Finding the best bike lights on the market can be tough. Mainly because there are tons of great options, and sometimes it’s hard to know where to start.
In this article, we took the liberty of sniffing around on the market, looking at some of the best brands and features available. As a result, we’ve compiled this list of bike lights that take every budget and possible purpose into consideration. Without further ado, let’s get right into it!
The Best Bicycle Lights Ranked
We may earn a commission when you buy certain products through the links on this page. Note that this does not influence the content created by our team. Read our full Affiliate Disclosure. Garmin Varia RTL515 Rearview Radar with Taillight Review
Best Bike Back Light
- A smart device that watches your back
- Great daytime and nighttime visibility
- Weighs only 2.5 oz.
Bontrager Ion Pro RT/Flare RT Light Set Review
Best Bike Lights for Unlit Roads
- Great day running lights
- Powerful front light
- Easy to mount
Lezyne Super Drive 1600XXL Front Bike Light Review
Most Powerful Bike Lights on Our List
- Great build quality
- Smart features
- CNC machined construction
Bontrager Ion Elite R/Flare R City Bike Light Set Review
Best Bright Bike Lights With Rear Lights Under $150
- Rugged
- Bright
- Great value
Lezyne Zecto Drive Max Rear Bike Light Review
Best Rear Bike Lights Without Radar
- Easy to use
- Fast-charging
- Mounts both on bike and luggage
Bontrager Glo/Ember Light Set Review
Best Inexpensive Bike Light Set
- Simple and effective
- Easy mounting
- Extended battery life
Electra Retro Headlights Review
Best Retro-inspired Front Light for Road Bike under $50
- Classy and elegant design
- Best for riding around town
- Easy to operate
Bontrager Flare 1 Rear Bike Light Review
Top Rear Bike Lights Under $20
- Simple and reliable
- Long run time
- Great visibility
Bike Light Reviews
After seeing our rankings, let’s take a closer look at what sets these lights apart from the rest of the market.
Garmin Varia RTL515 Rearview Radar with Taillight Review
Best Bike Back Light
- Type: Rechargeable battery-powered rear light
- Power: 65 lumens
- Shipping/Returns: Free standard shipping on orders over $49, returnable within 30 days of purchase
If you’re looking for something that will ensure the safest possible ride on the road, the Garmin Varia Rearview Radar and Taillight is a fantastic option to consider.
Ideal both for pre-dawn and daylight commutes, this compact light will alert vehicles that you’re on the road up to a mile away. The smart bike light doesn’t just enable you to be seen: with the built-in radar that communicates with your phone or Garmin Edge system, you will be alerted of approaching traffic up to 140 yards away from you.
The battery only takes three hours to recharge fully, and the taillights have several modes ideal for nighttime and daylight riding alike.
It also seamlessly pairs with your phone and Garmin Edge computers and integrates with GPS and Ride apps to overlay maps with radar alerts.
You also get a heavy-duty, long-life rechargeable battery that can last up to 16 hours in day flash mode (for daylight riding) or six hours in solid mode (for night-time rides).
So are these the best smart bike lights on the market? For the most part, cyclists referred to the Varia RTL515 as a game-changer. It won’t replace safe cycling practices but will add a tremendously helpful layer of safety to every commute.
The only drawback, according to users, is the mounting mechanism, which should be more secure as it tends to move around. Apart from that, this is a must for every avid cyclist.
Pros
- + A smart device that watches your back
- + Great daytime and nighttime visibility
- + Weighs only 2.5 oz.
Cons
- − Might need an improved mounting mechanism
Bontrager Ion Pro RT/Flare RT Light Set Review
Best Bike Lights for Unlit Roads
- Type: Rechargeable battery-powered front and rear lights
- Power: 1,300 lumens (front)
- Shipping/Returns: Free standard shipping on orders over $49, returnable within 30 days of purchase +30 day unconditional Bontrager guarantee
If it’s a side path you’re after, an unlit road, or just a dark back road near your town, you can rest assured that the Bontrager Ion Pro RT light set will provide you with the output both to see and to be seen.
With a max output of 1,300 lumens, you will be able to light up the full width of even the darkest paths, making the Bontrager one of the best bike lights for mountain biking.
