When daylight savings ends, it can be dark as early as 4:45 pm. Studies have shown that humans have a hard time adjusting to the change, especially commuters. Many of us commute on our bikes during this time and need good lights to not only help us see the trail/road/bike path but also to increase the chances that a driver will see us. Plus, it is the law to have a headlight and a taillight on your bike after dusk.
When shopping for lights the important features to look for are lumens (how bright the light is) and how long the light will work for a given setting. Bike lights usually have a myriad of settings from super bright to various patterns of flashing. Each of these has different run times. Some other features to look for are how the light mounts to the bike, battery level indicators, how the light is charged and what method is used to prevent theft.
With this in mind we here at Frame Up Bikes try to find the best lights with the most features for the lowest price. Here are a few that we are stoked about because each is rad.
Knog Plus – MSRP $20
The Knog Plus (Knog+) is more of a system than a single light because it is available as both a taillight and a headlight. You get 40 lumens for the front and 20 lumens for the rear.
Features we love:
- Integrated USB plug means no more searching for a cord to charge your light. Just plug the light directly into a USB wall plug (such as the one used for your phone)
- Multiple modes with cool names like “steady,” “pulse,” “strobe,”, “fancy flash” and “eco flash”
- Low battery indicator
- Tool-less removable silicone straps fit most bars and seatposts
- Magnetic mount allows you to take the light with you
- Integrated wearable clip lets you use it while running or walking the dog
Niterider Sentry™ Aero 260 – MSRP $40.00
Multiple modes, 260 lumens (super bright) and aero seatpost mount make this light a standout in our book.
Features we love:
- Two silicone straps provide flexibility in the size of the seatpost the taillight can be mounted to
- LED low-battery indicator
- Aero design
- SUPER BRIGHT
- USB rechargeable (requires included cable)
Niterider Lumina OLED 1200 Boost – MSRP $150.00
The visual display — which shows you how much time is left for a given mode — is the standout feature on this headlight. It’s perfect both for your evening commute and your night mountain-bike ride.
Features we love:
- 1200 lumens in a 172g package
- Visual display shows remaining runtime for the current mode
- Simple handlebar mounting system
- Three-hour charge time (at 1 amp)
- Up to 18 hour runtime based on light mode
Here’s the video we did about all three, so you can see the lights in ACTION.