If you like running and cycling..., this is your headlamp to continue enjoying your hobbies also at night.
This is a multipurpose headlamp from the Silva brand (Distributor in Spain www.vertical.es) for use during mountain biking and road cycling and any other activity that requires movement at a certain speed through the natural environment thanks to its great light output, nothing more and nothing less than 660 lumens.
The Silva Trail Speed Elite headlamp also stands out for its lightweight 62 gr. lamp and its reduced design and weight of the 100 gr lithium-ion battery, which can be used without problems for running, skating or skiing by carrying the battery in the back pocket of the leggings or windbreaker. It is also possible to use it even when paddling a canoe thanks to its IPX6 waterproofing. This versatility is possible thanks to the included brackets and adapters to install the light on the handlebars, on the helmet when skating or on the canoe paddle...
When cycling, the battery can be placed without any problem on the stem or on the horizontal tube of the bicycle thanks to an elastic band with Velcro that wraps around it and allows to adapt it and fix it on any element avoiding it to move thanks to its elastic rubber padding. When pedaling it is more operative that the lamp is fixed on the handlebars using the simple rubber adapter setting the position according to the light mode required, the difficulty of the terrain or the speed of travel.
Wearing the lamp on the helmet while cycling means unintentional blurring of the illuminated campo with each lateral movement of the head. In the case of road cycling, it is important to know that in order to comply with the DGT road regulations (Title VI, article 178) on the use of bicycles at night on interurban roads, the light beam must be carried on the handlebars and, in addition to a red position light, a reflector (not triangular) of the same color must be added to the rear part of the bicycle. In addition, when the use of lights is mandatory, a reflective garment must also be worn if riding on interurban roads, so that drivers and other users can distinguish us at a distance of 150 meters
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During the test I wore Silva's Visibility Jacket, a multipurpose jacket that is not only windproof, waterproof and breathable, but also has large areas and reflective details that make it one of the best options for night-time training.
The light beam is extraordinary at around 80-90 m. in high power mode in which its autonomy will not be much more than 3 hours but the truth is that in the lower power mode it looks perfectly well and lasts more than 8 hours. The lighting system is a 2 in 1, long range beam and peripheral at the same time. It has 2 high power LED lamps and a 25 Ah 7.2V Lithium-Ion battery that recharges in about 3 hours directly from the mains.
Strengths and Opportunities for Improvement
This is one of the best multisport headlamps on the market. With the boom in triathlon and adventure raids, having a versatile headlamp that performs well on the bike, running, skating or even paddling is a guarantee of use, and this Silva Speed Elite model is a guarantee of success.
Its exceptional power allows you to pedal at night on technical sections and without limitation or fear on fast trails. Its light power allows you to run with a lot of security, "when you turn it on, it seems like it's daytime..."; so much so that if you have the Trail Speed elite and you have another specific headlamp for running with less power, you will not want to use it even if having that more power means "the inconvenience" of having to carry the battery separately. In my particular case, placing the battery in the back and central pockets of my running tights has not been a problem for me. While it is true that this model is more functional placing the battery in the back pocket of the tights than in the lumbar skirt of the windbreaker or Visibility jacket of Silava especially during the race on foot.
In the case of cycling, it is advisable to carry the focus on the handlebars and the battery on the stem which allows pedaling in a safer way and without the discomfort that can involve the wiring to the back.
In my opinion, and it is clear to me that the lines of research and product development (R & D) of Silva go this way, the front of the future will be more powerful with a smaller battery volume, greater autonomy, but above all the trend will be towards greater independence and versatility of energy sources and recharging systems.
BUY SILVA TRAIL SPEED ELITE. Front +25 Ah 7,4 V Li-Ion IPX6.
Silva Tyto
I took the opportunity to test the Tyto safety light, specially designed for night cycling, at the same time as the headlamp.
It is a small circular red position light device, which can be worn on the back of the bike and emits white light on the front. The purpose of the rear red light is to indicate to other users the presence of a cyclist on the road, or an athlete running through the city as it can be easily attached to the back skirt of the jacket or any other garment thanks to the rear clip and because its placement does not pose any discomfort since its weight and size is very small.
By pressing the large power button located in the center of the device, the light comes on as a flashing flash and if you press it again it remains constant and with a long press it turns off. It is easy to operate while pedaling, running or walking without any problems even when wearing thicker gloves while pedaling.
The device is sold with a strap with Velcro closure that expands the possibilities of carrying it on any item such as backpacks or saddlebags. It has two 210 mAh CR2032 lithium batteries that guarantee 24 hours in continuous mode or 100 hours in flashing mode and is perfectly resistant to water, both from rain and from the ground thrown by the rear wheel when pedaling.
If you use it during intercity journeys, it is important to remember that road regulations require that in addition to the red position light you must also wear a reflector (not triangular) of the same color, as well as a reflective garment so that drivers and other users can distinguish you at a distance of 150 meters.
The Visibility Jacket from Silva is ideal for this purpose.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is a position light of tiny size and weight of only 15 gr, but at the same time powerful and practical. Designed to carry in your pocket and turn it on when you need to be visible to drivers when running around the city and can be easily attached thanks to its clip either to your leggings, belt, pockets or jacket skirt. It is very easy to carry it on the back of the backpack or to attach it fixed to the seat post of the bicycle thanks to the fastening strap. It is available in red and white. In my opinion it is a simple and small device that all athletes should always carry with them because using the Tyto is the easiest way to invest in road safety.
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