The light’s unique design and a range of flash patterns ensure that you will be visible during daytime riding for up to 1.2 miles.
Furthermore, by connecting to any Garmin or Bontrager ANT+ device, you can track battery status and enable wireless control. All this with seven hours of charge time for the front light and only two for the rear light.
Bike lights reviews rave about the Bontrager set with good reason, reviewers often calling it the best lights the market has to offer. Ease of use, reliability, visibility, quality materials, and smart features all make it a great deal for every serious cyclist.
On the flip side, some reviews mention slight compatibility issues with the Garmin Fenix 5X, and minor11111glitches with Garmin software, but if you go for Bontrager gear instead, you won’t have any problems.
Other than that, it’s a great light set that’s up to any challenge you throw at it.
Pros
- + Great day running lights
- + Powerful front light
- + Easy to mount
Cons
- − Possible software issues
Lezyne Super Drive 1600XXL Front Bike Light Review
Most Powerful Bike Lights on Our List
- Type: Rechargeable battery-powered front light
- Power: 1,600 lumens
- Shipping/Returns: Free standard shipping on orders over $49, returnable within 30 days of purchase
If it’s power you want, then the Lezyne Super Drive 1600XXL has all you need and then some. Combined with up to 148 hours of run time in Femto mode, this is one serious piece of biking kit.
The lights feature a machined aluminum body construction with cooling fins to tackle overheating during use. The tr-focus optics on the lights create a wider angle and a brighter center spot, and the silicone strap makes it easy to mount on most handlebars.
Apart from being pretty reliable high power bike lights, the Lezyne is also compatible with Remote Switch and Lezyne Smart Connect for easy remote programming of your bike lights.
A lot of great features, several light modes, USB rechargeability, smart features… what else do you need from a great front light?
Most reviewers (pros and casual bikers alike) say that the Lezyne is a great product that can tackle every challenge you throw at it. It’s fantastic for open roads, unlit paths, and city cruising alike, and these lights represent great value considering their sub-$150 price.
On the downside, some users mentioned that connecting the charger to the light can be bothersome, as the port sits deep and can be a bit problematic to reach.
Others have stated that the smart bike light needs a larger shroud on the top side because the light can peek up through the corners of the lens and may bother your eyes while in blink mode.
Some people mentioned that switching through the different modes might not be as smooth as with previous models, but the Super Drive 1600XXL still does the job respectfully.
Overall, the Lezyne has a handful of excellent features, and if you’re looking for a seriously powerful front light, this might just be the one.
Pros
- + Great build quality
- + Smart features
- + CNC machined construction
Cons
- − Charging can be a bit of a pain
Bontrager Ion Elite R/Flare R City Bike Light Set Review
Best Bright Bike Lights With Rear Lights Under $150
- Type: Rechargeable battery-powered front and rear lights
- Power: 1,000 lumens (front)
- Shipping/Returns: Free standard shipping on orders over $49, returnable within 30 days of purchase + 30 day unconditional Bontrager guarantee
The Bontrager Ion Elite City set has enough juice in the front lights to make it a great choice for longer commutes, be it a country road or an off-road trail. Both lights (front and rear) feature USB-chargeability, and the daytime flash settings can make you visible from up to 1.2 miles.
Easily mountable, this set can compete with the best mountain bike lights out there. Even though the construction is pretty rugged (and it does have the necessary juice to light up any path in its way), it wasn’t really intended for the most treacherous conditions out there. Still, unless you try biking up mountain goat tracks in a blizzard, you should be fine.
Many bikers think that these are the best USB rechargeable bike lights on the market for the money when looking at the reviews. Easy to use, rugged, easy to install, bright, and built to last, the Ion Elite set managed to impress even people who regularly bike on the most demanding tracks.
If we were to pick some downsides, the front light lacks an ambient sensor and can take a long time to charge fully. Still, this is a sturdy set without fancy extra features and one of the best options on the market if you just want a simple but effective set of bike lights.
Pros
- + Rugged
- + Bright
- + Great value
Cons
- − The front light takes a long time to charge
Lezyne Zecto Drive Max Rear Bike Light Review
Best Rear Bike Lights Without Radar
- Type: Rechargeable battery-powered rear light
- Power: Up to 250 lumens in daytime flash mode
- Shipping/Returns: Free standard shipping on orders over $49, returnable within 30 days of purchase
With 250 lumens of output power in daytime flash mode, the Lezyne Zecto Drive Max is a great rear light that won’t break the bank. Known for manufacturing some of the best bike pumps in the industry, this brand is also quite good at making reliable high power bike lights.
