Having the right kit will help keep you comfortable, warm, dry and safe on the way to and from work. You’ll need to be able to carry stuff, and keep your bike secure too.

Here’s our selection of great locks, lights, lids, luggage, jackets and tyres to help guide you through the vast range you’ll find in your local bike shop. A comprehensive overview would fill a whole magazine, but our choices will give you pointers for things to look for when you go shopping.

Helmets

It might not be a legal requirement but we reckon you’d be mad not to wear one. Here are six for every ride to work.

MET Camaleonte Executive, £49.99

It’s no surprise to see distinctly Italian styling from an Italian helmet maker and that’s just what you get here. You can just imagine Marcello Mastroianni scootering round Rome in the sunshine wearing one of these in matt white. It’s more than a styling exercise, though, with a rear LED lamp built into its fit adjustment dial for safer city riding, a removable peak, washable Coolmax pads to keep it smelling sweet, and small but surprisingly effective vents.

Available from: MET Helmets (UK distributors: www.fisheroutdoor.co.uk)

Abus Urban-I, £54.99

As well as an integrated rear LED light, loads of reflectives, insect mesh and a peak, this German lid has a hidden claim to fame: it comes in an unusually large size option. Most helmets stop at the equivalent of a 61cm or 62cm hat size, but the Urban-I’s size XL goes right up to 65cm (M and L sizes are available for more regular size heads.) Gags about big-headed cyclists are left as an exercise for the reader. As well as the silver shown, it’s available in six other colour schemes – including tweed!

Available from: Abus (UK distributors: Zyro)

Bell Arella, £59.99

Along with men's counterpart the Muni, Bell’s Arella helmet has two built-in rear LEDs plus built-in mounting points for extra rear and front lights from sister company Blackburn. Bear in mind, though, that under UK lighting regulations one of your rear lights must be 35-150cm from the ground, so unless you’re on a recumbent, most riders will need a bike-mounted light too. If you want maximum Christmas tree lighting effect then this has to be the lid to choose.

Available from: Bell (UK distributors: Madison)

Catlike Urban Concept, £39.99

This Spanish lid keeps things simple with a straightforward but distinctive shape, a few big vents, and some reflective patches for evening visibility. The shell incorporates a moulded-in peak, which is handy for keeping the morning or evening sun out of your eyes and the rain off your glasses. Unusually, there’s mesh inside the front vents, something that anyone who has ever had a wasp stuck in their helmet will definitely appreciate!

Available from: Catlike (UK distributors: Nemesis Active)

Lazer Urbanize N'Light, £79.99

The distinctly styled Urbanize has shades of a 1960s moped helmet. It boasts Lazer’s nifty fit adjustment roller and has built-in LED lights both front and rear so you’re always ready for darkness. There’s also a built-in peak to keep the sun out of your eyes – and the rain on those alleged 12 days a year that it rains at commuting time – and big vents to keep you cool. it isn’t a budget helmet option, but it is a brilliantly practical one.

Available from: Lazer (UK distributors: Bob Elliot & Co)

Giro Stylus, £59.99

The Stylus is a firm favourite because you get excellent Giro adjustability and fit (it’s available in three sizes, 51-55, 55-59 and 59-63cm) for a very sensible price. Ventilation is decent, the internal pads can be removed for washing when things have got a bit sweaty, and the Roc-Loc dial adjuster makes it easy to fine-tune the fit to keep it firmly on your bonce. If you are unfortunate enough to crash and trash it then a replacement will cost you just £30.

Available from: Giro (UK distributors: Madison)

Bags

Whether you’re looking to carry groceries as well as your work togs, or you just need a handy place to stow a waterproof and essentials, here’s our pick of six bags.

Vaude Aqua panniers, £105

Shaped to fit either side of the bike so they don’t catch on the back of your heel when you’re pedalling, and with a roll-top closure to keep the rain out, these panniers are a long-time favourite. Total capacity is 48 litres, so just using one of the pair is plenty for everyday use. While the lack of external pockets can be inconvenient at times, it does help to keep them durable and it means your small items are always secure. They’ve proved tough as nails too.

