Bike lights have two objectives, "to be seen lights" and the "to see lights". This segment of the 2016 Bike Lights Shootout will focus on affordable, low-powered headlights and tail lights that primarily allow the cyclist to be seen. Some lights will allow the cyclist to see as well, but they won't light up a forest trail at night. Those lights are covered in the 2016 Mtbr Bike Light Shootout.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAAYf0gWSFk
At the bare minimum, every night riding road cyclist should have a set of at least a headlight and taillight. Studies have shown that the number one fear of cyclists commuting on the road is being hit from behind. However, statistics have concluded that it's far more likely you'll be hit from a frontal collision. Of those accidents, 72% occur at intersections, meaning the offending motorist did not see the cyclist. So it's good to rock a tail light, but if you want to make sure you don't get hit, it's a good idea to throw on a headlight as well.
Blackburn 2'Fer
Price: $25
Claimed Lumens: 60
Measured Lumens: 65
Mounted Weight: 29 grams
Run time (on high): 1:50 Hours
The Blackburn 2′Fer weighs 29 grams and we measured 65 lumens out of it. It's rechargeable, yet only costs $25. And the kicker is it has white and red LEDs built in. Thus it can be used in the front and the back to see or be seen. Read more »
Blackburn Central 300 Front
Price: $60
Claimed Lumens: 300
Measured Lumens: 310
Mounted Weight: 162 grams
Run time (on high): 2:00 Hours
Review coming soon...
Blaze Laserlight
Price: $200
Claimed Lumens: 300
Measured Lumens: 305
Mounted Weight: 222 grams
Run time (on high): 3:00 Hours
Primarily a commuter light, it's bright enough to get around on the trail or supplement a bar light. But you may get too distracted playing with the laser in the forest. Read more »
Bontrager Flare RT
Price: $80
Claimed Lumens: 65
Measured Lumens: N/A
Mounted Weight: 50 grams
Run time (on high): 4:25 Hours
Review coming soon...
CatEye Rapid X3
Price: $60
Claimed Lumens: 200
Measured Lumens: N/A
Mounted Weight: 45 grams
Run time (on high): 1:00 Hours
Review coming soon...
Gemini IRIS
Price: $60
Claimed Lumens: 180
Measured Lumens: N/A
Mounted Weight: 46 grams
Run time (on high): 1:00 Flash Hours
Review coming soon...
Knog Blinder MOB
Price: $45
Claimed Lumens: 80
Measured Lumens: N/A
Mounted Weight: 38 grams
Run time (on high): 4:00 Hours
Review coming soon...
Knog Blinder ROAD 250
Price: $80
Claimed Lumens: 250
Measured Lumens: N/A
Mounted Weight: 76 grams
Run time (on high): 1:00 Hours
Review coming soon...
Knog Blinder ROAD 400
Price: $95
Claimed Lumens: 400
Measured Lumens: N/A
Mounted Weight: 103 grams
Run time (on high): 1:30 Hours
Review coming soon...
Lezyne Strip Drive Rear
Price: $35
Claimed Lumens: 50
Measured Lumens: N/A
Mounted Weight: 56 grams
Run time (on high): 1:40 Hours
Review coming soon...
Lupine Rotlicht
Price: $125
Claimed Lumens: 160
Measured Lumens: N/A
Mounted Weight: 60 grams
Run time (on high): 2:00 Hours
The Rotlicht will keep you safe in the dark by adjusting its brightness to ambient light and motion, getting brighter when needed. Read more »
NiteRider Sabre 35
Price: $30
Claimed Lumens: 35
Measured Lumens: N/A
Mounted Weight: 55 grams
Run time (on high): 4:30 Hours
Review coming soon...
NiteRider Solas
Price: $40
Claimed Lumens: 30
Measured Lumens: 28
Mounted Weight: 87 grams
Run time (on high): 4:30 Hours
Review coming soon...
Portland Design Works Aether Demon USB
Price: $49
Claimed Lumens: N/A
Measured Lumens: N/A
Mounted Weight: 45 grams
Run time (on high): 3:30 Hours
Review coming soon...
See.Sense ICON
Price: $100
Claimed Lumens: N/A
Measured Lumens: N/A
Mounted Weight: 62 grams
Run time (on high): N/A Hours
Review coming soon...
Serfas Thunderbolt Red Tail Light
Price: $40
Claimed Lumens: 35
Measured Lumens: 31
Mounted Weight: 40 grams
Run time (on high): N/A Hours
Review coming soon...
Sigma Rear Brake Light
Price: $10
Claimed Lumens: N/A
Measured Lumens: 4
Mounted Weight: 40 grams
Run time (on high): 5:00 Hours
Review coming soon...
Specialized Flux Expert Headlight
Price: $275
Claimed Lumens: 1200
Measured Lumens: 650
Mounted Weight: 238 grams
Run time (on high): N/A Hours
Review coming soon...
Specialized Flux Expert Tail Light
Price: $100
Claimed Lumens: 110
Measured Lumens: N/A
Mounted Weight: 67 grams
Run time (on high): N/A Hours
Review coming soon...
Specialized Stix
Price: $40
Claimed Lumens: 105
Measured Lumens: N/A
Mounted Weight: 21 grams
Run time (on high): 1:30 Hours
Review coming soon...
This article is part of Mtbr and RoadBikeReview's 2016 Bike Lights Shootout. See the 2016 Mtbr Headlights Index and the RoadBikeReview Commuter Lights Index.