News

Oct 30, 2024

Best bike lights 2024 rated and reviewed

A set of the best bike lights will help you see and be seen when cycling at night, if visibility is poor and in bad weather. We have tested more than 500 bike lights and bike light sets over the past

A set of the best bike lights will help you see and be seen when cycling at night, if visibility is poor and in bad weather.

We have tested more than 500 bike lights and bike light sets over the past 17 years, assessing the lights in various real-world conditions and considering factors such as beam pattern, battery life, practicality and value for money.

Following our latest group test, we’ve compiled our top picks of the best bike lights below, splitting them into front, rear and bike light sets. Below that, you can read our buyer’s guide explaining all you need to know when shopping for the best bike lights.

SQUIRREL_PLAYLIST_10105774

Editor's Note: We updated our best bike lights list on 28 October, 2024, with our latest front and rear bike light reviews and awards.

SQUIRREL_TEXT_13115236

The Knog Blinder 1300 is the best overall front bike light on our list and is useful for on- and off-road riding.

Despite the nominally low 1,300-lumen output, the Blinder didn’t feel unpowered, with a powerful central beam and peripheral illumination.

The front light has six modes operated by a single button. The claimed runtimes range from 1hr 30 min at its maximum solid output to 120hrs for eco flash.

Our tester Paul Norman found the light lasted closer to 2hrs in the maximum power mode.

The light uses a clip-in mount design. Its slender profile takes up little space on your handlebar, but it has sharp edges.

Knog includes a GoPro mount but not a USB-C charging cable.

Max lumens: 1,300 | Runtime (max output): 2hrs | Modes: 6 | Weight: 162g

SQUIRREL_13115236

SQUIRREL_TEXT_13083258

The Lezyne Macro Drive 1400+ offers long runtimes in a compact, robust build.

The light beam has a central focus illuminating roads well, and the peripheral illumination helps you see what’s at the edge of your vision.

It charges with a USB-C port and while it’s not as feature-rich as some competitors, it packs a powerful punch.

Max lumens: 1,400 | Runtime (max power): 3hrs | Modes: 7 | Weight: 230g

SQUIRREL_13083258

SQUIRREL_TEXT_13122123

The Magicshine Ray 2600B Smart Remote Bike Light is powerful, with auto-dimming tech and a dual-beam pattern forming a great light for night riding at a competitive price.

It could be considered a gravel bike light, with enough power to illuminate gravel tracks.

The light packs in a lot of tech. You can pair it with a slightly glitchy app to unlock various features and customise the modes. There is also a remote control you can mount to your handlebar for quick changes to brightness.

Max lumens: 2,600 | Runtime (max power): 1hr 15min | Modes: 3 default | Weight: 192g

SQUIRREL_13122123

SQUIRREL_TEXT_13122124

The Volume 1500 is Bookman’s highest-output light. It offers well-thought-out features, a broad spread of light and a reasonable battery life.

It has an on/off button on the top paired with a rotary dial on the side to switch between its modes, which is easier to use than most button controls.

The light beam illuminates the centre of the road ahead, but there’s also a good flood of sideways light.

Our tester Paul found the light ran out of battery after two and a half hours in its highest output mode of 1,500 lumens.

The Volume 1500’s waterproof rating is slightly lower than competitors – possibly because of the rotary dial – and it's pricier and heavier than other lights. But it’s still an appealing option thanks to its ease of use and clean aesthetics.

Max lumens: 1500 | Runtime (max power): 2hrs 30min | Modes: 10 | Weight: 202g

SQUIRREL_13122124

SQUIRREL_TEXT_13091042

The Mk17 Race has now been replaced by the Mk18, but we still rate this older model. It's still an excellent light from the British brand.

It has a typically robust design and delivers a powerful 1,700-lumen beam that's backed up by an impressive battery life.

The clamp is fiddly and the charging cable is proprietary, but otherwise, this is a great light for road and gravel night riding.

Max lumens: 1,700 (2,600 in Reflex mode) | Runtime (max power): 2hrs | Modes: 10 | Weight: 196g

SQUIRREL_13091042

SQUIRREL_TEXT_13122125

Exposure has been making high-performance, high-tech lights in the UK for over a decade.

The Strada has been updated since we reviewed this model, but the older headlight is still packed with great features. It can detect oncoming traffic, which automatically dips the beam – a useful feature with such high output. You can wire in a remote for bar-top control as well.

An LED display on the rear shows residual battery and runtime. The light even detects if you've mounted it above or below the bar and adjusts the beam pattern to the different orientations.

