Why build the best bike helmet light?
When we launched the Trail Edition back in 2017 it was a game changer for bike lights. A beam pattern specifically designed for trail riding with a wide evenly illuminated distribution. However we had lots of requests to build a helmet light instead of just a handlebar light.
So we got to work, figured out what is important for a helmet mounting, fine tuned the beam pattern and optimized everything else to come up with the lightest, longest lasting, and most powerful helmet-specific bike light out there.
Read on for more nerdy design details!
Helmet Specific Beam Pattern
When we developed Hangover’s beam pattern, we knew we wanted to better balance a narrow spot for throw down trail with a smoother transition to eliminate the tunnel vision you get from the off-the-shelf flashlight-style lights on the market.
We employ blended Total Internal Reflection (TIR) optic features to meticulously shape the beam from the high-intensity center with an even gradient to a soft fall-off covering all the peripheral around the rider, avoiding distracting beam artifacts while giving the rider a better sense of balance.
Check the slider comparison below to see the difference between a fine tuned optical instrument such as Hangover vs a name-brand light that has been around for years.
USB-C pass-through charging
Everyone has USB charging ports all over nowadays, so we make sure you can use any of them with Hangover, and not just some proprietary charger that you can only get from us. Even better, if you use a QC3.0-rated charger, you can get 85% charge in just one hour (24-hour racers rejoice!).
But we took that concept one step further and added Pass-Thru Charging to allow you full access to all output modes of your light while charging from an off-the-shelf USB Power Bank, so that you can extend runtime for those epic adventures, without limiting the light available to you (bikepackers rejoice!). We even customized the included USB-C cable with a right-angle connector to make cable routing on the helmet clean and easy.
Rock Solid Helmet Mounting
Helmets are like snowflakes, each one their own unique, ornate shape…that’s why we built Hangover with built-in tabs for standard “action camera” mounts, because they just work, and you don’t have to rely on some proprietary design from us.
We tucked the mount in low on the backside to keep the weight low, minimizing neck strain on long rides, and reducing the likelihood of low-hanging branches ruining your day…er, night.
Simple User Interface
Few people read instruction manuals, even fewer want to, so we keep our lights dead simple so that you don’t need an advanced degree to remember some complicated sequence of button presses get to the mode you want.
Hangover’s soft-touch overmolded top shell has a single, large button right in the middle that’s easy to feel through a thick winter glove in the dark, so you don’t have to hunt blindly around on top of your head just to turn it on.
Four simple modes cover the majority of use cases from set-it-and-forget-it pedally XC to long-climb-fast-descent Enduro rides – Adaptive / High / Medium / Low – and no SOS or seizure inducing strobes stuck in between.
Designed & Assembled in Chicago, IL
Designed & Assembled in Chicago, IL
Skillfully built by our passionate team while listening to a lot of podcasts.
Electrifying design
We like to keep our lights simple on the outside for the user, but that doesn’t mean we’re skimping on the guts inside. The constant-current driver maintains rock solid regulation through the Cree LEDs over the entire voltage range of the genuine LG 18650 cell with a unique battery monitoring algorithm to give you accurate feedback without interruption.
Complete with fast QC3.0 USB-C charging and Pass-Thru capability to boot, we engineer the electronics to maximize efficiency and runtime while minimizing charge times, all without any proprietary connectors that could leave you stranded. We’re always pushing the limits internally to deliver new feature sets that provide real value to the rider, not just fancy names.
Thermal Engineering
LEDs produce heat, they’re not magic, it’s just a fact. Getting the heat out of the LEDs efficiently without sending it into the rider’s hands is paramount for reliable and safe operation, so we pulled from our background in automotive lighting by employing magnesium for the thermal mass in Hangover to both reduce weight vs. aluminum and reduce the case touch-temperature.
Optimizing airflow across the cooling channels when riding sheds heat fast, allowing us to make the light smaller and lighter than competitors without requiring aggressive thermal controls in the firmware to throttle back output to keep the light cool. Of course, we have controls in the firmware for safety, the difference is you won’t need them on the trail with Hangover.
