Customers' Reviews:
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 The Big Light, with No "Strings" Attached, November 11, 2009
By Barrett Benton (New York)
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When I first heard various rumors about this light's pending appearance on the market, I was *really* worried someone was pulling my leg, because the specs read like a dream come true: a compact, self-contained, quick-release headlight that could throw a beam bright enough to truly see *by*, rivaling some batteries-go-somewhere-else units, using merely a pair of garden-variety AA alkalines (I have a *much* better alternative to those, which I'll get to shortly), and coming in at well under a hundred bucks. My local dealer not only confirmed the 2-watt light's existence, but said he could order one for me if I'd like. (*Would* I!)
I've been using the light a good deal for the better part of two weeks, and it does the business. It's the same size as the 1-watt version, save for its jet-black finish. Like all the Planet Bike lights I've bought, build quality is great, the now-renowned quick-release mounting system remains unchanged, which is a good thing, because (1) it's fantastic as it is, IMO, and (2) it allows quick interchange between two of my bikes, one using Planet Bike's Beamer 5 (itself an excellent urban light). You can purchase the quick-release mounts separately, allowing the moving of one light between several bikes quickly and easily.
Short of extreme, high-speed, off-road night-patrol rides, you're not likely to "over-drive" this headlight, allowing for safer road cycling on streets and roads. I don't have to try and remember the surface irregularities when rolling fairly quickly down a particular side street or path I don't often travel; the light offers a reliable heads-up, reducing the need for sudden evasive maneuvers (and pretty much eliminated the possibility of a snakebite flat, dented rim, or worse).
But perhaps the real surprise is the SuperFlash function: if you think PB's SuperFlash taillight is an amazing performer (and it is), you simply *need* to check this headlight out. When using the SuperFlash function at dusk (it's been recommended by some that you do *not* use this function after dark, where it might be potentially blinding), on more than one occasion I've actually had motorists *pull over* to the side. Never experienced that before. I'm definitely a believer in "safety in candlepower."
Battery life appears to be more or less as advertised. But here's a hot tip: forget loading this up with alkalines. Do your wallet (and, as a nice coincidence, the planet at large) a favor, and buy a Sanyo Eneloop battery-and-charger kit, which comes with four rechargeable AA batteries and battery charger. What makes these rechargeables different from other is that, once charged, Eneloop batteries retain 85% percent of their charge for upwards of a year. In other words, their discharge rate is about as good as typical store-bought alkalines. No more "surprises" when you reach to switch on your light which you haven't used in three weeks. You can trust these batteries the same way you trust alkalines, except that when these run down, you recharge them rather than chuck them. They make a great match with a headlight like this, which understandably uses up a pair of batteries somewhat faster than lower-powered lights.
So, we have a winner here: a true high-powered headlight that's as easy to live with as most any other self-contained bike light, and priced well within the means of many more cyclers than wildly-expensive, multi-piece lighting systems. If you're the sort for whom a high-speed downhill run in the woods is a big part of your "balanced" riding repertoire, you might need one of the pricier HID numbers for your ride (good luck with that!). Otherwise, the Blaze 2Watt is likely all the light you could ask for. (By the way, it obviously makes a killer flashlight when needed.)
127 of 127 people found this review helpful
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Solid Value, September 3, 2010
By cavscout (Arizona)
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This is my first foray into lighting for my bike.
I got this light specifically to be able to ride a rails to trails trail near my house in the early mornings. Had it mounted and on the bike within a minute of opening the box. The first ride was at 4:15 a.m. under a mostly moonless sky through my neighborhood and then onto the trail.
This light is more than adequate for cruising around and/or commuter biking. On the trail I found the beam to be narrow, but with enough spill to illuminate the wide trail sufficiently. The trail is all dirt with some minor bumps and ruts - mount and light didn't slip or move around at all. There is an appreciable difference between the brightness on high and low settings. I kept mine on low because I felt I had a little better vision to the sides without the real bright spot. I don't really have a need for the strobe, but it will definitely get you noticed.
I could see a racer overdriving this light, but it worked well for me at approx 10-15 mph on a familiar, wide trail. This works perfectly for what I wanted it for. I would look at other lights for night riding on tight singletrack or fast downhill descents, although this might be a nice helmet mounted light (perhaps a little bulky)to complement a bar mounted system. Planet Bike does sell a helmet mount accessory.
I do like that it runs on 2 AA batteries. I can always have backup power supply in my pack or pocket.
This is a good light at a great price. I'm glad I found it.
UPDATE 11/25/11: Have had and used this light over a year now. Still working fine, but I've gotten much faster and found I needed a brighter light. This is particularly true for riding "real" mountain bike trails, not just forest roads and wide bike paths. Am now using the light for a commuter light and a backup light only. Initial review stands - good light at great price. Excellent value for casual riders and commuters.
31 of 31 people found this review helpful
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A "seeing" light under 15mph., August 22, 2010
By M. Woodward (VA)
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Remarkable little thing. I've been using those toy 2 C battery lights for years and this 2W LED light is wonderful. For those older riders who just want to cruise around and get some exercise in the cooler summer evenings this is the perfect light. Reaction time is adequate at 15mph and under. If you are a serious cyclist and putting down 18 to 22mph in the dark you will need the brighter heavier lights.
23 of 23 people found this review helpful
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 Not better than the 1W model, October 29, 2010
By A. Dimova (Austin, TX)
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I got this headlight along with "Planet Bike 3044 Blaze 1-Watt LED Headlight" which is $16.25 cheaper! The 1W one has twice the battery life and it looks just as bright. My husband actually thinks that the 1W one is brighter than the 2W one. That said, it is a good headlight - it feels well built, but I just don't think it is worth the extra $16.
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Recently I noticed that the light is dimmer when rechargeable batteries are used. NiMH batteries are inherently lower voltage than standard alkaline batteries, although they have much higher energy density. A well designed circuit should be able to boost the voltage to the optimal level for the LED, apparently that is not the case in this product. The same observation is true for 3044 model as well.
15 of 18 people found this review helpful
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Good deal for right user, December 17, 2010
By Michael Dziedzic (Las Vegas, NV)
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I got this light with high anticipations. I spent the extra money to get this 2 watt unit after reading the reviews. The bottom line is its not enough light for me.... I have realized that i need a lot of light to ride at night. Objects in the road come up to fast for me to safely use this light in the darkness. however, riding to work with street light around the superflash is excellent.
I have to bite the bullet and get a much more expensive unit.
10 of 12 people found this review helpful
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 Works great, housing is junk., March 30, 2011
By Adam E. Smith
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Bought one of these at my local bike shop for $59, and was very pleased with the performance of the light itself. In town on the low setting (with the included crappy no-name batteries), I had drivers pull over to let me pass. It's BRIGHT. The famed "seizure blink" setting? Forget it. With this thing on, if someone doesn't see you, they'd miss a semi truck or jumbo jet coming their direction as well.
HOWEVER: the casing and mounting is junk. Complete junk. After a month, during the 'fierce' winter temps of the harsh Pacific Northwest winter (i.e. a relatively balmy 35-40º), when gently detaching the light from the mount in my garage, the little "rails" that hold it on to the mount simply cracked and peeled off like they were made of dried spaghetti noodles.
Unable to return the light and not wanting to deal with sending it back (if that were even a possibility), I dremeled the bottom of the case smooth/slightly rounded in order to rig it up to make it sit flush on my helmet. After a few more weeks of use in damp weather (no downpours), the front of the assembly that's sealed and contains the light and switching mechanism/circuit became waterlogged with condensation, shorting out the on/off switch, so now the light comes on & switches off randomly whenever batteries are in it, and the lens is fogged internally with no way to clear it.
Terrific. Throwing it in the garage until I can figure out some use for it. Is it bright? Yeah. Unfortunately it's a great light stuck to a terrible case. If I had paid $20-30 for it, I'd be peeved, but for $60? Snagged a pair of Knog Boomers to replace it for $42 front AND rear. Not quite as bright up front, but still verges on overkill when set to strobe, and I don't have to deal with fiddly brittle plastic mounting.
