Cat Eye Stadium Reviews

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Cat Eye Stadium

MSRP			$ 400.00
# of Reviews			17
Average Rating			3.71/5

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Submitted by Pete Tay a Cross Country Rider from U.K Date Reviewed: December 12, 2003
Duration Product Used:	3 months
Price Paid:	$270.00
Purchased At:	Cycle Store
Strengths:	Very reliable and BRIGHT! and gives you lots of respect on the road
Weaknesses:	I have had it for about 3 months now and the red warning light comes on about an hour before it should. Its suppose to warn you 10 mins before it shuts off. Maybe it will adjust its self? However this doesnt bother me too much
Similar Products Used:	Cat Eye Day Light Solo
Bike Setup:	Giant Boulder
Bottom Line:	This light rules on the road and on the off however much you knock it about it will keep burning its power to give you light as far as you can see. It lasts as long as it says (3 hours) or even more. Its a solid peace of metal and very strong so dont ever underestimate it. If your looking for a good light for dark riding this is the light to get nothing will beet it TRUST ME!! (paid U.K pounds)
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Submitted by Chuck a Cross Country Rider from Mpls, MN Date Reviewed: December 5, 2002
Duration Product Used:	More than 3 years
Price Paid:	$375.00
Purchased At:	Penn Cycle
Strengths:	Casts a very broad spectrum of light that illumates everything closer to daylight than any other bike light. Only $50 more than a top halogen system which is not even in the same league.
Weaknesses:	It can be fickle and does not always start at on every occasion, (about 90% of the time) but I have always been able to get mine started. Remember this is a gas light, not a filament light. Much like a fluorescent and it starts in a similar manner also driven by a ballast. Older first generation fluorescents did not always start easily either.
Similar Products Used:	Nightrider blowtorch, 75 watt custom halogen system.
Bike Setup:	Handlebar mount, used on both race and hybrid bike.
Bottom Line:	Nothing like it. There are a few imitators, but they are less powerful including Nite Riders Blow torch.
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Submitted by Nick a from Indianapolis Date Reviewed: November 16, 2002
Favorite Trail:	any low traffic road or path
Duration Product Used:	More than 3 years
Strengths:	Turns nighttime into high noon. Enables full speed riding. Burns 3 hours before switching on the Cateye 5-led backup which shares the same bar clip. Beautiful, streakless, even, contrasty, wide & far beam pool. Convenient less-than-3 hour recharge.
Weaknesses:	None, be grateful for this seemingly perfect winter-critical next-edition Stadium 3.
Similar Products Used:	Previous original Stadium
Bike Setup:	Road, mountain, tandem, lawnmower
Bottom Line:	When you've spent $1K+ on the bike(s), what's another $350-$400 to be able to ride after work yearround? Extend the cycling day by a brilliant worry-free 50 miles. So bright that your lightless bike buds can accompany.
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Submitted by Mike a Cross Country Rider from San Clemente Date Reviewed: November 5, 2002
Duration Product Used:	Less than 1 month
Price Paid:	$400.00
Purchased At:	Cycle Werks
Strengths:	Outstanding design and build quality, a-la Nikon or Mercedes.
Weaknesses:	None other than coiled power cord is too long (current loss), which I shortened (probably voiding warranty...)
Similar Products Used:	NiteRider Storm
Bike Setup:	GT iDrive 4.0 stock.
Bottom Line:	H.I.D. metal halide lamp outputs 3-4x the lumens as compared to equivalent wattage halogen AND produces a more visible and distinctive white light. Has a 21w H.I.D. bulb compared to NiteRider 10w H.I.D. Equivalent to 80w halogen! The bulb has no filament, which eliminates the weakness of halogen -- due to physical shock and when started with a fresh battery that has a high surface overcharge voltage (exceeds bulb rating) that fries the filament. NiteRider and others have a home-built quality in comparison (cheap plastic, lose tolerances, etc). The aluminum lamp housing (ribbed for surface area heat dissipation), electrical connectors, machining and other components are of extremely high quality and specifically designed for the application -- no adaptations of off-the-shelf cheap stuff. Battery bottle housing cap is removed to allow heat dissipation during charging (not a negative that another reviewer indicated). As mentioned by others, the beam spread is wide, allowing sufficient side lighting. The reflector is very well designed, producing an even beam spread with a spot concentration in the center, which provides a pattern similar to a spot and flood combined. I compared it against two halogen 12w spots and two halogen 12w floods (four combined) and the Cat Eye Stadium 3 outperformed by a very sizable margin 48w of combined halogen!! Includes a high-tech "smart" logic 3 hr. charger that ramps current, tapers charge and automatically terminates at peak charge level. For my needs, there is no other light. H.I.D. is the only way to go and Cat Eye has the design and build quality.
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Submitted by Grenville a Cross Country Rider from west yorks england Date Reviewed: October 4, 2002
Duration Product Used:	1 Year
Strengths:	Very bright with a long burn time
Weaknesses:	not knowing if the thing would start,having to take the lid off to charge. no remaining power indicator
Similar Products Used:	BLT Nightsun vistalight
Bike Setup:	Pace cannondale R700
Bottom Line:	A 50/50 start or not rate after 6 months and packing up altogether after 14 months is a bit poor for a £300.00 set up And i am not impressed with a "out of guarantee so tough mate" attitude of the importer/distributor.
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Submitted by jack a Racer from Colorado Date Reviewed: December 11, 2001
Duration Product Used:	1 Year
Purchased At:	Wheat Ridge Cyclery
Strengths:	There isn't a better light for night riding. If you are a commuter only and don't plan on using it for night riding it is way over kill. I do 24hr races I used to use NiteRider Digitals (headtrip and Pro12-E). With both lights I couldn't see as much as I can with my stadium. There isn't a better light, lasts 3hrs, recharges in 3hrs 100% reliable. Cateye makes really well built goods.
Weaknesses:	If you are looking at getting a light for commuting only I do not recommend it. Save the money and get a cheaper NiteRider or Light-In-Motion that has a smart charge so you don't have to worry about overcharging.
Similar Products Used:	NiteRider Digital Pro 12-E and Headtrip and demo'd a Light-In-Motion at a race
Bike Setup:	I spoil myself. I don't need it, but want only the best.
Bottom Line:	If you ride at night, and not just commute, esp if you mtb at night get this light. The money is worth it. I don't need any other light and I go just as fast at night as during the day. Plus it only weighs 3lbs, whole system. For night riding there isn't a better light, bottom line.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:

