The completely redesigned Cat Eye Stadium 3 with Metal Halide bulb technology gives you the equivalent of 80+ watts of halogen light. Now with a 12v Ni-Mh water bottle battery, a top tube mounting ballast, and a redesigned lamp body, the Stadium 3 is ready to turn night into day.
• 21 watt metal halide bulb
• 3hours run time
• 3hours quick charge
• 12volt Ni-MH battery with battery indicator
• 3,500 candlepower Mtbr Bike Lights Shootout - over 50 bike lights reviewed, photographed and measured here.
Weaknesses: none, it's everything you could want in a light
Bottom Line:
I've been running this light for about 5 years now. It's been magnificent. Incredibly bright! I mean BRIGHT - like avert your eyes look into the sun bright. It's amazing how bright it is. Did I mention it was bright? ;-) When I turn it on when other riders are around with their lights, it's just NO contest. You can't even see their lights when the astrodome light comes on! And if you don't have it set right, on the road oncoming cars will high beam you! (easy to fix just angle it down and off to the right a bit). And it lasts a full 3 hours, the battery charge capacity is huge.
The unit itself is very heavily built. The light is mounted inside an armored aluminum shell that it brutish tough. I've gone down many times, sometimes very hard with this light on my bike. It always comes out fine, a few scratches and scuffs but it just keeps on rocking. All the hardware and wiring is top quality and heavy duty. It's designed to take a beating and keep on ticking. This thing is otherworldly in its quality, it's like it's from another time. It reminds me of the heavy duty quality of American consumer products manufactured in the 1950's. Really, this light is designed to be a day to day commuter light for the really hardcore "I ride 7500 miles a year" kinda rider. Get one if you can, the CatEye Stadium 3 is the Rolls Royce of ALL lighting systems.
Strengths: Excellent brightness, very sturdy house, quick charge, aggressive on on-coming motorists.
Weaknesses: Flickering and color changes, aggressive on on-coming non-motorists, Pretty lousy on-road performance due to very wide off-road oriented beam. Inadequate reflector size, depth and beam width disperse the light to where it's of no use. Unregulated DC-converter gives declining light during discharge cycle and is probably damaging to bulb at end of discharge. "Low-battery" indicator gives little clue on remaining battery duration, always on for old battery. Bulb-life specified in on/off-cycles means lamp not suited for frequent on/off's, i.e. many short rides. Unventilated house captures moisture that condensates on front lens. Reflector goes dull at "12 o'clock" position diminishing downward beam sector, quick fix is to turn reflector upside-down. According to a norwegian tester, lamp went out during down-hill when hi-intensity shaking. Allegedly hard to find replacement bulb.
Bottom Line:
Advertized power output of 80W equivalent halogen power is ridiculous. My lamp was a little weaker than a 55W Golf low-beam. There is a "power-volume" in the converter that was quite conservatily set in my lamp, probably in order to meet advertised battery duration. Some kind of dimmer device is sorely missing. For on-road use a light profile of a car low-beam would be much preferrable. In order to see well at high speed you are forced to set the lamp in a blinding position. On unlit bicycle paths you can easily make an on-coming rider crasch due to blinding, so it's understandable that cateye discourages on-road use. All the cons considered it's still a wonderful lamp, worth every cent. Shame on Cateye for discontinuing it instead of refining it further. I think the technology is close to ideal for bicycle purpose.
Bike Setup: Marin Redwood frame,Shimano LX gruppo,Sachs hubs,Mavic rims
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Submitted by
oli watson
a Weekend Warrior
from derbyshire
Date Reviewed: January 5, 2007
Strengths: very bright, easy to mount, adjust. very wide angle beam. fairly long burn time. comes in a sturdy box. very noticable on the road. good depth, robust bulb housing. charge time=burn time. only 1 cable comes to the bars making the cockpit clutter free.
Weaknesses: bulky, no smart charger, no convineint switch on bars, bulb changes colour over bumps. limited or no spares available. big ballast unit,heavy, bulb colour has a purple tint.
