Summer has only just begun and the sun is already rising a little later and setting a little earlier every day. Even though the days are still long in midsummer, time can be short, especially on more extreme bike tours. Or on an after-work ride because the rush hour traffic has taken up more time than expected. It is therefore advisable to always have a light in your rucksack, as LED technology means it does not weigh too much. To avoid being left in the dark, we have the Hellena 3.5 from bicycle lamp specialist Out-Led extensively tested.
Although all parts can be ordered individually, we recommend the complete set for hobby bikers, consisting of the light itself, switch unit, battery, charger and helmet mount. The Hellena 3.5 delivers a maximum of 1300 lumens from three LEDs and offers various light levels: Daytime running light, 50 per cent and 100 per cent. It can also send an emergency signal. It is controlled via a switch, which also provides information about the current battery status. To connect the standard rechargeable battery to the lamp, a cable is used to connect the lamp to a rail into which all standard rechargeable batteries from Out-Led fit. From these Battery packs there are three different sizes (factory specifications):
S (2400 mAh, runtime 2.5 hours at 100 per cent)
M (4800 mAh, runtime 5 hours at 100 per cent)
L (7200 mAh, runtime 7.5 hours at 100 per cent)
In our tests, the batteries unfortunately did not quite fulfil the specifications, with the smallest battery only lasting a good two hours in most cases. As the battery size increases, so does the price of the complete set: 279 euros for the set with the smallest battery, 304 euros with the medium battery and 329 euros with the largest battery. In addition to the price, the weight naturally also increases: the smallest battery weighs 97 grams, the medium battery 187 grams and the large battery 280 grams. As the standard batteries are not splash-proof, there are also more expensive Pro batteries from Out-Led, which are connected without a rail. However, the better protection puts pressure on the scales: the small protected battery weighs 228 grams and the medium one even 363 grams. The cable without rail weighs 56 grams, the one with rail 102 grams. This means that the lighter solution, which we usually chose on our test rides, is to stow the standard battery with rail in the rucksack. The lamp itself, including the helmet mount, is rather on the light side at 112 grams. All in all, the standard setup with a medium battery weighs 401 grams.
The first thing you notice when unpacking is the thick manual, which makes everything seem more complicated than it really is. All you have to do is insert the lamp into the holder, connect the cable, insert the battery into the rail and press the switch. The lamp is up and running. Changing modes is also easy and works even when wearing thick gloves.
On the pitch-black trail, you quickly forget about the light thanks to its low weight and can concentrate fully on riding. But be careful: despite good luminosity, you can't see as much as during the day and should therefore not race along the trails at Mach 10 speed. You should also think about the other inhabitants of the forest.
As described, the lamp "only" provides 1300 lumens - which is also possible with much cheaper lamps. Nevertheless, the luminosity is sufficient to see through the terrain. On the other hand, the light colour is particularly pleasing: thanks to the warm light, it creates a cosy feeling. The ratio of light range to width of the light cone proved to be suitable for mountain biking. In general, the lamp behaved very unobtrusively during the test period and there were never any failures. Depending on where the switch is attached (e.g. on the chest strap of the rucksack), the battery charge status can also be monitored while riding. We always mounted the light on our helmet. Thanks to the high-quality stainless steel bracket, it has stayed firmly in place. Unfortunately, the angle of the helmet mount - and therefore the light range - can only be adjusted by bending the mount. This is annoying if you change helmets frequently. But the real argument in favour of the Hellena is that the lamp is produced in Germany and therefore has an outstanding feel and quality.
Test summary of the Out-Led Hellena 3.5
Anyone looking for a high-quality lamp will be happy with the Hellena 3.5 from Out-Led. It impresses with its quality of workmanship and pleasant light. However, if you are focussing on lumens per euro, you will have to choose a different lamp.
