It is hard to beat the joy of a nighttime ride on an electric board. Whether it be a ride with a friend, a group ride with the regulars, or a solo cruise, the hobby is exciting and involving. Riding at speed through the breeze of a cool night is exhilarating, but having powerful lights to see and be seen by others is crucial to rider safety. The new Shredlights SL-200 headlights and taillights deliver great performance in a small package.
What’s in the box
Depending on which package you get Shredlights will provide you with different mounting options and numbers of their SL-200 Lights. Look down below for the different options:
Board Packs:
| Pack Price | What’s included |
| Single Light $29,99 | (1) Light (White or Red) |
| Two Pack $49,99 | (2) Lights (1) Dual Micro USB Charging Cables (1) Pair Standard Skateboard Mounts |
| Combo Pack $99,99 | (2) White Lights (2) Red Lights (2) Dual Micro USB Charging Cables (2) Pairs of mounts of your choice |
| Night Ops Pack $149,99 | (3) White Lights (3) Red Lights (3) Dual Micro USB Charging Cables (2) Curved Sticky Mounts with Dual Lock velcro (1) Action Clip (1) Pair Standard Mounts (1) Pair Extended Mounts (1) Pair Angled Mounts (1) Pair Flat Mounts |
I got me the Combo Pack and included in the box are two headlights, two taillights, two dual micro-USB charging cords (giving you the ability to charge all four lights at once), two mounts of your choice, a couple of stickers and a small mounting guide.
Original Shredlights vs SL-200 (What are the improvements?)
I had an original set of Shredlights that came included on a Riptide R1X. Aesthetically pleasing and impressively bright, the lights did their job and were an accessory I recommended to other riders, albeit these were the only electric skateboard-oriented light package on the market at the time. Nevertheless, they had several shortcomings, such as a clumsy mounting system, lack of water resistance, and only a couple rides worth of battery power before needing to be charged. The SL-200 package addresses every one of these problems. To start, they have a much higher battery capacity. In my case, I only need to charge them once a week with daily commuting. The water resistance is also improved- the lights can be immersed in water and function without faults. The mounting system, called “S-Lock”, is quick, reliable, and matched with a variety of mounting brackets to choose from for the best setup for your specific electric vehicle. And of course, the brightness has been greatly improved!
Brightness
When moving 20+ MPH, it is difficult to see what is in front of you in low light conditions. But at 200 lumens of brightness per light, the SL-200 headlights cut a path right through the dark terrain wherever you point your board. The brightness of these lights in an otherwise unlit area is astonishing and confidence inspiring.
Installation
Installation of the mounting brackets onto a board is straightforward. It’s as simple as removing the four nuts holding the truck base plates to the board, dropping the included Shredlight brackets onto the bolts, and replacing the nuts.
Different Mounts
Made from hardy steel and finished in industrial black paint, the mounts are stealth and feel durable. There are several mounting solutions for different board setups. The first is the standard mount. This type of mount can be used on any board’s front truck for the headlights and rear truck for most longboards. Similar to the standard mount is the flat-mount. It is the simplest solution and can also be used on almost any front truck. Although it fits on standard longboard rear trucks, it is actually designed for particular boards. The angled mount is exclusively for Boosted board rear trucks and the extended mount is another rear truck-only option for most shortboards. My board uses the standard mounts on the front and extended mounts on the rear. Both of these mounts keep the lights tucked close to the deck of the board. Despite the protrusion of the rear extended mounts to clear the wheels, the kicktail retains full functionality.
Swapability
Installing and removing Shredlights from their mounts is a very simple task thanks to the S-Lock system. The procedure is simple: slide the top of the light into the mount until a satisfying audible click can be heard that indicates the light is securely in place. A simple lift of a plastic tab on the top of the light allows it to slide out of the mount. I have had these lights for 5 months and have never experienced any problems with the lights falling off or the S-Lock system causing issues.
Build Quality
The quality of the SL-200 is much improved over its predecessor model. That being said, the lights I received are not perfect. In fact, upon receiving them in the mail, both a headlight and a tail light were on and in their slow flash setting. The blinking mail package was a sure indication of my lights arriving, and a testament to the battery life of the product, but a questionable first impression. While using the lights on my board, I sometimes notice one of the lights will turn on by itself when I set down or move the board. This is nothing more than a small annoyance and nevertheless, the lights have not displayed any other shortcomings in their build quality. In your hand, the SL-200 feels durable, sporting a well thought out design with a single-piece rubber sleeve encapsulating the entire device. Dropping one of these on the ground will do no harm. Bearing the cold of Midwest winters, salt residue from the icy pavement, and the occasional splash from a puddle or damp road, the lights show no signs of degradation. Not to mention that cleaning the SL-200 is easy given the water resistance they tout. A quick wash in soapy water is all it takes to remove road grime from the exterior of the light.
Customer Service
After a few months of ownership, one of my tail lights began to shut off on its own and failed to hold a charge. Upon contacting Shredlights to inquire about the issue, a swift same-day email exchange led to a brand new tail light being sent to me free of charge. Customer service is a crucial aspect to the success of any company, and Shredlights certainly proved their competence.
Price and different options
The standard SL-200 headlight/taillight package starts at $99, with discounts popping up to save a few bucks during holiday sale events. Additional mounting options for backpack straps, helmets, and board mounts can be purchased to increase visibility on rides.
Additional packages such as the Night Ops pack, which comes with three headlights, three taillights, and additional helmet/ backpack mounts, is available for purchase on Shredlight’s website for $159.99.
Board Packs:
| Pack Price | What’s included |
| Single Light $29,99 | (1) Light (White or Red) |
| Two Pack $49,99 | (2) Lights (1) Dual Micro USB Charging Cables (1) Pair Standard Skateboard Mounts |
| Combo Pack $99,99 | (2) White Lights (2) Red Lights (2) Dual Micro USB Charging Cables (2) Pairs of mounts of your choice |
| Night Ops Pack $149,99 | (3) White Lights (3) Red Lights (3) Dual Micro USB Charging Cables (2) Curved Sticky Mounts with Dual Lock velcro (1) Action Clip (1) Pair Standard Mounts (1) Pair Extended Mounts (1) Pair Angled Mounts (1) Pair Flat Mounts |
Helmet and Backpack Packs:
| Pack | What’s included |
| Helmet Single Pack $32,99 | (1) Light (White or Red) (1) Curved Sticky Mount with Dual Lock velcro (1) Dual Micro USB Charging Cables |
| Helmet Combo Pack $59,99 | (2) Lights (2) Curved Sticky Mounts with Dual Lock velcro (1) Dual Micro USB Charging Cables |
| Helmet Combo Pack Dual $99,99 | (2) White Lights (2) Red Lights (4) Curved Sticky Mounts with Dual Lock velcro (1) Dual Micro USB Charging Cables |
| Backpack Light $29,99 | (1) Light (White or Red) (1) Dual Micro USB Charging Cables (1) Action Clip |
Conclusion
These Shredlights deliver the performance and durability demanded by the electric vehicle revolution. Whether you commute through the city and want to be seen by pedestrians, surf the streets in the nighttime with a powerful illumination blazing your path, or just to show off some cool bright LED lights for skateboarding and turn some heads, the SL-200 package is a must-have accessory for your board if you are looking to level up your boarding experience.
You can check them out over at their website. I have managed to obtain a discount code for my audience. If you check out with the discount code “DANIEL10” you get 10% off your purchase!
Don’t be like me, watch for potholes.