8 of 12 people found this review helpful
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Good for the price, November 11, 2010
By Now and again
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As a commuter it's convenient to have a light that's self contained (easy to take with when leaving the bike)and one that uses AAs (easy to have backup power with you). This light meets those criteria and has a great "superflash" mode for drawing driver's attention, but you'll want more light output if you have demanding riding conditions, (riding unlit trails on moonless nights). For use on lighted city streets this is all you'll need.
6 of 7 people found this review helpful
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Good Light, January 31, 2011
By Jacob A. Mcfarland (Va)
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Very Bright. took me a while to find a way to compare it with other lights since it does not list its candlepower or lumen output. I found some reviews of the 1 watt version ([...]) that said it was around 70 lumen (~880 candlepower). There was a good review of the 2 watt version but no lumen output listed. If we assume its twice as bright it puts it at about 1760 candlepower. Cateye still has brighter lights, but not by a lot, and based on the info about the planet bike company (based in US, and supports bike community with profits) I believe they are worth supporting.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
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Planet Bike 2 Watt Blaze led light, March 9, 2010
By maverick (so. cal)
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This light is like a landing light for aircraft! It is very bright, and even on low (which I think would be 1 watt) it is still very bright. Only one problem so far. My wireless computer goes nuts when the light comes on (must be a frequency thing) so looks like I had a top speed of 75 mph. Induction thing or something, and might have to revert to wired computer to solve this one. Or, just know that at night I will not have accurate computer but be alive and be seen.
5 of 6 people found this review helpful
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Great light within its limitations, November 22, 2010
By mambobob
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I initially bought the Blaze 1Watt which seemed fine but I gave it to a friend who lives in the city and rides without a light. Having tested the light there I realized it was fine for being seen - particularly when flashing - or seeing the roadway in dark stretches. I live in a small town, though, and want to ride the country roads at night now that the days are shorter. And while the 2Watt alone was sufficient to see by, the narrow beam proved awkward when making turns, as it pointed slightly away from my direction of travel.
Simple answer: I bought another and have both mounted on my handlebars slightly left/right & near/far. This is an economical approach to reasonable visibility, the next step up costing several hundreds of dollars (if I lived in a warmer climate I would invest in brighter lighting, but my east coast winter riding is likely to be limited). The lights only seem dim when cars pass. I use rechargeable batteries; the LED's last forever on a charge. And even though I turn the lights off on dark stretches of road - for the aesthetics, you know - I would not have been able to ride at night without them.
The mounting bracket is indeed awkward. Despite adjustments I have had to add rubber bands to help secure the lights in place (around the light and the peculiar "locking" handle which does not seem to lock). This has stopped the lights from flopping on trails and bumpy roads.
A great light for the price, but without two you will be moderating your speed too often.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
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 WORKS WELL, July 27, 2011
By walt (chicago)
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Works as advertised. The flashing mode gets the attention of everyone without exception. This is a good thing as there are to many distracted drivers on the road but it is not a cure for those idiots who don't pay attention to their surroundings. The beam is a little spotty with very little side lighting unless you are driving in a pitch black enviroment. I think it works better in a very dark area because a little bit of light goes a long way when it is very dark. You can then see low hanging and side intruding branches much better. All in all I'd say it is a good light but I will be looking for something better because that's the way I am. If you don't plan on going over 12-15 mph you should be fine on a straighaway but if your riding a curved trail forget about going fast because it shines where your handlebars are pointing not off to the side. Build quality seems fine and battery life so far seems good. Overall a good light for the casual rider.
4 of 5 people found this review helpful
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sadly disappointed, September 9, 2010
By sadhaka (NYC)
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If your trail is at all dark, this light will not help you see at ALL. The strobe is really good for being seen by others. It does mount easily. It is cute. I was really hoping for more since some of the reviews said it worked out for them.
4 of 9 people found this review helpful
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Very impressive (considering price), January 6, 2011
By andrew blunk (Pyeongtaek, South Korea)
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Incredibly bright. I commute on several stretches of road with absolutely no lighting, and this baby lights up the street like a much more expensive or bulky headlight. The mount seems pretty decent quality, and attaches firmly. If you're worried about battery life, go with some rechargeable AAs. The only cons I can see thus far are the glossy finish (the model shown appears to be matte finish), silver band separating the lens from the battery compartment (also not pictured) and ridiculous decals preventing anyone from taking it seriously at first glance. Buy hey, thats cosmetic. Functionally, it's impressive.
If you want to know what it really looks like, view the product website. [...]
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
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Very, very good and yet affordable light, October 11, 2010
By ChicagoCPA (Chicago)
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<Update: after about 50 uses, the front 1/3, which you remove to replace the batteries, no longer attaches firmly to the rest of the light (the grey band you see in the photo). Overall I still like the light, however this loose fit bothers me.>
This light already has many good reviews, but I do have a few different items of note.
I wish Planet Bike threw in a helmet mount. It would have cost them all of 50 cents probably. I like being able point my head towards the drivers of cars about to enter my path to let them know I am there, rather than being limited to wherever my handlebars are pointed. I also enjoy not having to attach/detach it every single day. It may turn out to be too heavy, but I wish I did not have to goto planet bike's website to spend $10 to find out.
The flash pattern is one very bright flash followed by 4 or 5 dim flashes every second. This is good. It is very visible without being quite so blinding or hard on battery life as solely bright flashes would have been.
There is a small rubber sleeve to keep it in place better and the increments for adjustment are fixed, but very close together so it is highly likely that you can get a perfect fit.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
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Great light, August 10, 2010
By DENNIS L EKMAN (MARSTONS MILLS, MA, US)
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Planet Bike Blaze LED Headlight
This bike light is well built. Water resistant and has three operating modes. solid Low beam, solid high beam, and flashing strobe. My bike is a Specialized Globe Carmel 700 3 commuter type bike. For my type of ride it's the perfect fit. I cycle on paved roads at night and it provides all the light that I need to see the irregularities in the road ahead. It is a bright light that throws its light beam out far enough so you don't over ride the light. I don't use the flashing mode much. I suspect it is bright enough to maybe confuse a driver in front of you. That mode might be better for daytime use to insure visibility. The light mount is great. I am using it on a 25.4 mm handle bar. I used some electrical friction tape under the rubber mounting strips that came with the mount to secure the mount to the handle bar. The light is easily removed from its mount and stashed in your pocket when you leave your bike to prevent theft. The battery life is not great, but I solved that problem by purchasing Enloop AA rechargeable batteries. They were recommended by another reviewer here. They pay for themselves quickly if you do much riding at night. The only negative for this item that I can see is the price. Like most bike accessories, these items are overpriced for what they are. However that is true for all biking accessories.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
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Good light, terrible mount, September 26, 2011
By Hammer
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This light is the source of a philosophical question - how good is a light if no one can see it?
Other reviewers are right about the light itself - bright, versatile, attention-getting. These are all extremely important in a bike light.
But what does it matter if the light is constantly shifting around, falling forward or back (aiming at the sky or the ground)? Perhaps I was spoiled by the old Cateye mount system, where you would aim a light on Monday and it would still be aimed that way on Friday.
This Planet Bike mount system is terrible. I had enough trouble with it that I took it by the local bike store. The tech there said they regularly get complaints about the mount and they have people order older mounts or use lots of grip tape to keep the light still.
I have it aimed properly right now, but I now that if I nudge it or hit a bump it will work its way down (or up) again.
This is a great light with a terrible mount. Normally I'd chalk this up to my failure to understand how to mount it but after hearing about so many others problems with the mount, I have to conclude it is just really poorly designed.