The durable construction also features a machined aluminum faceplate. The lights take only 2.5 hours to recharge with the included micro USB cable, and the versatile 2-in-1 clip-and-strap mount system enables you to easily mount the lights on your backpack, saddlebag, or bike.
Generally speaking, both expert and user reviews consider the Zecto Drive Max really good quality bike lights. Many reviewers have praised their long battery life, great modes, brightness, and overall ease of use.
On the flip side, recreational and pro cyclists alike have mentioned that the mounting straps can be a bit fiddly and that the lights overall could be more secure on the seatposts. Also, some stated that the hard plastic construction might even damage the seatpost over time.
All that aside, the Lezyne offers great value for the money, excellent features, eight modes of operation, and a quickly rechargeable and bright light.
Pros
- + Easy to use
- + Fast-charging
- + Mounts both on bike and luggage
Cons
- − The mounting system might not be secure enough
Bontrager Glo/Ember Light Set Review
Best Inexpensive Bike Light Set
- Type: Battery-powered rear and front lights
- Power: Glo - 5 lumens, Ember - 3 lumens
- Shipping/Returns: Free standard shipping on orders over $49, returnable within 30 days of purchase + 30 day unconditional Bontrager guarantee
When you’re looking at bike lights, you don’t always want to go with the top pro choices. Truth be told, not all of us are looking for top-of-the-line products or want to spend 200 bucks on a bike light. Most people probably are looking for a good and reliable set that can get them safely from point A to B, without a bunch of fancy features that drive up the price.
If that’s the case with you, you will find that the Bontrager Glo/Ember pairing is among those best value bike lights that are ideal for a daily city and town commute in the darker winter months and on well-lit pavements during nighttime.
The focused optics of the lights provide over 270 degrees of visibility, with environmentally-friendly LEDs, steady and strobe-flash light modes, over 40 hours of run time, and a simple and effective silicone strap for fast installation.
So, this is a good pair of lights without the unnecessary bells and whistles to pump the price up, right? LED bike lights reviews speak highly of this Bontrager model, highlighting its simplicity, effectiveness, and ease of installation. Lumen numbers might not be that impressive, but as far as our experience goes, the set does a fine job at lighting the roads in both urban and suburban areas.
On the downside, some say these lights aren’t good enough for daytime riding in lower visibility conditions and might have durability issues because of the less sturdy build materials.
Apart from that, they surely make a great and inexpensive light set for casual bikers who don’t need the very best performance.
Pros
- + Simple and effective
- + Easy mounting
- + Extended battery life
Cons
- − Build quality could be better
Electra Retro Headlights Review
Best Retro-inspired Front Light for Road Bike under $50
- Type: Rear light
- Power: N/A
- Shipping/Returns: Free standard shipping on orders over $49, returnable within 30 days of purchase
If you’re looking for something that gets the job done and looks elegant but won’t cost you an arm and a leg, consider these Electra Retro headlights.
The light comes with dedicated brackets so you can mount it to your bike’s fork crown. You also get four AAA batteries, so it’s a pretty good deal overall.
Are these the best lights for a road bike? Well, for a professional cyclist, the Electra would probably be more of a downgrade than an upgrade. The plastic body can easily crack and the design (on/off switch on the lamp for example) can make quick fixes and maintenance time-consuming. The look also won’t complement mountain bikes, and for going off the beaten path, you’d probably need something with more battery juice overall.
That said, you may just be a casual bike rider that needs a stylish-looking set that will do the job on relatively well-lit roads. The Electra can easily be among the best bike lights for commuting in an urban area for your retro-inspired townie. In our experience, it does great if you need some extra visibility on decently-lit areas during the night. Relying solely on it on dark roads might not be the best idea, as a few users have mentioned that wearing a headlamp might work better since the Electra illuminates primarily the road ahead and provides little side-lighting.
As said before, these are good quality bike lights for urban cycling with a retro vibe, but they might not work that well for more demanding conditions.