Available from: Vaude (UK distributors: Raleigh)

Bailey Works Super Pro courier bag, £179.95

Not cheap, but utterly bombproof, this is an elegantly designed, deceptively simple bag that’s designed for serious messenger duty but also makes a reliable commuter bag. It has a good selection of pockets inside and out, but what really marks this bag out is the integral, fully padded, suspended laptop sleeve. It also has a clever reversible strap that means you can wear it on either shoulder.

Available from: Bailey Works (UK distributor: Urban Hunter)

CamelBak Octane LR hydration pack, £69.99

We like low-slung packs that sit on your hips rather than high on your back. CamelBak’s new Octane LR pack fits the bill brilliantly and doubles as a mountain biking hydration pack when you head for the hills at the weekend. It’s just big enough for a day’s stuff – we’re talking lunchbox and mobile not posh suit and laptop! – and its easily-accessed side pockets mean that your keys, wallet and phone are easy to hand if you need to get at them quickly.

Available from: CamelBak (UK distributor: Zyro)

Osprey Talon 11 hydration pack, £60

A small pack with a big heart, the Talon 11 is just big enough to hold a day’s clothes as long as you’re not trying to carry a suit or ballgown. The external bungee cord is great for carrying a lightweight waterproof or even a D-lock, and your keys or wallet are easily to hand in the side pockets. There are also stretch pockets on the shoulder straps that will accommodate a phone or iPod, and it has a LidLock for holding your helmet.

Available from: Osprey

Pacific Outdoor Super rear panniers, £179.99

Available from: Pacific Outdoor (UK distributors: Madison)

Ortleib Bike Shopper pannier, £65

If you like to pick up a pizza or a meal deal on your way home, you need a way to transport them. Ortlieb’s super-simple Quick-Seal closure makes it easy to just drop your shopping into this 20-litre bag, which is available singly if you don’t need the capacity of a pair. An off-bike shoulder strap is included, Ortlieb’s QL2 mounting is easy to use and you can add extras like an external pocket or anti-theft cable.

Available from: Ortlieb (UK distributor: Lyon Outdoor)

Locks

Don’t let thieves steal your pride and joy. What level of protection depends on your budget and where you park – here are our top choices.

Abus Granit 54 X Plus 300, £99.99

Not only is the Granit 54 one of the toughest locks available, it’s also the cleverest. The U-section narrows to a point rather than a constant radius, making it almost impossible to burst with a hydraulic bottle car jack. The shackle is square section so it won’t budge if you try to open it by twisting, and two locks at either end mean if one side is cut it still can’t be opened. The carrying bracket is superb too. This is one of the best U-locks on the market.

Available from: Abus (UK distributors: Zyro)

Kryptonite New York M18, £99.99

Where the Abus is clever, the New York is brutally strong. At over 2kg it’s heftier but the 18mm shackle is made of the toughest stuff. Using a portable angle grinder and metal cutting disc it took us minutes to cut through one side and the double bolt lock design means the same again to open it. The lock mechanism is armoured with hardened steel making it impenetrable to virtually any physical attack, and kryptonite offers a US$3,000 anti-theft guarantee.

Available from: Kryptonite (UK distributors: Madison)

Pragmasis Protector, £41.99

Chains usually come with a high price, but Pragmasis buck that trend with the Protector. At 3.3kg this is one we’d recommend you leave at work. Its hardened steel links are resistant to bolt croppers, it proved impossible to cut with a hacksaw and our grinder took over three minutes to cut a link. This is the toughest and best value chain out there. The Masterlock padlock isn’t the toughest but the clever closed lock design makes it difficult to attack.

Available from: Pragmasis

OnGuard Bulldog Mini LS, £23.99

Mini locks are a good choice if portability is what you need, and a bonus is that the mini shackles they normally come with are difficult to lever because it’s easy to fill up the gap. That said, as long as you fill the Bulldog’s long shackle then it’s pretty difficult to lever too, and OnGuard back the Bulldog with a £500 guarantee. It comes with a mount bracket, five keys (one with a light) and the keys are coded for replacing.