Submitted by jason a Cross Country Rider from lake district uk Date Reviewed: November 5, 2000
Favorite Trail:	anywhere at night now
Duration Product Used:	3 months
Strengths:	amazing light,the difference between halogen and halide bulbs has to be seen to be belived.
Weaknesses:	cost(but hey you only get what you pay for) and a touch on the weighty side,but more weight launches you downhill faster which at night can only be a good thing.
Similar Products Used:	blt lumicycles
Bottom Line:	the mutts nutts of a lamp,can be a pain in the arse on the road with every other car `main beaming` you, ok, they are dear but you`ll forget that once you switch em on. as yet i havn`t had any of the probs in the other reviews,heres hoping i don`t! GO OUT AND BUY ONE, YOU WONT REGRET IT!
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Submitted by Wayne Frongello a Cross Country Rider from Orlando, FL USA Date Reviewed: May 6, 2000
Duration Product Used:	More than 3 years
Strengths:	The brightest light available. It'll enable you to safely ride the roads at night at top speed. It's a commuter's dream. I've had countless cops pull up beside me and tell me they've never seen such a bright bike light. It does a great job lighting the sides of the road as well.
Weaknesses:	I commute 15 miles to work at 4 o'clock every morning. When the light works it's great. Unfortunately, however, it is unreliable. The first one I had worked once. I sent it back. The second one I had worked well for 9 months. I sent it back. It took 3 months for Cat Eye to send a replacement and sadly, it has been completely unreliable, working only about 50% of the time. Thank goodness for my Nite Rider back up systems.
Similar Products Used:	Night Rider: Trail Rat, and Cyclops Premium.
Bike Setup:	1996 Cannondale H-600 with DD Headshok and Suspension seat post. Now known as a Cannondale Silk Path 700
Bottom Line:	The brightest light anywhere but you better have a back up! For $425 it ought to be more reliable than it is. Additionally, I don't understand why Cat Eye service takes so long.
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Submitted by david a Weekend Warrior from yorkshire Date Reviewed: December 2, 1999
Favorite Trail:	Baildon moor
Duration Product Used:	tested or demo'ed only
Strengths:	Power, technical sexiness.
Weaknesses:	price,battery design
Similar Products Used:	blt
Bike Setup:	merlin hardtail
Bottom Line:	Has anyone in the US tried the year 2000 version yet.I have one on order in the UK and apparently it is much improved. I have previously run BLT's and the twin light model down from the stadium, both of which were fine but can a light ever be bright enough?
Overall Rating:

Submitted by Mark a cross-country rider from MA Date Reviewed: November 19, 1998
Bottom Line:	This light SUCKS and so does CATEYE. I bought this light last spring and did not try to use it until this fall. First time out it did not work; when I got home, after riding behind someone with a light, it did work, then it did not work again. I called CATEYE and they said send it back, it has been 4 weeks and I have been told that they are sending me a new light and I should have had it about 2 weeks ago, someone else told me they repaired my light and it was shipped out a week and half ago, I can't wait until I call later today to see what kind of story I get today. CATEYE sucksa and I will never buy one of their products ever again, they couldn't even give me one of their products. Up yours CATEYE!!!
Overall Rating:

Submitted by Kenny a cross-country rider from Salt Lake City, UT Date Reviewed: October 6, 1998
Bottom Line:	If you can find one, don't buy it! The light output is incredible. In fact, it is by far the most amazing light I have ever used. It is like riding with one headlight from a car. Unfortunately, the reliability is terrible. I had mine replaced several times before giving up. If they ever replace this model with a reliable model, I will be the first to try one. But, I can't recommend it in good faith because the blasted thing often would not work at all or would work intermitantly - Not acceptable. 1 fading star
Overall Rating:

Submitted by Andy Wray a from downhiller Date Reviewed: October 4, 1998
Bottom Line:	Well I have just bought one of these baby's for all of £195.00 English pounds, I got a deal off my local bike shop because they have had it for over a year and could not sell it for the original asking price of £320.00 !!!. what a bargain it's by far the most powerfull mountain bike light out there. If you want a light that you can use in the darkness of a forest at night and still ride the same speed you would normally go during the day with no worrys then this is the only light you can use. I think the main advantage of the Stadium is not just the power of the light, and boy is it powerfull, but the colour of the light it puts out. It gives you a blue/white light and this is miles better for visibility that most normal lights that seem to put out a duller yellow colour. My only complaints are the size of the battery, which is too big really and only just fits into a bottle cage. I also think the actual quality of the plastic on the bottle housing is very cheap, if you dropped it on a solid stone floor you will crack the casing.Oh well you cannot have everything. Overall a superb light, the best out there, but that battery could do to be smaller. How about using the same sort of battery that you get with most new computer laptop systems ???.
Overall Rating:

Submitted by Jon a racer from Reston, VA Date Reviewed: May 26, 1998
Bottom Line:	As other have stated, it's the brightest light in the market. You have to be careful on how you point the light on the handlebars, especially if you ride on roads. I've been high-beamed by oncoming cars several times. When it's working nothing beats it. I usually get at least 1 hr and 45 min, but under 2 hr after a full charge.Like others, the battery casing is really cheap and poorly designed if you want to use the light in ruff off-road conditions. It just barely fits into my water bottle cages. I've also knocked the top ballast loose by accidentally hitting it while riding and the ballast bottom cover plate will occationally shake loose if you tend ride a lot on bumpy surfaces. However, the thing I find the most annoying is the wire connection between the ballast and the battery housing. Sometimes after I charge the light and when I turn it on, it doesn't light. I then have to twist off the ballast and make sure the wires are well connected or not pinched between the ballast and battery housing. Usually that does the trick.It's a great system when it works, but I'm only giving it three chilis because for the price of the light, you'd think they could have come up with a more bike friendly battery bottle and work more reliably.
Overall Rating:

Submitted by jibofo a racer from az Date Reviewed: January 23, 1998
Bottom Line:	simply the best. i've had dual beams from nightsun and nite rider. the stadium puts out tons more light. expensive but the best always is. no light weight, but neither is any of the competetion.i'd give it a 5 but there's always room for improvement. i'm amazed that no other company has come out with a metal halide light yet.
Overall Rating:

