Helmet or Handlebar Lights?

Finally getting back into night riding…what's the preference these days?
Do you ride with helmet mounted, or handlebar mounted lighting systems? Or a mixture of both?

I've done a lot of trail running through the night. While I like the convenience of headlamps, I always find the effect "flattening". It's hard to discern lumps and bumps in the trail…so I end up with a hand held system to bring out the contrast of the trail's topography.
Does the (significantly) higher lumen output of bike-specific lighting systems help with that flattened effect on head-mounted systems?

I use both but if I could only use one helmet mount 100%

I use both but if I could only use one helmet mount 100%

X2.

For the cost of lights online these days I would highly recommend both.Bar lights will show you where you are going and head lamp will show where you want to go. There really is no compromise outside of funding. Personally, I've made do with a head lamp, but not by choice.
As mentioned above, Solar storm X2's, as well as any cree led head lamps are a great bang for buck.

Both. You have to have a backup light in case of a failure or crash or something so two decent lights make sense. You want a helmet light if you do choose one bright light and a small emergency light as backup only. Personally I have never experienced any issues with only a helmet light which I will do when I am climbing slowly.

For the cost of lights online these days I would highly recommend both.Bar lights will show you where you are going and head lamp will show where you want to go. There really is no compromise outside of funding. Personally, I've made do with a head lamp, but not by choice.
As mentioned above, Solar storm X2's, as well as any cree led head lamps are a great bang for buck.

x3!

Excellent info.
I had picked up the X2 a few days ago and will likely get a 2nd set.

In the "old" days, I remember busting my one light system and rode "sandwich style" between two other buddies with lights so that I could hobble back out of the trail….fun times, but I've been there, done that.

Thanks!

I use both but if I could only use one helmet mount 100%

Agree

I'm still running Geoman Gear lights from yesteryear. I don't really ride at night but one of the better purchase I've made.

My bar light is a Magic Shine MJ-808E that I got in 2010. Still going strong. Got two units in 2010 one died in 2015. light head unit internal failure. Picked up a Solar storm to replace the it. Could not be happier with my bang for buck.

I use both but if I could only use one helmet mount 100%

Agreed!

I find the best setup is a flood lamp with more divergence on the handlebar and a more collimated beam on the helmet. That way, you trow light pretty much everywhere in front of you and you have a more intensity in the direction where you are looking.

Two lights all the way.

One helment, one bar mount.

Flood on the bars, spot on the helmet, or two floods. I guess the season is upon us. Time to charge the batteries.

http://nightcyclingsafety.com/product/bike-night-cycling-heart-shaped-tail-light/

don,t forget tail lights :)

May I also suggest using flat pedals instead of clipless. I've had the most bizarre and unnecessary clipless based crashes in the dark. Everything looks different during night riding. The once familiar is a brand new eery place. And ffs run one on the bars and one on the headlight so you get some depth perception.