Available from: OnGuard (UK distributors: Todays Cyclist)

Trelock BS510, £59.99

The top lock in Trelock’s U-lock range is cheaper than the competition, so if you’re on a more limited budget then the BS510 is a great choice. It isn’t as tough as the flagship locks from Abus and Kryptonite, as its relatively lighter 1.5kg weight would suggest. That said it’ll still beat manual tool attacks, although it’s easier to sever the U-lock with a powertool on one side and then twist the lock enough to pull a bike out of the lock.

Available from: Trelock (UK distributors: Squire)

Trelock Motorrad MP650, £59.99

Cable locks, to be frank, are usually pretty terrible. They look big and tough but get under the skin and a thin coil of cable is all that holds them together. The MP650, though, comes from the motorcycle end of the market and so this is built tough. The armoured casing is solid and immovable under physical attack. The lock is armoured too. It’s flexible enough to wrap through your frame but at 2kg-plus it isn’t the lightest to carry around.

Available from: Trelock (UK distributors: Squire)

Jackets

Even fair-weather cyclists would be advised to carry a showerproof and if rain never stops play you need a good one.

Altura Pocket Rocket, £69.99

Unusually waterproof for the money and its tiny packed size, the Pocket Rocket might be the only outer jacket you need – if you’re not into long rides in torrential downpours. It’s just a simple shell, no pockets or vents, but this helps keep the price down, and like most budget waterproofs it can get a bit sweaty when you’re working hard. Nevertheless it’s still a bargain in its sector. It comes in black too, but the bright yellow will ensure you’re seen.

Available from: Zyro

Endura Flyte, £99.99

The best waterproof jacket for under a ton, the Flyte offers good waterproofing and breathability with waterproof zips where necessary and an effective flap over the main zip. It also has excellent detailing like the snug cuffs and hem and fleece collar – there’s even a glasses wipe in the front pocket! It also folds up into its own rear pocket for easy stowing when you don’t need it. You have to pay quite a bit more money to get anything substantially better.

Available from: Endura

Pearl Izumi Elite Barrier Convertible, £84.99

With zip-off sleeves that convert it into a torso-protecting gilet, this is two garments in one and provides good windproofing in both modes, although it’s not waterproof. You can fit and remove the sleeves without having to take the gilet off, and it packs small enough to cram into a pocket. There’s also plenty of reflective material on the body to make sure you’re visible to drivers on the road.

Available from: Pearl Izumi (UK distributors: Madison)

Gore Bike wear Alp -X, £199.99

If you want absolute weatherproofing it’s hard to ignore Gore Bike Wear’s range of jackets in the company’s iconic waterproof, breathable Gore-Tex fabric. The women’s Alp-X ll and men’s Alp-X lll are intended for mountain biking, with a slightly looser cut for more upright riding, which makes them suitable for the office dash too. It’s made with thinner Paclite Gore-Tex, so the jacket is easy to squeeze into a bag or pocket.

Available from: Gore Bike Wear

Polaris RBS, £37.99

There are cheaper windproof cycling jackets out there, but not by much, and none that boast the RBS’s quotient of sheer eye-searing visibility (it stands for Really Bright Stuff). It might not cut it for cycling down Carnaby Street, but the combination of bright yellow and orange fabric and big reflective areas makes this the most SMIDSY-resistant (Sorry Mate I Didn’t See You) jacket we know. It’s well cut for cycling too and includes a handy rear pocket. It’s available in gilet form as well, for £24.99.

Available from: Polaris

DHB Minima, £47.99

Minima by name and minimal by nature, this inexpensive, simple waterproof nevertheless boasts a waterproof zip, fully taped seams, enough reflective piping that you’ll be picked out in headlights and a comfortable fleece-lined collar. With no pockets or other bells and whistles, there’s very little to go wrong, and it packs nice and small. There’s a women’s version available too, and you can pair it up with a matching pair of waterproof leggings for £37.99.

Available from: Wiggle

Front lights

If your commute is on lit city streets you need lights to get you seen; if your ride home is on dark roads you need to see where you’re going.

Electron Terra 2, £100

You get two headlights for your hundred quid here, which means that if you’re riding on unlit roads then you have a spot for distance vision and to alert oncoming cars to your presence, and a broad flood that enables you to see the verge. The Electron package comes with long leads so you can mount the rechargeable battery virtually anywhere on your bike and you get a very decent four-hour run time even on max power.

