Customer Reviews

Niterider NiteRider MiNewt Mini - USB LED Light

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Let me start off by saying that this is an excellent light for the price. It has a lot of pros and only a few cons, so here is my review:
Pros: Great Price, Excellent Build Quality, Made in USA, Good handlebar mount, can be charged from my Mac with included USB cable, light weight and compact size.
Cons: I have a 10 mile daily commute along well lit streets but at 22-25mph I often outrun the light, nothing to indicate when the battery is fully charged, no flashing/high/low settings only on/off.

I use my bike for a daily 15 mile commute to work. During the winter months it's dark for both trips and I need a reliable light that allows me to see well and be seen by other motorists. The Minewt Mini USB accomplishes this job perfectly. I was concerned about the size prior to the purchase, but a friend had a Minewt.X2 dual and with one light of the X2 on it appeared to be bright enough for my needs. When I received the Minewt Mini I was pleasantly surprised that the single light was even brighter than the Minewt.X2 dual was with it's single light and slightly less bright than with both light on. Some of the roads I ride on are well lit and others are pitch black. I normally ride at a speed of 17 - 22 MPH and I don't outrun the light. I only use the light for about 1 hour a day total so I can't talk about the run-time, but I have used it two-days in a row without charging and it's continued to shine bright. You will not be disappointed with this light.

This is an awesome light. I used a Niterider Trail Rat with the heavy lead acid battery and halogen light for years. This one performs just as well at about a tenth the weight. Charging from USB on my PC is a plus! I wouldn't recommend this light by itself for off-road stuff, but it's more than adequate for commuting (as long as you don't cruise at 25mph+). Amazon had it for 10% less than any other vendor!!!

I recently purchased the MiNewt USB via Amazon. Overall, it is a very good light.

Pros: small, lightweight, long run time, good light output, excellent build quality. Seems to hold up fine in the rain. If you do buy, get the version which includes helmet mount - the mounting accessories are best in class.

Cons: output not adjustable,no low batt indicator, beam spread is pretty wide for a primary light - which means reduced reach - which means it is easy to ride fast enough to outrun the light.

If you get this light, consider getting another light for the helmet (I did do this) - easier to see AND be seen.

If you are looking for a low profile small footprint LED bike light with a better than average beam illumination, this is a great choice. I wanted functionality but did not want a cluttered look. This NiteRider unit mounted easily on my TREK 4.7 Madone without any problems. The headlight attaches to the handlebar using an 'O' Ring and the light weight battery pack easily attaches to an adjacent area with a velcro strap, essentially providing tooless installation. If you chose, this unit could be taken off and reattached in in a matter of seconds. The only down side for some riders could be the absence of a strobe mode on this specific model.

This light is awesome. I recently won it as a door prize at an adventure race that I was participating in.

I installed the NiteRider Minewt Headlight on my bike right after I won it so I could use it the next day during the race. The installation was amazingly simple. Heavy rubber rings attach the lamp while the battery is fastened with a velcro strap. This makes installing and removing the light quick and easy.

The light preformed excellently during my race. I rode for almost three hours in the dark. The Minewt lit up the road in front of me like the headlight on a car.

Prior to my race I purchased two other lights for the front of my bike, the Planet Bike Beamer as part of the Planet Bike Beamer 1 and Blinky 3 LED Bicycle Light Set and the Giant Recon 0.3, which is not available at Amazon.

According to the package, the Minewt puts out 110 lumens. I believe it. That sucker is bright. Neither the Beamer nor the Recon 0.3 product description specify how many lumens they put out.

I can compare the Minewt to the Beamer or the Recon 0.3, but the products are not really in the same class. Which I suppose is why the Minewt retails for more than three times the price of the Beamer or the Giant Recon 0.3. It is simply much more of a light.

The only drawback that I found for the Minewt is that it has only one setting: fully on. It would be good if the light had a flash setting or if the illumination was variable.

But ultimately, the product is nearly perfect.

I've finally used mine enough to get a feel for it. Most of my rides lately haven't needed a light, but it usually still comes along for the ride.

Pros:
The brightness is great, although I think I'd like the beam focused just a bit tighter with more length. However the output seems great, especially under $100.
It's nice to be able to throw it on my computer to charge.
It's light and compact and easily removed.

Cons:
I have no idea if the battery really needs it or how long it will last - and I don't want to test it and find out at the wrong time.
I really crank down the battery box, but it still seems to get loose and slide around.
The screw holding the light to the handlebar mount backed itself way out. Luckily I caught it in time that it didn't fall off and dangle into my front wheel.
It would be nice to have a flash option. My ride in the morning needs it for the constant light source. But in the afternoon when it's daylight, the flashing light would be nice to catch the eye of cars moving in my direction.

I am an avid mountain biker and like to ride at night during short winter days. The Minewt is an excellent and reasonably priced light. It throws a spot beam and when mounted on a helmet (the place I recommend) provides fine illumination in turns. To get the most out of it, however, I recommend the Minewt for one's helmet and a brighter NiteRider Trinewt or similarly bright light for the handlebars. The combination of the two works well for most mountain biking uses short of extreme downhilling. Please see my review of the Trinewt for more details.

One minor point: as far as I can see, there's no way to tell when the Minewt is fully recharged. The more expensive Trinewt comes with a charger that provides this information.

I have had this light for approximately a year now and absolutely love it. This light was definitely a good upgrade and I would be comfortable using this in just about any situation besides a technical trail during the night. Being able to charge the unit with any mini-usb adaptor has come into handy as I have used my Blackberry car charger before in a pinch.


I would definitely recommend this unit to anyone that bikes a decent amount.

I have a 20 mile bike commute home. In the winter months it is dark most of the way. I need a good head light as there are several stretches where the street lighting is inadequate. This amazing light is powerful and reliable. It lasts well over 3 to 4 hours on a charge and can be recharged via USB cable. So I simply ride into work, plug it into my computer and it's ready to go when I leave. I love this thing. I would recommend it to anyone. Plain and Simple, a great light!