If you commute to work on a bicycle, you will want to have the proper safety equipment. This includes a helmet, reflectors and bicycle lights. Lights are arguably the most important as it alerts other motor vehicle drivers to know that you are there, especially when there are not enough lights to sufficiently light up the road. Riding in the night is one example to have good commuter bike lights.
There are many bike light offerings in the market right now. There are two significant advancements in bike light technology currently available. Bike lights now have LED lamps that produce more lights than the traditional halogen or metal-halide bulbs. Another new technology incorporated in bike lights is the batteries. The bike light uses lithium batteries that pack more power in a much smaller package. Look no further as we have compiled the best bike lights for commuting that’s reliable and bright for your everyday use.
Best Bike Lights for Commuting
Cycling to and from work is becoming an increasingly popular practice these days. There are a lot of key reasons for this. Commuting to work on your bike is a great way to save money on fuel costs while also getting a great workout in at the same time. Commuting on your bike is also an environmentally friendly practice. This is a major motivation for many cyclists as more people around the world start to take seriously the concept of minimizing their carbon footprint. Beyond this, many cyclists simply enjoy riding their bikes to work. For many cyclists, riding to work on their bikes serves as a great way to mentally prepare for the day that is ahead of them.
Given the fact that many commuters are riding their bikes into work in the early morning, or after dusk, it is important to have reliable lights that help drivers and fellow cyclists to easily see them. If you are riding during the dead of night, the importance of having a reliable bike light becomes even more pronounced. Your bike’s lights help you to both see and they help others who are using the road to see you. With these points made, it is important to look into how to find the best bike lights for commuting.
It is important to note that there are two different kinds of bike lights on the market. The first type is lights that are designed to make you visible to drivers on the road. These are generally your rear or tail lights. The other type is front lights. These lights can also help to make you more visible to traffic on the road, but their primary purpose is to help you see the road ahead. Many lights that are designed primarily for visibility purposes are not bright enough to illuminate the road in front of you. Some of the key things that you need to consider when purchasing a quality bike light include:
- Available lighting modes (Flashing and constant are the standard options)
- Cost of the light
- Type of mount that the light utilizes
- Battery and battery life
- Lumens
Vont ‘Pyro’ Bike Light Set, USB Rechargeable, Super Bright Bicycle Light
Vont’s Pyro Bike Light Set is one of the best bike lights for the money. It has exceptionally brilliant LEDs specifically designed for the biker’s visibility, so the rider can see and be seen in the dark. Coming in at just under $$, you have a complete set of lighting. With front and tail lights featuring four light modes, you can easily switch between low, high, slow, or fast flashing, all in one click. The batteries can last for 10+ hours, and the light can withstand splashes and heavy downpours since it has an IPX4 waterproof rating. It’s super lightweight yet can endure nature’s beatings with its aircraft-grade quality. The straps are included and sturdy enough to hold the lights and illuminate your bumpy rides. It also has a 1-year warranty, but you can upgrade to a lifetime warranty, so your lights can be covered for life.
Blackburn Dayblazer Front and Rear Bike Light Set
If you want a reliable and straightforward bike light for commuting, then the Blackburn Dayblazer is an excellent choice. It has rubber-strap attachments that won’t scratch your bike and is secure enough not to make the lights fall. The bike light keeps you safe even in the darkest roads with its powerful light. You can mount the bike light to any handlebar and helmets. The beam of the bike light set is wide enough to be used even in very dark roads. It has a good design as well. The body of the bike light is an all-metal construction. You don’t have to worry about using the bike light whenever it’s raining as it has an IP67 waterproof rating. The Blackburn brand is also known for reliability so you can never go wrong in choosing bike lights from this brand. It has a lifetime warranty, so be assured that it will last for a long time.
Cygolite Hotrod Front Light and Tail Light Bike Light Set
For those who usually bike rides on well-lit streets, the Cygolite Hotrod bike light set lets you ride safe wherever you are. It’s low-priced costing less than the usual single bike headlight. This bike light set won’t adequately light up the road in front of you, but it does make sure that it will make your presence great on the road. It will make you highly visible from every angle all the time even in the day. It has a high-intensity brightness which can make other road users see you even from afar. The bike lights have a flashing mode feature which increases the awareness of motorist awareness whenever they’re near you. The array of the LEDs used in the Cygolite Hotrod is extra wide and is far-reaching so that even in busy roads, you are easily visible, increasing safeness when cycling.
