Bike lights are as important as the bike and the helmet. They keep you safe when riding your bike at night, as they allow other users to see you. Choosing the right light for your bike should be easy if you know what the best options on the market are.
There are many commuter lights available, so a cyclist can be confused about what to decide on. The lights that allow other traffic participants to see you are called commuter lights and are more compact than the lights you use to see the road. Besides, commuter lights have less power. You can buy lights that dim down so that other road users aren’t blinded and their battery lasts longer. Before deciding on the lights for your bike, make sure you take into consideration everything about your cycling routine.
It can be difficult to decide on a set of lights for your bike, but this review is meant to help you choose according to your needs. Read more to find out about the 10 best bike lights available on the market.
Cygolite Metro 550 Lumen Front Bike Light
The Cygolite Metro 550 is versatile and offers both performance and safety. It features optimized optics to give you great sight and increased brightness and clarity. More than this, it has 6 lighting settings, out of which 3 are steady, 2 for flashing, and 1 for walking. It can last for 150 hours after one charge, so you can use it for a long time without worrying that you may remain in darkness. This is a bike light built in the US and tested for any flaws.
Besides the steady brightness setting, the Cygolite Metro 550 has the Steady Pulse feature for alerting motorists to lower their beam at night. Used during the day, in the Day Lighting mode, this bike light emits 600 lumens of flashes. It’s a sturdy unit that stays in place, so it can be used off-road without worrying.
At around $30, the Cygolite Metro 550 could be perfect for you, especially if you’re cycling in difficult conditions. Other traffic participants will easily notice you, so the risks of an accident while you are riding your bike are drastically reduced.
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Kryptonite Street F-250 Front Light
The Kryptonite F-250 front bike light has 6 different modes that adapt to the ride you’re taking, going from Night Time Pulse to High Steady. The High Steady setting shows you every little detail on the road. The modes on this front bike light also have side illumination ports, meaning you’re visible when trying to cross an intersection. The memory function allows the light to turn back to the mode it was used before it was turned off. This light is charged by USB, so there’s no need for you to buy any batteries for it. It lasts for about 20 hours after one charge and has a function for saving the battery power.
You can buy the Kryptonite Street F-250 front light for $35-40 and use it with the Kryptonite Avenue R-50 rear light. You can, of course, buy a rear light from another manufacturer, but it would be good to have both lights from the same company.
Kryptonite Avenue R-50 COB Rear Bike Light
The Kryptonite Avenue R-50 rear light makes other traffic participants aware of your presence on the road, no matter if you’re riding by night or by day. It has 6 modes, from Economic Flash to High Flash. The battery charges through USB, so there’s no need for you to buy new batteries all the time. If fully charged, it lasts for 11 hours and 15 minutes. The memory function allows it to turn on at the mode at which it was before it was turned off. If the battery is lower than 10%, the Kryptonite Avenue R-50 rear light goes into Power Saving and uses the lowest lumen output.
The Kryptonite Avenue R-50 rear light is only a little over $30 and can be used with any front light. It offers increased performance, so it’s suitable for heavy cyclists. You could use it if you’re a beginner as well, as it’s durable and can resist impacts. Ideal for your e-bike.
Blitzu Cyborg 168T Rechargeable LED Tail Light
The Cyborg 168T taillight from Blitzu is sure to have you seen in traffic, as it has a 260-degree wide beam. It features 6 settings, so it helps you be visible not only on a dark night but also on busy streets during the day. You can change the setting on this taillight just by pushing a button. It charges on any device with USB in less than 2 hours. The battery can last you for as long as 6 hours if you use it in Low mode, and 1 and a half hours if you use the light with the High mode on.
The Blitzu Cyborg 168T rear bike light is waterproof and durable. It resists impacts and vibrations, so you can use it for a very long time, even if you’re frequently cycling on bumpy roads. It’s visible from far away and doesn’t blind other traffic participants.
Fineed Front&Loud Bike Light
The XPG LEDs on the Fineed Front&Loud bike light provide an output of 250 lumens, up to a length of 150 feet. This means the fairly light is bright and allows you to be seen in any weather conditions or on country roads where the visibility is very low. It features 3 light modes, so you can set it to High Light mode, Strobe mode, and Low Light. Besides, it’s also designed with a 120 dB electric horn that can be triggered at a push of a button. The sound of the horn can be selected from 5 different tones.
The Fineed Front&Loud light can be charged through USB and lasts for as long as 5 hours when it functions at the lowest setting. If you’re using it on High Light mode, the battery is sure to last for 2 hours. It’s very easy to mount this light on your commuter bike. More than this, it’s waterproof and resists shocks.
Malker Front&Rear Silicone LED Bike Light Set
The Front&Rear Silicone LED Bike Light Set from Malker gets installed in only a few seconds and ensures you’re safe on the road. The lights are made from silicone, so they’re durable and resistant to bad weather, impacts, and vibrations. You won’t have to worry that they can break when it’s raining because they’re waterproof. These lights need Li-ion batteries that can’t be charged through USB but last for as long as 70 hours. The visibility offered is of a half mile, no matter the weather conditions. There are 4 settings at which you can use the Malker lights: Full Light, Flash, Slow Flash, and Off.