3 of 4 people found this review helpful
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Best light for a reasonable price, March 24, 2011
By Steff
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IMHO a $15 light is a waste of money. You will not be seen and will most likely not see much either. That being said I can not and will not spend $150 or more for a bicycle light. I am a commuter and tour with the bike. And for that this light is perfect. Brightest light I could find in that price range, has batteries that you can replace in any store on a tour,even a gas station at night if necessary, the solid build quality you'd expect from a Planet Bike product, reasonably long battery life. Yes, I found a few lights that match all that. Except they were at least 3 times as much! If you need anything brighter than this light, you will have to pay a lot more. A lot! And you'll end up with a battery that needs to be recharged. OK if you are at home every night. But what if you tour with the bike? Unless you are racing downhill in a pitch black night this will be more than enough.
3 of 4 people found this review helpful
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Great Light, March 3, 2011
By J. Forster
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What can I say? This thing is bright! Never thought an LED could put out this much power. It's certainly bright enough for a semi-lit urban environment. The "15mph limit" figure others keep quoting is accurate. This light has a practical range of about 20 feet, and 15mph is 22 feet per second.
Pros: It's Bright. It's not bulky. Stylish design.
Cons: Um... nothing, really. Some people might not like the lack of a helmet mount, but that's not a big deal for me.
3 of 4 people found this review helpful
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Strong beam, but pricey and interferes with wireless bike computers, August 23, 2011
By Someone (Alameda, CA, USA)
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Functionally, this is an excellent bike headlight for those who don't want a "technical" product with a built-in lithium ion rechargeable battery and a USB connection. The beam is concentrated and round, making it ideal for monitoring the road surface (if you aim the light downward a bit) or for seeing pedestrians and road signs and gauging side clearances (if you aim it straight ahead). Urban riders who use unlit roads or trails at night would do well to buy two, one for each of these uses.
I've given the product only three stars because (a) the list price is about double what it should be (compared to other AA battery head lights, which must have similar manufacturing costs) and (b) the circuit board is unshielded, causing interference with both my Bell (cheap) and Bontrager (expensive) wireless speed computers.
Final note: This light is more effective for seeing than for being seen. It does have a flashing mode, but the sideways visibility is minimal and, in any case, if your headlight is flashing, it becomes hard for you to make out the road surface! For being seen, add a separate front safety light such as the CatEye 560 manual on/off or 570 automatic on/off safety light/CPSC reflector replacement. Accident data reveal that sideways collisions (for example, when an oncoming driver turns left into your path) are particularly common.
3 of 5 people found this review helpful
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Lights up a dark road & cars see it, November 1, 2011
By EZ Rider (Sarasota, Florida)
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This headlight is a powerhouse. It has three settings: Low, High, and Stobe. I mostly ride every day in the pre-dawn hours with the roads full of cars going to work driven too fast by sleepy drivers. I usually ride with the headlight in the Strobe mode. It definitely gets a driver's attention - it's like a bright camera flash firing a few times every second. When I am alone on a dark road, the High mode lights up a wide, long oval. The light is hooded so there in no flashing in the rider's eyes. The light can be easily removed for safe keeping when you go into a store. I also use a Planet Bike Superflash Turbo tail light which is also insanely bright in Strobe mode. Planet Bike Superflash Turbo Rear Light I feel very safe in the dark with these two Planet Bike products. (I am a recreational rider, male, 64.)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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good light for the money, August 6, 2011
By drakegirl
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I wanted the most amount of light for the least amount of money. This seems to fit that requirement. I am an occasional night rider with those rides being mostly on the trails and some residential streets. This light is best for being seen, not necessarily for lighting up the path. If I were to do more night riding I would upgrade to light rated by lumens with a helmet mount.
Mounted easily to my handle bars and unclips for easy use as a flashlight.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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The Light Is Great; The Mount Sucks Eggs, January 17, 2011
By Voiceguy (Los Angeles, CA)
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I agree with the many other reviewers who have praised the technical performance of this light. It is bright and well focused, which is just what I need riding around Los Angeles streets after dark. I generally don't go out at night intentionally, but it's nice to have this if I get caught after sundown unexpectedly. Some of the fissures and gaps in the neglected asphalt of Los Angeles pavement would be enough to eat a wheel instantly, and it's important to be able to see and avoid those hazards.
My big gripe is with the "QuickCam" handlebar mount. I managed to get the mount installed on my handlebar without too much problem (the strap had to be shortened a couple of clicks because I had relatively thin tubing). However, the quick-release mechanism that the light housing fits into is a joke. The light housing slides into a slot on the mount, and snaps into place over a little springy plastic lever with a tab that's supposed to hold it locked in position. However, the little lever has only a very tenuous grip on the light housing -- the tab is too small, and/or there is not enough spring in the little flexible lever. One decent bump in the road and the light goes flying off to land who-knows-where.
I have written to the manufacturer to find out if they have any solutions to the cheesy mount problem. In the meantime, I am going to have to figure out some way to secure the light housing so that it will stay in place.
It is the problem with the mount that causes me to rate this unit with four stars instead of five. As I mentioned above, the light itself is amazingly bright and does a good job -- if it would just stay on the handlebar!
UPDATE: I e-mailed the manufacturer (via the form on its website) and mentioned my problems. I received a prompt response stating that PlanetBike wanted to send me a replacement mount at no charge, and further requesting that I send back the original mount for their evaluation in a prepaid mailer they would send. The replacement arrived a few days later, and I removed the old mount and installed the new one.
So far the headlamp has stayed in place. I'm still not completely trusting of the design of this mounting system, but at least the new one seems to be more reliable than the old one.
One thing I did differently was to put far less tension on the cam-lock that fastens the unit to the handlebar. This system requires that you rotate a threaded fitting to bring the mount within range of the actual tube diameter of the handlebar, and then flip down the cam lever at the end of the fitting. Because of concern that tension from this mounting arrangement might have deformed the mount enough to make the snap-in lock not work properly, this time I kept it as loose as possible -- just enough to keep the mount from rotating on the handlebar from road vibration. It is possible to rotate it manually.
Other than this mount issue, I am pleased with the light. It is quite bright, even in the lower brightness setting, and the flashing mode is quite conspicuous in the day time. I don't believe it would be appropriate to use the flashing mode at night, because it would be incredibly distracting to oncoming drivers. The steady headlight mode would be more appropriate at night anyway, since the whole point is being able to see the road in front. I even grab the light from the bike sometimes to use as a portable flashlight.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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Great for commuting, October 3, 2010
By Bendable Biker
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I had a "frankenlight" made from an HID to a rechargeable battery pack I make. That light was very bright but it had reliability problems. I figure safety equipment should just work, and I wanted something that didn't take a ton of batteries and was bright.
This light fills the bill for commuting, especially when the light is in flash mode. I commute during the school car-pools and this light, on flash mode, gets the other drivers' attention. When riding at night the 1W setting is bright enough to light the road when I'm going slow-to-moderate speeds climbing hills and the 2W definitely brightens the way for "at speed" riding.
When I use rechargeable batteries rather than alkaline batteries, it is a bit dimmer, but I just run it at the 2W setting and carry a charged, spare set of batteries, just in case.
The mount is a quick release, but the light also detaches from the mount, so I'd actually prefer a more permanent mounting and just pop the light off and leave the mount when in more dubious locations. The light itself seems to be fairly solidly made,and the mount is adequate.
The beam is a bit on the narrow side, so no, I probably wouldn't recommend this for gonzo night-time downhill mountain biking. But for a commuter light, it's great.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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Fantastically bright and well made, but a bit pricey, September 30, 2010
By E. Carbone (United States)
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This is a well-made, solid unit with a blindingly bright light. It really does the job, and when set to flash, you will definitely be seen by cars from a long distance. The "super flash" function is quite a strobe -- you might actually have to be careful about blinding folks.. Mounting is easy, though depending on what kind of handlebars you have, you may need to play around with it a bit to get the best mount. I like how the light easily slides off the mount with the release switch: this is a fairly pricey little light at about $45 -- so I definitely do not recommend leaving it on the bike if you are parked someplace. Fortunately, the slide-off system makes it very easy to remove and carry with you. This light also looks good, with it's black finish. I will say that I have never used this light for riding trails in the dark; other reviewers have said that the beam is a bit narrow and it may not work as well as expected for that purpose (of course, mount two of these bad boys and I guarantee you will have some illumination in front of you...)
