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Cateye Volt 400 Duplex helmet light.jpg£69.99
VERDICT:
A well-executed helmet-handlebar package covering a multitude of needs, but lacking battery information
Weight:
136g
Contact:
At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.
What the road.cc scores meanGood scores are more common than bad, because fortunately good products are more common than bad.
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The Cateye Volt 400 Duplex is a well-thought-out light able to cover a multitude of use cases with a few add-on accessories, unfortunately let down by some battery information omissions. Overall, though, a recommended buy with a two-year warranty.
- Pros: Flexible modular package, long life, can charge other things with optional cradle
- Cons: Unclear battery life indication
The Volt 400 Duplex arrives with a helmet mount, secured by a loop of Velcro-like material that doubles back on itself. This works well enough, but I was disappointed with the small footprint of the pad that contacts the helmet – the lack of material fore and aft meant that on some helmets without a pronounced centre ridge, the light vibrated rapidly up and down when cycling over rough surfaces. This made a quick blast along a stretch of bridleway akin to cycling in a disco, and were I to implement this as a long-term solution I'd be adding a plastic extension underneath to steady things.
> Find your nearest dealer here
At 136g including mount, and sitting quite high, the Volt 400 is noticeable atop your noggin, but it's not unreasonably wieldy. If you need to remove or place it back on while wearing your helmet this is do-able with some practice.
Selling with just a helmet mount, the Volt 400 does not meet the UK's Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations – the legal document that defines what lights you need to have on your bike by law – so don't view this light as a replacement for lights that are actually affixed to your bike, front and rear. That said, it can be a perfectly-adequate front light with the optional Cateye handlebar bracket (see below).
Fore & aft
The party trick of the Volt 400 is the 2600mAH battery pack, which features a 10-lumen rear red light, allowing you to enhance your rearward visibility.
It's activated by a press of the central button, with a single press to swap between solid or a single fast flashing mode, and a long press to turn it off.
The constant rear light is good for 25 hours, the flashing rear for 250.
Operation of the main/front light is equally simple – two presses to turn on, then cycle through the five modes: 400-lumen High (3hrs), 100-lumen Medium (10hrs), 50-lumen Low (18hrs), 'HyperConstant' which is the Low-level always on with a twice-per-second full-power flash (9hrs) and finally a simple flash good for 150hrs.
Both front and rear have a memory mode, so will always turn on in the last-used setting.
I found the button moderately tactile and workable in all but the thickest of gloves.
Note that all these run-times are assuming the other end isn't operating... In the real world the worst-case scenario run-time for the front on high and rear on constant is about two and a half hours, the red low-battery button indicator coming on for the last 30 or so minutes. Once the front light dies, you have another 30 minutes of the front flashing setting to get you home or to another light source.
In the dark
On the bike, in the dark, the Volt 400 is a surprisingly capable light. The yellowish beam is sharply focused, with a decent spread of lower light to aid peripheral vision. There are small cutouts at the front aiding side visibility, while the rear red is very visible for a 180-degree sweep, with a focused rearward beam through the on-off button.
The front beam on high has enough oomph to pick out potholes and drain grates if you're doing a moderate turn of speed – good for about 15mph in totally dark situations with my eyesight. If you're riding alongside others or amongst traffic it gets quickly overwhelmed.
> Buyer's Guide: The best 2017/2018 front lights for cycling
During an off-road test of another light system, I descending a few hundred vertical metres of rocky Scottish mountain path using only the Volt 400, after my main light died. I might have gone a bit faster with a main light, but then probably wouldn't have just avoided the adult hind that leapt across my path on a corner. You wouldn't set out to use a Volt 400 as your only off-road light, but at a pinch it suffices.
My go-to comparison light is Lezyne's excellent 475-lumen Powerdrive XL from a few years back. Allowing for the extra 75 lumens, and considering that for around half the price in today's money you're getting a rear light as well, the Volt 400 stacks up well against a venerable industry benchmark.
When testing the 1700-lumen handlebar-mounted Magicshine system, I found the Volt 400 added a decent amount of information to the visible trail mix. Being able to pick out darker areas on the road, work out if they were indeed potholes or patches and therefore whether to avoid or roll over, made night riding more relaxing.