Bottom Line:
this light is bloody bright! i have been flashed on the road, and get moaned at for riding behind other people because of the bright beam. it has an excelent spread of light, with no real concentrated beam area,it is a fantastic unit if a little bulky, but the lack of parts/bulbs could be a real problem in the future.
Strengths: Rock solid light, excellent construction and bright as daylight.
Weaknesses: It weighs a lot......it's heavy.....did I mention it weighs a lot?
Bottom Line:
This light rocks....if you can find it these days as its been discontinued for quite some time. I've had mine for 5 years now and it's still working like a champ. It's bright as day and tough as nails. I've dropped the head a few times and it's still going. Cateye customer service KICKS ASS!!!! Not sure what all the other people on here are talking about. I connected the battery and charger wrong and fried em both a while back. Called cateye and talked with Jeff in customer service. Said to send both back back in for free, yes I said FREE replacement. This light was out of warranty for at least 3 years....and both the battery and charger were replaced free of charge and returned to me in less than 3 days after arrival in Colorado. Simply put, this light rocks, and Cateye customer service kicks ass!!
Submitted by
Tom Dibley
a Cross Country Rider
from Southampton, UK
Date Reviewed: October 3, 2006
Strengths: Incredibly bright, long run time, like riding with a range rover behind with it's Xenon lamps on.
Weaknesses: Big battery, the discharger thing is in the way and the coiled cord is a little fidly.
Bottom Line:
I bought this light when it was regarded as a "dream light" and was hideously expencive. It is still the brightest lamp i've seen and run time is an impressive 3 hours which I will stand by. When riding with my buddies, their 25 Watt lights are not viseable if my light is sharing the ground. It really does turn night into day and it gives you the confidence to ride just as fast as if the sun was out. Charge time is only 3 hours too, which is brilliant.
Nowadays, there are far more expencive lamps on the market which require a smaller battery for almost as much light and lasts for even longer. Compared to modern standards, the water bottle shaped battery is big and clumbsy, especially with it's piggy back difuser, but as big as it looks, it's really not very heavy.
It's never failed me and has held it's battery life after more than three years of ownership. I worry though as if the scary bright bulb blows, then i'm screwed as they are not supplied anymore. Other than that, this is a SUPER bright 84watt equivilent light that i've found very reliable and is like switching the sun on when you turn up at your night ride start point. On your own if it goes wrong though.
Similar Products Used: Various Cateye and vistalight, but this is the only serious off road light.
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Submitted by
Pete
a Cross Country Rider
from Kingston, UK
Date Reviewed: November 29, 2005
Strengths: Very bright and broad beam. 3 hr re-charge time.
Weaknesses: Unreliable - I feel I need to carry back up light. No technical or spares support from Cat-eye. Re-charging process is fiddly. Battery discharges over time if not used.
Bottom Line:
Has failed only once. Got Ballast unit repaired by electronics specialist. Works fine after that.
Submitted by
JESUS PADILLA
a Cross Country Rider
from LEON GTO, MEXICO
Date Reviewed: February 3, 2005
Strengths: EXCELLENT WIDE AND BRIGHT PATTERN, IT LASTS 3 HOURS AND CHARGES THE SAME TIME, VERY WELL MADE, THE BALLAST ATACHED TO THE BULB SEEMS HEAVY BUT IT IS NOT.