The only negative about this light is the price; while it's an extremely bright light with a great strobe pattern, $45 is a bit much for a bicycle headlight.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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Best LED light, Problematic mount, September 25, 2010
By Noam Livneh
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Planet Bike Blaze 2Watt LED Headlight is the best and the brightest LED light I saw.
However it comes with a an Adjustable Bracket that can only be adjusted vertically.
I found no way of adjusting it horizontally and with some handlebars the light cannot be pointed forward.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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GREAT PRODUCT, August 10, 2010
By R. Slezak (Coventry, RI)
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I've been using the Planet Bike Blaze LED for a while now and I am truly amazed at the amount of illumination this little guy is capable of.
I use it on an unlit bike path on my commute home from work which would be impossible without this light. I literally cannot see my hand in front of my face without it, its pitch dark out there. Makes me think that maybe I should get a back up in case of emergency.
The path has painted lines and this unit really lights them up at night. I'd have to say, its brighter than headlights on some motorcycles I've owned over the years.
Another thing, people just seem to get out of your way when they see the headlight coming at them at 20 miles per hour, they definitely do not react as fast in similar circumstance with the light off.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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Strobe mode for daylight safety, April 27, 2011
By B. Lent
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I recommend this light for daylight riding. For night it is pretty focused and may be good for a lighted urban environment. I chose this light because when I ride as a group, I could see one flashing light over half a mile away. I couldn't even identify that it was a bike. This was the light she had. So anytime I am on a long training ride, I use this light in strobe mode. For this purpose I wish it had a wider spread, but it is the best I have found yet.
2 of 3 people found this review helpful
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One of the (VERY BEST) lights for commuting., December 19, 2010
By gingerbakr
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This is by far one of the best lights for commuting and riding around town, if your like me, and most people are I ride to keep in shape, I don't ride dirt trails,single track or downhill I ride to save money, go to the store and to the post office and for exercise. You can't beat the light output of this 2 watt light, the strobe alone is well worth the price of this product, others complain about the narrow beam but it is wide enough to see a 2 lane road and up to 165 feet. If you are planning on buying a light consider this one and you won't be sorry, if the price bothers you remember that 25% of the total cost goes to charity, so your getting the best light and doing a good deed for others.
2 of 3 people found this review helpful
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Bike LED Headlight, August 24, 2010
By Amazonfan
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This is one whale of a bright light. I've seen guys pedalling around my office with these things blinking in broad daylight, and they're amazing. It's also amazing to see one at night. Oncoming cars slow down just to see what it is, and it REALLY pumps out the light rays. Highly recommended. Easy to install, and yes, the clamp DOES fit all handlebars if you simply ratchet it down to size before snapping the clamp closed. It always helps to read the instructions.
2 of 3 people found this review helpful
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Good light for great price, June 7, 2010
By bluej777 (Houston, Tx)
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This is the second Blaze 2W LED Headlight. I ride early in the morning with my wife before day break and we needed lights to see the road. This light is very easy on the batteries - the 2 AA batteries have lasted for well over 6 hours adn still going strong. I find the low beam setting adequate but narrow. Going to the high (2W) beam gives a wider view which I find helpful. This is not an off road light where you need to see to make split second decisions such as mountain bike riding and the like, but for 15-20mph riding around a neighborhood, these lights are adequate and a great value. I do recommend anyone using this light also get a decent back light as well.
2 of 3 people found this review helpful
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 Dark Trail, November 21, 2011
By Tony Ting (Foster City, CA United States)
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I ride on dark trails where people take their dogs, there are runners and even occasional bikes without any lights. The Blaze has a narrow beam that goes about 15 feet. It is dangerous to ride with only that. I replaced it with a NiteRider MiNewt 600. It is a LED headlight, but it is 10X more powerful, with a wide beam. It is much safer. Just my opinion.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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it's ok, October 7, 2011
By Rohn S. Bayes (San Antonio, TX USA)
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nice light but the mounting bracket gave way after a few months and had to fasten it with a plastic tie
fairly strong light but no way to adjust the aim so it hits the center of the road
finally upgraded to a cygolite 250 rechargeable - quite a bit more expensive but no batteries to replace and very high quality light all around
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Super bright, August 5, 2011
By felix (LA)
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I previously had the Planet Bike Beamer 5 and thought it was an excellent light, except on really dark roads. I left that light attached to my bike once and not surprisingly, it got stolen. I was tempted to buy the same light again, but currently I bike frequently back from work on unlit roads, so I thought I'd splurge a bit and get the Blaze2. It arrived yesterday and WOW! This thing really works! I puts out enough light to compete with car lights, wonderfully lights the road ahead and makes biking in the dark feel much more manageable. It has three settings, two constant and one blinking. The constant at low is all I used last night, the high setting got a bit brighter, but not much and I bet it burns the batteries (conveniently 2 AAs) much faster. I will use the blinking mode though in the city: it blinks continuously, but switches about five blinks between low and high. I bet the changing brightness makes it stand out even more in traffic!
All in all, I am VERY happy with this purchase and highly recommend it if you have to ride in the dark.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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excellent, February 22, 2011
By Wayne
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This light is awesome when used with high-voltage nickel-zinc batteries. Extraordinarily bright with a good beam pattern. The handlebar mount is easy to install, remove, and adjust. The switch is not difficult to operate when wearing winter gloves.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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This is the one to buy!, January 8, 2011
By ramrodpete (Ramrod Key Florida)
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This light is plenty bright and has 2 watt setting and 1 watt setting plus flashing. I tried others before and they were not as bright and were cheaply made and the bracket broke making the light unusable. With this light you can purchase the mounting bracket separately and switch the light from bike to bike or if the bracket should break get a new one. Overall this is the best light for the money in the long run and Amazon had the best complete price.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Well-designed, solidly constructed light, December 27, 2010
By gifford scott (nc)
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Great light for the money. Typically great Planet Bike quality throughout this piece. The mounting system is very easy to use: A mounting bracket clamps onto the handlebar with the flip of a lever, with the light itself sliding on and off the mounting bracket w/a click detent. The headlight could always be brighter :) , but the beam provides good coverage and I find myself using the low intensity setting of the light more often than not, so no real complaints here about brightness. The small form factor of the light is great - small enough to slip unobtrusively into a coat pocket, when you need to lock your bike in a public place and don't want someone walking off w/your new light. Also, the light itself seems to be very durably constructed - high-impact plastic, but it feels very solid and looks to be able to take its share of knocks. Highly recommended.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Brightest AA light I have found., November 20, 2010
By Outpost05 (UTAH)
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I liked my first one so much, I bought a second. I have them both mounted on the handlebar. One aimed down to illuminate the area just in front of the bike and the other pointing out a bit further. There is no way I can outrun this set up and no surprises in the street.
They are plenty bright even on the "dim" (1 watt?) setting. But using them on the full bright really lights up the night. The flashing mode is a good attention getter even in daylight.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Great commuter light, November 19, 2010
By DaveW
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I strongly recommend this light to anyone who commutes or trains in the dark.
The beam is strong and focused. Really amazing, considering the light is powered by 2 AA batteries! I love the crazy, random flash mode the light offers. I wasn't expecting to even use flash mode, but it's perfect for dawn and twilight.
The mount is very nice, and quite adjustable for different diameters of handlebars. You can easily separate the light from the mount to replace batteries or ride without the light. I have mine mounted upside down, so the assembly doesn't stick up and get in my way.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Not Intended for Covert Ops, November 19, 2010
By The Droidiphile (SF Bay Area)
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I recently upgraded from the Planet Bike 3044 Blaze 1-Watt LED Headlight, thinking that twice the quantity of light for the same weight, with almost no difference in run time, was too good to pass up.
These are great lamps, so I have no regrets about spending the money to upgrade. They are just not the stadium lights conjured up by my over zealous imagination at seeing the rated 2 Watts of LED lighting...