Specifications
| Lumens | ~ 1000 lumens |
|---|---|
| Battery | LG MJ1 18650 3500 mAH capacity |
| Weight | 105g Hangover Lighthead |
| 20g Action Camera Mount | |
| Modes | Adaptive - High - Medium - Low |
| Daytime Flash/Nighttime Flash | |
| Materials | Thermally Conductive Nylon (CoolPoly) lower shell |
| ABS Action Camera Mount | |
| High Strength polycarbonate substrate | |
| Soft touch TPU overmold | |
| High clarity PMMA lens | |
| Electrical Features | Thermal protection circuit |
| Constant current step-down converter | |
| Battery management system | |
| QC3.0 USB-C charging | |
| Pass-through charging | |
| Low Battery warning | |
| 20 minute "get-home" buffer in every mode | |
| What's in the box | Hangover Lighthead |
| Curved Helmet Mount Base | |
| (Wide mount and notched mount available) | |
| 3M adhesive pad | |
| USB-C to USB-A charging cable | |
| Instruction Manual (Download HERE) |
Hangover Runtime
| Mode | Runtime |
|---|---|
| Adaptive | 1.6 h (100 min) |
| High | 1.1 hr (72 min) |
| Medium | 2.9 hr (170 min) |
| Low | 6.5 hr (390 min) |
| Daytime Strobe | 6.5 hr (390 min) |
| Nighttime Flash | 3.0 hr (180 min) |
Frequently asked questions
Which helmet mount do I need for my helmet?
The curved base in the box fits most helmets, including Fox Speedframe, TLD D3 and pretty much every ski helmet. Helmets with a flat centre panel or a vent gap (POC Kortal and Tectal, Trek WaveCel, Giro Radix, Smith Forefront) want the Wide base. Helmets with a ridge down the middle (TLD A2, Leatt Gravity, Kask Mojito) want the Notched base. Each base has a fit list on its page. Not listed? Email us the helmet model. If we point you at the wrong one, we refund it.
How does it attach? Is adhesive the only option?
Hangover uses the standard GoPro mount interface, so it snaps into any action-camera mount on the planet. The base in the box sticks on with 3M VHB tape, the same tape GoPro has used for over a decade. If you'd rather not stick anything to your lid, GoPro's Vented Helmet Strap Mount works great, and so does their head strap for hiking and XC skiing.
Will the sticky mount hold in a crash? Will it void my helmet warranty?
If the tape didn't hold, GoPro wouldn't have used it for ten years and we wouldn't ship it. Clean the helmet, press it on firmly, let it cure, and the snap-in piece will break before the tape lets go. We've never heard of a helmet warranty claim denied over a sticky mount. When you want it off, slide a butter knife (not a sharp one) under a corner and pry slowly; it peels clean with no residue.
What are the lumens in each mode?
1000 on high, 400 on medium, 200 on low. Adaptive settles a little above medium once your eyes adjust. We don't lead with the number because a tight, well-shaped 1000 lumens on your helmet does a lot more than a flashlight hotspot at the same rating.
How long does it run?
Adaptive 1.6 hours, high 1.1, medium 2.9, low 6.5, measured on the bench from full to the low-battery warning at riding-speed airflow. After the warning you get about 20 minutes of get-home light in every mode. It's a 105 g light with an 18650 inside; if you need more helmet runtime, that's what Portal is for.
Can I use it on my handlebars?
For occasional use, snap it into a GoPro Handlebar/Pole mount and it'll swap between helmet and bar in seconds. As a dedicated bar light on the road it's the wrong tool: it's a helmet beam with no cutoff, so it'll shine in drivers' eyes. Detour is built for that.
Is it waterproof?
It's sealed for rain, snow and a hose-down after the ride. Wouldn't be much of a bike light if it wasn't. No pressure washer, no scuba, and if you somehow drown one, it's covered.
Can I charge it while riding?
