Planet Bike 3044 Blaze 1-Watt LED Headlight
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List Price: Our Price: $33.49 You Save: $12.50 (27%) Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Buy Used: from $28.00 (click here) Category: Sports See more product details |
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Description of Planet Bike 3044 Blaze 1-Watt LED Headlight
Ideal for safe commuting and for low-light riding, Planet Bike's Blaze 1-Watt LED headlight will keep your path well lit. The Blaze offers a high and low power beam along with SuperFlash flashing mode, which is highly visible in daylight as well as darker conditions. In addition, the light attaches securely to your bike thanks to the Quick Cam bracket mounts, which adjust or remove in seconds without tools. The Blaze--which offers high/low/flashing run times of 7, 14, 20 hours--runs on two included AA batteries. About Planet Bike
In November of 1996, Planet Bike was founded in Madison, Wisconsin. In many ways, Planet Bike began as a social experiment that dedicated itself to doing business in a different way. Instead of being just another company that develops and sells products with profit as its end goal, Planet Bike wanted to help bring about positive change for people, their communities, and the environment.
Despite being a simple machine, the people at Planet Bike have always believed that the bicycle has great potential to help improve the world and the lives of the people in it. From the start, they have embraced an alternative corporate purpose which seeks to help get more people on bicycles by making communities friendlier places for the self-propelled. By donating 25% of company profits to causes that promote and facilitate bicycle usage, Planet Bike hopes to make an impact.
Social experiments aside, Planet Bike was born from the heart of a cyclist with a goal of making innovative, high quality, and practical bicycle accessories. Simply put, they strive to design and develop the best bicycle products in the world. In the company's short ten year history, they have made important product innovations within the bicycle industry. Advancements include the 4-line computer which is now a standard in the industry and the world's first self-contained HID light. Not bad for a company that ten years ago started as a one man operation. Today, while still a small company, Planet Bike continues to evolve and improve their product line with the goal of always striving to build accessories that make it easier for people to ride their bikes. Since 1996, Planet Bike's financial support of the grassroots bicycle movement has totaled $500,000. By 2010, they have made a goal to donate $1 million to organizations that are dedicated to making America a friendlier place for cyclists.
Sports reviews of Planet Bike 3044 Blaze 1-Watt LED Headlight
Customer Review: Excellent light
Sport shop rating: 5 Stars
I purchased this light for an electric SLX scooter with relatively small diameter handle bars. Regarding mounting the bracket to the handle bars, the instructions are very clear. The mounting strap has ratchets that allow 3 clicks. When I clicked it to the tightest position and then used the cam lock for the final adjustment it was fairly snug, but since the handle bars of the scooter were just over 3/4" dia and a regular bike handle bar diameter is 1" I found that using a rubber shim strap that I have from previous Cat Eye light made for a more secure fit. For a regular bike handle bar the built in rubber shim that only covers part of the strap should be more than adequate. I doubt it was designed for the very narrow handlebars of scooters.
As to the light itself it definitely lives up to its name, having a much brighter and whiter spectrum than the Cat Eye incadescents which take 4 AA's. The Blaze is very bright easily lighting up refective signs and this from only 2 AA's and at a very reasonable price. Another useful safety feature is the "cutouts" around the sides of the lens that help make you more visible to motorists from the sides. The power switch has 3 settings first steady light, second a noticeably brighter constant on and lastly the flashing setting with a brighter flasher every 6th flash.
I have been very impressed with several Planet Bike products and this is no exception. Hope this review helps.
A brief update. Having received a similar model - the 1/2 watt Blaze and mounting it to a regular bike handle bar, I have come to conclusion that if you want a really secure fit it requires using a rubber shim - these are widely available - that fits between the bracket and the handle bar itself. The small included shim, which is permanently attached to the mounting strap, does not cover enough area to really allow the bracket not to slip. Most lights come with these rubber shims and their Protege 9.0 computer comes with several of differing thicknesses.
Still a great light and still would give it 5 stars, but does require a little modification for a really slip free mounting.
Customer Review: Brightness to price ratio is a winner
Sport shop rating: 5 Stars
I've gone through 4 different bike lights, and this is by far the best value. It is the most expensive of the 4, but the performance is easily the best deal. Mounted on my bike, this light overwhelms a Schwinn 3-led light that is shining in the same area. In fact, when I turn off the Blaze, the Schwinn seems almost dead in comparison.
Uses: As others say, this light is great for both seeing and being seen. The light is almost a spotlight, but the light radiates about 10 feet away from the focused beam point. I aim the light to a spot about 30 feet in front of my bike, which gives me good visibility of the road and also positions the light for good sighting by oncoming drivers.
The mount works well. Some users say it is too big, but it is actually adjustable, the package contains some written directions on how to adjusts to your specific bar size. Another good point to this light is that you can buy separate mounts, so you can switch the light quickly to another bike if you want.
