Reviewed – Thousand Helmets Traveller 2.0 Magnetic Lights

Yesterday, we profiled Gloria Hwang, CEO and founder at Thousand Helmets, for our interview series called 'Transformers.' She and her teams' focus has always been safety, functionality, and fashion. So when her team sent me a few helmets to review, they added in a couple of accessories that may not seem like much, to begin with, but are one of the essential accessories that you can buy to add to your bike if it isn't already outfitted with them. I'm talking, of course, about LED lights.

Growing up as a child of the 80s, I often found myself out riding around town with my friends on our BMX bikes until the streetlights came on, knowing this was the sign to head home for dinner. Our bikes were outfitted with reflectors, but we would remove them because they weren't cool. Safety wasn't something we thought about often (which was apparent judging by the stunts we pulled), but we were practically invisible at dusk without reflectors.

Nowadays, with the introduction of cell phones and text messages, drivers (and other e-bike commuters) are more distracted than ever. So, the need to be easily seen by other commuters is more important than ever. While many electric bikes now come with LED lights as a standard accessory, some bikes don't. Thousand has opted to fill this market segment with its magnetic front and rear lights that easily attach to any part of your bike: The Traveller 2.0

Safety First

There are so many options like the Traveller 2.0 on the market that I was skeptical as to what would make them any different from another strap-on LED light. Yet when I opened the box, I could see immediately that someone had seriously considered designing these safety lights.

Right away, the stealthy design and ease of use are apparent. Simple and intuitive, the lights have only one button, reducing confusion. Hold the button down to turn it on/off, and a slight push to change between the 4 modes (Solid, EcoSolid, Daytime Flash, Eco Flash). There is no need to make this any more complicated than it needs to be.

Related: Transformers – Gloria Hwang, Founder and CEO of Thousand Helmets

What is undeniably great about these lights is the magnetic attachment, which makes the lights easy to remove while leaving the mounting hardware attached to the bike. This feature allows you to remove the lights quickly to bring them inside to charge, but they also come in handy as a small pocket flashlight in a pinch. How often do you pull out your phone to help you find something but realize it isn't strong enough or awkward to hold? The removable lights are compact and convenient in this type of scenario.

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Safety Second

Attaching these lights to your bike is simple. They allow you to add to the already existing lights on your bike or outfit your commuter with some added protection, making you visible in both the daytime and evenings. The rubber strap and rubber cup fit around most attachment points, such as the handlebar, seat post, or frame, if need be.

Ensuring that other commuters and vehicles can see you is crucial as an e-bike rider, so I often used the flashing settings during the day and at night to warn other commuters of my presence. Yet when I got into some darker areas with less street or ambient light, I would change the lights to their most powerful and solid state.

Related: Can a Helmet be Stylish, Comfortable AND Safe? – Thousand Helmets Sure Thinks So

This is, however, where I ran into my only minor problem with the Traveller 2.0. While the red rear lights were bright in every situation, the front LED headlight, and its 160 lumens, wasn't quite enough to cast a wide beam of light in front of me. It seemed slightly underpowered for any situation where the headlight was the only source of light available, and I found myself wanting a bit more reach from the beam to show me what was ahead on the road.

For most people and situations, this isn't a big problem. Riding down a completely dark road without lights is a problem only small-town commuters like myself often encounter. In the city or well-lit communities, the 160 lumens is plenty to light the way and warn other drivers of your presence.

Safety Third

Did I mention that safety was important? Can you put a price on your safety? Well, in this instance, you can. A set of the Traveller 2.0 lights will set you back $70, which might be a lot for some people. Yet remember that not all commuter bikes come standard with LED lights, so you should think about upgrading if you are only stuck with 80s-style reflectors.

With a penchant for safety, Thousand Helmets has become a reputable brand that focuses on safety first (and second and third) and wants to ensure they help save as many people from untimely accidents as possible. If this isn't a cause and mindset worth your money, I'm not sure what is. As someone who has long fought the 'nerdiness' of safety and often traded it for the convenience of looking cool (or at least trying to), I've come around to the act that being safe and not being part of an accident is just about the most remarkable, smartest thing anyone can do. We only have one life to live, so let's try to make it last as long as possible.