Low volts letdown
Where I think Cateye lets users down a bit is with the button that doubles as the battery level indicator. The only indication of battery level is when it's running low: the button lights red. This indication is only for the front light – there's no indication as to the charge state if you are only running the rear.
Charging the battery using the built-in micro-USB port from dead empty to full took 30 minutes longer than the indicated six hours, and that was using a wall charger with a theoretical 2400mA output, indicating a sub-USB 2.0 charge rate of 400mAH. Again, the button was red until fully charged, so you have no idea of progress. If you need to fill it up completely, plan ahead.
In use, the main/front light just turns off when the battery gets critical – there's no warning flash or stepped degradation from High to Medium to Low, as employed by the likes of Exposure. Once the front light dies the rear red remains on, and manually switching the rear to flashing mode, it ran on for another few hours which should do to get you home. You can turn the front light back on in flashing mode, but don't expect more than about 30 minutes of run.
It's a pity the solid rear light doesn't switch to flashing (one-tenth the battery drain) to preserve life, or indicate the critical level. And beware – once the rear turns off from solid mode, that's it – no turning back on in flashing.
Accessories available
Being part of Cateye's Volt modular range, the Volt 400 can use other Volt accessories. You can opt for extra batteries without the red light – either 2200mAH or 3600mAH. There are two external charging options: a simple £10 vertical USB-powered cradle, or a nifty £20 model that lets you charge the battery or use it as an external battery pack to charge a phone or other accessory. I can see this being of interest to bikepackers or other folk in need of backup power for e-things.
For £6 you can buy the standard Cateye handlebar bracket, which would of course render the rear red light pointless, but as part of a system you might juggle between a road bike, commuter or mountain bike, the modular nature of the batteries and brackets might work for you.
Conclusion
If you need a helmet light for visibility or off-road use, fancy a modular system you can expand with extra batteries or mounts or use to charge other things, perhaps while recharging from a dynamo or solar charger, give the Volt 400 a look. Minor foibles like battery level indication aside, it's a well-executed package.
Verdict
A well-executed helmet-handlebar package covering a multitude of needs, but lacking battery information
road.cc test report
Make and model: Cateye Volt 400 Duplex helmet light
Size tested: 400 lumens front, 10 lumens rear
Tell us what the light is for
It's for people wanting a helmet-friendly system that can turn its hand to being a handlebar or general-purpose torch/battery pack.
Cateye says: "Safety should be an important consideration for anyone riding a bicycle, and a premium lighting system like the Volt400 Duplex can play a critical role in the equation, especially when riding in traffic. This helmet mounted light integrates both headlight and taillight all in one lightweight package. Five front modes vary between a bright 400 lumen constant beam down to a flashing setting, while the rear can be switched between constant and flashing modes. On high, the front will run for 3 hours before the Li-ion battery will need recharging via a convenient USB port, but can go for an amazing 150 hours in flashing mode. In busy city traffic, running bright lights, especially in flashing mode at eye level to many motorists, can be one of the best visual defenses a bicyclist has. Use it."
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the light?
Cateye lists:
Dimension：
127 x 42.5 x 31 mm
*Weight：
108.5 grams (light unit and battery)
Light source：
High intensity white LED x1, red LED x1
Run time：
(Front) * when the rear light is turned off.
High mode
400 lumens： 3hrs
Middle mode
100 lumens： 10hrs
Low mode
50 lumens： 18hrs
Hyper Constant mode
400/50 lumens： 9hrs
Flashing mode
50 lumens：150hrs
(Rear) * when the front light is turned off.
Constant mode
10 lumens： 25hrs
Flashing mode
10 lumens： 250hrs
Battery：
Li-ion rechargeable battery (3.6V-2600mAh)
Recharge time：
Approx 6hrs (USB2.0 recharge)
Recharge/discharge number of times：
About 300 times（until the rated capacity drops to 70%）
Other:
Low battery indicator, lighting mode memory function. Helmet mount included
Rate the light for quality of construction:
9/10
Usual high Cateye standards.