Runtime is around two hours on full power. When it comes time to recharging, Exposure has a proprietary cable.

The setup is fiddly for the alloy mount and the beam patterns, which you select with the light off, meaning you have to go through the process again if you don't like the result.

Max lumens: 1,600 | Runtime (max power): 2hrs | Modes: 4 | Weight: 280g

SQUIRREL_13122125

SQUIRREL_TEXT_13120683

The Magicshine Allty 1500S is billed as a light for urban riding, but it would be well-suited to unlit roads too.

The light comes with some handy accessories, including a remote that you can mount to your handlebar. Unfortunately, a helmet mount isn't included, although you may find the light to be too heavy when mounted on your lid.

This is a shame because the point-focused beam is arguably more suitable for use on a helmet, with a lack of peripheral illumination.

However, its high output, reasonable runtime and swappable battery make it a useful and versatile option.

Max lumens: 1,500 | Runtime (max power): 2hrs | Modes: 6 | Weight: 172g

SQUIRREL_13120683

SQUIRREL_TEXT_13122126

The Moon Rigel Max is a compact front light that feels well built, with its metal case, USB-C charging and single control button.

You can switch easily between the two constant modes to avoid dazzling road users, while a double tap of the light’s button switches you to four flashing modes.

The Rigel Max provides a reasonably good spread of light and peripheral illumination.

On its highest setting, our tester Paul found the battery ran down after roughly 1hr 40min.

Moon provides three mounting options: a top-bar mount, a GoPro under-bar mount and a helmet strap. However, it’s on the heavy side for use on your helmet.

Max lumens: 1,500 | Runtime (max power): 1hr 40min | Modes: 6 | Weight: 150g

SQUIRREL_13122126

SQUIRREL_TEXT_13084635

This budget commuter light is cheap, robust and simple to use, while keeping you seen out on the roads. It's bright enough for use in the city and the rubber strap is permanently affixed to the light's base.

The light charges via Micro-USB and there's even a daytime mode.

Max lumens: 500 | Runtime (max power): 1hr 30min | Modes: 5 | Weight: 83g

SQUIRREL_13084635

SQUIRREL_TEXT_13096055

Its range of features, combined with a generous 1,000-lumen power output, makes the Oxford UltraTorch CL 1000 an impressive option, especially considering it retails at a reasonable £55.

Battery level is indicated by the number of hours remaining, and the light doubles up as a power bank with a USB output – handy for emergency charging of items such as a bike computer or phone.

The waterproof IPX 4 rating will withstand rain splashes, although this is the minimum rating we’d recommend for wet-weather riding.

The light fits securely to the bar with a plastic bracket fixed by a pivot hinge and Allen bolt.

Max lumens: 1,000 | Runtime (max power): 1hr 30min | Modes: 8 | Weight: 219g

SQUIRREL_13096055

SQUIRREL_TEXT_13083492

Lezyne's latest update to the Strip Drive sees a flashing output of up to 400 lumens, a longer battery life and improved optics. Seven modes include two always-on, a pulse and four flashing options. Claimed battery life is between 5.5 and 80 hours.

A long press turns the light on and subsequent presses cycle through the seven modes. A memory function saves you some work the next time you switch the light on. It's powerful when needed and frugal too.

Max lumens: 400 | Runtime (claimed): 5.5hrs | Modes: 7 | Weight: 79g

SQUIRREL_13083492

SQUIRREL_TEXT_13085006

Cateye's Viz450 packs a punch in a compact unit. There are four modes to choose from, with the 'HyperFlash' option activating all five of the light's LEDs, delivering 450-lumen bursts.

This feature worked well in day and night settings, certainly grabbing road users' attention, but it might not be the most pleasant experience for a driver behind you in an urban setting.

You can mount the light horizontally or vertically, which is perfect if you don't have a lot of seatpost real estate.

The light uses a Micro-USB standard for charging – a move to USB-C would be wise in a future update.

Max lumens: 450 | Runtime: 5hrs (40-lumen) | Modes: 4 | Weight: 72g

SQUIRREL_13085006

SQUIRREL_TEXT_13122131

The Exposure Blaze Mk3 Reakt + Peloton impresses with a focused spot of light and premium construction.

The modes are set on a program menu system – with only one button to navigate it, it can get confusing at times, but our tester Ashley Quinlan got used to it.

The three standard programs offer high, medium and low outputs. Once you’ve selected the level that suits your needs, you can then toggle between a static and ‘pulse’ flash mode.

