Led light

The Blackburn Scorch front light is Blackburn's most expensive and most powerful front light, with a claimed maximum output of 140 lumen. Producing those lumens is a white Cree XP-G LED (the de facto LED for higher end lights) which is housed inside a solid CNC machined aluminium housing. Light modes (high, standard and flashing) are toggled through using a single rear mounted push button which also acts as the on/off switch.

Based in glamorous Barnoldswick, Hope have been turning aluminium lumps into sparkly objects of desire for some years now. The Vision R4 is the latest in their established range of lights and belts out a hefty 1000 lumens from its tiny head unit.

This light is tough, waterproof and highly effective, with enough runtime that you won't get caught out even on longer night-time rides.

So far as I can tell, this is a rebadged version of the RSP Asteri 3 that Big Dave tested back in March. He gave it the thumbs up and who am I to argue with a man who has been through more lights than Blackpool Illuminations?

This might seem harsh but chic styling aside, the Spook ight seems little more than a gimmick for the ipod age rather than a serious commuting must-have, hindered further by our test sample’s problematic build quality. Despite this, with redesign there’s some potential for heavily laden bikes lugging trailers/tag-alongs and similar couplings.

There’s a constant struggle going on to develop a bike light with enough illumination power to rival Blackpool, a run time long enough for the longest of nocturnal enduros, and all in a package sufficiently small and light that it won’t weigh you down. Usually, there’s a trade-off of some sort, but increasingly, as improving LED technology couples together with new lighter, higher capacity batteries, it’s a tough call for the cyclist looking to choose a new light. There are some really great ones out there now.

Reelight SL500 - rear light

Reelight SL500 - front light

Reelight SL500 - rear generator

Reelight SL500 - front generator