Guide: Choose the right headlamp for cycling

HEADLAMP GUIDE

CYCLING

Choose the right headlamp for cycling

How much light you need depends on the type of cycling you do. Road cycling requires far less light than MTB, while gravel and forest roads are somewhere in between. For downhill and highly technical trails, a powerful headlamp is essential to read the terrain in time.

Tips when choosing a headlamp for cycling

BRIGHTNESS

For commuting at an easy pace, an outdoor headlamp will do. 1200 lumen is enough for road cycling on lit roads, while 2000 lumen is recommended on dark country roads or gravel. For MTB, 2000 lumen works on wide forest roads, 3000 lumen is ideal for technical trails, and up to 10,000 lumen is recommended for very technical terrain and downhill riding.

BURN TIME & WEIGHT

For short road rides, a smaller battery (S) is sufficient. Since weight doesn’t affect you the same way as when running, you can go for a larger battery (M) mounted on the frame, in a pocket, or in your backpack. This gives you longer burn time and fewer charges. Higher brightness – such as for gravel or MTB – requires more power and therefore a larger battery (M).

Helmet and bike mounts

With a Free Bar Mount Kit, you can use your Free headlamp as a bike light on the handlebar, and with a Helmet Mount Kit, you can attach both the headlamp and the battery to your helmet.