Serfas USL-305 True 305 USB Headlight

Update 2022: This light is a drag--I recommend against. It doesn't hold a charge when unused for a week or so, and after a couple of years of use a full charge would only last for about 20 mins on the lowest setting. Then after 3 years the rubber on the mounting band broke. I thought it might have been sun exposure, so when I got a replacement I kept it out of the sun, barely used the light on a commuting bike during early evening hours in the winter. Now, 7 years after original purchase, 3 more after replacing the mounting band, it broke again--and the light isn't worth it anymore with the poor battery.There are many much better lights out there.-----------Below my earlier review.I needed two brighter lights for commuting and couldn't decide between this item and the  Light and Motion Urban 350 Headlight . I've used both for about 10 months, and would definitely recommend the L&M 350 over the Serfas 305. Don't get me wrong: the Serfas is very good, but it has a few downsides in comparison. (BTW, I have a [[ASIN:B005H1D1RQ Serfas Raider USL-5] headlight] that I love, it's just not bright enough for over 12-15mph--you outride your "cone of light".) Here they are:1. The Serfas's mounting clip has a little metal peg like some watchbands (see photo), which fits into slots to adjust to different diameter handlebars. If you take it off the handlebar and have it in your bag, the peg+band detaches--and just try to find it and get it back in the right adjustment slot once darkness has set in (if your other light runs out, or if you come out of a restaurant or movie in the dark--I try to use my red taillight, but you need both hands). You can leave the mount permanently attached to the handlebar and just slide the light out, but since I often use another light and need the handlebar "real estate" for it, I usually unmount the bracket too, so this is a problem for me. (Never mind that leaving the bracket on all the time offends my aesthetic sense.) Oh, and you have to depress the little lever not only to slide the light out, but to slide it back in as well. Need 2 hands, and impossible with gloves with closed fingers.2. I sometimes use a mtn bike for grocery shopping and have a handlebar bag, so I attach the headlight to the far end of the street-side handlebar grip. I can do that with the L&M, but not with the Serfas. The L&M's stretchable silicone band (like the Serfas Raider's), is pretty strong (you need to *really* pull to hook it in) and you have to rotate the light to access the hook, but I still prefer its simplicity and one-piece design over the Serfas.2b. If you are on windy paths or going around a long dark curve you can use one hand to rotate the L&M slightly to "see around corners" ahead. The Serfas is locked straight ahead.3. Next, the L&M has a fourth varying dim-medium wave setting that saves the most battery, which the Serfas does not. These lights are bright enough to blind oncoming riders on a bike path (or drivers on a road), so if the path/road has streetlights I like a lower setting, never mind that my hour-long after dark commute just about exhausts the charge if on bright the whole time.3b. The Serfas has a flash setting (on-off-on-off) if you press & hold. That may save more battery, but I find blinking headlights super-annoying, on my bike as much as other riders'. And in order to turn the thing off, you have to press and hold--if you hold a second too long, you're in flash mode (i.e. it is hard to turn off).4. The battery charging presents other problems. I find that the Serfas loses more charge if left unused for weeks than the L&M does (but running down is not a problem over shorter periods). Another slight annoyance: while the L&M will charge on any USB charger--I have a "smart" one that works for androids, Apple etc, automatically adjusting the amperage. The Serfas flashes berserkly if I try to use the smart charger--it only works with the most simple old plug-in USB charger I have. (I don't usually use my computer's USB port for charging the battery.) Charger cable access is a bit easier on the Serfas--you have to rotate the L&M's silicone band to access its port, BUT the little rubber flap that closes the port is a pain to close on the Serfas--too soft & flubbery.5. Last and least, although the Serfas's button is large and easy to use, while the L&M's is smaller, I find the L&M's press&hold to turn off works better. Holding the Serfas's down turns it first to a blink setting, then press again for off.I'll end by saying what I like better about the Serfas: the blue LED under the power button is easy to see, esp. when it blinks red to show charge running out. The L&M could use more of a "hood" in front to keep the cone of light lower and not blinding to oncoming traffic. Black looks better on a black handlebar too, IMO.Conclusion: both of these lights are excellent for semi-urban commuting, and are bright enough that you have sufficient visibility for riding 20-25 mph on unlit roads (I only hit that on downhills). If you use full brightness the whole time, you'll get about an hour out of them both, but with lower settings for portions of your ride you can easily get at least 1.5 hours. And, if you still have regular battery powered lights: the USB rechargeable battery ones are SO much better than other kinds, I love them.Happy cycling!

The light is bright, really bright. Bright for short rides, for long rides you should go for the serfas 155 has a longer battery life because It has less lumens. The 155 is bright enough and the battery gives a better life. I did a night 30 mile ride. About 2.5 hours at the mid level of my light was flashing low battery 30 minutes before we got to back to our cars and I had to turn it down to the low level to avoid going back home in the dark. On the other hand, my bike ride buddy that came with me that day used his serfa 155 at the mid level the entire ride and did not start blinking to indicate low battery.Overall, it seems both models 305 and the 155 have the same battery capacity but the 305 dies quicker because it has more lumens and it's brighter. If you ride for less than 2 hours you should be ok, if you fully charge the battery this light give enough light.

This light is much brighter than I expected for a self contained light. If you want a great, inexpensive light without the bulk of a battery pack then this is a good option. My only complaint is that I thought the mounting clip was going to be really easy but in my experience it isn't. If you have larger diameter bars then it's difficult to get the clip to snap down. It's also very difficult to get it to unclip because the latch gets recessed with tension and to unclip it you have to first dig your fingernails (I bite mine) under the clip and then put it under more tension initially to unclip it. This is difficult and almost requires a screwdriver for prying underneath the clip for me.

A good light, with a good, strong mount. A little large/heavy, but hopefully that just means you get lots of hours out of them between charges. USB charged headlights are a great thing! I use dual Serfas 305s. I don't know if that means I have 610 Lumen, or quite what it adds up to, but it works great, speaks the light well, vertically or horizontally.

I ride almost exclusively in the early morning (5AM) or evenings after dark (9PM)I was hesitant that this light wouldn't be bright enough to illuminate the road in front of me while riding.I was wrong! This light is VERY bright on the highest setting, I literally have never used it on full blast--medium is MORE than sufficient to see any road hazards coming your way and then some.Incredibly simple to mount-charges off a USB.And it costs 40$Might be the best purchase I've made off Amazon.If you're looking for a bicycle headlight this is what you want.

About a year ago I bought a serfas 505. I liked it so much my friend had me get her a 305. We not only use them on our bikes but we use them at work too. One day my light developed a short. Yes, it was dropped and it went thru major bumpy roads. It got down to only working 50% of the time so I took it back to the bike shop where I bought it (almost a year ago) the bike shop guy called serfas and they gave me a brand new 505!!!

So far so good, but it's summer, and I live up north, so I won't really know for sure until I have to use it every day for both the ride to and from work. I hope I don't kill or maim the battery by not using it much until then. I guess we'll see.

Wow, this unit was much more powerful than I was expecting. I was pleasantly surprised just how bright this little guy is. The different lighting modes adds some great value, although I just use the first setting. The white LED is truly a really nice WHITE color. The clip for the handles bars is very sturdy and well built. The light itself can clip on and off from the handle bar clip to add a bit more functionality. Overall the units is a must have for someone looking for a quality bike light.