Pros
- + Classy and elegant design
- + Best for riding around town
- + Easy to operate
Cons
- − Not the sturdiest build
Bontrager Flare 1 Rear Bike Light Review
Top Rear Bike Lights Under $20
- Type: Front light
- Power: Unavailable
- Shipping/Returns: Free standard shipping on orders over $49, returnable within 30 days of purchase. Plus 30-day unconditional Bontrager guarantee
If you’re looking for something fairly simple yet reliable with a very low price tag, then definitely check out the Bontrager Flare rear lights.
Probably the best rear bike light for daytime in its price range, the Bontrager Flare comes with a seatpost clamp and AAA batteries that provide a pretty respectable run time of 75 to 80 hours.
The three environmentally-friendly bright white LEDs can be configured in three different modes, including random flashing, steady flashing, and a steady high-beam setting. The focused optics ensure over 270 degrees of visibility, all in a lightweight and waterproof package.
There are a lot of good bike lights reviews about the Bontrager Flare. Most of them state that it’s a great value option that provides excellent visibility.
The only real grudge that people have with these rear lights is the build quality. More specifically, some reviews mention that the clips are hard to work with, while others speak about switches that stop working after a while.
As you know, there might be a few build quality concerns with inexpensive products, but with proper care and maintenance, all these problems can be avoided. For just over 15 bucks, you can’t really expect top-level craftsmanship or materials, but the Bontrager Flare 1 still lasts a long time if you take good care of it.
Pros
- + Simple and reliable
- + Long run time
- + Great visibility
Cons
- − Build quality issues
How to Buy the Best Bike Lights
After reading our reviews, here are a couple of things that can come in handy if you still aren’t sure how to buy the best lights for your bike. In this guide, we will go over all the things you need to know to make a more educated decision.
Light Types
Getting a front light for your bike is a no-brainer. However, not all bike lights are created equal. There are different options you can choose from, and now, we’re going to introduce the mall.
See Lights
As probably the best bike lights for night riding, these lights allow you to, well, see where you are heading in the dark. They are all but mandatory for those out-of-town rides and poorly lit roads. They also make you visible to others in traffic and enable you to see everything coming up ahead, allowing you to react quickly.
On the downside, these are often pretty powerful, which leads to shorter battery life. Also, poor quality and poorly mounted see lights can blind people in the opposite direction. This is why it’s essential to buy high-quality see lights if you opt for getting them in the first place.
Be Seen Lights
Also often called bike indicator lights, these help you become visible to other people on the road. It’s important to use lights that let you be seen both from the front and the back. That said, make sure there’s a white light installed up front and a red one in the rear.
Flashing Lights
People often use these lights as “be seen lights,” with different flashing patterns. All of them work well because the flashing works as a great indicator, and you can use them both during the night and for daytime rides.
The only problem with flashing bike lights is that some research out there claims that using these can make it more difficult for others in traffic to judge how far away you are at night. As such, it might be a good idea to combine a flashing light with a steady one. Keep in mind that flashing lights aren’t allowed everywhere, so make sure to check your state or county laws before installing them on your bike.
Side Lights
These are great in a city setting where cars come from different directions, and you need to be on the side of junctions. In such instances, these are the best bike safety lights for being seen from all directions. You can attach some of them to the frame of your bike or the wheels.
Some experts claim that you won’t really need them, as a good set of standard front lights that provide 180-degree visibility will do the job, but a mix of budget front and side lights will probably be a lot cheaper than premium front lights.
Helmet Lights
These are small and lightweight lights that you clip onto your helmet. They enable you to see even more and help drivers to distinguish head movement on the bike. Experts advise using one of these together with the front bike lights.
Daytime Lights
Most people look for the best bicycle lights for riding at night and totally forget about daytime bike lights, which improve visibility when the sun is up.
More precisely, if you get a light that sports day flash mode, it can help you be seen by drivers who would not have otherwise noticed you. Usually, day flash mode is brighter than nighttime flash mode, and it often has a different flash pattern (ON-OFF-ON, instead of HIGH-LOW-HIGH).
Laserlight
These lights use a laser to project images onto the road. Some of them combine white front lights and green lasers. The latter projects an image of a bike ahead of you, giving you a bigger footprint on the road.