If you’re not happy with how the Makler Silicone LED bike lights work, you can return them and ask for a refund. Make sure you do this within 30 days after the purchase, though. They’re available in the colors red, white, and black, and you can buy them all 4 in black, 2 white and 2 red, or 2 red and 2 black.
Specialized Flux 1200 Front Light
The Specialized Flux 1200 bike light is perfect for the city and can be easily unclipped from the bike for charging. It uses a Li-ion battery of very high capacity, and it can be charged through USB. The LEDs it features are the latest CREE XP-L, which provide the highest intensity of lumens and can have the beam adjusted. This bike light has 5 modes that are activated by long pressing and holding a button. The battery charges at 90% in just 1 and a half hours. If you want it fully charged, you need to keep it plugged for about 3 hours. You can use the light in the highest mode for as long as 1 hour and 15 minutes, while the lowest mode has the battery lasting for more than 5 hours.
This front light from Specialized is durable and waterproof, so you can use it in any weather. More than this, it’s resistant to shocks and high vibrations. It is indeed expensive, but it offers high performance and has a design that makes you stand out in traffic.
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TimeObsidian Bike Light Set
This bike light set from TimeObsidian features a front and a rear light, both made from high-quality materials. These lights use highly efficient LEDs and are resistant to shocks, which makes them perfect for kids and mountain bikes. They allow you to be seen in traffic from long distances, not to mention they guide you in complete darkness. If you want to warn other traffic participants about your presence, you can use them with the flashing modes on. The rear light has 3 modes of functioning, so you’re sure to be noticed by motorists even if it’s foggy.
The lights in the TimeObsidian Bike Light Set don’t have rechargeable batteries, so you’ll have to buy these separately. The good news is that you have a 2-years warranty for these bike lights. More than this, you can always ask for a replacement set if you’re not happy with how one of the lights is working.
Ascher USB Rechargeable Bike Light Set
The USB Rechargeable Bike Light Set from Ascher contains 2 small and very bright LED lights, one for the front and the other one for the rear. You can count on these two lights to make you visible and to show you the way in any weather conditions. They can be charged through USB, and the front light battery lasts for as long as 10 and a half hours in Slow Flashing mode. When it’s used at Full Brightness, you should expect the battery to work for 3 and a half hours. The taillight works for 9 and a half hours in Slow Flashing Mode and 2 and a half hours at Full Brightness.
It’s good to know that Ascher offers assistance if you have problems installing their USB Rechargeable Bike Set. More than this, if you have problems with how one of the lights function, you can ask for a full refund or a replacement.
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Bright Eyes Fully Waterproof 1200 Lumen Rechargeable Bike Headlight
The Fully Waterproof 1200 Lumen Rechargeable Bike Headlight from Bright Eye is very bright and features an external battery pack that can be charged on any USB device. You can be sure to see in the dark with this 1200-lumen light, not to mention motorists will notice you from very far away. Besides, you won’t feel in any way burdened by it when cycling, as it’s very lightweight and has an aerodynamic design. The battery lasts for 4 hours in High mode and 16 hours when used in the Low mode. This bike light is also fully waterproof, so you can use it while it’s raining heavily.
Another great thing about the Bright Eyes Waterproof 1200 Lumen Rechargeable Bike Headlight is that it comes with an equally bright rear light. In fact, you can also adjust the brightness of this additional light, according to the weather conditions and your needs. Made from rubber and available in the color red, the taillight comes with 2 batteries included.
How to Choose the Right Bike Lights?
As soon as you have decided what bike to buy, you need to think about a helmet and of course, your bike lights. If you’re commuting on short distances and very rarely at night, you could opt for a standard filament bulb powered by batteries. However, if you’re passionate about cycling or you need to use your bike during the night, think of buying LED lights that have very high power and rechargeable batteries. LEDs are used by mid to heavy cyclists. Their brightness should depend on the areas that you usually ride your bike. For example, you could decide on lights with higher brightness if you cycle in country areas with poor lighting.
The beam pattern of your bike lights should be adjustable so you can aim it anywhere while on the road. Another thing you should think of when shopping for bike lights is their installation. Some feature very rigid fixings, whereas others have more flexible ones. Besides, your lights should stand vibrations because you may end up on bumpy roads, especially if you’re cycling off-road. Also, make sure you can work on your bike lights while wearing gloves.
Look for something sturdy because you never know when it can happen for you to fall off your bike, so the impact can completely break your lights if you don’t have something durable. The bike lights of your choice should also be waterproof because it can rain while you’re on the road.
Keep in mind the bike lights are good to be used only for at long as the batteries are lasting. Therefore, if you happen to go on a longer journey, bring a spare light or perhaps a spare battery.