What’s the best brand of bike lights for night riding? Tough question. Brand-name bike lights are all really, really good these days, how many lumens it has and how long the battery lasts aren’t enough to set one apart. The Gloworm XSV, introduced earlier this year, easily tackles both of those, then adds a few unique features that make it worth a look. Namely, an easy wireless remote, and the ability to customize your beam pattern with included lens “gems” that swap in and out in a minute. We’ve been testing this 3,400 lumen, three-LED unit leading up the daylight time change, and here’s why you’re going to want it…
What’s in the box?
For $320 USD, you get the light, a 6,800mAh Li-Ion 4-cell battery, and the following bits and pieces:
- extension cable
- smart charger wall unit with interchangeable prongs
- universal helmet mount
- 31.8mm quick release bar mount (add a 35mm clamp for $5)
- GoPro-style base mount
- strap mount for attaching battery to bicycle frame
- Hex tool
- wireless remote
- spare optics (aka lens elements) – wide/spot/honeycomb
As you’ll see on the photos below, I ended up using an actual GoPro brand base mount, as it offered a more secure-feeling connection to the GoPro brand stick-on mount I attached to my helmet. Gloworm also includes a plastic tool for tightening the GoPro bolt, which you’ll need to do because it takes more than hand-tightening to prevent the light from pivoting. But, that tool’s bulky square shape makes it too big to actually turn between the light and the helmet. So, I used my 9.Solutions Multi-Tool, which is a fantastic addition to any action-camera setup. A phillips head screwdriver also works.
It’s worth noting that the light unit comes with GoPro-style feet attached to it, but they’re removable if you prefer to use their side-mounted bar mount attachment. Everything you need for any of these attachment methods is included in the box, making the light ready to use as soon as you charge it.
Actual weights, tech specs & setup tips
I like to run a helmet light only, no need for a bar light in my opinion. So I’m very happy with the XSV’s 131g weight for the light unit. The battery’s 248g weight is easily managed inside a hydration pack, and the 31g extension cord is long enough to get it there…or all the way down to a hip pack or (if you like to gamble) jersey pocket. If you prefer a bar mount setup, the strap and rubber pad for mounting the battery to your frame is 23g…
…and the 31.8mm bar mount is 20g with hardware. The remote control switch (which you don’t need, but is super handy) is just 20g with battery installed (it comes installed, no need to purchase separately), and the included action cam base mount is 19g (but I’d recommend using an actual GoPro brand mount if you have one).
Gloworm claims the following specs:
- 3400 lumens actual output
- IP67 Waterproof
- Latest gen Cree XHP 35.2 LEDs
- Overheat protection
- 1.5 hour runtime on max
- LED fuel gauge on battery
- light will flash when running low
- 322g total system weight with battery
- 4-hour charge time from empty