My only complaint is that they could be improved by a broader light pattern, instead of the spot light. Of course, a broader pattern would diminish the light intensity by spreading it out over more road surface. In fairness, I have this same complaint about many manufacturers bike headlights. I solve this problem by running dual lamps, and "aim" them for broad road coverage. Some of my cycling chums are running a single 2W Blaze, and they tell me I'm "gonzo nutzoid" for using Blaze 2W X2, i.e., it's not necessary with this much illumination in a single package. My wife is a safety freak though, and would have me look like a complete dork draped in excessive safety gear. Two lamps works for me and my situation ... besides, is there such a thing as too much brightness ??? I suppose there is one exception: don't use these lights if you are conducting covert operations...
Bottom line for me, you get a huge amount of light for a relatively long burn time, in a light weight, well built package. And since I am lucky enough to be currently employed, the price seems very reasonable.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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beacon in the night, October 8, 2010
By Moby (TX)
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just got my blaze in today. I have not mounted it on the bike yet but went out in the backyard to see if it lived up to the reviews....the little light is brighter than the majority of my flashlights that are 3X the size. It really throws out some light and you would have to be rollin to out drive the light. I also got the blinky 3 which was able to throw off enough light for my wife to see me from 2 blocks away with street lights on. I would recommend this to anyone.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Brightest headlight of its class, July 28, 2011
By N. Galloway (Tucson, AZ)
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I bought this headlight after searching around for something that was much brighter than my previous bike headlight. I didn't want to go as big or expensive as a light with a separate battery pack so I settled with the Planet Bike Blaze 2watt LED light. So far I am very pleased. It has an unbelievably bright beam for its size even on the 1Watt setting (outshining my big D-cell regular flashlight) and the batteries seem to last a long time. It feels fairly solid though the plasic catch on the mounting bracket seems a bit flimsy. Holding so far though and I know Planey Bike sells those separately (a smart move). It is a little bigger than my last headlight but loads brighter. You just can't get anything better without dropping a lot of cash on a heavy light with an external battery pack. Well worth the money and makes it possible for me to finally ride my bike on these dark Tucson streets at night.
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
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Pretty bright light, June 28, 2011
By M. Mandt (Georgia)
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It is definitely the brightest LED light I have ever owned. However, it is still an LED light. So it casts very tight visible beam. The good news is its fairly durable. (I dropped it a few times... clumsy me.)
The quick release strap is great; Easy to attach; Easy to remove. Note, once you remove it, it is easy to drop (ha).
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
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The BEST Lights on the Market!, June 14, 2011
By jdcpa
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I'm a big fan of CatEye products, but these lights take the cake.
If you're going to get them, order 2!
Two of them are much better than 1 or 2 cateye spotlights.
Unlike the spot-lights, these actually provide a natural glow in front of you that illuminates ALL of your front view, not just a beam of light or a spot on the ground. They also last longer, they're smaller, and removable.
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
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Ha! It's our turn!, May 2, 2011
By Urban Nightrider (Sacramento, Ca)
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Everything stated about brightness and that annoying strobe mode are so true! This is an excellent tool against those tools out there who treat cyclists like targets. That strobe mode makes them wish they wore sunglasses at night. I'd say best buy for a night light. Works well on the bike trail surrounding Sacramento at night and is outright annoying in the urban setting..
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
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Very good but not perfect, April 18, 2011
By H. S. Gray (Exeter, UK)
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This light has been excellent for me - it is brighter than my pervious one and has been very reliable. It is pretty thirsty on the batteries and it feels like it might be susceptible to the rain (although has withstood pretty heavy rainstorms for me). The point off is for the mount which is not the best - comes a little loose and the light likes to drop down during journeys but on the whole is has been good.
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
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Great light. Should include Helmet mount., February 24, 2011
By kermit fan (Portland, OR)
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Pros:
Over 5 hrs so far on one battery pack. Way better than my 6-cell NiMH battery pack for my old halogen light.
Bright - very bright
Tough case - really well-constructed
Cons:
No helmet mount included. Planet Bike should just put the piece of plastic in the box and charge me $0.25 for it.
Beam is too concentrated.
I'm buying a helmet mount for this light, and adding the 1/2 watt light as well. Between the 2 of them, I'll have enough light and wide enough coverage to make me happy.
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
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Good light, but not enough for pitch darkness, September 14, 2010
By C. Kwok (Brooklyn, NY United States)
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I was looking through many reviews and found this light to be better than most "commuter" lights. It is brighter than most, but it is not enough for when riding in total darkness. The beam pattern is just too focused in one spot so it makes it hard to see other than where the beam is focused. If you want to stick with this light, you will need at least two of these lights for suburban riding.
In dim conditions, it can help for in between street lamps and/or dim moonlight. It would be excellent for urban environments to supplement street lamps. However, in total darkness or in between/under trees, this light isn't enough. I have ordered a cygolite 250 lumen headlight (about 2-3 times brighter) for my main light. I will be using this light in the meantime until the other one arrives. Something is better than nothing. I will keep it around as a backup light/urban light since I probably won't risk forgetting about the more expensive cygolite light on my handlebars.
I have only used it for about 20 minutes, but the handlebar mount seem solid, even though I did not tighten it down enough. The clip was a bit hard to figure out since it is so small, but it seems to hold the light well.
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
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Great Item, May 3, 2010
By Andy in Louisville
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People definitely see you coming with this on your handlebars. Bright enough to see on those dark streets, but I put it on flash most of the time so people know I'm coming.
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
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Must have for night riding, August 25, 2011
By S. Carlson (Huntington Beach, CA, USA)
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My wife and I recently each got new bicycles, and since we work days we find most of our time to ride is at dusk or beyond. For night rides you'll need decent reflectors and noticeable clothing, and I'd also recommend a good headlight and taillight. Planet Bike makes some excellent accessories, including this super bright 3 stage headlight. People can definitely see us coming, and we can easily see where we're going. The ratcheting handlebar attachment can be a little tricky at first, and the directions aren't particularly helpful in that respect...which is the sole reason for my 4 star review.
1 of 3 people found this review helpful
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Blaze 3044 is a better deal, January 6, 2011
By Grommitt
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Forgo this model for the one-watt Blaze 3044 -- Amazon: $39.99. Planet Bike 3044 Blaze 1-Watt LED Headlight They are equally bright, and both have comparable high, low and strobe settings.
1 of 6 people found this review helpful
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Great Light!, May 27, 2010
By Reynard C. Florida (Chicago , IL)
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It's a really goof light and a good price! Just as bright as other lights that are double the price.
1 of 6 people found this review helpful
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OK for being seen, not seeing, January 27, 2012
By J.K.
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I use this light on my commute home from work in a brightly lit city. It seems ok for others to see you, but it doesn't help lighting the path ahead. Potholes look flattened out and its hard to tell what is actually being lit by the light vs ambient light. Compared to my friend's 250 lumen niterider light, this literally pales in comparison. my light gets engulfed in my shadow when he's riding behind me. Next time, I wish they would gauge the light by its lumens rather than watts to get a sense of how much light is being reflected rather than how much power is being used. I'll also probably go with something at least 250 lumens or higher.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Great light. Should include Helmet mount., February 24, 2011
By kermit fan (Portland, OR)
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Pros:
Over 5 hrs so far on one battery pack. Way better than my 6-cell NiMH battery pack for my old halogen light.
Bright - very bright
Tough case - really well-constructed
Cons:
No helmet mount included. Planet Bike should just put the piece of plastic in the box and charge me $0.25 for it.
Beam is too concentrated.
I'm buying a helmet mount for this light, and adding the 1/2 watt light as well. Between the 2 of them, I'll have enough light and wide enough coverage to make me happy.