Light and Motion Urban 700 Front Bicycle Headlight
The Urban 700 Bicycle headlight provides a powerful light in a light and small body. It only weighs 113 grams and has 700 Lumens which is more than enough for your daily commute. An excellent light output provides a well-lit view of the road in front of you. It mounts easily on the handlebar as well. The bike light’s mounting strap can be tool-free tightened based on your preference. The strap is compatible with oversized or traditional standard-sized handlebars. You can also mount it on your helmet as a helmet mount for the bike light is included. It has a custom engineered reflector that optimizes the light to provide the most effective lighting for your daily commute. A lightweight aluminium body also makes sure it is durable enough to withstand daily abuse. The bike light can be recharged easily via the micro USB cable and fully charges in just 5.5 hours. The Light and Motion brand assures you that this will last for a long time as it has a 2-year warranty. Have a reliable and powerful bike light wherever you are.
LEZYNE Femto Drive LED Light
If you’re looking for a practical and light bike light that you can just be left strapped on your bike, the LENZYNE Femto Drive is a fantastic choice. It has an Ultra-compact body design that can also be inside your bag conveniently during commutes. The 15 lumen is enough for other road users to be alert when you’re near them, especially in the night. The front light has 15 lumens while the rear light has only 7 lumens. It both has two output and flash options. The power source of the bike lights comes from two CR2032 which is replaceable and is readily available in any convenience stores. The side visibility lens provides 180 degrees of visibility which is excellent for night cycling. The solid aluminium body of these bike lights are weather and water-resistant and ensures reliable lighting in your everyday use.
Cygolite Metro Plus Bike Light
Some of our reviewers at Pedalsteady love the Cygolite Metro Plus. The Metro series is one of the best choices when looking for a reliable and bright bike light. They’re one of the best bike light picks since 2013 which proves that you can never go wrong in choosing this headlight. It has fantastic brightness levels, varied lighting modes, wide beam angle. Solid reliability and also comes at an affordable price. You can even use it when it’s raining as it has an IP67 waterproof rating. The Cygolite Metro plus has a redesigned mounts, so it’s easier to install on your bike. This feature is excellent if you want to have light stores in your bag for backup purposes. You don’t need any tools for it to be mounted. You can charge it via a micro-USB port which is an upgraded from the previous version that uses a mini-USB port. The light can reach by up to 800 lumens which are enough to light up very dark roads. It is backed up by Cygolite’s 1-year warranty which is not that great based on its competitors, but the repairs are easy and affordable with many parts available for it.
How Many Lumens Do You Need for a Bike Light?
The topic of lumens is one of the most important things that you need to understand when looking for the best bike lights for commuting. A lumen is a measure of the amount of visible light put out by a light source. To put it simply, the higher the lumens, the brighter a light appears to the human eye.
One of the most common questions that commuting cyclists have is how many lumens does their bike light require to be effective. The answer to this question will depend on the type of cycling that one is doing. It is also important to note that your front light needs to put out more lumens than your rear light. This is because tail lights are designed to help you stay visible to others that are on the road while your front light helps to illuminate your path.
For mountain bikers that are hitting rugged trails while it is dark, at least 600 to 1000 lumens are required and many people choose a light that puts out 1500 lumens. Commuters do not require as many lumens on their bike light for it to be effective. If you commute on well-lit streets then a lumen count of anywhere from 100 to 200 will generally be sufficient. If you are riding on rural roads during dark hours, it is advisable to have a light that puts out at least 400 lumens and many cyclists prefer to go up to a count of 600.
What Is the Best Bike Light for Riding?
Commuters that are looking for the best bike light for riding should consider the Cygolite Metro Plus 800 USB. There is a lot to love about this high-quality headlight. It is an affordable option that offers a powerful light beam. This light is durable and waterproof and also has a quick-release mount.
In terms of the best tail lights for riding, the Cygolite Hotrod 50 consistently ranks at the top of its class among rear lights used by today’s commuting cyclists. This tail light includes twenty LED lights that help to provide you with great visibility while commuting during dark hours. It is also an affordable option and is easy to mount anywhere on your bike.
What Is the Best Front Light for a Bike?
Purchasing a quality front light for your bike can help you to see while you cycle into work or home from work during dark hours. It can also help to provide you with additional visibility. At the top of the current list of quality front bike lights on the market is the Cycliq Fly12. This high-quality light has some great features that include:
- Internal battery
- Go-Pro style mount
- Built-in camera
- Lumens – 600
These features help to make this front bike light an integral part of any setup designed for those workday commutes. The built-in camera provides a 135-degree field of view. This is a feature that you will not find in any other front bike light currently on the market.
How Many Lumens Do I Need to Ride a Bike at Night?
We now return to the important topic of lumens. Cyclists who are searching for the best bike lights for commuting want to know how many lumens they need if they are going to be riding at night. If you are cycling at night, you are going to want to have both a front light and a tail light.
Generally speaking, 500 lumens is recommended for use on a front light if you are cycling at night. This should generally be paired up with a tail light that puts out at least 100 lumens. You need the extra lumens with your front light as it is designed to help you see where you are going. 100 lumens will generally be sufficient to ensure that drivers on the road and other cyclists can see you from the rear of your bike.