On top of this, the Reakt mode combines a brake and ambient light sensor. Slow down and it will switch to 150 lumens. Move into brighter light and the Blaze will brighten its output.

Peloton mode dims the light when it senses a light behind to avoid dazzling other riders.

The bracket is well-designed, staying fast to the seatpost and clasping the distinctive light body firmly.

The proprietary pin-based charge port is a small annoyance in a world fast moving to USB-C.

Max lumens: 150 | Runtime: up to 48hrs | Weight: 91g

SQUIRREL_13122131

SQUIRREL_TEXT_13092588

The Knog Blinder has a large illuminated surface thanks to an array of COB LEDs plus a single larger strobe LED. There are nine modes to choose from, with runtimes between 2.5 hours and 50 hours.

Fortunately, there's a memory function, so the light turns on with your preferred illumination pattern.

The design includes an exposed USB connector. We'd have felt happier if this was covered to avoid potential corrosion. Otherwise, it's a quality package with plenty of light output.

Max lumens: 150 | Runtime (claimed): 50hrs | Modes: 9 | Weight: 43g

SQUIRREL_13092588

SQUIRREL_TEXT_13095586

Top of Lezyne's six-model Strip Drive range, the Alert 300 packs in a shockingly bright 300 lumens. The Alert function uses an accelerometer to up the light's brightness when you slow down and the lens pattern gives 270-degree visibility.

There are five modes, including two constant and three flashing options. Runtimes are good, but Alert (which can't be switched off) results in variable battery life, which can be appreciably lower in stop-start traffic than on a steady ride.

Max lumens: 300 | Runtime (max power): 6hrs (35 lumens) | Modes: 5 | Weight: 65g

SQUIRREL_13095586

SQUIRREL_TEXT_13122132

The Moon Helix Sense 450 has a wealth of features that can be baffling. But once you’ve found your preferred settings, it’s an excellent taillight.

It is almost identical to the Helix Max, in terms of features and looks, but it has an additional brake-sensing function and an increased power output of 450 lumens.

The instructions are a little confusing compared to the average, and there’s only one button to cycle through the settings.

In daylight, the light switches automatically into its brightest daytime flash mode. When dark, it operates in your chosen setting. The brake function is always on and temporarily makes the light shine statically before returning to the chosen mode.

The light comes with a secure seatpost clamp and a saddle rail mount with quarter-turn engagement. A USB-A to USB-C cable is included.

Max lumens: 450 | Run time: up to 10hrs | Modes: 5 | Weight: 54g

SQUIRREL_13122132

SQUIRREL_TEXT_13115920

The Oxford UltraTorch R75 rear light is a fantastically capable performer, especially when you consider its £30 price tag.

The rear light has a long runtime and is impressively bright. The shape of the light means its beam spills out from the sides, which will prove particularly valuable if you're commuting through busy city streets.

Max lumens: 75 | Runtime (max power): 2hrs 15min | Modes: 4 | Weight: 50g

SQUIRREL_13115920

SQUIRREL_TEXT_13122134

The Ravemen TR200 is a powerful rear light with an effective brake function.

Although it’s not as bright as the Raveman TR500, the 200-lumen output is more than enough when the ‘Warning Flash’ mode is engaged, and the unit is much smaller.

The brake function is reliable and operates using an internal accelerometer, brightening the light to a static 100-lumen output while slowing down.

There is also an auto on/off mode, which turns the light off when no motion is detected after two minutes. Sometimes, it restarts with really small movements, but this is a small niggle.

The band-on bracket is well designed, compensating for seatpost angle, and the clip-on function makes the light suitable for use on backpacks featuring tabs.

A USB-A to USB-C cable is supplied.

Max lumens: 200 | Runtime: Up to 26hrs | Modes: 6 | Weight: 64g

SQUIRREL_13122134

SQUIRREL_TEXT_13096175

Sigma's Buster RL 150 is a compact unit and mounts via a simple, flexible silicone mount. There are two solid and three flashing modes.

A built-in accelerator mode detects when you are slowing down and increases the brightness of the light.

The light lives up to its four-hour claimed runtime, although our tester found it defaulted to a lower-lumen mode after three hours.

It'll fit onto most seatposts, but the design doesn't allow much adjustment.

Max lumens: 150 | Runtime (max power): 4hrs | Modes: 5 | Weight: 38g

SQUIRREL_13096175

SQUIRREL_TEXT_13108555

The Topeak Taillux 100 is a bright rear light with a decent runtime. It lasted 2.5 hours in its 100-lumen mode, but our tester eked out 10 hours using the mode that alternates between blinking and constant.