Rate the light for design and ease of use. How simple was the light to use?
7/10
Easy enough, but wish the battery level was indicated better, charging or discharging.
Rate the light for the design and usability of the clamping system/s
6/10
Bit fiddly with gloves on, but do-able.
Rate the light for waterproofing. How did it stand up to the elements?
10/10
Didn't leak or show any ill-effects.
Rate the light for battery life. How long did it last? How long did it take to recharge?
7/10
2.5hrs run-time on full is decent for the size, a long charge time though.
Rate the light for performance:
7/10
For the size and cost, the spot focus does add useful information when in the dark.
Rate the light for durability:
9/10
Typical Cateye – should last a lifetime.
Rate the light for weight:
8/10
For what it does, surprisingly light.
Rate the light for value:
7/10
Tell us how the light performed overall when used for its designed purpose
Overall I was pleased with the Volt 400. Does what it says on the tin.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the light
The flexibility to repurpose for other tasks.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the light
No indication of charge level until it's low, with only 30 minutes left.
Did you enjoy using the light? Yes
Would you consider buying the light? Yes
Would you recommend the light to a friend? Yes
Use this box to explain your overall score
I'd like to like this light more, but the lack of battery level management and the sudden turn-off of the main beam leaves it wanting. It's a good light, but some simple software implementations would make it so much better.
About the tester
Age: 43
I usually ride: Merida Ride 5000 Disc My best bike is:
I've been riding for: Over 20 years I ride: A few times a week I would class myself as: Expert
I regularly do the following types of riding: cyclo-cross, club rides, general fitness riding, mountain biking, Dutch bike pootling
Living in the Highlands, Mike is constantly finding innovative and usually cold/wet ways to accelerate the degradation of cycling kit. At his happiest in a warm workshop holding an anodised tool of high repute, Mike's been taking bikes apart and (mostly) putting them back together for forty years. With a day job in global IT (he's not completely sure what that means either) and having run a boutique cycle service business on the side for a decade, bikes are his escape into the practical and life-changing for his customers.
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15 comments
And isn't one of the main problems with testing helmets that they only use a head weight and not a whole body?
So long as light like this are use off road or isolated/unlit roads then there's not an issue, the biggest issue with helmet mounted lights is how blinding they are to oncoming road users.
You guys are going to be properly upset when you find out these 'standards' for helmet testing assume your head is a 5kg mass not attached to the rest of your body.
...here's the key, factual, non-supposition bit from the BBC safety analysis:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Study findings and conclusions
The results were a little surprising. We had anticipated that the placement of a solid object on the helmet would not only provide a single point of impact on the helmet but would also significantly increase the rotational / acceleration forces on the head when it ‘caught’ or impacted on inclined surfaces. The results were expected to be an increase in the transference of these impact forces to the head, potentially sufficient to exceed, or ‘fail’, the injury threshold of the standards. But this wasn’t the case. In fact, in not one of over 70 tests on various helmet types, mounting types or mounting positions did the presence of the camera cause the helmet to ‘fail’ the injury threshold standards. And this wasn’t solely because the camera broke away on impact (as claimed likely by the manufacturer), because this only happened in approximately 40% of tests. It turns out that, as seen on high speed film, when struck by a heavy weight from above, or when a helmeted head-form is dropped from height onto a solid surface, the deformation of the camera mount seems to actually absorb some of the energies involved, meaning that the camera mount may be providing an additional layer of protection to the head in most, but not all, tests.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
...I'll read that as: cameras stuck on helmets are a total non-issue. If you're worried about them, your DangerRadar needs a serious recalibration.
Not really, been making that point for years although although there are a number of differing testing regimes.
That's what I said in my original post
"The BBC did a test in 2015 looking at this in a lab environment and found that in those test/mount combination none of those tested exceeded the EN/BS injury threshold - that said they noted"
Read on.
Can you calibrate it with a helmet mount.
The "key factual" bit doesn't actually tell us that it didn't reduce the integrity, just that it didn't fail a standard.
Reading it as a "total non-issue" simply suggests you've made your mind up and shouldn't really bother engaging in debate...
what?