To See and To Be Seen
As you can see from above, getting the best bike lights can be a bit confusing. First of all, do you need a light to see or to be seen?
The first type has increased brightness, a larger battery, and a narrow beam angle to allow you to see better into the distance ahead. The latter improves your own visibility on the road, featuring side illumination and a wider beam. Because light brightness isn’t a priority for these lights, they often have a lower output, smaller batteries, lower cost, and wider beam angles.
If you want to be safe on the road and see what’s coming, it’s a good idea to invest in both of these light types.
Considerations when Choosing the Best Bicycle Lights
Brightness
Most manufacturers use lumen to describe the brightness output on their products. The higher the lumen value is, the more light is emitted from the product. The lumen count can be as low as a few lumens for cheap rear lights to as high as 2,000 for premium see lights.
Assessing brightness for your needs can be a bit tricky, but for simple commuting purposes, a basic set of good bike lights that won’t blind ongoing traffic will be more than sufficient. If you still want a high lumen-count light, you can always tilt your lights downwards so that you’re not blinding the oncoming traffic.
Pros often say that using different lights on the same bike can be a great solution, too. For example, you can use a higher lumen-count light to improve visibility, then turn it off you see an incoming driver while using a less powerful light in flashing mode the entire time.
Battery
Usually, top rated bike lights will feature either USB rechargeability or run on batteries. If you opt for a modern design, it will likely be USB-rechargeable with a Lithium-Ion battery. This is a good option if you don’t like the idea of buying batteries and only having to regularly charge the ones you already have.
If you opt for traditional battery-powered lights, ensure a steady supply at your local supermarket or bike store.
Some will argue that the best battery powered bike light is the type where you need to use a battery pack and plug the light into it for the light to work. While this may sound a bit complicated, these are high-powered (often professional-grade) lights where both parts (the lights and the battery pack) can easily be mounted onto the bike. These lights can be great for mountain bike riders as they light up a huge chunk of the area ahead of you. Given that pro riders often have their handlebars full of several gadgets, it’s a good idea to find a compact set.
Mounting
Whether you are looking for the best commuter bike lights or something for off-roading, you will always appreciate lights that are easy to mount.
In most cases, lights are secured with either velcro or a screw that tightens the bracket around the seatpost or the handlebar. Some use a rubber strap for the same purpose.
In the case of traditional circular handlebars and seatposts, this shouldn’t be a problem. However, with other (especially custom) designs, it can be an issue. Look for bike light reviews, ask around on forums and make sure that you buy a product that attaches to your bike without any problems.
Also, make sure that after installation, you won’t have any problems operating your bike. For example, if you install a second light for better visibility, you also need to ensure that it won’t interfere with wheel spinning (especially if you install the lights on your wheels).
Bulb Types
Just look at the best rated bike lights on the market, and you will see that most of them use LEDs to operate as they are more efficient than halogen lights. Some high-end lights used HID bulbs in the past, but they mostly disappeared due to the advancements in LED technology.
Run Time
Often called burn time, this is the value that indicates how long the light will last from fully recharged to flat. The top bike lights on the market will usually come with estimated run times for various settings and beam types.
You should also know that different lumen values and battery capacities will also impact run times. When comparing different lights, it’s always advisable to evaluate their performance using comparable settings.
Also, you should take a look at some concepts like constant output when judging the run time. You may not see it on all bike light brands, but it’s a concept that describes run time by looking at the output of the lights. More precisely, some products will have a steadily declining lumen amount and lowered brightness as the battery goes flat. Many high-quality lights stay at a set lumen as long as possible and then activate a “get-home-save” mode, indicating that the batteries are running out of juice. Only after this happens will they start losing lumen and brightness.
Weight
The weight will mostly depend on battery size and brightness. Most lights will weigh anywhere from 15 to 150 grams. Even the best rear bike lights will tend to be lighter compared to their frontal counterparts, as they need to be less bright to do their job well.
Weight usually won’t be a problem for most casual riders. However, if you want to get a light for professional cycling, you should aim for the best weight to output ratio (especially for mountain biking), so you don’t get a light that’s too heavy and slows you down.
Budget
Perform a bike light comparison, see how much you want to spend on a set, and go from there. How much you are willing to pay for your lights will determine the features they will have.
