Cat Eye shipped BlueCollar their HL-EL400 compact opticube light a few months ago. The light weighs in at a mere 78 grams with batteries. The adjustable strap made for easy mounting on my handlebars and also rotates so you can mount it easily on your helmet or stem. The HL-EL400 uses three bright white LED which are focused by Cat Eye’s Opticube lens and reflectors. The light is waterproof up to 50 meters or for us Americans 165 feet. It has two light settings, the constant on mode which will last for 80 hours or the flashing mode which will last 160 hours.

This light is obviously not intended for night time trail riding by itself. Coming in at 90 candlepower it just doesn’t have the umph to light up the enough of the trail. It is however a good supplement to a larger light. Mounted on your helmet the HL-EL400 is very effective and lightweight. It loops around the openings in your helmet and you don’t feel like you have this thing hanging from your helmet, it fits snug and secure and is good for a long ride.

I mainly used this light for my commutes to work. It came in very handy for those unlit side roads. The 90 candlepower is effective in this situation because you are not trying to steer around or over rocks, roots, and fallen trees (at least I hope not). The flashing mode is also a great way to get those early morning bleary eyed driver’s attention. With a price tag of $30 it is hard to go wrong with this light.