November 8, 2010
By Roger H. (Seattle)
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Nice construction, mount seemed to take a bit of effort to secure, did wrap the handlebars with a layer of electrical friction tape which made the mount solid. Light does seem bright, but do have trouble seeing if the pavement is black and wet and faced with oncoming cars. The light is plenty bright to be seen by cars and anything else.
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Very Good, October 7, 2009
By Vladimir Gurin (CA, USA)
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Owned it for couple weeks.
Very bright: reflection in STOP sign
can be seen from over 500 ft
(have not tested with more).
VERY easy to remove, which is not always good,
but I still give it 5 stars.
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Great While it Works, February 20, 2012
By KyleFixIt
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This light works very well, I like the different settings and power that it has for such a small light. However I have owned it for about two months now and it doesn't work any longer. It will flash if you hold down the button but that is pretty pointless for biking. I am only commuting so there was no excess vibrations, it just quit working. I would take it apart to see if I could see anything, or change anything but like a Mac it is one body that isn't worth fixing. Will buy a better product next time (like the POS Wallmart light that lasted longer).
0 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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You may need a little mechanical inclination to mount this thing..., September 13, 2010
By L. Harkavy (Florida, USA)
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The light itself:
After reading many reviews here for many different lights I chose this light because I wanted a true headlight, not just something to have me be seen. I ride before dawn on unlit country roads and need to see what's ahead. This light works great. On the low setting I can see ahead 40-50 feet to the width of the 2 lane roads that I'm riding. On high it can create a bit of glare and I really don't need the extra illumination.
The mount:
Let me say that the mount works very well if used properly. It is very possible that you will need an additional strip off rubber between the mount and the handlebar to get it spaced and fastened appropriately. The hold down lever will also need some trial and error adjusting by rotating it on its threaded post before clamping down to get the appropriate tension. Once properly adjusted it works great.
0 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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