I commute on a daily basis quite early, before sunrise, and want a light to see where I'm going on trails that are poorly lit. I have used various solutions including lights not specifically for biking attached to my helmet but I thought I would try a handlebar mounted approach. The last handlebar light I had with a similar design (but a different manufacturer) I see with some research was more than 10 years ago, so happily there has been good progress with this one. It is less then 2/3 the weight and the light is well directed so it is easy to avoid blinding oncoming riders while seeing the trail reasonably clearly. At bike commuter speed the amount of light is fine; I suppose if I was riding a class 3 e-bike I would want more. I'm not sure about the handlebar bracket's rubber attachment system; will it age well? Because the light unit is not heavy the bracket keeps the light from moving around. I only use this on the high setting; according to the info provided it should get two hours from a full charge at that setting. My commute is about 50 minutes and I keep an eye on the power gauge; my strong impression is that the battery doesn't hold an initial charge well, by which I mean if I charge it on Friday evening by Monday morning the battery will have lost 5%. That surprises me but basically for my purposes this should work fine, charging it after each use. Pluses: enough light, not expensive, doesn't blind others.
I use the light for daytime riding in flash mode. It is very bright and visible even in bright sunlight. The battery lasts for quite some time. I have done as many as 5 rides, 3 hour long, between charges. Even after those rides the indicators show that there was charge left. It is larger than my previous headlight, but it is better design over all. I have had very good luck with Portland Design Works products, and this one simply confirms my faith in the quality of the company.