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
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Interferes with wireless computer, December 7, 2011
By bob
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I bought this light to help with daytime visibility for our tandem. The flashing mode does that fairly well, although the beam is somewhat narrow. I found I couldn't use the light on that bike, however, because it interferes with the Shimano Flight Deck computer I have on the same handlebar, even in steady mode. I have moved it to another bike that has a wired connection from the speed sensor to the computer head and is not disrupted by the electromagnetic interference radiated by this light. As a light for night riding, I find it fairly dim although still probably brighter than most other lights at this price. It is better than not having a light in a pinch, but if you frequently commute in the dark I would recommend stepping up to something brighter.
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Planet Blaze 2 Watt LED Headlight, November 27, 2011
By Noclevername
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I got this light to replace a Nashbar LED headlight, which was cheaper but stopped working about a year after I got it. The Planet Blaze seems made well and works well, although it's still too new for me to know how reliable it is. It has a low, high, and flashing output settings. The 2 watts makes it brighter than most lights like this, but also more expensive. So far, I'm pretty happy with it and would recommend it.
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Nice bike light, November 26, 2011
By yelvis (Corvallis, OR USA)
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I have owned both the 1W and 2W versions of this light (my 1W version got stolen) and I must say I prefer this brighter version. It is not up to snuff for mountain biking at night, but good solution of nighttime street biking. Only complaint is doesn't stay perfectly on the handle bars - tends to very slowly slip down (over a period of days).
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Bright Light Small package, November 14, 2011
By Ares (Swoyersville, PA)
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I bought two of these for our marina bikes on our sailboat. The light is pretty bright and the beam is more tightly focused than I expected. It does a surprisingly nice job of illuminating the path in front of you, but "Blaze" is a case of marketing puffery. All I can say is on a moonless night on a country road the Blaze was bright enough for me in either the 1W or 2W mode. The strobe mode is downright annoying. The only way someone hits you with the strobe on is if you caused the driver an epileptic seizure. The mounting system is pretty good, although the bike's brake cables always seem to be right in front of the light. Overall, it's well made product that so far is holding up in a marine environment.
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They'll see you coming a mile away, November 9, 2011
By Steve
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This is a good, very bright light. When you have this on the your bike at night in flashing mode, anyone coming towards you will see the light long before they see you. This unit also works well in the more standard mode lighting the road, although I normally bike in urban settings where there's quite a bit of artificial light at night already. The mount adjusts easily to the handlebars and makes it easy to slide the light on and off the bike. The light stays securely on the bike even when biking over bumpy roads.
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use in daytime too, October 17, 2011
By Dory
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I don't do a lot of nightime riding, but wanted something bright that would get me noticed in the daylight. The 2-watt Blaze set on flash and the turbo tail light do the job.
An elderly neighbor backing out of his drivway suddenly stopped in his driveway and later told me that the flashing light on my bike in full daylight got his attention and advised him of my approch.
I use both lights whenever I ride my bike and have received other comments about being seen by drivers, even though I wear bright colored clothes while riding.
If you do any riding on the streets, you have to get these lights and use them at all times.
These lights were purchased thru Amazon and arrived within a few days. It took me two minutes to mount them and they are secure, don't wobble around and are easy to adjust as necessary.
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Bright and decent throw (angle), September 29, 2011
By Stressless
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The mounting system had some hic-ups that I worked out but once that was complete I went for a quick 10mile jaunt in the rain at night and it worked like a CHAMP. Didn't loosen over bumps and stuttering roadways, didn't short out in the 45mins driving rain, had enough 'uummpph' to light up the wet road and road signs.
Good stuff for a decent price.
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Plenty of Blaze, September 7, 2011
By BalboaCZ3
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Other than the glossy finish of the housing and the oversized logo, I have no complaints with this light. The quick release mounting bracket seems adequate for road use and probably works best if your bars have no contour. The light mounts and releases very quickly. Because the last two lights I owned (different manufacturer) came apart while riding I have added a strip of electrical tape around the twist-on nose piece just for added security. The flash mode is superior and there are two standard settings. The three options are more than adequate for my use (road). I have not tested this light on the trails.
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Does the job at a great price, August 31, 2011
By d. jones
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The PLANET BIKE Blaze 2W does the job for me. Excellent for being seen or for seeing (headlight). I have used it as a headlight while road cycling in dark residential neighborhoods. I am happy with it after four weeks of use and have not needed to change batteries. The mount is no problem.
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Bright and Easy, February 11, 2011
By ruh-roe (California, USA)
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We're talking about the bike light here (sorry Hon). I bought the PB 1/2 watt and was happy, this 2watt light is that much better. It puts out plenty of light through its three modes, and like all PB headlights, it's easy to mount.
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Great little light...., January 18, 2011
By Ford Prefect (San Ant-Austin)
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I am very impressed by the power of this little light, it is very visible to motorists, (I had a friend drive by me and check it) and I can clearly see the road ahead of me. It does not scare cars and trucks into submission like my HID light that I have on my ATB, but it cost $500 less and the batteries last 10 times longer.
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Great Commuting Bike Light, January 4, 2011
By Bike Commuter
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I just started commuting to work and purchased this bike light to help me be seen...so far this light has been great! I can see the strobe bounce off of reflective stop signs and other items far ahead of me. I also notice cars see me way before they pass or turn. It is worth the money over the 1/2 and 1 watt to get the extra light and be seen. I would highly recommend this product if your commuting.
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Great light, November 14, 2010
By Garrett
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I was surprised at how much brighter this flashlight is than my old one. It's also doubles as the best flashlight I have. I can't believe I put up with a wimpy light for so long, I wish I bought this one in the first place.
Pro: Very Bright
Con: It makes my helmet light seem dim by comparison, and now I want to buy a new helmet light.
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Bright, easy mount, long battery life, great value!, November 4, 2010
By -ng (Central Illinois)
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This is my second bike light I've purchased, and easily my favorite. Previously I had been using a Blackburn Flea. I like the Flea, but having to recharge it after every ride was getting really tedious. That led me to buy this light. At first, you would think that it would be nice to have a light that you can just recharge. Think again. If your light is rechargeable, that means you have a charger to keep track of, and you have to remember to recharge it regularly. It's no fun when you've gotten ready to go for a ride in the dark, you're about to take off and you remember that you haven't charged your light. With this system, you simply pop off the top, throw in 2 fresh batteries and off you go. For the eco-conscious, you can still use NiMh AA rechargeable batteries as other reviewers have suggested.
This light is very bright for the price, one set of AA's lasts a lot longer than the flea, it's fast and easy to mount, and it is simple to change the batteries.
As far as brightness is concerned, see this page [...] . As you can see, the Blaze easily beats the flea (though I would say in practice it's closer than eddys suggests). I ride early in the morning on rural roads, but usually end up using the low setting. The Blaze's low setting is comparable to the Fleas bright setting.
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Better than expected, all the light you need., October 26, 2010
By media executive (San Diego, CA)
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This replaced a well used Halogen that had finally broken and a Cateye LED that simply wasn't bright enough.
The Blaze 2Watt is bright enough for nighttime road riding but where it really 'shines' is in flashing mode, it makes you noticed.
It's a good value, well constructed, and the mount is quality.
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Works great, October 22, 2010
By Adrenaline (Germany)
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I have nothing but positive things to say about this light. It is mounted on my Cannondale Bad Boy which I use exclusively in a big urban area. Works great after 3 months of use. Recommend to buy.
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Planet Bike Blaze is the BEST light, October 16, 2010
By cyberman (nj)
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I purchased this light(actually two of them) to use in a night bike ride. I had used Cateye lights in the past with 1500 candle power. I compared the Cateye with the blaze 2 watt LED and planet bike's light blows the Cateye away in both light intensity, brightness and weight. the Cateye uses 4 AA batteries while the Blaze uses 2 which makes it lighter in weight. the blaze also lasts about 6 hours on the highest 2 watt setting. needless to say i was very satisfied with my purchase and highly recommend them. they were $41 apiece which is also a plus. they might not be as bright as the nightrider lights but then they aren't $150 either.
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Love it!, October 11, 2010
By Damodar Chetty (Minnesota, US [www.swengsol.com])
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Solid, bright, and easy to install.
The light has 2 settings, and for a recent late evening ride, the lower setting was more than adequate for my needs.