I've seen other user comments about no difference between high and low steady modes. The difference is noticeable to me, and I believe that low mode gives extended battery use. My requirements for lights is usually limited to about 30 minutes at a time, so I always use it in high mode.
On black highways in very dark circumstances this light lets you see the road. If you are the type that rides on the sidewalk it will be even brighter. If you have very bright street lights, you may have just minimal improvement on your visibility.
Last good feature is the ease of changing batteries. I have 2 other lights that are really awkward removing batteries. One 5-led Cateye light, which takes 4 batteries, I have to bang on a hard surface to remove the lower batteries. I also have a cheap Bell light which, when I attempt to remove the batteries, the light sometimes falls apart. This Blaze is so easy, just open the top and the two batteries pull straight out like a flashlight.
Customer Review: Great light for very little money.
Sport shop rating: 5 Stars
I am the type of person who reads the reviews before buying something. I read many reviews on several bike lights. I knew what I wanted to spend and started reading about the lights in my price range. Many of the reviews of this light complained about the way it attaches to the handle bars. I found that this was not a problem. This may be because my Cannondale has thicker handle bars than some of the bikes in the reviews. I am not sure, but it fit easily and securely. The other complaint was about the strength of the light. Most reviews claimed that you would not be able to see very well on a dark trail, but that it was sufficient in a lit city. This is not really the case. I bought two and mounted them easily on my bike. I ride on dark trails at night and have found that even when riding fast I can see really well. This is true even with only one turned on, though I prefer both on at the same time. They don't light the trail like my Honda CRV, but it is plenty bright. Once while riding through the city I had the lights on strobe so that cars will notice my presence better. They are pretty bright and really show up in the reflective surface of street and stop signs. Two motorcyclists riding in front of me saw this strobe effect and pulled over, only to realize that I wasn't a cop. They were probably drunk, but that is still pretty bright. I am glad I chose this light. The battery life is also great, especially with rechargeable batteries. As for the people out there bashing this light, yeah it probably isn't as powerful as one of those $300, $400, or $500 bike lights. However, this light was $32 and more than does the job. If you are looking for car or truck headlight performance, you are not going to get that with a $32 1 watt LED. If you want a very good and reliable bike light for riding at night in and out of the city, this light is gives great bang for the buck! Hope this helps!Customer Review: BLAZE AND BLINKY shop rating: 5 Stars
NO OTHER LAMP THAT RUNS ON 2 AA BATTERIES AND LASTS 16 TO 20 HOURS DELIVERS THIS MUCH LIGHT!!!!THIS LAMP MOUNTS TO ANY HANDLEBAR AND YOU DON'T NEED A SCREWDRIVER!!!!
BUY 2 AND HANG THEM OFF YOUR HANDLEBARS.THIS IS A 5 STAR PRODUCT...!!!
Just for the heck of it I went to see what problems the 1 star folks could be having.The first person stated the light fell apart and the second person stated the light flickered and would not stay on and it was loose on the handlebars.SOLUTIONS:1 After replacing batteries turn lamp head closed all the way(they actually give you a little arrow showing you how far to turn it lol!!!)2 screw the clasp down then lock the clasp in place till it dos'nt move on the handlbars. 3 the reason the light flickers and won't stay on is because the batteries are low and to ride with them would leave you stranded(its a built safety feature..really).
This product is made in NY state and that means manufacturing jobs for Americans. Also they donate a large percentage of sales to bike charites.
If you can't aford enough of their lamps for all your bikes, keep in mind that they sell mounting cams for ALL the lamps they sell (on AMAZON) for 3 to 5$ a piece so just unclip the lamp off the cam and slide it on to another cam, even the on tail lights!! Awfully generous of them!!
Customer Review: A Great Light
Sport shop rating: 5 Stars
This is a great light for the price but possibly more suited to the recreational rider such as myself.
It has three modes low high and flash although the difference between the low and high settings is not great.
You will need a rubber strip inside the bracket to prevent it from moving this is not supplied at least there was none with mine.
I found the fitting of the bracket somewhat difficult it consists of a ribbed strap which is pulled through a slot and locks into place but it would not lock on the last two ridges, I assume that was because my handlebars are a small diameter but, with the use of a rubber strip providing an increase in diameter and a good grip it was much easier, it can also be tilted without becoming loose.
The light is quick and easy to remove for security.
The bracket can only be fitted facing in one direction as the light only slides on in one direction, that seems an obvious comment but it is easy to get wrong when you're fitting the bracket without the light attached.
It was delivered on time and well packaged.
I considered 4 stars because of the bracket fitting problems but those may be specific to my bike and were solved with the rubber strip plus fitting the bracket is probably a one off for most people.