Even though I’ve lived in the Upper Midwest my entire life, the darkness of winter catches me off guard every year. In fact, as I write this sentence, it’s pitch black outside my window at 4:45pm. For mountain bikers across the Northern Hemisphere, this means one thing: night riding season is in full swing. And to get the most out of the dark, riders need bright, dependable lights.

Back in July, Magicshine sent Singletracks the Allty 1000, the flagship model of their completely re-designed bike light line. Although it tended to heat up on its highest setting and we found minor handlebar compatibility issues with the stock mount, the tough Allty 1000 reliably produced a bright, long-lasting beam. Additionally, its set-it-and-forget-it hex bolt mounting system was a refreshing shift away from conventional strap mounts.

For those needing a little extra power, though, Magicshine offers the Allty 2000, the big brother of the Allty 1000. However, making a more powerful light effective isn’t as easy as doubling the power. This is because multiple variables like battery strength, battery access, beam angle, and beam quality need to be considered to make a USB light of this intensity a good product. Voltaire explained this phenomenon best, saying, “With great power comes great responsibility.” So when Magicshine sent me the Allty 2000 for review, I was interested to see if it would live up to the quality of the Allty 1000. Over a few months I’ve tested this light in a variety of conditions, and here are my thoughts.

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