It might not have any clever tech, but this is a lightweight, reliable and good-value light, which makes it a compelling option.

Max lumens: 100 | Runtime (max output): 2hrs 30min | Modes: 4 | Weight: 36g

SQUIRREL_13108555

SQUIRREL_TEXT_13111571

These cube-shaped Bontrager lights are compact, but the front still puts out 200 lumens and the rear 90 lumens, with both lights offering flashing, constant and constant/flashing modes.

Each has an ambient light sensor to adjust brightness and you can hook them up via ANT+ with a Garmin cycle computer for auto-on when you start to ride and to swap between modes.

Runtimes are good for such compact units and we got just under 1.5 hours for the front and 4.5 hours for the rear. The lights switch automatically to a lower output to preserve battery and give you roughly an additional 30 minutes of runtime.

Max lumens: 200 (front) / 90 (rear) | Runtime (max power): 1hr 26mins (front) / 4hrs 18mins (rear) | Weight: 65g (pair)

SQUIRREL_13111571

We spend hours cycling in the dark to test the real-world performance of bike lights. We assess their beam power, the bike light brackets, battery life, charge time and general user experience.

We always consider value for money when reaching their verdicts – sometimes the cheapest light isn’t the best value, while the most feature-packed or powerful might not be the best overall.

Any bike light in this list is worth considering and many options will suit your specific needs.

When choosing our top recommendations, though, the decision comes down to our overall impression of the light’s performance, functionality, ease of use and value. Only the standout candidates are selected.

Of course, if you have specific needs or features that you prioritise, you can find those in the pros and cons lists, as well as click through to read our full in-depth reviews.

We keep this list updated as and when we test new lights that score highly enough, and remove old lights once they stop being widely available to buy from retailers.

BikeRadar has been an authority on bikes and cycling tech since its inception in 2007, delivering the world’s best riding advice.

We have experts testing all types of bikes, parts, clothing and accessories, from road, mountain and gravel bikes to commuting, bikepacking and electric bikes.

Our reviews are always editorially independent – with no exceptions. Our reviewers comprehensively test all products in the real world, always reflecting on performance, value and the wider market when delivering their verdicts and review ratings.

We have more than 15,000 product reviews available at your fingertips, as well as expert buying, maintenance, training, skills, health and fitness advice.

Our annual Bike of the Year test is an industry benchmark and the BikeRadar team consists of some of the most experienced riders and testers in the business.

Regardless of whether you’re looking to buy a specialist bike light or a set of lights for commuting, there are five main things to consider when buying cycling lights:

The best bicycle lights use LEDs and can be extremely bright, with some front lights capable of emitting over 2,000 lumens and rear lights emitting over 300 lumens. For context, a 100W incandescent light bulb emits roughly 1,600 lumens.

The reality is it’s unlikely you need your bike light to be this bright.

A front bike light with 200 lumens should be sufficient to be seen on lit urban roads, but 300 lumens will illuminate some of the roads in front of you.

We suggest a front light with a minimum of 600 lumens for riding on unlit roads, but one with 1,000+ lumens is a good bet if you’re riding over tricky terrain or at high speeds.

A rear light with 20 to 100 lumens is a good bet. Brighter rear lights would be suitable for use in the daytime.

We test the battery life of all lights we review, running them on their maximum power output to see how long they last.

Bike lights have different modes and typically run through the battery quickest in the maximum power output mode. That means the runtimes quoted in this list will likely be the minimum time a light’s battery will last.

You may need the highest power output when riding off-road, where there are more obstacles. But a lower power mode will often be sufficient and your eyes will adjust to the dimmer light level.

Flashing lights will give you the longest battery life and are ideal for visibility, particularly when riding in the daytime.

Some lights will reduce their output as the battery begins to run down to extend battery life.

Many of the best cycling lights for road riding and commuting will have internal batteries that you charge via a cable or in-built USB connector.

A greater runtime will typically mean a larger battery and therefore a larger light. If you’re using lights for commuting, you may want a smaller light to stuff into your bag, but you may have to charge it more often.

A light with a longer battery life will be essential if you ride on unlit roads or go on long rides at night.

Bike lights typically attach to your bike with band or solid mounts.

Band mounts, made from rubber or silicone, are typically used on smaller bike lights. These bands loop around your handlebar or seatposts. They are quick and easy to attach to your bike or remove. The downside is they can move when you ride over rough ground.

