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The waterproof IPX 4 rating will withstand rain splashes, although this is the minimum rating we’d recommend for wet-weather riding. NiteRider has a good reputation for making robust lights. The Lumina 850 is actually one of its smaller options, but while the size and output might be less than its bigger siblings, the build quality is just as bombproof. The Tail-Light (TL) is surprisingly bright – blinding even – for such a small light. It’s really all you’d ever need from a rear light. The Head-Light (HL) is fine for streetlit commutes but is not enough for seeing on unlit roads – it is strictly a ‘be-seen’ light. The only slight negative is the relatively high price for the set, but they’re robust enough to provide good value in the long term. Run time at full power could be slightly better on both, but having larger batteries would naturally increase the size of the units, so it’s a bit of a trade-off.
1000 Lumen Front Light | road.cc Review: ETC Kochab 1000 Lumen Front Light | road.cc
The R300L is the first rear light and radar unit from Bryton. A built in G-Sensor can detect braking and change the light output accordingly, but it is the addition of radar that is the most interesting development. The Magicshine Allty1000 also has the longest battery life when shining on full. On the downside, it does charge with Micro USB rather than USB-C. The battery indication is more basic than the previous two lights, with a simple green LED changing to red and starting to flash as you get to 30% and 10% charge, respectively, which isn’t so helpful for power management on longer rides. The Vortex is slimmer than many other lights, so takes up less room on the bars – it's much more compact than, for example, the Lezyne 800XL. Useful if your bar is getting cluttered. Performance These stylish looking lighting bars won’t mar the look of even the sleekest bikes. Producing 30 lumens at the front and 20 at the rear, they’re easily bright enough for commuting. Housed in easy-to-fit rubber holsters, these simply wrap around the seat post, bars or whatever other components you fancy.Magicshine says the light has a 20-lumen maximum output. In reality, it feels brighter and there’s a variety of modes to help you stay seen.
Bike Lights: stay safe cycling at night - Which? Best Bike Lights: stay safe cycling at night - Which?
Garmin's Varia RTL515 has four light modes, 65-lumens under the hood, and has a viewing angle of up to 220-degrees, but that's not what sets this light apart. Obviously, if you start playing with the VLS, your runtimes will vary from those stated in the tech info below. It becomes guess work really, but the indicators mentioned above are really helpful here. Using a single LED, it provides enough of a beam to give useful illumination for short detours away from overhead lighting, such as when cutting through a park. However, its single-hour run time when used at full-blast make this an option for occasional use only. The light will also gather data to learn behavioural characteristics and respond accordingly, with the light changing output based on movement and ride style. Our tester had two of these lights, one for commuting and one for club rides. The commuting light became more reactive than the club ride light, which has presumably grown used to more consistent riding.The light has an IPX7 rating. It's withstood very heavy showers, prolonged rain and bike washes and remained completely unaffected. Switch The lens is optimized for 270 degrees of visibility. Unlike the super-budget rear lights you can buy in a discount store, this light can be seen from the sides and offers more protection from motorists. With ANT+ and Bluetooth Smart connectivity, the Ion Pro RT can connect to Garmin or Bontrager head units and can be controlled from there to come on when you set out for a ride. The Knog Blinder, despite its name, is literally out-shone by the Magicshine and Exposure lights to its left. However, the Knog Blinder's beam is still perfectly bright enough for riding at an endurance pace down unlit roads - just not bombing it at threshold. The simple silicone band makes it super easy to mount and, for regular commuting duties, it makes an excellent option. The awkward button is unfortunate, as it controls so many things with various durations of a press (both while on or off). Take the time learn these routines and familiarise yourself with the light indicators, though, and you really start to enjoy what it can offer. Charging
Moon Meteor Vortex 1000 | road.cc Review: Moon Meteor Vortex 1000 | road.cc
It’s a beautifully made light, if expensive, although there are lower-priced options that don’t include the AKTiv tech. Letting other road users know of your imminent arrival, it’s a great extra on an otherwise strong product. A strong cut-off point at the top of the beam means there is no distracting dazzle. Russell Burton / Immediate Media To augment their bike-mounted torch, many riders also opt for helmet-mounted lights. These can be very effective and have the added benefit of directing the light wherever you are looking. However, these should be in addition to those on the bike, and not your only source of illumination.
On this list, the Garmin Variais an excellent road-riding light. Road cyclists that will be sharing the road should also have a bright rear light with plenty of battery life for long rides. Mountain Biking Because every cyclist has different needs, there is no fixed lumen count that every shopper should aim for. If you are riding in the daytime and simply want to increase your visibility and be seen by other road users, 100+ lumen front and rear lights should be sufficient. Consequently, the amount of lumens a light offers tends to be the headline specification because a larger number essentially promises that the light will be brighter.
Bike Lights - How Many Lumens Do You Need? - Cycles UK Bike Lights - How Many Lumens Do You Need? - Cycles UK
So what’s the verdict on the high-tech Varia? It definitely improves situational awareness and could potentially save your life. We’d like to see widespread support for the Varia on the most popular cycling computer platforms. In this regard, we feel that the Varia is just a little bit ahead of its time. We’re willing to bet that the field of competitors will grow substantially in the next couple of years, and the Varia will be the unit to beat. Small but perfectly formed, the Bontrager lights are a good commuter option. Ashley Quinlan / Our Media The reach of the beam is excellent, with good peripheral vision too. Russell Burton / Immediate Media While front lights need to be bright enough to light up the world in front of you, rear lights are mostly a safety mechanism that improves your ability to be seen. Most front lights are significantly brighter than their red-light-emitting rear counterparts. Front lights typically mount to the handlebars or front stem, while rear lights mount to the seat post or rear frame.The Varia RCT715 is Garmin's range-topping integrated rear light, camera and radar unit – all in one. It's an incredibly versatile solution for covering your safety needs. The Giant Recon HL 100 and TL 100 are very simple to operate, with no long presses, counting flashes to determine brightness level or anything like that. You just cycle through the five modes by short-pressing the on/off button and it’s the standard long press for on and off. The unit itself is compact and fits a wide range of seatpost styles thanks to the included assortment of seatpost adaptors. Battery life is a solid 6 hours on full blast, and 16 hours in daytime flash mode. Garmin claims up to 1-mile visibility in daytime mode. Charging is handled via micro-USB and takes about 3 hours to fully charge. In general, it’s super easy and super simple to set up the Varia. We love to see it. An array of COB LEDs plus a single larger strobe LED provide a large illuminated surface in the Blinder light. There are nine modes to choose from with runtimes between 2.5 hours and 50 hours.
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