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If you need some help before you buy, read our Lights - Front buyers guide. It’s packed with useful info to help you make the best decision.
Running on regular AA batteries, the EL530 from CATEYE is a bright little handlebar mounted beastie. Out on the street it gives a fairly tight spot of light, which offers a good amount of visibility due to the brightness, and would be useful for ring on ulit roads too...It has an easy-to-fit mount that owrks incredibly well and will even fit happily onto wing-shaped bars, with head unit being adjustable by twisting sideways, as well as the mount, allowing vertical adjustment. The head-unit is alos easy to remove by pressing the release button underneath, which is large enough that you could do it with gloves on. We got about eight hours of constant brightness from it on fresh batteries, with the light output decreasing a little then stabilising for the next 94 hours. And no, that's not a typing mistake.
One of the best AA battery self-contained lights available on the market
Small but bright from all angles and with a simple tool-free mount that works well. Powered by two AA batteries this light gave well in excess of Cateye's claimed run times of 80 hours constant and 320 hours flashing (we recorded 91 and 328).The LEDs are set forwards in the open lens design, making the impressive light output for such a small unit really stand out from the side and obtuse angles, and although it's not bright enough to ride with on dark roads at speed, this is a cracking little light to be seen with. When you power up the unit it starts in flashing mode so that when your batteries are running low you do not need to cycle through the full power setting first, resulting in a light that will at least flash to get you home on virtually flat batteries.
Typical Cateye - well made, functional, well thought out and affordable
There are several things about this light that make it very good. It's small. it has a good mounting (a band capable of fitting nearly anywhere you like, it runs for ages on two AA batteries, it's weatherproof and it costs under £20. For being seen, this is a great little unit, but it's not that great for seeing where you are going. Then again, it is clearly not intended for that kind of use. The first mode when turned on is flashing, making it legal, and the second mode is constant. By far the best aspect of the light is how visible it is from the side. The LED's are quite far forward in the reflector, making it more noticeable because it's more than bright enough to attract attention. Of all the lights on test this is by far the best as regards visibility form obtuse angles.
For being seen, this is a wonderful light, and the price is fantastic.
Two 1 WATT LEDs face backwards against the reflector in this unit, and the light and beam pattern it gives out are very good with quite good side visibility too thanks to the small light-spill windows.Switching on is always in flashing mode first, you can then cycle through to high and low power modes via the sealed rubber covered switch at the rear. The mounting will fit almost anything, and the whole light, charger, mounting and performance lives up to Cateye's deserved reputation. We've had a production one of these for over a year now, we've abused it, and it still kicks out nearly the same burn times and has never gone wrong.
Offering dependable quality and a handy amount of power
The aptly named Frog Lights from the slightly leftfield company Knog are simply a safety LED but with the Knog touch. Bearing a passing similarity to real frogs when they are mounted to the bike, the silicon body is easy to fit. The stretchy hoop simply stretches around the bars or seatpost and hooks around a small tab. The functional part of the light is also easy to slip in and out of the body to replace batteries, but so far they have run throughout the winter with no problems. Getting to the most important part, brightness, the super-bright LED's are just that, bright and with a solid or flashing mode they work a treat and without fault.
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Emergency or 'just get me home legally' LED lights have been around for a while now and while most consist of single LEDs (one in white, one in red) Knog do things a little differently.The first thing you notice is an organic quality to the outer. It's soft edged and rounded (more scallop than frog in the white version). Secondly, the colours. They come in a full rainbow selection for bike pimpin'. Thirdly, you notice the nice simple way they clamp round the bars... or your seat post, rucksack, little finger...Essentially you have a short loop of very stretchy rubber which is molded as part of the main, equally stretchy, soft body of the light. You stretch this loop around post/bar/pannier and attach to a simple hook that holds the light in place.
Output-wise they don't work any better or worse than any other single LED light but they do have a certain friendly something that makes them stand out. Design-wise they're a nice solution to the ever changing shapes of our bikes.
Four power settings in constant mode and a ?ashing mode that seemingly lasts for weeks makes this a versatile little light unit.Running on four AA batteries, and with a range of mountings that makes it a doddle to fit almost anywhere, this CNC-machined alloy front light is well sealed and certainly packs a punch.The beam is easily good enough for riding at speed, although the light tends to dazzle a little when viewed from the front. It offers reasonable side visibility too.The functions, the quality of the light and the mountings make this a strong contender for the top spot, but a better beam control for dazzle reduction would be most welcome.
A versatile and long lasting light, but it's a bit of a dazzler
Forget ordinary batteries, this needs some seriously powerful rechargeables, ideally 2700mAh. But once they're loaded, this is like having a small searchlight with you on your bike.A fantastic round beam is easily bright enough for unlit roads. The run time quoted is at full power, but four lower power outputs still provide more than enough light and will increase battery life.Make sure you carry a spare set of charged batteries and, if you do, this serious piece of kit won't let you down. It's expensive, but it's worth the extra cash.