You should assess all aspects of the lights before buying. Battery life, lumens, beam angle, battery type, overall design, and bike compatibility will all make a difference, and, most of the time, the quality of these characteristics will improve dramatically with higher-tier products.
Under $35
These are mostly “to be seen lights” with average lumen ratings. In this category, the best bike lights would be those that have a broad beam angle, with several toggleable settings (flash and pulse mode included). These lights will generally be light and have solid run times. Better models in this category might even come with rechargeable batteries.
Between $35 and $110
In this price range, you will get lots of features, enough power and brightness, solid run times, and plenty of customizable light settings. The best road bike lights usually fall within this category, with lumen totals around 600, which is more than enough to navigate through poorly lit roads safely..
Furthermore, lights in this price range are always waterproof, batteries are most commonly rechargeable, and you will have more advanced and secure mounting options (like screws and bracket mounts).
Between $110 and $185
Any “see light” you might need, for any purpose, will be found in this price bracket. Some of the best LED bike lights are in this category with four-figure lumen values, several beam angles and settings, and improved battery run times. These lights will be heavier than the cheaper models, but you will also have more secure mounting options, making them ideal for off-roading (and you might also start seeing separated battery packs in this range)
Over $185
Featuring premium build quality and more of everything else that makes a good bike light, these are probably the best rechargeable bike lights money can buy. Some even have advanced features like video recording capabilities (thanks to the built-in devices) and have accelerometers that go off in the event of a crash. These lights also capture different metrics (speed and distance) that you can track and even overlay information about incoming traffic onto your GPS maps.
Since we’re here, it’s good to mention that when it comes to overall convenience, maximizing performance, and most importantly, keeping your health in check, you also need to get the best bike seat.
Measuring Output
Unfortunately, there’s no industry standard to measure brightness, and people often get confused because of the different units the manufacturers use.
That being said, when you make a comparison based on brightness units alone, you will typically see one of the following indicators:
- Lumens: these measure total luminous flux or the total output of the bike light from the source in all directions it points to. These are often measured with an integrating sphere.
- Candela: This unit measures absolute brightness at one focused point. In simpler terms, it measures the brightness that goes into one specific direction. Usually, the candela value will remain the same regardless of the actual distance from the light; however, values will change depending on the angle.
- Lux: Basically, lux is lumens per area. Bike light brands that give their values in lux basically measure how many lumens per square meter the light can output.
Generally, lumens are the most popular values used by manufacturers. Many of them use either “specified” or “estimated” brightness values based on the LED’s specification at a particular power level. However, in reality, the actual brightness of the road bike lights will depend on other things as well, like the efficiency of the optics, the circuitry, the temperature at which the light operates, LED quality, and so on. Because of this, you might find that the light you have has 10 to 40% lower brightness than it should, according to the lumen specification.
If you want to be sure about output, look for bike light brands with the FL1 logo. The ANSI FL1 Standard gives manufacturers a specific and reliable method for measuring brightness, not just on bike lights but also flashlights.
More About Power Supplies
We’ve already talked about batteries, but as you might know, there are different options that you can explore when you’re looking for the best way to keep your electronics going on your bike.
As such, here’s a short breakdown of the most popular options along with their pros and cons.
Power Banks
Some of the best bike lights use power banks, as they are the cheapest, easiest, and most reliable power sources. Even if you go with a dynamo, you will be using a power bank to store your charge.
In typical cases, a standard battery bank will be more than enough for 90% of cyclists and is the best light-powering option. Even if you are going for larger tours, taking two power banks to power your lights will be enough to keep everything running smoothly. You can most likely find places to charge them even if you are on the road for weeks.
Dynamos
If you’re looking for something traditional, oldschool bike sets are usually powered by a dynamo. Experts believe this is not the best method because dynamos are prone to breaking or malfunction, especially if you have to remove the wheels or need to push through overgrown paths. Not to mention, when constantly alternating between riding and hiking (especially on rough terrain), chances are, you won’t manage to generate enough charge during nighttime.
Dynamo lights can be a great alternative on paved roads and in well-lit urban areas where you don’t necessarily need to rely solely on them. Simply put, most avid cyclists are better off with battery-powered options, but dynamos can still work for people with lower demands who don’t need long-lasting, powerful lights on their bike trips.
