Hi folks,
Just curious what people are using for headlights for night-riding? Based on my brief pricing research it appears that lots of lighting options are quite expensive (which seems odd to me) so I’d very much like to hear some opinions/recommendations. Thanks!
While the high-powered MTB specific ones are very expensive some of the commuter lights around the 500-1000 lumens are not so expensive. bontrager Ion 800 for example is certainly bright enough for most riding. Might not do a night enduro with it, otherwise it’s adequate.
This one may have replaced it: https://www.cyclesmith.ca/product/bontrager-ion-pro-rt-front-bike-light-342182-1.htm
I use lezyne lights. Currently using a 900 for the majority of my riding, with a 1100 as a back up. The 900 is lighter on my head.
https://www.lezyne.com/products-led.php
Serfas make some nice ones as well. I would agree that 500-1000 is plenty.
Saw some pretty cool ones from Giant the other day too.
We’ve got a Lezyne 1200XXL in the family too. Very bright and Lezyne is often a little easier on the budget that Light and Motion.
You will want a minimum 400-500 lumens for riding safely at speed in the woods. A few of us are using one or both of these lights…
Thanks for the info everybody! Much appreciated. This should point me in the right direction when I get the cash together to add some headlights. Cheers 
I run Light and Motion Lights - an older technology HID Arc and a newer technology LED Seca. Light and Motion does high quality lights, so both are expensive new, but I bought both on eBay and got a deal on both.
Most people run helmet mount lights around here, so if that’s your preference make sure a helmet mount is available. Helmet lights allow you to look around corners, and don’t wiggle the beam when you turn your handlebars.
However, I do keep a bar mount light as a backup (Planet Bike 500-lumen light). Inevitably I do a long ride and forget to charge up my light. Nothing like having your light die on a dark night alone on a trail. So, I recommend getting a good light as a primary, and a cheaper one as a backup.
I’m running a pair of Lezyne 800XL (or something like that) lights, one on the helmet and one on the bars. If I could choose only one, I’d go with helmet-mounted; unless you like the excitement of not being able to see what is on the other side of the roller while your lights are pointed up in the air. 
I keep a third one on hand for really long rides or in case someone needs a spare.
I run a pair of 1000 lumen Magicshine lights. One on my bar and one on the helmet. They were great value.