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Infini Lava 500 front light

8
£59.99

VERDICT:

8
10
A high powered light with a long battery life
Weight: 
101g

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

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The Infini Lava 500 is a really nice unit that sits well on a helmet as well as a bar, pumps out loads of light and has a battery that lasts for ages.

Having a light on the handlebar is always important during the winter, but one you can fit on the helmet can be really useful given that everything you look at, regardless of angle, will be illuminated.

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As the name suggests, the Lava pumps out 500 retina-burning lumens on its maximum output. It has four other settings, with three strengths of solid beam and two flashing variations. In addition to this, the light has a memory function, so it'll turn on in the last setting you used. Output on all but the lowest powered solid beam is good enough for riding on unlit roads, and on full beam it's good enough for most off-road riding.

The light itself is made from thick plastic that has so far survived several drops, bumps and scrapes. It is IPX4 water resistant, which was more than enough for rain, but you wouldn't be able to drop it in the bath (if you were hoping to). It managed to survive some fairly apocalyptic rainfall during use, so lives up to its billing.

Operation is via a single rubber button on the top of the unit, with a prolonged press turning it on/off and a short press changing the light sequence. Set just behind this is a battery indicator light, which shows either green or red when first turned on to let you know whether or not the battery needs charging.

Charging isn't a frequent demand, though, because the battery life is impressive, with a claimed 9hrs (Constant), 5hrs (Boost), 3hrs (Super Bright), 25hrs (Pulsating), 400hrs (Flashing). From testing, these are about accurate, and given that this pumps out some serious light, they're pretty impressive too. Charging takes around 3 hours and is done through a USB cable that connects to a port on the bottom of the unit.

Whether you use it on your bar or helmet, it attaches through a mount with a rubberised base to protect bar or lid from scratches and abrasion. A rubber ladder keeps everything in place well and the strap is slim enough that it fitted all but the most aero of my helmets although it could possibly do with a little longer strap, as fitting it onto the handlebar was a little bit of a struggle. 

> Read our guide to the best front lights for cycling

Attaching the light to the mount is simple, with it just sliding on and clipping into place. There is a tag at the rear of the mechanism that needs to be pulled down before the light slides out, which is tricky to do on your helmet, but relatively simple when on the bar.

It's not the lightest light of this size, but given its output, it can be forgiven. Although I could certainly feel the additional 97g when on my helmet, it never felt insecure, there or on the bar.

The light comes with an RRP of £59.99, which isn't cheap, but given the performance is worth the investment if you want a top quality lamp to use on your lid.

Overall I was very impressed with the Lava 500. It pumps out an impressive amount of light while also providing a good battery life, plus it is simple to use and the memory element is really useful, especially if you're turning it on without being able to see it. Perhaps the strap could be a little longer for the bars to make it easier to connect, but all in, it is an impressive light.

Verdict

A high powered light with a long battery life

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Infini Lava 500

Size tested: N/A

Tell us what the light is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

A bright headlamp that can be used for both visibility and illumintation.

Infini says: 'The LAVA 500 is a sleek, rugged and highly efficient compact bicycle headlight designed to provide riders increased visibility, added safety, long running time and ultra portability.'

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the light?

SIZE 96x43.5x32.5 mm

WEIGHT 97 grams

LED SPECS 10 Watt White LED

LIGHT OUTPUT 500 lumens

RUN TIME 9hrs (Constant)

5hrs (Boost)

3hrs (Super Bright)

25hrs (Pulsating)

400hrs (Flashing)

BATTERY Rechargeable Polymer Lithium-ion battery

CHARGING TIME 3 hrs (USB)

Rate the light for quality of construction:
 
7/10

Seems well made with a hardened plastic used and waterproofing seems up to scratch for what's needed.

Rate the light for design and ease of use. How simple was the light to use?
 
8/10

The single button and memory function make it very easy to use.

Rate the light for the design and usability of the clamping system/s
 
6/10

Easy to fit and easy to put the light on, but could perhaps be a little easier to take off without needing to see the mechanism itself.

Rate the light for waterproofing. How did it stand up to the elements?
 
8/10

Stood up well, used in some fairly horrendous weather with no issues at all.

Rate the light for battery life. How long did it last? How long did it take to recharge?
 
8/10

I was really impressed with the battery life.

Rate the light for performance:
 
8/10

Performed really well throughout.

Rate the light for durability:
 
7/10
Rate the light for weight:
 
6/10
Rate the light for value:
 
6/10

Relatively expensive, but worth the money.

Tell us how the light performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Performed really well, pumping out loads of light and simple to use.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the light

The battery life is really strong.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the light

Taking off the light without looking at the mount was a bit complex.

Did you enjoy using the light? Yes

Would you consider buying the light? Yes

Would you recommend the light to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your score

It pumps out a lot of light, is simple to use, and has a long battery life. Very good and a clear 8.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 27  Height: 6 ft  Weight:

I usually ride: Cannondale Supersix Evo 6  My best bike is:

I've been riding for: 5-10 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding, fixed/singlespeed, mountain biking

George is the host of the road.cc podcast and has been writing for road.cc since 2014. He has reviewed everything from a saddle with a shark fin through to a set of glasses with a HUD and everything in between. 

Although, ironically, spending more time writing and talking about cycling than on the bike nowadays, he still manages to do a couple of decent rides every week on his ever changing number of bikes.

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2 comments

Avatar
Schweiz | 7 years ago
0 likes

LOVE this light although would really like different color housings and beams. Imagine red housing and green beam. SO COOL! Could  be awsome differentiator.

Avatar
barbarus | 7 years ago
0 likes

Can you tell me please, how is the USB port covered? I've got an infini 300, which I like, apart from the rubber USB port flap, which refuses to stay put. This allows water in. Is this model any better?

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