Do you ride at night? Maybe you ride in very dense forest shadows during the day? If so, the Lead Dog Helmet Light may be a product that is just right for you. The folks at Helmet Light, Inc., have created a 20W halogen spotlight that mounts to your helmet that, in addition to the light from your ATV's headlights, pours light in the direction you are looking. If you have ever ridden in low-light situations before, you know that the primary lighting on your ATV just doesn't quite do the trick. Often, even if the lights are mounted to the handlebars, the only area you can see, regardless of where you want to go, is the area that is lit up directly in front of you. Now, while this helmet light isn't as powerful as your headlights, it does help to illuminate the area to which you are looking, regardless of whether your headlights are aimed there or not (to be honest, we're not sure how much brighter a light you could use with the stock wiring; any brighter a light may force you to rewind the coil to get more energy for the light). Not only does this light work well for seeing what is in front of you, it also lets people see you better. In addition, there is a "brake light" that lights up red to let those behind you know you're on the brakes. Nice? You bet!
      How does it work? The light itself is attached to your helmet by a Velcro strip. The electrical power for the unit is supplied by tapping into the wiring of your machine's headlights. The wiring between the light and where it joins to the ATV has a connection that allows you to "unplug" yourself from your machine while leaving the light on your helmet. The wiring between the light and the connection can be run through the inside of your clothing and out the sleeve, or on the outside of your clothing (it seems to us that running the wire through the inside of your clothing is the best way to keep sticks and branches from catching the wires). The system also has the option of an in-line fuse. With the fuse, if there is some electrical overload, it will hopefully "pop" before causing expensive electrical damage to your machine or helmet light.
      The results of our testing of this unit lead us to recommend it as a must-have item for those riding in any low-light situation; it does an excellent job of providing light directly on whatever area you wish to look and makes it easier for others to see you.
Suggested retail: $79.95 + $5.95 S&H (extra connection for an additional machine: $14.95).
Contact Info: Helmet Light, Inc., PO Box 190151, Anchorage, AK 99519;
907/277-4433; www.helmetlight.com