Outbound Lighting built a team of engineers with a wealth of automotive experience, so it’s no surprise they would use that know-how to craft a bike light that draws upon technology usually found in cars.
Outbound’s latest handlebar-mounted light, the Detour, does precisely that. It is specifically designed for cyclists riding on roads, whether commuting or putting in significant road miles, or exploring gravel.
It lights up the path using Cree XD16 LEDs and Samsung 21700 cells packed into a thermal-conductive polymer that makes it light and bright. Outbound says the Detour can run for about three hours.
The critical tech feature in the light is its horizontal cutoff beam that keeps the light down on the road ahead, rather than allowing light to hit runners, cyclists, or drivers coming from the other direction.
Outbound says that feature, similar to the tech used in cars, directs the light exactly where it needs to be and saves energy by cutting down on the excess light riders don’t need. While its horizontal cutoff blocks the light front drifting too far skyward, it has a broad field that illuminates the entire width of the road.
The Detour mounts to 35 to 31.8 mm handlebars via a bolt-on clamp and reinforced nylon mount equipped with a quick-release tool that makes mounting and removing the light simple. It also is available with an action camera-style mount that fits under a GPS.
The Detour is simple to use with a single, soft-button interface, even while wearing heavy winter gloves. It has four green indicator lights showing battery level and mode, including daytime strobe, nighttime pulse, and constant output.
Outbound Lighting gave riders a glimpse of the Detour at the Sea Otter Classic earlier in April, but it hasn’t quite hit the shelves yet. The light goes for an MSRP of $179 and will likely be available starting May.
Find out more at the Outbound Lighting site.
