The best bike lights
The clocks go back soon: be seen on the way home, and see the road on unlit lanes.
Bike lights sell fast every autumn, and for good reason: in the UK a white front light and a red rear light are a legal requirement between sunset and sunrise.
There are two kinds of front light. Small “be seen” lights make you visible in town; brighter “to see” lights, a few hundred lumens and up, light the road on unlit lanes and cycle paths.
What matters
- Front and rear lights are required after dark.
- Town riding: be seen. Dark lanes: see.
- Use a steady beam where there are no streetlights.
- Check the run time for the mode you’ll use.
Best overall
#1 of 5
9.0/10
Rolgno 1000 Lumen Bike Light Set (front and rear)
£19.99 RRP
A proper 1000-lumen headlight with extra side floodlights, plus a matching rear light, both charging from one USB-C cable.
- 1000-lumen front light
- 8 front and 7 rear modes
- USB-C, 2 hours to charge the front
- Waterproof
- Handlebar mount
What owners say: Owners say they’re very bright, well built and fit securely, and that the battery lasts a couple of weeks of riding between charges.
Heads up: A few owners had a front light that wouldn’t switch on.
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A closer look: Angle the headlight slightly down at the road so it doesn’t dazzle oncoming riders and drivers. Modes change with single, double and long presses, so skim the manual once. The rear light charges in about an hour.
Best for: Commuting all year
- Lights
- Front and rear
- Front brightness
- 1000
- Charging
- USB-C
- Run time
- 4 hrs high, 19 hrs low
- Modes
- 8 + 7
- Weather
- Waterproof
Best front light
#2 of 5
8.9/10
CatEye AMPP 400 Front Bike Light
£15–£40 Price range
CatEye, founded in Osaka in 1954, made the first flashing bike light in 1964. The AMPP 400 is a compact, well-made front light with a wide beam and a daytime mode.
- 400 lumens
- 5 modes, including daytime
- Wide OptiCube beam
- USB-C, 4 hours to charge
- IPX4 waterproof
What owners say: Owners say it’s powerful and bright enough to see in the dark, clips neatly into its bracket and is good value.
Heads up: It’s a front light only, so pair it with a rear light. A few owners had charging problems.
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A closer look: The daytime HyperConstant mode mixes a steady beam with a pulse, so drivers notice it without a full strobe. The rubber-band bracket fits most handlebars in seconds, so it comes off at the bike rack. Run time depends heavily on the mode: the maker quotes up to 60 hours.
Best for: Upgrading the front light
- Lights
- Front only
- Front brightness
- 400
- Charging
- USB-C (4 hrs)
- Run time
- Up to 60 hrs
- Modes
- 5
- Weather
- IPX4
Best for being seen
#3 of 5
8.8/10
Glangeh Ultra-Slim Rechargeable Bike Lights
Under £15 Price range
Tiny 27g lights that slip into a jeans pocket when you lock up, ideal for being seen in town.
- 27g each, 1.7cm thin
- 4 front and 6 rear modes
- Both charge at once in 1–1.5 hours
- Covered USB-C ports
- Remembers the last mode
What owners say: Owners say they’re bright enough for the dark, quick to charge, easy to fit and remove, and good value.
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A closer look: At 250 lumens the front light is for being seen on lit streets rather than lighting a dark lane. Take them off when you lock the bike in town; they’re small enough to live in a coat pocket. The split cable charges both together.
Best for: Town riding
- Lights
- Front and rear
- Front brightness
- 250
- Charging
- USB-C, both at once
- Run time
- –
- Modes
- 4 + 6
- Weather
- Water-resistant
Brightest
#4 of 5
8.5/10
BIKIL 2400 Lumen Bike Light Set
£34.97 RRP
A 2400-lumen headlight that lights up unlit country lanes and towpaths, with a big battery that doubles as a power bank.
- 2400-lumen front light
- 6400mAh battery
- 5 hours on high, 11 on low
- USB-C, works as a power bank
- Rotating mount
What owners say: Owners say it’s super bright and lights up whole paths, fits nicely and is good value, though reliability is mixed.
Heads up: Some owners report the rear light failing early.
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A closer look: Save full power for dark stretches and drop to low on lit roads, both to stretch the battery and to avoid dazzling people. In a pinch the front light can top up a phone. At 200g it’s heavier than a commuter light, but it’s built for rural rides.
Best for: Unlit lanes
- Lights
- Front and rear
- Front brightness
- 2400
- Charging
- USB-C
- Run time
- 5 hrs high, 11 hrs low
- Modes
- 5
- Weather
- Water-resistant
Best budget
#5 of 5
8.4/10
Balhvit USB Rechargeable Bike Light Set
£12.99 RRP
A cheap and cheerful front-and-back set with stretchy silicone mounts that fit almost anywhere on a bike.
- Front and rear lights
- 4 modes each
- USB rechargeable, 3 hours
- Over 6 hours per charge
- Silicone strap mounts
What owners say: Owners find them good quality, bright and easy to fit securely on tubes and handlebars, though a few say the rear light broke.
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A closer look: The silicone straps stretch around seatposts and handlebars of most sizes, so they swap between bikes in seconds. A sensible spare set, or one for a child’s bike. Charge them overnight after a week of commuting.
Best for: Spares and kids’ bikes
- Lights
- Front and rear
- Front brightness
- 400
- Charging
- USB (3 hrs)
- Run time
- 6+ hrs
- Modes
- 4 + 4
- Weather
- Water-resistant
How they compare
| Feature | #1Rolgno 1000lmBest overall | #2CatEye AMPP 400Best front light | #3Glangeh slimBest for being seen | #4BIKIL 2400lmBrightest | #5Balhvit setBest budget |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Picked Rating | 9.0 | 8.9 | 8.8 | 8.5 | 8.4 |
| Price | £19.99 RRP | ££ £15–£40 | £ Under £15 | £34.97 RRP | £12.99 RRP |
| Lights | Front and rear | Front only | Front and rear | Front and rear | Front and rear |
| Front brightness | 1000 | 400 | 250 | 2400 | 400 |
| Charging | USB-C | USB-C (4 hrs) | USB-C, both at once | USB-C | USB (3 hrs) |
| Run time | 4 hrs high, 19 hrs low | Up to 60 hrs | – | 5 hrs high, 11 hrs low | 6+ hrs |
| Modes | 8 + 7 | 5 | 4 + 6 | 5 | 4 + 4 |
| Weather | Waterproof | IPX4 | Water-resistant | Water-resistant | Water-resistant |
| Best for | Commuting all year | Upgrading the front light | Town riding | Unlit lanes | Spares and kids’ bikes |
| Check price | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon |
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