Available from: Electron (UK distributors: Madison)

Moon X Power 300, £74.99

Typically available for a lot less than the RRP, the X Power 300 is currently the cheapest way to get a 3w Cree XPG LED in a rechargeable bike-specific package. These are among the brightest LEDs currently available, and this unit puts out enough light to see by in high power mode, as well as plenty for roundtown riding in lower-power settings. It does tend to chew through the battery in high-power mode, so use it sparingly or use the USB recharge at work.

Available from: Raleigh

Exposure Maxx-D, £325

Four LEDs put out vast amounts of light from this self-contained lamp and battery unit. It’s more than enough to illuminate unlit lanes and it certainly seems to help persuade oncoming vehicles to dip their headlights. It does three hours on full beam, but you only need that for pitch blackness; the 10-hour run-time middle setting is plenty for most purposes. It’s a serious amount of light for a serious amount of money, but when needs must.

Available from: Exposure

Lifeline 1W LED, £17.99

This brilliantly simple single-LED lamp is available under various brand names, all of which pump out plenty of light to get you seen from the 1watt emitter and four AAA batteries. Unusually for a light this cheap it has a nicely-machined aluminium body which helps make it tough as old boots. The quick-release mount makes it easy to swap the light between bikes, but for this price you could probably afford to buy a second one or two.

Available from: Wiggle

Smart LED Mini, £10.29

Smart's tiny single LED unit puts out a surprising amount of light, and makes a perfect emergency light to keep in your bag for those days when your main lamp’s battery runs out, or you have a mental lapse and leave it at home. Powered by a single button battery, it’ll strap to just about anywhere on your bike, or even on your helmet. Button batteries are a shade pricey though, so it’s not that cheap to run as your main light.

Available from: Smart (UK distributors: Fisher Outdoor Leisure)

Niterider Ultrafazer 5.0, £29.99

With five bright LEDs and powered by easily-obtainable AA batteries or rechargeables, the Ultrafazer 5.0 is a popular choice for riding around town. Side windows at the front provide wide angle visibility, making roundabouts and junctions safer, run-time is decent and it’s easy to fit. The quick-release bracket lets you remove it easily from a parked bike and the bracket is a toolfree swap from bike to bike.

Available from: Niterider (UK distributors: 2Pure)

Rear lights

Being seen from behind is crucial when riding in traffic.

Blackburn Mars Click, £12.99

Simple and practical, this lamp mounts via a silicone band and has no switch – you just press the lens to turn it on or to change the modes (blink or glow). That means you can operate it even in winter gloves, and with no exposed switch it’s well-sealed and reliable. Its pair of bright LEDs provides plenty of visibility and its only downside is that it’s powered by slightly pricey button batteries. A winner for compactness and convenience.

Available from: Blackburn (UK distributors: Madison)

Exposure Flare £40

We like the unusual ‘throbbing’ mode of the Flare’s flash setting which never quite switches off, so it’s easier for drivers to see you as they approach on an unlit road.

Straight-on brightness of the Seoul P4 LED is surpassed only by the Hope District 3, and it’s reliable and simple to use – just rotate the head to turn it on or off and to set it to flash or constant. It runs on CR123 batteries or you can pay an extra £20 for exposure’s two-battery charger pack – a sensible long-term moneysaver.

Available from: Exposure

Cateye TL-LD1100 10 LED, £34.99

The daddy of multi-LED rear lights, this Cateye unit has six emitters facing backwards and two on each end for great visibility. And if that weren’t enough, there are 16 different mode combinations! (there are four modes but you can control each row of LEDs independently.) A pair of AA batteries gives a claimed run time of 50-100 hours depending on which mode you’re running, which should last you a good month or two of commuting.

Available from: Cateye (UK distributors: Zyro)

Hope District 3, £160

Intended as a daytime safety light as well as for night use, the three LEDs in this lamp put out such a lot of light that following the wheel of a District 3-equipped bike is almost painful. Fortunately it has less intense modes, though it’s still tempting to have anyone using a District 3 do literal lanterne rouge duties in a group ride! The hefty price includes battery and charger – a £95 version piggy-backs on a Hope front light.

