NITERIDER LUMINA OLED 1100 BOOST
£140
Compact light with excellent communication and controls Weight 170g Run time (max power) 1 hour 25 mins Niterider’s Lumina OLED 1100 packs a powerful lighting punch with excellent run time communication and easy control. The rubber strap mount comes with spacers for various round bars but will work with flatter aero bars or twist round to sit on a stem. The single LED gives a clear, long-reaching beam with enough side spread for confidence. There’s little obvious difference between ‘Boost’ and 900-lumen ‘high’ so we generally left it in that mode to extend run times that are already longer than Niterider’s claims. Run times and modes are displayed very clearly on the OLED back panel with easy navigation via two buttons. A non-OLED version is available for £110.
CYGOLITE METRO PRO £99.95
Weight 55g Run time (max power) 1 hour 10 mins The most powerful sub-£100 light on test, Cygolite’s Metro Pro is a tough, practical all-rounder. The hard plastic hinged clamp limits fitment to round bars but it’s secure even on the roughest ground. The single LED sits behind a diffuser lens for a broad, ovalised light spread that also lends itself to off-road or twisty road use at the expense of maximum reach for fast road riding. You’ll burn through the battery very fast at full ‘Boost’ but toggling between the high and medium setting (1.5 and 3-hour run times) is bright enough for most riding. Recharge times are very quick too.
INFINI TRON 800 £99.99
Weight 200g Run time (max power) 1 hour 45 mins Our sample came with a hinged plastic round bar clamp but production versions will have a universal rubber strap mount and a helmet mount. The beam is relatively broad focused but even the highest of three constant settings seems well short of the claimed 800 lumens. Rings in the beam can create a distracting strobe effect, particularly on narrow railway paths, or through woods, where there’s already peripheral disturbance. Flash and strobe modes are pretty dim too so it struggles to grab attention in daylight. The all-metal construction also makes it heavy.
HOPE R2i £175
Weight 295g Run time (max power) 1 hour 25 mins The multi-adjustable, bayonet release two-piece metal mount of Hope’s selfcontained unit fits 25.4-35mm round bars and centralises the chunky body over the stem. There’s a hint of ‘double barrel’ effect in the warm coloured, eye-friendly focused centre, progressive fade beam spread but it’s not an issue when riding. Hope’s 1000 lumens is a genuine calibrated reading and even the mid setting is ample for most riding. Mode is indicated via the main button and there’s a ‘push to test’ battery level checker. Its high weight reflects the bombproof all-metal construction.