I'm usually all thumbs when it comes to installation - but this was a breeze to install.
Happily, no cons to report!
Happy trails!
~Damodar
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nice and bright, October 6, 2010
By ggwbike
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The 2 watt LED Blaze is as bright as a 10 watt halogen headlight. I got 8 hours of battery time with lithium AA batteries using a mix of low and high setting. The handlebar mount is the only low point on this light. I added cork handlebar wrap to make sure the mounting bracket hold to my drop style handlebars.
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Totally handy, September 29, 2010
By Leverleg (Indianapolis)
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Only two batts let this sleek headlight feel weightless. I often snap two of the Blaze 2W on the bar for effective casual use. They're plenty bright enough for environments where ambient light doesn't compete.
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Terrific light, September 22, 2010
By plain_old
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I have been using this light for several months. It's reliable and extremely bright. I've been using it as a backup. My main light is a Jet Lites rechargeable halogen that is very, very bright. The Planet Bike 2W Blaze is almost as bright as the Jet Lites halogen --- and much brighter than other LED lights that I've purchased before. It's an excellent back up for a my rechargable halogen light. It is also easy to remove it from the handle bar mount, which comes in handy when fixing a flat tire or making other repairs in the dark. Overall, a great product.
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Excellent light for the money, September 19, 2010
By Meister (Minnesota)
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After completing a great deal of research, I purchased this light. This is a great little light for a bike. It puts off moderate quantity of light, operates off common AA batteries, and is sold at very reasonable price. The included mounting bracket installs and works fine, holding the light securily. The light snaps on and off the bracket easily.
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amazing superflash... beam is narrow, September 17, 2010
By scootle (SF Bay Area, CA)
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I will echo the sentiments that this light in SuperFlash mode is awesome... for daytime visibility, this is the way to go. Coupled with a Planet Bike Blinky Superflash Tail Light, you will be quite visible coming or going, even in daylight.
While plenty bright after dark in constant-beam mode, the beam pattern is a bit on the narrow side. I think as a spot-based beam it's great for picking out things directly in your path, but for any kind of peripheral/flood viewing, this is not the light to use or rely on.
I have an older Planet Bike Super Spot 1-Watt LED Bicycle Light (discontinued) that isn't quite as bright, but has a lens that provides a wider flood-like beam that is nice for seeing the edges of your path. It's too bad this particular light has been discontinued, but it is quite a bit bulkier and actually uses 4x AA batteries instead, which is a bit cumbersome. At least the mounting brackets are similar enough that you can use either light in a pinch.
Perhaps doubling up with a similar flood-style light might be the way to go for completely unlit paths at night.
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Fantastic when you double up!, August 29, 2010
By hockey-dad (Syracuse, NY)
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I bought one of these for myself and my son bought one also. I ride every night and he rides very rarely so I bought an extra Planet Bike Quick Cam Handlebar Adjustable Bracket for about $5 and normally use both lights on my bike. This takes the amount of light from ok to great. One is aimed just slightly higher to expand the lit area. Doubling up makes for safer riding and you always have a spare in case you get behind on your battery charges.
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Blaze 2 watt LED Headlight, August 29, 2010
By Arnold (Texas)
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This is a reasonably priced headlight for those who are riding at a leisurely pace. The light is quite bright and nearly white, although the beam is a bit narrow. The Blaze 2 watt light is great for city riding, but because of the narrow beam I wouldn't recommend it as a single light source on winding paths. I have a lower power light mounted to my helmet that works quite well on those rare night rides in the woods. There are 3 settings (hi/low/flash) available at the press of a button. The flash mode is awesome. You will have no problem being seen by cars and pedestrians, day or night. When I ride more dimly lit streets in the city, I use the hi function. The cam bracket is a bit difficult to adjust. I had to place tape on my handlebar to keep the light from moving when hitting bumps. The upside is that the bracket can be easily installed and removed without the need for tools. The light is powered by 2 AA batteries. I use Ni-Mh rechargeables and get plenty of run time for my use. I ride a couple of hours per night and I re-charge after every 2-3 uses. I have yet to run the batteries completely down, so I don't know the actual runtime. I would definitely recommend this for basic night riding in the city.
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Bright light keeps you visible during the day., April 18, 2011
By verygooddog
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I don't often ride at night, so I can't comment yet about the usefulness of the Planet Bike Blaze 2 Watt LED Headlight for riding in the dark. I'll update the review after I do a night ride.
Most of my riding is in fairly heavy traffic and I'm convinced that the key to my safety lies in being noticed by drivers. For that reason, I wear a bright jersey and I have a Planet Bike Blinky Super Flash Tail Light and the Blaze 2 Watt Headlight. I use both lights in the flashing mode and I am seen! It seems that drivers give me a bit more room since I've started riding witht the lights. I also haven't had a driver pull out directly in front of me since I've had the headlight.
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Planet Bike Blaze 2Watt LED, March 11, 2011
By Matt
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This is my second Blaze (My first one was stolen when someone "borrowed" my bike right out of my garage). Battery life seems good. I used it on a night bike ride/camping trip on a completely dark bike path. My headlight was the brightest in our group so I usually stayed up front. When I'm on the streets with more obstacles I tend to go a little slower then on the trail because it doesn't give off quite as much light as I feel comfortable with.
It's easy to install (after a little adjusting). I bought an extra mount to put on my mountain bike also. The flashing Mode is a good attention getter for twilight travels. I also bought the Planet Bike Superflash 1/2 watt rear light which is awesome,
Overall, for most uses this is a great light.
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Super bright light for the money. Love the real world picture comparisons on planetbike.com, January 11, 2011
By John C. Gettler (Apple Valley, MN USA)
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Super bright light for the money. I don't think you can "out run" this light. It should give you ample warning to hazards even at high speeds. I love the real world picture comparisons on [...]. Do it.
[...]
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Very Good; Alternatives Brighter, October 19, 2010
By Marie (New England)
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I purchased this bike light and it is a very good value for the price, in my opinion. As I was reading some of the reviews I also came across a reference to a CP7 bike light (now I cannot find that review so I was wondering if the reviewer was censored by Amazon), and the review said it was for really dark night riding. It was not available on Amazon, so I looked for it elsewhere and got it. I use BOTH the 2-watt BP light on bright and the battery-packed LED SS CP7 (efficiently shipped from China). I use the 2-watt BP light on high setting and the CP7 on low lighting (it is still brighter than the 2-watt BP light), and that makes for an effective way to light up dark, treelined roads at night, going generally around 10-18 mph. The BP light is directed toward the right side of the road and the CP7 is directed at the center and for distance. They work together beautifully. The CP7 is about $72 U.S., and very very nice. You can certainly use it in less dark areas. The PB light is very good for most situations, but needs a complementary brighter light in very dark areas.
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Great light, August 2, 2011
By William Ferguson (Los Angeles, CA USA)
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I was a little skeptical but it got good rating because it is good and saved me from an on coming car where the driver was on the phone. Later she told me that she saw the light and stopped. It has taken a beating and still works well. It is so light that I took it along on a short vacation and is much brighter than other lights. My advice is to purchase it from Amazon. The price is right and Amazon's service is great.
0 of 2 people found this review helpful
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great light for visability, June 26, 2011
By stephen (tampa, fl)
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outstanding light for being seen in the rapid flashing mode (even in daylight); efficient battery use and reliable design; beam is a little narrow for satisfactory night time use but does extend a satisfactory distance; after using it for eight months, got a second one and now even drunk drivers cannot ignore me:)
0 of 2 people found this review helpful
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Headlamp, June 7, 2011
By Achtron
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Concerning the shipping, it arrived in perfect condition on the date stated. This headlamp is one of the brightest i have ever seen. I reccomend this product to anyone that rides a bicycle, a must have product.
0 of 2 people found this review helpful
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Not as bright as I expected, May 2, 2011
By Blake
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I have a cheap 3 LED light mounted next to the "2 Watt single LED" Blaze headlamp and to be honest, the cheap $10 light seems to produce more useful light and unless you are directly in front of the blaze, the cheap light is brighter. Don't waste your money.
