u/Due_Literature_2917

I would like to share my experience with the Lupine Nano SL AF and compare it with the Lezyne Deca 1200 StVZO.

My partner and I do several multi-week bikepacking trips every year on our gravel bikes, often riding far into the night. We also do not always have the opportunity to recharge our lights every night, so long battery life is extremely important to us. On fast gravel descents, narrow trails, or winding mountain roads, a powerful and far-reaching beam is essential — while still avoiding glare for oncoming traffic on public roads.

Taking all of those requirements into account, I originally thought the Lupine would be the perfect solution.

And in many ways, it really is impressive. The light quality and output are outstanding. The true high beam is especially useful for spotting low branches and obstacles early, and it provides a real sense of security on fast descents because potholes, debris, and other hazards become visible much sooner. The beam pattern is incredibly smooth and homogeneous — probably among the best available — although it is relatively narrow.

However, after about 1.5 years with the Lupine, I decided to replace it with the Lezyne Deca 1200 StVZO.

The reason: the Lupine lacks practicality in everyday use and on longer bikepacking trips.

Some examples:

• The screws can only be adjusted with Torx tools. This even applies to the remote control battery compartment.
• When the remote battery starts dying, the lamp itself begins behaving strangely, but there is no clear warning. Lupine says you should notice the remote LED becoming dimmer, but realistically that is almost impossible to detect. As the remote battery weakens, it can no longer maintain a stable connection to the lamp, causing the high beam to switch itself off a few seconds after activation. I did not know this, and it is not mentioned clearly in the manual. As a result, I spent two weeks of bikepacking without usable high beam functionality.
• On my gravel bike — which has a completely standard 31.8 mm handlebar — I had to buy an additional adjustable mount just to position the light far enough forward so that my handlebar roll would not block the beam. Installation is generally somewhat fiddly, although once everything is set up correctly, the mount is stable and secure.
• The lamp automatically switches from daytime running light to low beam when it gets dark, but it does not automatically switch back to daytime mode. So if you ride during the day with DRL enabled for visibility and briefly pass through a tunnel, you must remember to manually switch back afterwards. If you forget, the low beam drains the battery unnecessarily without you noticing.
• Even in daytime running light mode — the lowest power setting — the battery does not reliably last an entire day.
• I had to send the lamp in for repair twice because the battery suddenly drained completely in less than 45 minutes while in daytime mode. The exact cause remains unclear. The first time Lupine replaced the lamp electronics, the second time both the electronics and the battery cable. Lupine lights are generally considered extremely reliable and nearly indestructible, but unfortunately that has not been my experience.
• Battery life is simply not sufficient for longer bikepacking trips. According to Lupine, runtime is 110 minutes in high beam and 190 minutes in low beam, which roughly matches my experience. There is an Eco mode that is almost as bright as the standard mode and improves runtime considerably. However, it is very difficult to tell whether Eco mode is actually enabled, which means you cannot reliably plan around the longer runtime.
• Alternatively, you can buy and carry an additional battery, but that costs another €209 for 10 Ah or €130 for 5 Ah. If the other weaknesses did not exist, I might actually have considered that option. But given the overall package, it no longer made sense for me.
• The battery can only be charged with Lupine’s proprietary charger, which means carrying it on every tour. To be fair, the upside is that charging is very fast — about 2.5 hours for a full charge.

The Lezyne Deca 1200 StVZO, by comparison, already offers a claimed runtime of 2.5 hours in its highest mode (1200 lumens) even without the external battery. With the external battery included in the Loaded Kit, runtime increases to a claimed total of 9.5 hours. In Economy mode (250 lumens), Lezyne claims 9.5 hours without and 28.5 hours with the external battery.

It does not offer a true high beam, and the beam pattern is not quite as homogeneous as the Lupine. Apart from that, however, the actual light performance is absolutely comparable in my opinion. In the highest mode, the Lezyne reaches just as far as the Lupine in high beam mode — only not as high vertically. On the other hand, the beam is significantly wider, which I personally prefer because it improves corner visibility. The Lupine’s narrow and sharply defined beam sometimes made riding through completely dark areas feel strangely uncomfortable, because you cannot really see what is happening beside you unless you physically turn the handlebars.

I also really like the mounting options on the Lezyne. You can either use a very strong rubber strap mount or the included CNC-machined clamp with GoPro adapter. Everything uses standard hex bolts, meaning you already have the necessary tool on your multitool. And when using the rubber mount, you can quickly remove the light at camp and use it as a handheld flashlight.

I have not yet tested the Lezyne extensively, but I would be happy to provide an update after the first proper night rides.

I am also attaching beam shots of both the Lupine and the Lezyne. You can clearly see how much wider the Lezyne’s beam is. In reality, the Lezyne’s beam pattern looks more homogeneous than it appears in the photos, although it is still not quite as smooth and uniform as the Lupine’s.

On the other hand, the photos make it seem as though the Lezyne does not reach as far as the Lupine, but that is only because I had aimed it slightly lower. Depending on the alignment, the effective beam distance is identical to the Lupine.