Skip to main content

Trail LED DS Lights


Trail LED is the brand behind the distinctive ‘Halo’ light; a 6,000 lumen monster with 10 LEDs that curves to fit right around the outside of your helmet. Producing a claimed 3,000 lumens, the DS is basically half a Halo. It’s close to half the price too at $699 versus $1,379 for the Halo.

The alloy light body is machined in the US and the finish is first rate. Visually the battery pack is comparatively rudimentary; the cells are wrapped in a heavy duty rubber cover. While the battery isn’t as well presented (or protected) as a hard case unit, the performance was impressive. It offers a 1:1 charge to burntime ratio; ride on high beam for two hours and it’ll only take two hours to recharge the battery—that’s pretty rare for a 3,000 lumen light.

It’s pretty clear that the DS has been designed first and foremost as a helmet light. The alloy body contours gently to match your helmet and it sits directly on the shell with a big O-ring to hold it in place. Mounting is a little fiddley the first time around; the light needs to line up with vents for the O-ring to slip through whilst simultaneously pointing the beam in the right direction.

The main benefit of this system is that it keeps the weight low and close to your head. At 98g the head unit is pretty light to begin with – especially for a 3,000 lumen light – but the perceived weight on your helmet will have you thinking it weighs even less. There is a handlebar mount for the DS; a nylon sleeve that goes around your stem before you strap it down with two O-rings. We had limited success using it and it’ll depend heavily on your handlebar and stem setup.

Power wise the DS won’t disappoint—it was extremely bright. While a lot of light is punched through the central portion, it still spreads to the sides and the DS performed brilliantly as a helmet light. The emitters are also upgradable, so there’s an element of future-proofing built in and Trail LED offers a lifetime warranty on the light head.

Claimed Output (Lumens) 3,000
Total System Weight 415g
Longest Burntime 16 hrs

PRICE 700$


Labels

Popular posts from this blog

ENVE M50 29" Wheels

Utah based company ENVE have been making drool-worthy carbon components for some years now. Despite the fact that carbon rims are becoming more and more common on mountain bikes these days, you can guarantee that ENVE wheels will be a talking point when someone is eyeing off a steed. Instantly, the big bold logos on each rim scream "fast", "light" and to some extent, "expensive" The kids call this 'bling'.

READ MORE >>

DRC X-Monitor SP1 lap timer

While smartphone apps such as Strava can be a useful way to keep tabs on your mountain bike rides, sometimes you just can’t beat the simplicity and instant feedback that a good old-fashioned stopwatch style lap timer provides.

READ MORE >>

Scott Stego MIPS helmet

Scott’s top-end aggressive trail helmet is only available with MIPS, as the Swiss brand were early adopters of the system. The EPS extends low at the rear without clashing with the retention system and the strap attachment points are external to the liner, maximising the amount of material around the temples. This is the closest-fitting helmet on test, with very little clearance inside the liner. Despite this, and although the Stego has fewer vents than some other lids here, we never felt too hot-headed. Scott spent time developing the ventilation system using a wind tunnel and it seems to have paid off. The thin pads don’t offer quite as much comfort as some competitors’, and while the short peak is removable, it doesn’t offer any height adjustment. Weight 340g Sizing S, M, L Price $180

READ MORE >>

SANTA CRUZ NOMAD

Santa Cruz’s new enduro focused dream bike While the Santa Cruz Bronson has been causing a commotion on the enduro scene as one of the lighter and more capable bikes, the Californian company have been working on something better suited to the more gravity orientated courses.

READ MORE >>

Fulcrum Red Power XL wheels

THESE WHEELS CERTAINLY don't look like some of the cheapest on test, and the adjustable-preload bearings are some of the smoothest and longest lived at any price.

READ MORE >>