Niterider Pro 1400 Race light

The Pro 1400 is a trail-brightening workhorse. Its big plastic battery, heavily-protected single-LED head unit and chunky fibreglass-reinforced bar mount (which is 35mm compatible and centres the light over the stem) take it over the 500g mark. The included helmet mount and fat cables are equally sturdy, and it comes with a lifetime warranty. While it gives a warm, reasonably wide spread of light, there are a few distracting irregularities in there and a noticeably fringed periphery. Three steady modes and an eight-step fuel gauge make it easy to stretch the decent battery life. We’ve had some battery glitches in the distant past but recent long-term sets have been trouble free. Keep it unconnected when travelling though, as the single-click button is easy to power on accidentally.

Weight 510g
Run time 2hrs

Price $322

Cannondale Trail SL 29 SS

The fat aluminium tubes are a constrast to the skinny items seen elsewhere in the test, but this rigid Cannondale uses them to create one of the most old-school - and lightest - rides here.

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KONA SHRED

With a reputation for no-nonsense ruggedness and a background in the always progressive and punishing riding of Canada, Kona have been building hardcore hardtails for longer than almost anyone else. The Shred is the most expensive bike on test but it’s a proper trail tank.

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SKS Airbuster CO2 inflator

The alloy Airbuster has a large knob so you can regulate the flow of gas, a mechanical stop to prevent the cartridge being pierced in transit and a dust cap to keep the valve free of debris. While it works with Presta and Schrader valves, switching between them requires a fiddly change of the valve head. The thin rubber sleeve doesn’t provide much protection from cold spent canisters. You can’t insert much of the valve into the inflator head, so you have to be careful to avoid leaks. Price $33 w/16g cartridge

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