Weaknesses: I DON'T LIKE THE COILED CORD IT IS TOO LONG,
Bottom Line:
THIS IS THE BEST PERIOD, IT LIGHTS THE TRAIL WITH A POWERFUL AND WIDE BEAM( its beam is wider and brighter than any hid on the market) WITH THIS LAMP YOU CAN GO AS FAST DOWNHILL AS YOU DO ON DAYLIGHT (i am using a lume strada hid on my helmet and both lamps give me an unreal and amazing light , with both lamps i got confidence to go really fast, the strada gives a lot of reach to see far corners and the cateye lights everything near 100meters so altough not necesary the strada it enhances the visibility a lot) DON'T BE AFRAID TO PAY ITS PRICE YOUR SECURITY COSTS A LOT MORE IN THE LAST NITE EPIC RIDE (HERE IN MEXICO A LOT OF RIDERS SPEND A LOT IN BIKE PARTS BUT NOT ON LIGHTS) THERE WAS A GUY WHO WAS USING A CHEAP 2.5 WATTS TOY LAMP TO ILLUMINATE THE TRAIL BUT HE WAS RIDING REAL FAST SUDENLY HE FELT BECAUSE HE COULD NOT SEE A HOLE ON THE TRAIL THE RESULT WAS BROKEN COLLAR BONE AND 3 RIBS, HE HAD A MAJOR SURGERY AND SPEND ALMOST $8,000 DOLLARS IN THE PROCESS SO THINK ABOUT IT, IF YOU LIKE TO RIDE AT NIGHT SAFELY INVEST IN A REAL LAMP AND THE CATEYE CERTAINLY IS THE BEST ONE
Similar Products Used: LUME LIGHTING STRADA HID. GOOD BUT NOT AS GOOD AS THE ALL MIGHTY CATEYE STADIUM 3
Bike Setup: SWEET GIANT 2004 NRS 1 WITH XTR AND XT PARTS AND A FOX FLOAT RLC
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Submitted by
Rachel Sykes
a Weekend Warrior
from England
Date Reviewed: December 26, 2004
Strengths: I have used this lighting system since 1996 and have been very pleased with the results, now after about 9 years my battery pack runs for just less than an hour. Not bad given that the set is very old, my sender unit seemed dodgy from the start though. On taking bit hits the light went off for a few seconds, dodgy went you are going full pelt down hill and it's pitch dark!!! I now want to relace the battery pack and the cheapest I have seen is £135.00. I have also tryed to see if the just the batteries can be replaced but it's hard to find a manufacturer that does D2 batteries.
Weaknesses: Heavy and costly, very little product support from Cat eye.
Bottom Line:
Overall I have been very pleased with the performance of this product and after many years it still works!!! If your not very serious MTBER buy a cheaper set there's lots to choose from.
Bike Setup: Epic Marathon with upgrades to hope M4 & hubs
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Submitted by
jason woodruff
a Cross Country Rider
from modesto CA USA
Date Reviewed: October 22, 2004
Strengths: incredable light output .brigh'light,of the blue and white spectrum that covers all you need for singel track ,and safe road use if pointed down as to noght to blind car,s [ive had proplems with car,s locking braks thinking im an out of controle car or motercycle heading at them.
Weaknesses: cost,waight,cost of repairs,time of return from cat eye service.
Bottom Line:
If you have the money and the need for a powerfull light then I recomend this top end light. not for weekenders. BE ready to dish out big money for repairs. and long long turn around times from cat eye servics and repairs.
Bike Setup: TREK LIQUID 25 WITH LIQUID 20 REAR END . HAYES DISK . PHYSLO XC fork. fox floter talas shok, full bontrager.
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Submitted by
hanns re'
a Downhiller
from malibu, cali
Date Reviewed: April 27, 2004
Strengths: Amazing bright Power. This is the light to have if you are serious about your night riding. It's so bright I have to lead my fellow riders every time. I've compared it next to my xenon lights in my car, and the stadium 3 is just as bright. It's a fantastic light and it looks cool too.
Weaknesses: the price, if your not serious. but you're going to end up following someone who has one if you don't have this one.
Bottom Line:
You really get what you pay for. Let's face it, our sport is not cheap, but you get your money's worth on most components. Well, The Stadium 3 will not disappoint you. It's worth every penny.