Available from: Hope

Fibre Flare, £29.99

If you're worried about being seen from the side as well as directly from behind, this side-emitting fibre optic strip light is visible from all directions. Perhaps more importantly, it’s unusual in showing up as a long band of light and there’s nothing like something a bit out of the ordinary for getting a driver’s attention. Claimed run time is 70 hours from its pair of AAA batteries and you can even bend it for multiple attachment options as well as a unique look.

Available from: Fibre Flare (UK distributors: Extra)

Electron Backupz Rear USB, £19.99

Charging this dinky rear light from your computer during the day, and come home time you’re good to go. The battery is a decent size too, so it'll last a few days between charges and its four LEDs give a wide spread for all-round visibility. It’ll mount on your seatpost or the back of your helmet (don’t forget your bike-mounted light too). A twin-pack of front and rear lights, with dual-ended charger cable, costs £35.

Available from: Electron (UK distributors: Madison)

Tyres

On your commute, avoiding punctures is more important than scoring a personal best (PB) time – but our selection should get you to work quickly and without mishap.

Continental Grand Prix 4 Season, £40.80

Continental's Vectran anti-puncture strip has proven effective during our tests of their tyres, and the GP 4 Season is available in a 28mm width for riders who want a bit more comfort and cushioning on their ride to work. If you want to go even wider, Conti’s Sport Contact is worth a look – it’s available in widths up to 37mm for ultimate bad-tarmac comfort so you can arrive at work stirred but not too shaken.

Available from: Continental Tyres

Vredestein Fortezza Quattro Tricomp, £35

This is Vredestein's four-season training/racing tyre, as the ‘Quattro’ part of its name suggests. Puncture resistance is good through both the tread and sidewalls, thanks to Vredestein’s bead-to-bead ‘Full Contact Protection’. Rolling performance is good too. It’s difficult not to draw parallels with Continental’s Grand Prix 4 Season – we'd struggle to tell them apart in a blind test.

Available from: Vredestein (UK distributors: Saddleback)

Michelin Krylion Carbon, £32.99

If you want a tyre that's fast, light and puncture resistant then it’s hard to ignore the classic Krylion Carbon. It’s durable too – we’ve had samples that have substantially outlasted Michelin’s claim of a 3,000-mile lifespan thanks to the company’s use of proper carbon black in the centre tread. The tyre’s only serious drawback is that it can be hard to get hold of, because Michelin seem to blow hot and cold about actually manufacturing it.

Available from: Michelin

Schwalbe Marathon Plus, £31.59

The daddy of puncture-resistant tyres, the Marathon Plus uses a 5mm thick layer of SmartGuard rubber to keep thorns, flints and even drawing pins away from your inner tubes. As a result it is on the heavy side; if that’s a problem you can get slightly less protection but at a lighter weight from Schwalbe’s Durano Plus tyre which uses a thinner casing and less SmartGuard under the tread.

Available from: Schwalbe

Panaracer Closer, £27.99

Slick, quick and grippy, these sit between racing and training tyres in Panaracer’s range and are great for blatting around town in the summer. If you want something with more puncture protection and better durability, the company’s Ribmo tyres with a Protex belt under the tread are worth a look; they’re available in just about every 26in and 700C width that you could imagine, for £29.99 or £34.99 in folding flavour.

Available from: Panaracer (UK distributors: Zyro)

Vittoria Randonneur Hyper, £34.99

Reflective sidewalls are a great feature for an urban tyre, and these Vittorias help you to stay visible after dark. The almost-slick tread is fast and corners well, and during testing they’ve proven durable. Vittoria tyres aren’t the easiest to find, but these are worth searching out. The huge 47mm version will work particularly well if you’re converting a 29er mountain bike to street use.

Available from: Vittoria

The new look Cycling Plus is available now, and this month’s issue features a free 36 page commuting guide full of features like this. To subscribe to the magazine, visit www.myfavouritemagazines.co.uk/cycling/cycling-plus-magazine-subscription.

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