Cheap bike lights: 6 affordable options for commuting in the dark
Keep yourself safe on the roads with our discount light recommendations
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With dark commuting hours already here, now’s the time to stock up on some decent lights for your bike, and it’s always a good idea to carry spares in case you get caught out.
Of course, you could spend a fortune on some high-end lights, but if that’s not your bag here’s a list of affordable options to keep you pedalling safely as we head into the next season.
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Cheap bike lights: our favourites for 2019
- Bontrager Ion 100 R / Flare R City light set
- Moon Crescent Rechargeable Rear Bike Light
- Sigma Micro Combo LED light set
- Blackburn Dayblazer 800 front light
- Topeak RedLite Mega Rear Safety Light
Bontrager Ion 100 R / Flare R City light set
These clever daytime-running LED lights are a great way to raise your visibility on the streets.
They’re extremely small and light, simple to fit and remove, and their clever in-built sensors allow them to tailor their power output to match your surroundings. That means, when visibility is low, they’ll pump out more power and when it’s reasonably light out, they’ll conserve it.
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Moon Crescent Rechargeable Rear Bike Light
- Buy now from Amazon (£12.99)
Don’t be fooled by its miniscule size, this light packs a lot of punch, producing up to 25 lumens.
It comes complete with multiple lighting modes (as most good lights do), and covers everything from bright to blinding. Most importantly, it has good side visibility as well.
Sigma Micro Combo LED light set
- Buy now from Amazon (£14.99)
These were originally designed as ‘sports’ lights, ideal for anything from cycling and jogging to rollerblading. They make great commuter lights because they’re unusually powerful for their size.
They weigh next to nothing too and despite only having one LED, they’ll be sure to get you noticed.
Blackburn Dayblazer 800 front light
- Buy now from Amazon (£39.45)
The Dayblazer 800 from Blackburn was good enough to score 4 stars in our annual lights test meaning it’s not only a good cheap light but a damn good light in general.
The mounting system is simple but proves very versatile, so this unit can be positioned almost anywhere.
It’s a tough and powerful choice that will survive even the wettest of rides.
Topeak RedLite Mega Rear Safety Light
- Buy now from Amazon (£20.99)
This is arguably one of the best lights on the market, which is why we gave it a full five stars when we reviewed it.
It hits that sweet spot for excellent visibility, while not being so bright it can dazzle oncomers. It’s well built and hardy, survived our abusive testing, and will serve you well during cold and wet months to come.
Authors
Mildred’s a utilitarian cyclist at heart, determined to do everything on two wheels, whether it’s shopping, commuting or moving house. She’s spent the past three years volunteering as a mechanic and workshop coordinator at the Bristol Bike Project, and now sits on its board of directors. Her expertise in bikes — and what people want out of them — comes from working in real-world bike shops and learning the ins and outs of the industry. At home on slicks and knobblies alike, Mildred’s ideal ride covers long distances through remote countryside, on mixed terrain that offers a bit of crunch. She’s easily won over by steel frames coupled with a 650B/plus-tyre combo, and is currently riding a Surly Bridge Club.
