The best bicycle lights do two important things for cyclists of all disciplines: First and foremost, they light our way forward. That one’s pretty self-explanatory, but as you’ll read below, some bike lights shine brighter than others, so to speak.

And while being able to see where you’re going is important, the second function of bike lights may actually be the more pressing: Bike lights increase our visibility. You can see our collection of Bicycle lights here.

Why Is Visibility Important For Bike Lights?

As anyone who has ever shared the road with automobile traffic will tell you, being seen is your first line of defense.

Sure, you can buy the latest and greatest helmet on the market, but if we’re being honest, prevention is key when we talk about cycling safety.

For that reason, we recommend any cyclist riding on public roads day or night add some form of bike light to their ride. Ideally, this includes both a forward-mounted and rear-mounted light, so drivers on the road can see you coming and see you as they approach from behind.

Our Top Picks For The Best Bike Lights.

As you might suspect, there’s a wide range of prices, features, and brands of bike lights out there to choose from. While the list below is by no means comprehensive, we’ve dug through all the most popular bicycle light options currently available and found what we believe to be the best bicycle light all around, the best bang for your buck, and even the best headlight/taillight bundle out there. And, because lights are highly personal, we included what we consider the “best of the rest” which all fall somewhere unique on the “performance/value” continuum.

Fenix BC35R (Best Bike Light Overall)

Fair warning: The Fenix BC35R isn’t the only Fenix product on our list (or the second… or the third…) but it’s definitely our favorite, and our pick for the best bike light overall.

With industry-leading features like a built-in anti-theft system, 1800 lumens of powerful light when you need it, and even a remotely mounted turbo switch for when you need powerful light right now (think: emergency situations), there’s just too much to love about Fenix’s latest version of the BC headlight series to put anything before it. It’s not the least expensive product out there, but if you’re looking for a feature-rich bicycle light that will go the distance, the BC35R is the one to beat. 

Nitecore BR35

Affordable, powerful, and versatile, there’s a lot to love about the Acebeam BK10. Here’s a bike light that fits just about any budget, packs a powerful 21700-size rechargeable battery, and even manages to spec full IP65 water anddust protection.

We’ll also give Acebeam props for shipping the BK10 with both a handlebar and a helmet mount, which makes it as useful on the road as it is on the trail. Get yours here.

Acebeam BK10

Affordable, powerful, and versatile, there’s a lot to love about the Acebeam BK10. Here’s a bike light that fits just about any budget, packs a powerful 21700-size rechargeable battery, and even manages to spec full IP65 water anddust protection.

We’ll also give Acebeam props for shipping the BK10 with both a handlebar and a helmet mount, which makes it as useful on the road as it is on the trail. Get yours here.

Fenix BC30R

Fenix released the BC30R, and it immediately became popular thanks to its excellent brightness, LED display, and simple user interface.

While the BC35R has since replaced it, technically the BC30R still has the longest runtime of the two, so if you’re willing to sacrifice the BC35R’s new anti-theft feature (and save a little money in the process), consider checking out the BC30R. Get yours here.

Olight RN800 Bundle

Some folks love Olight’s quality and design so much they’re hesitant to buy anything else. Good news: If you’re shopping for bike lights, you don’t have to.  

That’s because Olight offers many of their lighting packages in bundles, like the Olight RN800 bundle you see here. For your money you’ll get a powerful and easy-mounting RN800 headlight (which features fast USB-C charging, a powerful 21700 li-ion battery, and excellent IPX6 waterproofing) as well as Olight’s fantastic RN120 tail light system.

In case you’re not familiar with the RN120, it’s basically an intelligent, automatic tail light that automatically senses light levels and adjusts for conditions to extend battery life and maximize rider safety. It’s also got a motion sensor hidden inside, which will automatically flash as you slow down (like a car’s brake lights) to help keep you visible in traffic. Get yours here.

Olight Allty Bundle (Best Bike Lights Bundle)

Another great bundle from Olight, this time featuring their powerful Allty front lamp. Think of this as a premium upgrade from the package above. While the mounting system is the same user-friendly design, the Olight Allty boasts a backlit OLED screen as well as an enhanced throw distance of 541 feet.

Pair the added power and convenience of the Allty with the same high-tech RN120 taillight from the RN800 bundle, and you’ve got the best bicycle headlight/taillight combo on the market.

Fenix BC30R v2.0

The exceedingly popular Fenix BC30R v2.0 received an overhaul in 2020, improving several features that now distinguish the “2.0” version you see here. Output is up from 1800 lumens to 2200 lumens, and the remote switch was also updated to a wireless model, which uses Bluetooth rather than a hard-wired switch for rider inputs on the fly.

Runtime increased from 20 hours to 50 hours on the new model, and the already sturdy IP66 waterproofing improved to a full IP67 rating. Get your here.

Fenix BC05R Tail Light

Quite possibly the most versatile bicycle tail light on the market, the Fenix BC05R is as useful as it is simple. Single-button interface, simple USB-recharging, and enough capacity to last the average daily commuter a full 30 days on a single charge. Doesn’t get much better than that.

Combine that with the fact that the Fenix BC05R is light and compact enough to double as a headlamp or running light (using the included body clip accessory), and it’s easy to see why this is one of the best bargains currently available in cycling safety gear. Get yours here.

Fenix BC25R (Best Bike Light On A Budget)

It’s got 600 lumens of peak output, all-weather construction, and comes in well below the $100 mark. What’s not to love about the Fenix BC25R?

The BC25R takes our pick as the best budget bike light for its simple construction, easy USB recharging, and impressive 36-hour runtime. If you just need a high-quality bike light and can live without all the extra features found on “premium” models, you just can’t go wrong with this Fenix. Get yours here.

Olight RN400

While its 400 lumens output isn’t nearly the brightest on our list, the Olight RN400 is plenty bright for your average city rider/commuter, and is also a popular option for nighttime trail riders who want a helmet light in addition to an existing headlight.

As is typical with Olight products, even one of their most affordable bike lights still comes with a ton of premium build features like speedy USB-C charging and reliable IXP7 waterproofing that is overkill for even the rainiest days.