My Hope front light is about to enter (actually, already has entered) its 3rd winter of service. The fact it's still going strong, when I've managed to break countless plasticky lights, is testament to its durability I reckon (honestly, I don't know why I'm so hard on lights... That the Cherrybomb on the back survived to a second winter is a similar testament).
I paid something like £75 for it, which (certainly non-cycling) people think is a lot of cash - but the way I figure, if you're going to be riding every day and need a light that is bright and trustworthy then it's worth shelling out for that safety and peace-of-mind. The light it throws out is pretty good. 4 different power settings (up to 240 lumens) - I generally sit on level 2, which is plenty bright enough, cranking up to 3 or even 4 on unlit streets. At this power it makes traffic coming the other way treat you like 'normal' traffic (I have people actually stopping to let me through road narrowings, in precisely the same places that I've had folk scooting through dangerously when I've had a smaller light on the front, or in daylight). I presume they think you're a motorbike...
There is one (fairly major) flaw that has had me pondering replacement at times. There is no 'battery low' indicator. It just dies. It happened once on the Arthur's Seat road round the south, which was a little disconcerting. Thankfully because I normally ride on level 2 there's generally enough juice for 10 minutes or so at the lower level 1 setting. I guess it gets me into the good habit of always carrying spare (rechargeable) batteries (and a spare blinky in case you don't notice it has turned off - very possible on streetlit streets).
Reminds me, I need a new blinky...
When it's dark morning and night a set of batteries will last a little over a week (about 40 minutes riding a day).
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