Like having a searchlight, it's a fantastically bright, tough and durable commuting option
A neat unit, if a little on the bulky side, which oozes quality of engineering and materials. A single button on the top cycles through the power settings, and when on high it is more than capable of mixing in a little light off road with your commute.A feature unique in this test is the Vision 1's batteries (not supplied). This allows you to use your own choice of rechargeables, carry a set of spares for extended run time, buy some alkalines from a handy shop if you are caught out and, importantly, never have to replace an expensive lithium ion battery pack when it wears out.Despite coming with a helmet mount, this is far more suited to the bars with its excellent QR clamp.
High performance front light for the Commuter
Hope's new light for night riders and commuters is the Vision 4 LED. With its super-strong illumination and impressive performance, it's sure to be a winner. Read the full review here
Tough, super useable trail light, and an outstanding price, too
Lancashire-based Hope's twin lamp isn't the most powerful out there but makes up for it in versatility and value. The head uses a simple but effective cam quick-release as standard but there's a stem plate mounted version too. Hope include a helmet mount and extension lead, and new connectors make them impressively weatherproof.The twin LEDs give a decent spread of light for overall awareness on tighter, slower trails and the big back-of-light switch is easy to find. The four different power settings are useful for prolonging rides beyond the relatively short two-hour minimum. The lightset lacks punch and range at higher speeds compared to others though, and there's no indicator to keep track of current brightness or remaining time.
Decent value, compact bar or helmet lamp, but short on run time and reach
The evenings are beautifully long right now, ideal for getting in some after-work rides or weekend all-dayers. These new Knog lights are perfect for sticking on for a bit of illumination insurance should you over-run the sun.The fully sealed 2 LED Beetle front light clips around standard or oversize bars and it'll even grab most aeros OK. It's not something you can see by at speed, but at least cars will know you're coming.
Simple, stylish, easy-to-fit dusk insurance
Niterider's MiNewt 600 cordless is a compact and elegant light that packs plenty of punch, and is small enough - just - to go on your helmet as well as your bars. With good build quality and a super-simple clamp, it's a very good option for all your riding, so long as you don't want to pull an all-nighter.In the box you get the light itself, along with bar and helmet mounts and a charger. A word about the bar clamp first off. On the one hand the ratchet design means it's a piece of cake to fit to almost any bar, so that's good. On the other, without the mechanical advantage of a screw thread you're relying on your iron grip to get the thing tight. You might need to ask a grown-up.Once mounted and charged and let loose in the dark, it's immediately obvious that full power is more than enough light than you need for most road riding, save flinging yourself down a steep descent. I had the light on low power for most of its hours on the tarmac, only switching up for MTB fun in the woods. The beam pattern is just about right, centre weighted with enough peripheral illumination to spot hazards or turns at the side of the road. There's no side visibility on the light unit, so best to use it in conjunction with a flasher around town.Off road the light makes a great helmet unit, and the mount is simple to fit. At over 200g it's a little on the big side for longer stints on top of your head; you start to feel the extra weight after an hour or so and you might need to ratchet your helmet retention system in a notch or two to stop it moving your lid around on the bumpy stuff. On road you can use it on your helmet too, but there's less need to point the light where you're not directly going.Build quality is excellent: the light feels well put together and solid. It's not rated as fully waterproof by Niterider but we've taken this light and its predecessors out in all conditions with no trouble. Make sure you keep the USB charge port cover closed in the wet though; it's easy to forget when you unplug it. We haven't had the cover open on its own. Being USB compatible also means the Niterider can be charged from your computer, which is a bonus if you're using it for a commute.The three power modes throw out a claimed 275, 400 and 600 lumens respectively and our run time tests confirmed the battery life as an hour and a half on full beam, and close to five on low. There's a 'walk' mode (40 lumens) which is useful if you run out of juice as it'll give you a few more hours of at least being seen, if not seeing. There's also a 'daylight flash' mode which is full-power flashing; best to save that for the daylight and it will get you seen. Those two modes are accessible by pressing and holding the power button, otherwise you just toggle through the other three. The internal battery is a 2900mAh 18650 cell which are fairly easy to find (about £20 online) and replacing it when it does eventually die is simply a case of undoing the three case screws and slotting a new one in.In terms of comparable lights, it's a very similar output and beam pattern to the Moon X-Power 500 which is a touch cheaper. It's a bit more powerful than the Light and Motion Urban 300, at £120 the same price as the Moon, but that light scores the best side illumination of any we've tested. The build quality of the Niterider is worth paying a premium for, in my opinion. Given its performance and versatility, it's one to recommend.The MiNewt is warrantied for life on all the mechanical bits with two years on the electrics. The battery is warrantied for 180 days.