Yes, in every mode. Plug a USB power bank into the port and stash it in a jersey pocket or pack; the included cable has a right-angle head so it routes clean along the helmet. Plug in from the start of the ride, not when the light is dying. A QC 3.0 bank charges fastest.
Can the battery be replaced?
By us, free, for the life of the light. Not by you in the field. Almost every replacement we do is from a light stored dead in a cold garage all summer, not from riding, so charge it up and keep it indoors and you'll likely never need one.
What's the warranty?
Three years, plus lifetime support from a real person in our shop. Snapped a mount tab, lost the port cover, crashed it into a tree: covered. Two rules. Be kind to the people helping you, and be honest about what happened so we can engineer the failure out. Details on the warranty page.
All questions
Which helmet mount do I need for my helmet?
The curved base in the box fits most helmets, including Fox Speedframe, TLD D3 and pretty much every ski helmet. Helmets with a flat centre panel or a vent gap (POC Kortal and Tectal, Trek WaveCel, Giro Radix, Smith Forefront) want the Wide base. Helmets with a ridge down the middle (TLD A2, Leatt Gravity, Kask Mojito) want the Notched base. Each base has a fit list on its page. Not listed? Email us the helmet model. If we point you at the wrong one, we refund it.
How does it attach? Is adhesive the only option?
Hangover uses the standard GoPro mount interface, so it snaps into any action-camera mount on the planet. The base in the box sticks on with 3M VHB tape, the same tape GoPro has used for over a decade. If you'd rather not stick anything to your lid, GoPro's Vented Helmet Strap Mount works great, and so does their head strap for hiking and XC skiing.
Will the sticky mount hold in a crash? Will it void my helmet warranty?
If the tape didn't hold, GoPro wouldn't have used it for ten years and we wouldn't ship it. Clean the helmet, press it on firmly, let it cure, and the snap-in piece will break before the tape lets go. We've never heard of a helmet warranty claim denied over a sticky mount. When you want it off, slide a butter knife (not a sharp one) under a corner and pry slowly; it peels clean with no residue.
What are the lumens in each mode?
1000 on high, 400 on medium, 200 on low. Adaptive settles a little above medium once your eyes adjust. We don't lead with the number because a tight, well-shaped 1000 lumens on your helmet does a lot more than a flashlight hotspot at the same rating.
How long does it run?
Adaptive 1.6 hours, high 1.1, medium 2.9, low 6.5, measured on the bench from full to the low-battery warning at riding-speed airflow. After the warning you get about 20 minutes of get-home light in every mode. It's a 105 g light with an 18650 inside; if you need more helmet runtime, that's what Portal is for.
Can I use it on my handlebars?
For occasional use, snap it into a GoPro Handlebar/Pole mount and it'll swap between helmet and bar in seconds. As a dedicated bar light on the road it's the wrong tool: it's a helmet beam with no cutoff, so it'll shine in drivers' eyes. Detour is built for that.
Is it waterproof?
It's sealed for rain, snow and a hose-down after the ride. Wouldn't be much of a bike light if it wasn't. No pressure washer, no scuba, and if you somehow drown one, it's covered.
Can I charge it while riding?
Yes, in every mode. Plug a USB power bank into the port and stash it in a jersey pocket or pack; the included cable has a right-angle head so it routes clean along the helmet. Plug in from the start of the ride, not when the light is dying. A QC 3.0 bank charges fastest.
Can the battery be replaced?
By us, free, for the life of the light. Not by you in the field. Almost every replacement we do is from a light stored dead in a cold garage all summer, not from riding, so charge it up and keep it indoors and you'll likely never need one.
What's the warranty?
Three years, plus lifetime support from a real person in our shop. Snapped a mount tab, lost the port cover, crashed it into a tree: covered. Two rules. Be kind to the people helping you, and be honest about what happened so we can engineer the failure out. Details on the warranty page.
Question not answered? Shoot us an email.
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Industry-Best Customer Support
3 year warranty + Lifetime customer service support backed by a real person. (yes, that's Tom)