Prove to me tomatoes aren't dangerous. Until then, I'm going with the fact 100% of tomato-eaters die, therefore, there must be *some* danger in eating them.
I consider it a total non-issue because there's not a scrap of evidence presented to suggest that putting a light on a helmet increases your risk or severity of injury. Front something - anything - from a reputable source and I might change my stance.
Is there much evidence that wearing a helmet reduces your risk of injury? Yet people won't leave home without one for a ride amongst HGV's, buses & the like.
Interesting reading, never even crossed my mind. It's now for me to decide how a light on the helmet may improve safety in traffic versus a potential issue with the mount...
While helmet lights may provide better lighting at turns, they may be dangerous in an crash as they reduce the impact surface, therefore working as a pin
Source please.
Physics... plus possibly Michael Schumacher.
'Physics' is not a source. Please provide research to back the supposition that there is any even remotely justifiable reason not to use a helmet-mounted light due to increased injury risk.
...while you're at it, you better control for the fact that helmet lights increase visibility, thereby likely reducing the chance of an accident / collision. I'll take as a possible further mitigation, if researched, that improving visibility might induce people to cycle faster, ergo taking more risks with possibly worse consequences.
...another starting point might be a search as to whether any class actions / other legal moves have been taken against helmet light/camera manufacturers, particularly in the US, for selling products demonstrably likely to endanger users.
Otherwise, nonsensical scaremongering, followed by /= Beans (hill thereof)
The OP did say 'may' though, which makes the initial claim defensible if slightly pointless.
And as far as I can make out, most claims about cycle safety equipment can be prefixed with 'may...' or 'could...' or 'might potentially...', because nobody seems to know anything very much either way.
Nah mate, I'm done with hand-grenades of supposition, that seek to cast doubt where there is none any reasonable person would countenance. Bring even remotely credible evidence to back your position, or save the pixels for another forum
Helmet mounted anything and, yes, physics is a source - or at least should be. Pressure is related to the force per unit area, a mount plate can reduce the effective impact area so can increase the pressure on the helmet, the increase in pressure increases the chance of failure of the helmet. That's all obvious, so I guess you're not arguing against that. Such a chain of events was, however , implicated in the investigation into the catastropic failure of Schumachers ski lid, hence the comment.
Also obvious is that there is also the potential for increased rotational leverage, which a number of manufacturers have sought to mitigate with adhesive mounts (rather than bolt-ins etc) and other ways to ensure that the camera, light, whathaveyou break off on impact - but it's still a risk. Giro/Bell have done tests on some mounts and said they're OK, Specialized said they don't recommend hard-mounted fixtures and Troy Lee abandoned putting mounts on their helmets after testing (no published data on these that I can find though).
The BBC did a test in 2015 looking at this in a lab environment and found that in those test/mount combination none of those tested exceeded the EN/BS injury threshold - that said they noted
"That’s not to say the presence of the camera on the helmet is entirely a good thing. Whilst the injury threshold standards were not exceeded, the camera and its mount did cause a slight increase in the transference of force to the head when the impact was applied at an angle, such as in a glancing blow or fall against a surface - think of a climber falling and the camera catching on the rock face, causing the head to jerk back from its original path before the camera mount rotates or breaks away. And these findings held regardless of the helmet types tested (hardshell, hybrid and EPS foam), although the EPS foam helmets tended to outperform the other two types in reducing the amount of force which was transferred to the head during impact in these conditions."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/safety/resources/safetynews/whatsnew/helmet-cams
I'm not talking about anything but the simple physics of helmet mounts, and i'm certainly not scaremongering *. As i've already mentioned, there are a number of tests that showed that tests of combinations of well-known brands of helmet and mount, while often increasing loads did not exceed the safety threshold they tested against. Indeed any particular dangers would be highly specific to the design of mount, mounted equipment, helmet and the circumstances of the collision but to pretend there's no potential for elevated risk seems peculiar - load increases were found, not every combination is one tested and not every accident happens in a lab.
* Edit. This. I'm not particularly arguing one way or the other, just that you asked for a source and I gave you a couple.