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review

Lifeline LED safety light (front/rear)

8
£9.89

VERDICT:

8
10
Very good quality lights for the money, ideal for being seen around town
Weight: 
28g
Contact: 
www.wiggle.co.uk

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At just under a tenner you'd expect the Lifeline LED safety light to be a cheap blinky for being seen around town. It's much more than that: it's a well built and genuinely capable standalone light for city riding. It's even bright enough - just - to venture beyond the streetlights.

The body of the Lifeline is a two-piece alloy affair with a tight thread and an o-ring seal holding two 2032 button cells, and the LED is housed in a proper reflector behind a good quality lens.

You press the lens to turn the light on and off, and there are two modes, flashing and constant. Mounting is via a simple rubber strap and plastic clip; the back is designed for a seatpost but can be persuaded onto a seatstay, the front for bars but will stretch round a headtube, just about. Both front and rear lights have a cutaway section on either side for extra visibility at junctions, and you can rotate the light on the mount to get them pointing sideways however you decide to mount.

Stick 'em on your bike and off you go. The rear light is marginally the better of the two: it's a really strong performer. The beam is strong, the mounting simple and the light small and light enough to leave attached all the time. It doesn't have the punch of some of the more powerful rear lights we've tested but I'd be happy enough riding in the city or on the lanes at night with the Lifeline on the rear; you'd want a bit more oomph for main roads.

The front light is good too, very capable as a light to be seen with. On road bike handlebars the side visibility can be obscured by the drops as it sits in line with the bar, but you can fit it under your STI lever or on the head tube if you think that's going to be a problem.

The light it gives out is bluish but bright, stronger than you'd expect. Head somewhere pitch dark and it's enough - just - to navigate by at 10mph or so.

Battery life on both lights is a stated 50 hours on constant; I didn't make it that far but 2032 cells can be had for very little online.

The only issue during testing was with waterproofing. I first had an issue when I was cleaning my bike with the hose - I managed to force some water into the rear light through the seal between the lens and the body. The second time was on a wet ride on a road bike, again with the rear; the spray from the tyre eventually worked its way inside. In both cases a night on the radiator sorted it and they were as good as new, but it's worth noting that they're not completely waterproof; I've lobbed a bit of silicone grease around the seal and they've been fine since. In time the plastic strap clip may age and break, or you might lose it, but it'd be easy to bodge a fix for that.

Verdict

Very good quality lights for the money, ideal for being seen around town.

road.cc test report

Make and model: Lifeline LED safety light (front/rear)

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 super bright LED bike light with a high grade lens and a precision CNC machined aluminium body. With continuous and flashing modes, simple operation and tool-less mounting, The professional LED light is essential for night riding and commutes.

Operation

With a single press, the Professional Super Bright LED toggles between off, constant and flashing modes. The large surface allows easy operation with gloves on.

Beam

The Super Bright LED emits a bright, 130 lux beam with a 240° spread for a wide visibility range. An internal reflector increases visibility from on coming light sources.

Body

The body is CNC machined from aluminium alloy at precision tolerances for excellent water resistance. Available in anodised black, grey and silver, the Professional Super Bright LED matches perfectly with high spec road and mountain bike builds.

Mounting

The high stretch silicone strap provides secure and stable mounting on handle bars ranging from 20 to 35mm in diameter. The Professional Super Bright LED light fits quickly without the need for tools or a mounting bracket, so you can swap bikes with ease.

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

Precision CNC machined aluminium body

High grade lens

Super bright 130 lux beam (lumens per square meter)

17 Lumens (Max Output)

Internal reflector increases visibility

Continuous Beam

Rapid Flashing Beam

Big button switch is easy to operate with gloves

Replaceable CR2032 battery (included)

Highly water resistant sealed casing

Fits handlebars from 20 to 35mm

Battery life: 50hrs in constant mode, 150hrs in flashing mode

Weight: 29g

Rate the light for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the light for design and ease of use. How simple was the light to use?
 
10/10
Rate the light for the design and usability of the clamping system/s
 
8/10
Rate the light for waterproofing. How did it stand up to the elements?
 
7/10
Rate the light for battery life. How long did it last? How long did it take to recharge?
 
8/10
Rate the light for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the light for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the light for weight, if applicable:
 
9/10
Rate the light for value:
 
9/10

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

Very good compact city light for being seen by.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the light

Quality of construction, intensity of beam.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the light

Waterproofing isn't the best.

Did you enjoy using the light? Yes.

Would you consider buying the light? Yes.

Would you recommend the light to a friend? Yes.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 40  Height: 190cm  Weight: 102kg

I usually ride: whatever I'm testing...  My best bike is: Genesis Equilibrium with SRAM Apex

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting, sportives, general fitness riding, fixed/singlespeed, mtb, Mountain Bike Bog Snorkelling, track

 

Dave is a founding father of road.cc, having previously worked on Cycling Plus and What Mountain Bike magazines back in the day. He also writes about e-bikes for our sister publication ebiketips. He's won three mountain bike bog snorkelling World Championships, and races at the back of the third cats.

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2 comments

Avatar
dave atkinson | 11 years ago
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yeah, i snipped mine  1

Avatar
Thecambridgerocket | 11 years ago
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I have the rear and agree its very bright for what it is. However I think they are let down slightly by the rubber strap and plastic clip - when mounted the strap protrudes just enough to brush my inner thigh :\">. I'm sure a trim with a pair of scissors will sort it. A good light, but not perfect.

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