Submitted by dick jones a racer from peoria il Date Reviewed: December 26, 1997
Bottom Line:	Started with Vista 400 dual 10 watt lamps, obviously, the best deal for the $$$$ .Had a opportunity to purchase 'demo'Stadium Light at a very reasonable price.W O W ! The white contrast of Metal Halide Light is UN-REAL.The charge usally lasts 1.5-2.0 HRS. The down side...Once turned on you cannot turn off ,(light has warm-up+cool down time,won't re-light)turn ON LEAVE ON.Make sure your bottle-cage/battery-pack holder can handle the large HEAVY_ASS BATTERY!!!! ALREADY SMOKED 2 cages.YOU WANTED THE BRIGHTEST, PAY-UP + ENJOY (BLINDING ALL)ONLY 4 STARS ,CAUSE DAT PRICE IS JUST TO FU@#ING HIGH!!!!!!!!!
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Submitted by Daniel Milstein a cross-country rider from Port Chester, NY Date Reviewed: July 11, 1997
Bottom Line:	The Stadium Light is a perfect solution as the bright half of a night riding system. (Toss in a helmet-mounted, tightly focused headlight for perfection) Aside from the intensely bright white (almost blue) light, and the best damn mounting system I've seen, it does have a few problems.While the light output (and focus) make the Stadium Light ideal for rough trail riding after hours, the physical constuction of the housing needs work. The power cord exits the housing at the top of the case. The water seal is poorly designed, and after about an hour and a half in the rain, the light shut off. At first, I thought I had a dead battery. No such luck. A closer look revealed water in the electronics housing above the battery.A trip to radio shack (for component cleaner) and a few hours drying out (completely disassembled) did the trick. The light fired up correctly, and I was able to get back to the trail the following night. Now, if I had only remembered to charge the battery... The water problem was easily defeated with a glob of weather sealant.The light is expensive, but damn, it IS bright! I'd buy it again. It loses only one chili for the crappy case. Four-chili rating for doing its job as the brightest light on the market.
Overall Rating:

Submitted by Mark R. Williams a racer from San Juan, P.R. Date Reviewed: July 11, 1997
Bottom Line:	The Cateye Stadium Light is being hyped as the most powerful bike light on the market--quivalent to over 80 watts of hologen--The Stadium is metal hydride or some such thing. I've tested the Stadium against my Nightrider Nighthawk (32 watts hologen), and the Stadium is only slightly brighter. The Stadium's color temperature is blue-white, compared to the Nighthawk's yellowish beam. Perhaps the whiter color improves visibility, but again, my experience has been that this light only offers a marginal improvement over the Nighthawk, when it is supposed to be almost three times brighter--it most definitely is not. Perhaps this is in part due to the reflector being too wide angle.On the positive side, the Stadium has the best handlebar mounting system I've ever seen--much better than that of Nightrider. The mount can be adjusted in both the x and y axis on the fly, and is much less bulky than comparable mounts. The light clicks on solidly, unlike the flimsy Nightrider mount.The Stadium is constructed out of aluminum, and has a very post-modern look--the light itself is small and unobtrusive. All in all I would rate it as first rate from a product engineering standpoint. A major advantage is that the metal housing offsets any interference with wireless bike computers. The Nighthawk, in comparison, kicks out so much electronic noise as to make wireless computers mounted even six inches away impossible to use. The light system comes in a nice plastic attache case, and includes a very well designed charger.On the negative side, the battery housing is very poorly designed. It barely fits into a standard water bottle cage, is made out of cheap stiff plastic which I presume would break easily under normal mountain bike use, has its balllast mounted in such a way that the thing could come off while the rider is under way without too much pretense. The overall design of the battery case is basically a joke. The battery guage, by the way, is mounted on the battery housing. When using this light on a Y33 or other sort of bike that has its water bottle cage in a non-traditional location the guage is impossible to see. Unlike the Nighthawk, battery charging is not smart-managed, so one has to remember to unplug the charger after a day or so to avoid damaging the battery.The bottom line is that the Nighthawk is a much better overall lighting system than the Stadium. With a better battery housing and smart charging the Stadium would be a much more compelling product. As it is, the added versatility of the Nighthawk would make the Nightrider product more useful to more people, and in a wider range of circumstances--the economy mode alone, which allows the Nighthawk to be used for up to sixawk.
Overall Rating:

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