Submitted by
Brendan
a Cross Country Rider
from Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Date Reviewed: February 26, 2008
Strengths: Burns longer than a Walker Texas Ranger TV marathon (over 5 freakin hours!). Claims to be "Virtually indestructible" but that has yet to be determined by this rider. Small, very light-weight (second only to LEDs powered by a Li-ion battery) and interchangeable for helmet and handlebars.
Weaknesses: Only one setting that shines somewhere between barely bright enough and insufficient, although it should be mentioned that you need several LEDs to create a sufficient beam. The mount seems very weak and prone to break. I would find an alternative way to mount this before you go into the woods just in case it fails. BTW... SET YOUR ALARM CLOCK SO YOU DONT OVER CHARGE YOUR BATTERY!!! and, as always, your battery should always be in one of three stages, burning, charging, or full. Never let your battery remain un-charged or even partly charged.
Bottom Line:
Whoever talks trash about LEDs doesn’t know enough about them. It is very true that they only create a dim weak beam, but what they lack in power they make up for in everything else. I highly recommend that night MTB riders use two lighting systems, one for your helmet and a second for your bars. I use the double shot for my helmet, which is barely enough light to ride with, so I am looking at either a cateye triple shot Ni-MH or the new triple shot Li-ion pro for my bike. Combined, 5 LED's should create an ideal lighting system that should burn for over 5 hours each. And, if one of the two light systems fail then the other can still get me home. No halogen system will ever come close to these burn times unless you want to strap a lead based car battery on your bike. And HID systems have no business on my bike because they will only survive one crash.
Submitted by
Chris
a Cross Country Rider
from Cambridge, Ohio, USA
Date Reviewed: September 17, 2007
Strengths: Bright, great spot beam, durable, small, looks cool, comes with an smart charger.
Weaknesses: On/off switch is tough to use when it is on your helmet, it needs to be located somewhere else besides on the cord right next to the light body.
Bottom Line:
A great light that is capable of being an "only light." If it is a moonlit night, you will never need anything brighter, if it is a dark, headlight swallowing night, you will wish for more of a flood, but this will still work fine. If you are crazy enough to blast off-road downhills at 30 mph at night, go get a $600 HID system, this is not enough. Spot beam carries and lights up stuff about 50 yards down the trail, but trail irregularities close-up are not distinct enough for descending with speed. It is plenty for trail riding in places you know. For commuting, this is great. It is bright enough that cars sometimes dim their headlights when they see me coming. For perspective, this is not quite as bright as one low-beam headlight on a Geo Metro. If your budget only allows for one light under $250, this is your light. As an added plus, this sucker makes an incredible caving light.
Strengths: Durable construction, competitive price (compared to high-end halogen and HID), long burn time, short charge time (about 3 hours, give or take). Great range (distance) of light (probably easily extends beyond 30-40% of my 10W halogen); nice, clean, white light (unlike yellow light discharged w/ a halogen system). Compact, secure cable connections, battery fits nicely in a jersey pocket.
Weaknesses: Beam pattern is a spot pattern - better know where you're going. Peripheral lighting is moderate to poor; I missed that of my NR system which had more of a flood pattern. However, once you learn how to hold your head on the trail, and get used to the pattern, you'll find this is a great upgrade from your 10W halogen system. For optimum night vision, I would combine this with a handlebar mount light kit. For rides on local trails, you really can't go wrong with this light. And with a 5 hour (approx.) burn time, if you forget to charge it after a ride, who cares!
Bottom Line:
Good light for those not looking to drop the dough on an HID. LED is really the poor man's HID. Much whiter light than you'll find with a comparable halogen system, longer burn time (great for 12/24 hour events), fast charge time (about 3 hours for a full charge), durable design, not too heavy/bulky. Best as a helmet-mount set-up, best used with a handlebar light kit for optimum visibility. If only using on the helmet, I would recommend starting on familiar trails until you are used to the spot beam pattern. I would recommend this to others.
Similar Products Used: NiteRider Trail Rat - still have this light as a spare or for a loaner to newbies on a local night ride I lead. This is also a decent light - mine has been trouble free for almost 4 years now.
Bike Setup: Have a couple. Giant NRS2, and a GT Rebound hardtail converted to a SS. Also have an older Cannondale R500 and Raleigh Rush Hour I occasionally use for commuting.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Commuter
a Cross Country Rider
from Canada
Date Reviewed: September 26, 2006
Strengths: Bright spot light. Long burn times. Tough construction. Great mount for helmet.
Weaknesses: Neoprene battery bag & NMH battery pack is sort of sloppy looking. I preffer a sealed battery unit like the LiIon of the DoubleShot Pro.
Bottom Line:
I use the Double Shot as my primary light. I do not outrun these ligths even when travelling at 30+ mph. It is a pure spot light but when helmet mounted, it can be directed to any place needed. Therefor, I don't plan on getting a flood light as it is not needed IMO.
The DoubleShot was the brightest LED spot light on the market last year. I've had a full years use from it without any problems. CatEye has a Double Shot Pro out this year that is suppose to be 30% brighter.
Similar Products Used: Various alkaline based Halogens, 3 x 1 watt LED, Nite-Hawk Emitter (friends), L & M Arc HID (tested only but couldn't bring myself to drop $500 on one)
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Steven Kilburn
a Cross Country Rider
from Old Town, Me
Date Reviewed: September 21, 2006
Strengths: Long burn time. I don't have to charge the thing between rides.
Weaknesses: It is a spot light rather than a flood. This is not a weakness however. I think the triple shot takes care of this.
Bottom Line:
I am happy with the light. However, I will be picking up a triple shot for a flood in addition to the Double. The double is great for tight singletrack, but I there is always room for more light.
I have written it up on candlepowerforums
[URL="http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?p=1994457#post1994457"]
here is the link[/URL].
like I say in the thread its Read More »
I've got both the Double and Triple shot lights and over the last month the Double shot starts flashing on and off after about 5 minutes of usage. If I turn it off for a while its Read More »
I just got a cateye double shot pro as a replacment for a Blackburn X6. I had the option of the Cateye or the Niterider MiNute X2 Dual and in the shop chose the Cateye because it h Read More »
I'm looking to upgrade from my Cateye setup. Whats a fair price to ask for the Double Shot and Triple Shot? I bought them back in 2006.
thanks
jr Read More »
Hi guys.
Well as the tile from this post suggested it, I want to know if there`s somone who has achieved to make a replacement battery for one of those two lights, wich cost a l Read More »