Similar Products Used: nightrider & specialized fireballs (should be cld rabbitballs)
Bike Setup: Every riders dream: Foes fxr w/Curnutt ti, Xmax disc tubeless, ALL XTR '04 drivetrain, Hope disc brakes, and Fox Talas RLC
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Submitted by
Rick
a Cross Country Rider
from Portland, Maine, USA
Date Reviewed: April 4, 2004
Strengths: Extreme, extreme brightness. I got pulled over by a Biddeford Cop once and he asked me to re-aim the light because I was blinding drivers. That's a good sign! This light also provides a very clean, crisp "white-blue" light that makes the road just come alive in front of you at night. You can see all the cracks in the road and everything! The light is widely dispersed, so it covers a very wide path in front of you. Lastly, extreme durability!! I was side-swiped by a drunk pickup truck driver, on a summer evening in 2002. My light was on. I was doing 15mph and he was doing around 20mph. Combined impact of 35mph put me in the hospital and trashed my bike to bits. BUT, my light was STILL ON after the crash!! It survived the crash, and it proved to the arriving policeman that my light was on and the driver of the pickup was clearly at fault. I was amazed the light survived. I'm still using the same light I bought back in 2000- but I have since bought a new battery for it. Way to go Cateye!
Weaknesses: As a manner of inconvenience only, the light does take 30 seconds or so to come "fully on", just like a "stadium" light at football fields. But a light this bright is well worth the wait. Also, the bracket that attaches it to your handlebars is designed for smaller frames. You may need a rubber homemade shim from a plumbing supply store to make up the difference. Also, the bottle battery combined with a separate ballast unit may be a bit hefty for some people's taste, but I don't mind. The brightness more than makes up for these minor inconveniences.
Bottom Line:
Yes it is expensive. But it is well worth it! I have had numerous, numerous occasions where this light has saved my butt. Especially at those scary intersections where the car is at a stop sign, and may not see you after a quick glance to his left or right before entering your path! I even ride with this light on in the DAY time, and it draws attention, helping to keep me safe. At night, you WILL blind cars if you are not careful. Most cars look at me in complete bewilderment because they were expecting a motorcycle, and didn't think they would see a pedal bike!!
Similar Products Used: NiteRider Headlights, and cheap "$20" lights from Wal-Mart.
Bike Setup: 2001 Raleigh c700 commuter bike (replacement bike after crash!), clipless pedals, Cateye Stadium 3 light, & NiteRider Tail Light.
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Submitted by
H
a Cross Country Rider
from Melbourne, Australia
Date Reviewed: March 20, 2004
Strengths: A brightness that will wake the dead, 3 hour run time, 3 hour charge time. When the Cateye manual recommends that you should not use the Stadium on public roads you know you're onto a winner.
Weaknesses: Not as bright as the sun. Weight.
Bottom Line:
I ride cross country and I commute to work. I have been cut off, side-swiped and had taken a trip in an ambulance because of enemy number 1: vehicles of the automobile variety. No longer. NOW there is respect. The Stadium is extremely bright by nature of it's piercing bluish-white light. This does not blend in with the traffic's yellow halogens, making you stick out. If you still feel the traffic does not care you exist, aim the light horizontally. I did this from day one. Even when the light is horizontal everything in front is lit so well that I even saw a beetle crawling on the path riding at 20km/h. Upon purchasing you will be convinced that it lights up almost everything in your path. However, if believe that you're not conspicuous enought stand and face the light from 30 metres. Or get someone to ride towards you with the light on and let the light do the convincing. Unless you're wearing a clown suit, no item on yourself or your bike will make people stare at you more than the Stadium. If the pedestrians weren't taking a second look at me they were shielding their eyes. In Aus if you're mad enough (at traffic) to purchase the Stadium buy from the Melbourne Bicycle Centre (www.bikes.com.au). They sell the light for $999 as opposed to all other stores that charge full retail at $1200 AUD. Still a lotta money though hence the 4 chilli rating. All the above, of course, has to be qualified because I have made a huge jump from the Smart light to the Stadium. I have not tried any other HID light. But Cateye has been in the HID business the longest(?) which allows for a refinement of their product. So when I narrowed it down to the (new) Nightpro Extreme and the Stadium, the Stadium won. I also read that the Stadium is brighter than the Nightpro anyway. In Aus I also buy on the basis that if every second bike shop stocks the brand, getting spare parts should be less of a problem. Unlike Cateye far fewer stores stock brands that have HID lights (e.g. Nightpro, Nightrider, Light and Motion). A big thanks to all the previous Stadium users who posted reviews on mtbr. I wouldn't have even considered the Stadium otherwise.
