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CatEye HL-EL530 Front Bike Light
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CatEye HL-EL530 Front Bike Light

Item # 745539

$60.00

Item qualifies for annual
REI Member Refund (typically 10%)

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This compact light produces more than 1,500 candlepower with just a single white LED.

  • This miracle is made possible by Cat Eye's exclusive Opticube lens, which focuses the beam so no photons are wasted
  • Side beams offer visibility in traffic
  • Innovative magnetic switch provides high water-resistance
  • Flex-Tight™ universal mounting bracket attaches securely to just about any size handlebar; no tools required

Imported.

Item 745539

CatEye HL-EL530 Front Bike Light Specs

Specification

Description

SystemLED
Number of bulbs1
Battery life on high10 hours
Battery life on low90 hours
Batteries4 AA (included)
MountingHandlebar
Weight with batteries180 grams

CatEye HL-EL530 Front Bike Light Customer Reviews

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews
Cat Eye HL-EL530 Front Bike Light
 
3.6

(based on 17 reviews)

76%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

  • Great visibility (11)
  • Good battery life (9)

Cons

  • Weak beam (3)

Best Uses

  • Front headlight (12)
  • Night commute (8)
  • Reviewer Profile:
  • Avid cyclist (10), Casual adventurer (4), Commuter (3)

Reviewed by 17 customers

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Dec

26

2008

(7 of 7 customers found this review helpful)

 
4.0

Good in-town or city commuting headlight

By Bowser

from Martinez California

About Me Avid Cyclist

Pros

  • Great visibility
  • Long battery life
  • Tight focused beam

Cons

  • Too easy to switch onoff

Best Uses

  • Front headlight
  • Night commute

Comments about Cat Eye HL-EL530 Front Bike Light:

I've used this light for the past year, and up until this past week, it has been the most powerful self-contained battery powered headlight I've ever owned. However, I've found it wasn't right for my riding needs, but still have used it to get my money's worth out of it.

If you commute in-town or in the city where there is lots of ambient light from street lights, porch lights, cars, etc. this will be a great light. The beam is very tight and focused, it is a great "be seen" light for commuting. It can be angled to project far ahead to light up street signs, etc. It is easily powerful enough to light up street signs and objects 60+ yds. away.

My commute involves a 3 1/2 mi. stretch on unlighted country roads, and for that part of my ride, the beam is too narrow to provide much peripheral illumination. If I set it low to see what's right in front of me, I couldn't see far enough ahead to ride at speed (my cruising speed on flat ground is 15 - 18 mph). On the other hand, if I angled it high enough to project far enough ahead to ride at speed, I found myself constantly dodging small obstacles in the road that I didn't see until I was almost right on top of them.

If you'll be commuting in the city, this will be a good, economical light. It is easily the most powerful non-rechargeable light in Cateye's product line-up. I just upgraded to a Single-Shot Plus, so this one will be going on my wife's bike as she doesn't commute outside of city limits.

  • Gift:
  • No

Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

(7 of 7 customers found this review helpful)

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Nov

17

2008

(5 of 5 customers found this review helpful)

 
1.0

The Pointilist's Headlight

By Cyclocommuter

from Alabama

About Me Avid Cyclist

Site Member

Pros

    Cons

    • Narrow beam

    Best Uses

    • Playing numbers games

    Comments about Cat Eye HL-EL530 Front Bike Light:

    If you think you can ride with a pencil point of light, 1'x2', some 15-20' in front of you, surrounded by a dim halo, this is the light for you! Note, after you see a rock or pothole, you won't be able to see whether there's another one 8" to either side, because the point of light has ruined your night vision, and there's not enough light wash to illuminate anything outside the lighted point. The point is so small and bright you can't use this as a high power, "seeing" light. Because that wash is so dim, I hesitate to recommend this as a "be seen" light.

    This was apparently designed to win a "peak lumens per dollar" contest. Try the Cateye 500, or the Planet Bike 1W Beamer, instead.

    • Gift:
    • No

    Bottom Line No, I would not recommend this to a friend

    (5 of 5 customers found this review helpful)

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    Oct

    7

    2008

    (4 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

     
    4.0

    Better than other AA battery lights

    By thatkatmat

    from Seattle

    About Me Avid Cyclist

    Site Member

    Pros

    • Long battery life

    Cons

    • Weak beam

    Best Uses

    • Front headlight

    Comments about Cat Eye HL-EL530 Front Bike Light:

    Decent AA battery light....if you don't commute in the dark. If you do commute in the dark, get a better light. I'm constantly hitting root bumps unexpectedly on the Burt Gillman trail. I commute 16 miles at 5:30 in the morning and this light frustrates me. Gonna return it and try another battery pack light for the winter.

    • Gift:
    • No

    Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

    (4 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

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    Jan

    14

    2008

    (4 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

     
    3.0

    a mediocre light

    By Ilove2cycl

    from Berkeley, CA

    About Me Avid Cyclist

    Site Member

    Pros

    • Helmet/Removable mount
    • Long battery life

    Cons

    • Beam is too narrow
    • Light is not regulated

    Best Uses

      Comments about Cat Eye HL-EL530 Front Bike Light:

      The beam is much too narrow, even for road use. It is only acceptable as an emergency light. There are much better lights out there for the money.