Very good all round light that can be bar or helmet mounted and puts out enough illumination for the tarmac and the trails
The Exposure Strada is a serious light for road riding, putting in a strong performance across the board, it's a serious price too, but one that's justified if you do a lot of road riding out beyond the street lights.The main beam is among the best we've tested. The centre of the beam isn't the very brightest so you don't get as much punch straight ahead as you do with Lumicycle's LED4si, for example, but you still get plenty of illumination. I could see far enough ahead that I was happy to head downhill at 35mph on unlit roads with the Strada on board. I never once during testing felt like I needed to slow down because I couldn't see the road ahead well enough.The other main feature of the beam is that you get a good spread of light for useful peripheral illumination. In other words, the light you get doesn't drop off steeply towards the sides of the beam. If you're in town that's probably not particularly handy but if you ride on smaller roads and lanes at night it's a real bonus (the Lumicycle LED 3Si looks like it has similar levels of penetration but maybe not quite as much peripheral oomph). It means you can see potential hazards that aren't right ahead of you - sticks in the road, overhanging foliage, small woodland mammals in the verge just about to commit harikiri under your front wheel... It's a jungle out there.Increased peripheral vision also makes a big difference when you're cornering. It means you can see where you're going to go even when you're not yet heading directly for that point. Make sense? Basically, you can see further around the corner with the Strada than you can with most other lights I've tested you can tackle the bends more safely. Forewarned is forearmed.The Strada has two different settings: there's the high setting which has a run time of about 3hrs and the dip setting which runs for around 8hrs. The dip beam is less intense generally, but especially in the centre. It's still strong enough to see your way on unlit roads; you just don't get as much confidence when you're riding fast.Switching between the modes is a matter of pushing a button on the back of the lamp body. That button is illuminated and easy to spot although it's situated right next to the raised charge port that comes with a silicone cover over the top. I sometimes found it difficult to get my thumb on the right thing with gloved hands. No worries, though - Exposure also provide a remote switch. It's a little button that straps to your bars; you can sit it right next to a gear shifter and then you don't need to move your hand to control the light.Actually, there is a third flashing setting too and it'll keep going in that mode for days on end. I guess you might use that if you're about to run out of charge.If you want the technical data, the Strada uses two Cree XPG R5 LEDs powered by a 5200 mAh lithium ion battery. Exposure quote an output of 645 lumens.The battery is contained within the CNC-machined aluminium light unit which is tough enough to handle all kinds of use and abuse. I've been using Exposure's MaXx-D light for maybe three years and it has a similar (though larger) body. I've dropped it and accidentally whacked it a few times but it's still running absolutely fine, so I'm guessing durability on the Strada will be equally good. And although it's not 100% waterproof, it's fair to say that it's highly water resistant. I've ridden in the rain with the MaXx-D a load of times and water has never got in.The Strada sits on a quick release handlebar bracket that comes with a spacer and a silicone strip to fit various bar sizes. You can remove and remount the light unit in no time although you can't really alter the direction of the beam while you're on the road. Well, you can tighten the bracket just to the point that you can still twist it on the bar slightly but that's probably not the best idea. You're better off just setting the right direction and leaving it.The illuminated button on the back acts as a fuel gauge - it glows different colours to indicate how much juice is left in the tank. The Strada automatically shifts to its low setting when there's only 5% charge remaining, then it dims gradually over the next hour so you've got a fighting chance of getting home before it runs out.Recharging takes around 8hrs from empty. You can recharge from the mains or from anything with a USB port, from your car if you buy Exposure's In-Car Charger (£20), or you can plug in one of Exposure's Piggy Back batteries that start at £40.Bear in mind that although Exposure have designed this as a road light, it does not conform to BS6102/3 standards - in common with many other very good lights out there. That means that to be legal you should use it alongside a cheap light that does fulfill the requirements.The Strada comes with a two-year warranty.
Powerful LED with good peripheral illumination in a neat, strong unit. A pricey option, but with a performance that justifies the expense
Lezyne's Power Drive hits all the right notes when it comes to a practical light, whether it's for commuting in the dark or putting the winter training miles in.It's easy to fit, simple to use with no cables and despite it's tiny size kicks out a decent light beam to light up a dark road or trail if you fancy some night riding. This tiny 120g light offers a powerful 300 Lumens on high beam providing around two hours of use, around three hours on a medium 200 Lumen beam and over five hours on the 100 Lumen low beam. It's powered by a Li-Ion battery which is easily recharged via a USB (plug sockets are also available), which makes it practical for work duties. The robust main body is made from CNC machined aluminium and uses rubber seals and O-rings to keep it waterproof. It also comes with composite mounts to fit both 25.4 and 31.8mm bars.
There's nothing else on the market to match the Power Drive in terms of price, power or build quality.
CatEye's Nano Shot weighs in at 97g (including handlebar bracket) and measures just 85mm long, 50mm wide and 32mm deep, making it one of the most minimal rechargeable lights we've seen. Despite that, on its high power setting it packs a real punch.
The Nano Shot falls somewhere between a high performance light for training rides and a commuter light. It's plenty powerful enough to see by, with a beam pattern that provides both precise forward illumination and a wide spread. But short battery life means it's not the best choice for long rides on unlit roads. It's more than enough for long commutes, though – especially if you switch between modes. That it takes up so little real estate on your bars is a bonus, as is the ability to charge it through your PC.