Best bike lights 2025 rated and reviewed

Those eagle eyed amongst you will have noticed that there are no dynamo lights here. If you’re unfamiliar, a dynamo light derives its power not from a battery, but from the rotation of the front wheel, so as long as you’re moving, you have light. They are rather more complicated, and so for ease they haven’t been added here so as to avoid any unnecessary confusion. Like the Blinder Rear I found the direct USB connection to be a bit of a pain, and in a world where most lights can be charged by plugging into a USB-C lead from a laptop the Cobber is less convenient. You won’t ever lose the cable, but if you’re like me you’ve got about 10,000 random USB-C cables in a drawer already. If you’re wearing one of the best cycling backpacks you could clip auxiliary lights to the sides, but you could also use the Knog Mid Cobber (a smaller Lil Cobber and taller Big Cobber are also available).

What we looked for when deciding which headlights to test

A memory function saves you some work the next time you switch the light on. 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. 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.

NiteRider has gained a reputation for making some of the most durable, practical, and long-lasting lights, and the set comprised of the Lumina front light with the Sabre rear light is a formidable combination. If you’re looking for a set of the bike lights best cycling lights for gravel riding there are several things to consider. 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. This is good for lighting the road in font of you and fast riding, where you need to see further up 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.

This is a better option that opens up far more mounting possibilities. The light auto adjusts to ambient light conditions too, optimizing your lumen output for the light around you. The Hotshot Pro 200C does push out some light to the sides for some side visibility, but it’s not as focused or as bright as other options in our test.

The combination of the two ensures you’re seen from the front and the rear, even in daylight. But you won’t get much visibility from the sides; just from the direct front and rear. Given that this light has Trail in its name, it seems it would be marketed specifically to mountain bikers. But the mount only accommodates handlebars up to 31.8mm; most modern mountain bikes have transitioned to 35mm bars.

Our staff includes former bike racers, recreational cyclists, folks who bike-commute 60 miles a week, and everyone in between — people who care about fit, finish, and function in every product we use. For a few more dollars, you can upgrade to our best budget pick, the Cygolite Dash, and get significantly more output and much better visibility. But, if you are looking for a stylish little light on a budget, and you just need something to help you see and be seen, the Thousand Traveler is worth a look. Recently Light and Motion added a second light — the  Trail, to the Vis Pro 100 lineup.

For riders commuting long distances (say, more than 10 miles), that combination provides enough time—and light—to safely get to work or school and home again. Its machined-aluminum body is waterproof, and it has cooling fins to disperse the (substantial) heat the light generates. However, I have a long commute on rural roads, and I often start or end my ride in the dark. Riders with similar commutes need a very bright light that can switch into lower modes once the sun has risen and they’ve reached busier streets.

Knog PWR Trail 1100L

But this guide’s focus remains on commuter bike lights, to help you see and be seen in a typical urban setting. Unlike most taillights I tested, the Blinder V is waterproof—a compelling feature for foul-weather commuters. However, the Blinder V attaches via a single silicone band, and it feels flimsy compared with the Hotrod 120’s wider, stiffer elastomer mounting strap. The Knog Big Cobber LED Twinpack isn’t a set of multi-colored, rear-mounted lights.

Not that it comes on all too regularly, but the light also features a low battery light in the function button so you can see when a charge is needed. The band clamp system for the mount is really neat in how it accommodates all handlebar diameters without the need for rubber shims – which seem to invariably get lost. But the need for an Allen key and its fiddly nature means that this isn’t so easy to swap between bikes. On the other hand, it uses the same quarter-turn mount as a Garmin, so can be popped onto one of those mounts which is neat. This model comes with Exposure’s AKTiv tech, which automatically dims the light when faced with oncoming traffic.

It pairs to your Garmin head unit or to your smartphone, giving you notice when a car is approaching so you can make better road positioning decisions. The handlebar mount is rock-solid, largely because you need to bolt it on with an Allen key. You can mount the Fly12 on top of your bars or underneath, but once it’s set in place, adjustments require tools.

Despite its tiny size, the Flare RT manages to pump out a strong beam of light that Bontrager says is visible for up to 2 kilometers. Still, for the price, it’s hard to beat this small and convenient light. With its solid mounting system and small, versatile design, it’s a worthy purchase, especially if your budget is limited. The Varia from Garmin feels more like a rear radar that happens to have a light integrated into it. The radar itself alerts you to vehicles approaching from your rear with visual and audible alerts.