      Bottom Line No, I would not recommend this to a friend

      (4 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

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      Apr

      27

      2009

      (1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

       
      3.0

      Great, but does wear down

      By For Real

      from Whittier.CA

      About Me Avid Cyclist

      Site Member

      Pros

      • Great Seenability

      Cons

      • Breaks
      • Could be better strap
      • It's Durability Could Imp
      • Rattles

      Best Uses

      • Well Lit Roads

      Comments about Cat Eye HL-EL530 Front Bike Light:

      I've bought this one and 500 and they both performed equally, though the 530 is somewhat brighter, but not by much.I mostly use this light in the city, it's a great product... for awhile, until it no longer withstands the test of actual use. This product would be even better if it had a stronger and more secure strap(it rattles), and if it didn't turn off every little nook and cranny that it hits while riding. It would also be better if it would light up the road that way you could otherwise avoid hazards. I've since bought the MiNewt from NiteRider in a few weeks I'll post a review for that light

      • Gift:
      • No

      Bottom Line No, I would not recommend this to a friend

      (1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

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      Jan

      13

      2009

      (1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

       
      5.0

      Best Battery LED Light I've used

      By MtnMan74

      from Colorado Springs, CO

      About Me Avid Cyclist

      Pros

      • Bright beam
      • Flex-Mount
      • Great visibility
      • Long battery life

      Cons

        Best Uses

        • Front headlight
        • Moderate Trail Riding
        • Night commute

        Comments about Cat Eye HL-EL530 Front Bike Light:

        I've had this light for a year, and it has helped me avoid potholes, roots, etc. It is plenty bright for an easy trail (would not want to ride a technical trail night anyway). It is really bright, even at 10-20 feet in front of you, and has plenty of visibility to see where you are going (I have even been able to ride some of the bike trails in Colorado Springs at 20-30 mph. without dificulty). The flex-mount is great for oversized bars, and allows for the light to be mounted near the center so as to provide light where I need it, in front of the tires. It also provides great visibility for cars and pedestrians to see you coming. I definitely reccommend this light for those seeking a battery powered LED light.

        • Gift:
        • No

        Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

        (1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

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        Nov

        11

        2007

        (1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

         
        3.0

        It is good to use it to be seen

        By becool

        from Houston, TX

        About Me Commuter

        Site Member

        Pros

        • Great visibility

        Cons

        • Beam too focused
        • Weak beam

        Best Uses

        • Bee seen
        • Front headlight

        Comments about Cat Eye HL-EL530 Front Bike Light:

        While this may be the brightest "inexpensive" AA battery operated LED headlight that I have ever used, I ended up buying the Nite Rider MiNewt X2. The light beam is typical of this type of light that is very focused to a small area. The light also does not go out far enough to make it easy when you want to paddle fast. In residential areas that are quite dark, you need to ride carefully w/ this to avoid pot holes and other obstacles. Although this light is cheaper than the MiNewt, which is [$], it does use batteries, whose cost will add up over time. If you commute in the dark regularly, buy the MiNewt X2 and skip this one.

        Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

        (1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

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        Nov

        8

        2007

        (1 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

         
        5.0

        Works great for me!

        By OrthoPT

        from South Jordan, UT

        About Me Casual/ Recreational, Commuter

        Pros

        • Great visibility
        • Helmet/Removable mount
        • Long battery life

        Cons

        • Flimsy mounting hardware

        Best Uses

        • Front headlight
        • Night commute

        Comments about Cat Eye HL-EL530 Front Bike Light:

        Used this for 5+ months, it provides great light for commuting purposes, not a trail light though.

        A few things to keep in mind. Alkaline batteries don't do so well in this because the beam gets weaker as the batteries get weaker. Get some 2500mAh NiMH batteries and re-charge 'em frequently and you will be AMAZED at how bright this thing is. I get strong reflections from street signs and other reflective stuff from 200+ft.

        There is only one drawback, the mount is a little flimsy and tends to tilt down if I hit a good pothole needing adjusting on the fly. This can be a little hairy at 30MPH in traffic!!

        Overall this is a great light for the money, it is as bright as you can get without going for the really expensive suckers with separate batteries etc... I like it!

        Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

        (1 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

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        Nov

        11

        2009

         
        4.0

        Great to BE seen, okay for seeing by

        By BikinMom

        from Chicago

        About Me Avid Cyclist

        Pros

        • Great visibility
        • Long battery life

        Cons

          Best Uses

          • Front headlight
          • Night commute
          • Urban commuting

          Comments about Cat Eye HL-EL530 Front Bike Light:

          I lead a group of kids who ride to swim practice every evening. We ride until it's so cold that their hair freezes on the ride home (usually around mid-Dec.). The entire commute--both there and back again--is in full darkness.

          Without a doubt, my son's CatEye 530 is the most visible headlight of our group. You can see him coming for blocks! The light is large, so it puts out a visually larger presence compared to the other lights in the group. It is also really bright for it's cost and for the batteries that it uses.

          The vast majority of our rides are on well-lit streets in an urban environment (city of Chicago or suburbs). For this type of riding, this is a superb light. Where I notice him struggling with it is when we do nighttime trail rides. His light is much brighter and has a larger cone of visibility than my Planet Bike Blaze or my Cateye 450, but it still is not great for traveling at speed (~14 mph) on trails.

          Since for us, most of our riding is concerned with us BEING SEEN rather than getting great road illumination, this is a terrific value for the money.

          • Gift:
          • No

          Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

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          Aug

          1

          2009

           
          4.0

          Flawed unit

          By FitDoc

          from Dayton, OH

          About Me Avid Cyclist

          Site Member

          Pros

          • Long battery life

          Cons

            Best Uses

            • Front headlight

            Comments about Cat Eye HL-EL530 Front Bike Light:

            Although I generally liked this light and used it probably a couple years, it has now failed. The light portion screws onto the battery case. Part of the plastic housing actually pulled away so it cannot be tightened down. Sometimes you can play with it to get it to work a while but is not reliable now. Was a good light for the price so I am considering buying another but will review other lights.

            • Gift:
            • No

            Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

            Images shared by FitDoc

            Cateye Light Failure

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            Tags: Picture of Product

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