Comparing Power Banks and Dynamos
Let’s look at a few more factors to consider when comparing these two power sources.
- Flexibility: battery-powered products are usually easy to dismount and use only when needed. A dynamo-powered product will still make for a good bike light but will be harder to remove.
- Anti-theft feature: Flexibility also means that you can take the lights off if you fear that someone might steal them. That said, dynamo-powered lights are more difficult to remove and might just dissuade potential thieves if they have precious little time to do their nefarious deed.
- Changing lights with ease: If you have several bikes, you can more easily switch battery packs. With dynamos, you’re best off installing one on each bike separately.
FAQs
What is the best bike light for night riding
The “best” will depend on a wide variety of factors. More precisely, if you’re off-roading or driving along on country roads, you will need a more powerful light than, let’s say, when driving along a well-lit city road.
That said, most experts advise using a broad-beam product for city riding and a more focused beam light for off-road or touring.
Generally speaking, you’ll want a powerful light, but be careful with oncoming traffic if you’re driving along inhabited areas.
What are the best bike lights to buy?
Just like with buying the best of anything (like the best surfboards, for example), you’ll have to first determine what works best for you. Are you looking for something to light up the darker streets in your town if you’re riding at night? Or, do you need something that will help you spot oncoming obstacles in an off-road setting? Are you planning on a cross-country tour where you want everybody to notice you during the night? Once you’ve established your motive (and budget) for buying a light, it will be much easier to narrow down a candidate. Check out our list, and we’re sure you’ll find at least one set that’s perfect for you.
How many lumens do I need for a bike light?
First of all, you should know that there’s no industry standard for measuring light output. Most manufacturers tend to quote figures in lumens, but not all of them do.
Generally, everything above 400 lumens will enable you to see everything in front of you, and people in traffic will see you. Lights with around 800 lumens and above are already in the category suitable for off-road and unlit path driving, but you’ll also have to be careful blinding people driving in the opposite direction.
For a rear bike light, anything with more than 20 lumens will clearly give off your position, but going higher than that is also a good idea if you’re planning to bike in very poorly lit areas.
What is the brightest bicycle light?
There are brands out there that offer products with huge lumen counts. For instance, there are lights with as many as 3,800 lumens, which is definitely a massive overkill, if you ask us.
If you only want something to help you navigate through a darker street in your hometown, you definitely won’t need this kind of power (the average car headlight has a power output of around 1,500 lumens).
Then again, if you’re using your bike for nighttime tours where there are no lights on the roads (or even roads, as such), having powerful lights can be a good idea – just watch out for the poor battery life that such lights usually come with.
What are the best bike lights?
As we’ve already said, there is no such thing as “best bike lights” for any scenario out there, and you’ll have to determine your budget and needs first before making that call. That said, you can’t go wrong with models from Bontrager, Garmin, or Lezyne.
Is it illegal to ride a bike without lights?
During the daytime, or in good visibility conditions during daylight hours, it’s perfectly fine (and legal) to ride your bike without lights. However, if you want to ride in limited visibility conditions, you are required to have at least one working light on your bike.
Where to position bike lights?
Experts will advise you to place your lights as far apart as you can. This is because the further the two light points on your bike are away from each other, the easier it is to distinguish them and to give others in traffic a better idea where you are in pitch black visibility conditions. This way, people both in low and tall vehicles will be able to see you easily.
For headlights, you can install your primary headlight on the handlebar and can always wear a secondary light on your helmet.
Having a rack or a seatpost for your taillights will ensure you have enough coverage at the rear of the bike, too.
How bright should bike lights be?
As already discussed above, the answer will mostly depend on where you’re planning on riding. In most cases, everything between 400 and 800 lumens will be sufficient for most weather and lighting conditions, but night riding in poor visibility conditions may require 1,000 or more for optimal illumination.
For taillights, going with at least 50 lumens will ensure that you can use them in just about all imaginable conditions.
Conclusion
As you can see, choosing the best bike lights can get a bit complicated, mainly because there’s a ton of great products on the market. Simple traditional lights, smart lights, lights with lumen counts higher than your average car… the list goes on.
Long story short, we hope that our reviews and guide have helped to set you on the right path and that whichever lights you end up choosing will serve you and your bike for a long time. Happy trails!