Larger lights typically use solid plastic or metal mounting systems, which clip onto your bike or are secured with bolts. These are much more secure than band mounts but can be fiddly.

Whichever mounting option you choose, your bike lights should be visible to other road users and your front light illuminates the road.

According to the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations, it’s a legal requirement in the United Kingdom to have lights on your bike and pedal and rear reflectors after sunset.

The lights must be mounted up to 150cm off the ground and be facing forward or rearward.

Front and rear lights can be flashing but must emit a minimum of 4 candelas, another light intensity unit. A candela is roughly equivalent to 12 lumens, so you can rest assured modern bike lights will comfortably exceed the minimum.

US bike light laws vary state by state. But typically you must have the following between sunset and sunrise or in low light conditions:

Some states also require side reflectors.

Beam pattern is arguably more important than brightness for seeing and being seen on the road.

Many of the best cycling lights will have reflectors or lens elements that alter the distribution of the light, so it’s either focused, wide or a combination of both.

A highly focused beam will emit light over a long range. This is good for lighting the road in font of you and fast riding, where you need to see further up the road.

A wider beam pattern is a good choice for country roads and seeing the side of the road. Wide beam patterns will make it easier for other road users to see you from a greater angle.

Dynamo bike lights rely on the power of a generator hub built into the front wheel, which turns rotational energy into electricity.

These lights are common on bike-share bikes and popular on town and touring bikes because they will never run out of charge.

Dynamo-powered headlights can emit over 700 lumens which is more than enough power for cycling at night on urban or unlit roads.

Most dynamo lights will have a capacitor or small battery to stay illuminated after you stop.

The downside to dynamo lights is that they can be expensive and complicated to set up. But if you want to never worry about chagrin, then it’s worth considering dynamo lights.

StVZO bike lights conform to German Road Traffic Licensing Regulations, with beam patterns shaped to avoid dazzling other road users.

You don't need to use StVZO-approved lights anywhere other than Germany, but an StVZO light could be a good idea if you ride solely on the road.

The narrow beam of StVZO lights might not suit mountain bikers or bikepackers cycling at night, but more StVZO light options are becoming available that let you change between high and low beams to get around this issue.

Smart bike lights pack intelligent features that will interact with other smart devices to act as motion-sensing warning systems or respond to what’s happening on the road.

The See.Sense Icon is one example of a smart bicycle light. The intelligent rear light will flash faster and brighter when drivers approach and at junctions. It will also send your smartphone a notification if someone tries to steal your bike.

Another example of a smart bike light is the Garmin Varia. The Varia will interact with your Garmin Edge bike computer to project light further ahead as your speed increases and, like the Icon, as drivers approach the rear light gets brighter.

Smart bike lights tend to be a pricier investment and require more effort to set up, but they’re worth considering if safety is your top priority.

Rearview radar bike lights are smart lights that alert you to vehicles approaching you from behind.

These lights emit a signal which bounces off objects behind you before being collected and analysed by a detector to establish whether a vehicle is approaching you.

When a vehicle is detected, a radar bike light will send a signal to a connected smart device, such as a smartphone, cycling computer or smartwatch.

These lights can prove useful especially when cycling in the daytime, where you won’t see a driver’s headlights, or when riding quickly and wind noise can make it hard to detect a vehicle.

The Garmin Varia RCT715 is a radar bike light with an in-built camera that will save video clips if it detects an incident such as a crash.

These systems aren’t faultless and you can’t assume that no alert means there’s nothing behind you.

If you're looking for a set of the best cycling lights for gravel riding there are several things to consider.

A gravel bike light should be more powerful than a road bike light to illuminate unlit trails and gravel paths, but you probably won't need something as powerful as a mountain bike light.

We'd recommend a front light with a minimum of 600 lumens but you’ll probably want one with over 1,000 lumens. You may prefer a gravel bike light with more power than this if you prefer technical gravel riding and taking your bike down singletrack.

A rear light for gravel riding should also be powerful. Riding on dark roads will mean your rear light has to do more to keep you safe and seen.

The lights in this list focus on road riding, but if you spend more time riding off-road, check out our pick of the best mountain bike lights.

Mountain bike lights typically have a wider beam pattern than road or commuting bike lights to illuminate more of the trail and often come with external battery packs.

If the lights in this list are over your budget, check out our pick of the best budget bike lights. These often compromise on battery life or power, but will still serve you well cycling to work.