0 of 3 people found this review helpful
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awesome light, January 3, 2012
By landscapearchitect9 (NY)
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i just bought a second one of these. haven't ridden yet with both of them on my bike, but can't wait to do so. I love the one i already have, so can't wait to rock two! have them attached on handlebars via The Topeak Bar Extender. looks bada--! might buy another one as a gift for my brother.
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Very bright, but kind of cheap, January 5, 2012
By Alex
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This light was bright enough to see potholes when traveling at night. Unfortunately after opening the light a few times to change the batteries, the light began to not lock together as tightly. That is, it would open to the battery compartment more and more easily. This got so bad that eventually riding over a pothole would cause the light to break apart, sometimes even tossing out the batteries. I would not purchase this light again.
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Super Bright! Worth Every Penny!!!, February 2, 2012
By elmonova (Chicago)
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Spend the extra $ on a quality light, it's well worth it. Quality construction, Very bright, Strobe mode has a variability to it, so as to be more noticed. Quick relies clip works great! 10 years ago I purchased a single led incandescent combo light from Planet Bike, still works great, just want to upgrade to something really bright. I'm confident that this will also last many years, at the construction seams solid. The only thing is the Hi and Low positions do not differ much, very bright to VERY bright...not a big deal to me. I highly recommend it! The only thing is the Hi and Low positions do not differ much, very bright to VERY bright...not a big deal to me.
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Great Bike Light Planet Bike Blaze 2Watt, January 27, 2012
By Glenn
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This is the brightest bike light I ever used. On the flasher setting, you can see the light projected about 100 feet from the bike on buildings, etc. If you want to be visible, this is the best bike light I've ever used. And it really lights up the street as well. And it hardly takes up room on the handlebar. Great bike light!
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Really, Really, Really great bike light, January 17, 2012
By superdot09 (pasadena, CA)
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I've tried a few small lights, and this is the only one that I have tried that is worth a damn...................
now ok, it is not nearly as bright as my old Night Sun Xenon system...........however, I wouldn't call that compact, and there isn't a 5lb battery battery pack to lug around with it either, and unless your doing offroad mtb riding on pitch black nights, this is more than sufficient for any road riding you might do. The light is very bright, it does not project a beam that is very wide.........but it does throw the light quite far in front of you. Also for daytime riding the strobe function is very visible, even on a sunny day
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Really bright but falls apart, January 15, 2012
By Kevin P. Egan (Philadelphia)
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This light is nice and bright, for riding city streets at night it is excellent. The problem I had with it (besides the mounting causing it to constantly be shifting up and down) is that it kept falling apart. By that I mean that after any kind of bump, the casing over the circuit board would often dislodge. I do not mean separating the battery compartment, I mean the compartment housing the actual light would separate. Usually I would just reattach it but most recently when it happened, one of the wires connecting to the board broke away from the soldering. Now I have a useless block of plastic unless I can find someone with a soldering gun to reattach the wire.
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poor mount design fix, February 9, 2012
By Johnny Boy
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This is a very bright light. I use it for my 5 mile commute at dawn and at night. The flashing setting is very visible! I got rechargeable batteries because the high setting uses a lot of power (but I really don't use high very often).
The mount worked fine for a week. The threaded adjusting piece isn't very long and so the nut doesn't have much to hold. After a week of riding, the nut worked loose and fell off. This is how I fixed it. I got a M4-.7 x 40mm hex bolt and a wing nut (90 cents total). I took out the original threaded piece and threw it away. I screwed the new bolt through the round silver adapter, wrapped it around the handlebar, pulled it shut, and screwed on the nut. Perfect- and the wing nut makes it easy to hand- tighten before each ride.
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Great light, but mount has room for improvement, March 13, 2012
By JPilot
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This 2-watt light has plenty of light, although it is in a rather focused beam. I use it on three bikes: a road bike, a MTB, and an old MTB that is a "commuter" bike. The focused beam is generally OK on the road, but on trails a wider, brighter beam would be nice - you can never have too much light, and even then you may not see all the traps!
I use NiMH rechargeable batteries. These have a lower voltage than alkaline cells. I used a light meter to determine the penalty: it's 50%. IOW, if you use NiMH rechargeable batteries, you get 1/2 the light that you would if you used alkaline batteries. That doesn't hurt as much as you might think since your visual sensitivity is logarithmic, not linear. I'm willing to take the hit on light output in exchange for the economic and ecological benefits of rechargeable batteries.
A little annoyance: because the front of the light is "hooded" it's hard to tell if the light is on when you're riding (your position is then above and behind it, and you can't see the front of the light). You can see the "hood" in the frontal picture of the light - it's the black plastic that projects above and in front of the lens. Sure, you could just move your hand in front of the light. But I like the assurance of just looking down at the light. So I glued a small piece of plastic to the "hood" so I can see that the light is on. It would have been simple for PB to do something like this.
Now for my main gripe. I move the light among three bikes. So it is convenient that PB includes a quick-release mount. However, since the bikes have handlebars of different diameters, I have to adjust the QR mount for each one. Which is OK, IF you could adjust it finely enough. But you have to adjust by whole turns of the over-center cam, and that's too coarse. IOW, if it's too loose, then you try to tighten it by one turn. But then it's too tight to flip over-center and lock. So you have to use it when it's too loose. Which wouldn't be that bad, except that when the light is mounted and locked in, it's NOT BALANCED - it's front heavy. So if you go over a bump, then it'll tilt forward.
It seems like it would have been relatively easy if PB had designed the mount so that the light's center of gravity were over the handlebars; then it wouldn't be so sensitive to bumps. Or if they had designed used a finer-pitch thread on the screw for the over-center cam on the mount.
That said, I'm reasonably satisfied with this light. I tend to use it at dusk, not in complete darkness. Most of the time I use it in blink mode on roads and trails I know. I may not be as satisfied if I rode more at night on roads I don't know. I like that it is small and lightweight, that it takes AA batteries, that the batteries can be easily removed for recharging, that it produces a respectable amount of light, and that it can be moved from bike to bike with ease. And if I stop at a store, it's easy to remove and slip in my pocket.
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Broken on arrival, March 12, 2012
By TwOy (Stamford, CT)
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Instead of fully assembled lamp I receive DIY set with LED compartment detached from battery compartment. There are faint traces of glue that was supposed to keep this thing together. Apparently they saved a couple of pennies on the glue. And I wasted almost $50.
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I am now an advocate, March 12, 2012
By Chad Greene
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This light turned me into an advocate for good bike lights. I commute in the city and suburbs. I used to think motorists were jerks when they'd pull out in front of me. Now, with a decent front light, motorists no longer pull out in front of me. Turns out they just couldn't see me before. This light is bright. Pedestrians often remark, "Nice light!"
This light also prompted me to buy a good battery charger and lots of rechargeable batteries. That's helped, because if I were using alkalines, I'd feel the need to use the batteries until their last drop of power. With the rechargeables I feel great about changing batteries BEFORE the light starts to go dim.
See and be seen. Be safe y'all.
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highly recommended, March 2, 2012
By P.C. Thomas (Fort Myers, FL United States)
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My actual rating for this light is 4 ½ stars but that's not an option on Amazon. This headlight is very bright, even the dimmer setting is still quite bright. The flash setting is great for overcast or half-light situations. It's long and thin so it doesn't take up much space. My only complaint and it's the reason I would dock it a half point is that I had some difficulty clamping it on and getting a tight fit. For the price I think it would be hard to find a light that's as bright and high quality.
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Turns off when I start riding, February 27, 2012
By James E. Gleckler (Moscow, ID)
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The light turns off as I ride in the morning. I have installed new batteries, insured it is properly closed, and tested inside. However, as soon as I start to ride in the morning it constantly turns off. I also took it in a dropped it on the ground and knocked it around to see if I could get the same effect, it never turned off. It's a safety issue. I love the light, I just wish it would work.
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