Tim McCormackJust had my fourth Bontrager #bike headlight die... You'd think a $100-150 light would last more than a year or two.
I think I'm done with that company. Any recommendations for a powerful headlight that is actually robust?
I ended up getting a #Fenix bike light -- pretty happy with it!
I wrote up my impressions here: https://www.brainonfire.net/blog/2025/12/13/from-bontrager-to-fenix/ (starting with my rather miserable history with #Bontrager lights).
Corgi DadI used this one Fenix BC26r for the last winter and it was solid
https://www.fenixlighting.com/products/fenix-bc26r-rechargeable-bike-light
@corgidad Whoa, with a user-replaceable battery? Love it.
Yes and it's rechargable too. That battery is widely available (also sold on the Fenix website I think). I just dropped it from 4 feet high yesterday and it doesn't have a dent
@corgidad Fantastic. Bontrager lights can be unscrewed, but the battery is hardwired and that sucks.
(Besides the other design issues, such as a charger port only held on by solder, etc...)
knizer@timmc For headlights, Serfas come highly recommended in my bikey-social-circle. https://www.serfas.com/shop/products/lights/tsl-1300m-true-1300-mtb-headlight/
Stable bar mount, replaceable LiOn battery, USB-C fast charging, drops down to an advertised solid 320 Lumens setting with 7 hrs runtime, and can be gotten for <$100, eg https://www.ebay.com/p/12051819538 #BikeTooter
@knizer (Somehow missed this reply previously!)
That overall looks pretty good, but honestly the 1 year warranty scares me off. I'd have a hard time justifying buying another 1 year warranty light after the number of Bontrager lights that failed not long out of warranty...
@timmc No worries! I ended up buying that light after I posted last month, 40$ from an amazon reseller: https://www.amazon.com/Serfas-True-1300-Headlight-MTB/dp/B09KDS5CYY
I just had mine out for the Illuminations bike ride here in Somerville and have only good things to say about that headlight.
That said, I'm happy to report that on the the lights and related electronics, #Serfas offers a *limited lifetime warranty* - the 1 year warranty is on the battery. See specs/details here: https://www.serfas.com/shop/products/lights/tsl-1300m-true-1300-mtb-headlight/ - and best luck in finding something that works well for you! #BikeTooter
@knizer Oho! I totally misread that page. :-) That's great.
Poor 'Possum@timmc If you're going powerful, make sure you get good road optics so you aren't dazzling on-coming traffic. I'm a big fan of my PDW Pathfinder:
https://ridepdw.com/collections/lights/products/pathfinder-usb-headlight
https://ridepdw.com/collections/lights/products/pathfinder-usb-headlight
@poorpossum (Somehow missed this previously!)
I love that they have a lifetime warranty. That beam shaping is good, too. I went with Fenix (5 year+ warranty, replaceable Li-ion battery) and that's one of the few complaints I have about it—the beam is too circular and I have to point it down somewhat.
DemonHusky@timmc loving the answers as I've determined my taillight battery is shot and I should find something new
Corwin Kerr@timmc Fenix is a reliable pocket flashlight brand so I tried them for a bike light, and I've been using the BC25R for almost 3 years now. They have brighter ones but this is enough for me. It directs the light very well and doesn't shine upwards.
https://www.fenixlighting.com/products/fenix-bc25r-rechargeable-bike-light
https://www.fenixlighting.com/products/fenix-bc25r-rechargeable-bike-light
