In this article I’m going to give you an overview of the best bicycle lights for commuting. To be able to do that we first need to know exactly what makes a good bicycle light for commuting.
It’s obvious that the amount of visibility a light creates is the most important thing. This is denoted in lumens. More lumens generally translates to increased visibility.
Then there are two other aspects that come into play when discussing the best bicycle lights for commuting: do you want to be seen or want to be able to see better yourself?
This is important because to be able to see better yourself, a light needs to have a certain baseline lumen output. For this article, I’ve set that baseline at 600 lumens all the way up to 1000 lumens.
Obviously there are more powerful lights. But those are more expensive as well. And if you’re really only going to be using these lights for commuting, and not for bikepacking, or mountain biking, there really isn’t much need to pay more for something you’re not going to need.
This bandwidth of lumen output packed into a high-quality bicycle light will prove to be more than enough to be seen by other road participants and better see the road ahead yourself. Even if there are no other streetlights available.
Furthermore these lights have other aspects, which are important for commuting. Like a hooded design to prevent blinding oncoming traffic, and sidelights to increase visibility from traffic approaching you from either side.
So with those aspects in mind, let’s see what it on the list of the best bicycle lights for commuting.
Cateye AMPP800
The Cateye AMPP800 is an excellent and relatively affordable road- and commuting option.
The design of the aluminum light wraps the lens around the side, making it very easy for traffic approaching from the side to see you.
The light is attached to the handlebars with a proprietary mount. An optional helmet mount and GoPro is available, extending its mounting flexibility.
The build quality is high with a waterproof IPX4 rating and a micro USB port well-placed at the bottom of the light.
The beam, powered by a 2500 mAh battery, will last you longer than 2 hours on the medium setting. The soft round beam provides a large area which is sufficiently lit for road cycling and commuting.
The power button serves as a three-stage battery indicator.
Besides the flash mode you get your low (200), medium (400), and high (800 lumen) settings.
- Soft round beam
- None
Exposure Sirius Mk9 DayBright
The Exposure Sirius Mk9 DayBright is one of the best-looking sub-1000 lumen front bike lights you can find.
An excellent waterproof aluminum housing holds a large 2900 mAh battery powering this 800 lumen light. Considering the fact the light weighs only 82 grams, it gives you up to 30 hours of battery life.
A handlebar mount is provided but a GoPro adapter is available for other mounting options, as well as an optional helmet mount.
The single LED throws a very bright spotlight with a decent enough spread, making this one of the best options for road cycling and daily commuting, or for trail riding when mounted on a helmet.
- Very lightweight, superb build quality, fantastic helmet option
- None
Garmin Varia UT800 Smart Headlight
You should only buy this light if you have a Garmin Edge. That’s because when used in combination with that GPS, you can use the smart options to the fullest.
It means the light automatically adjusts its brightness based on how it evaluates your GPS data in terms of speed and ride profile. This option works like a charm and can at any time be overridden manually. The Garmin also displays battery status and can turn the light on only when the Garmin itself is being used.
The light does what it sets out to do very well, given it has only one LED to do so. It has the standard low (200), medium (400), high (800) output as well as a flash and daylight mode. It has sidelights as well.
The mounting option is probably the best out-of-the-box. The dual mount with a Garmin on top and the light in a three-prong at the bottom is a thing of beauty. And considering the light itself is a great piece of engineering, this total setup looks absolutely fantastic on your bike.
And it doesn’t cost you an arm and a leg.
- Garmin compatible smart options, auto-adjusting brightness, gorgeous
- Only buy when you ride with a Garmin
Knog Blinder Road 600 Front Bike Light
The Knog Blinder Road 600 Front Bike Light definitely has one of the more unique designs for lights within this category.
A boxy design with dual LEDs you can strap to your handlebar in a very lightweight sub-100 grams package. You can operate the lights independently from each other. Where one is a spotlight, the other is a floodlight for close proximity or as a be-seen solution.
Because it comes with a strap you’ll have to mount it at either side of the handlebars, but there’s a mount available to attach it to a Garmin or GoPro bracket, turning it into an out front solution.
There are two buttons located at the top of the aluminum housing. One controls turns the power on and each light, the other the brightness with low, medium, and high settings. Easy enough to understand.
You can charge the light without using a cable, by plugging the USB attachment into a port. Since the light is more unwieldy than your standard USB stick, Knog throws in a cable as well.
Knog has a penchant for unusual but great looking bicycle lights, and this is another prime example of that. But it has to be said that the beam at full output is not the brightest on the block and the small buttons are impossible to operate with thick winter gloves.
- Unique design, lightweight
- More powerful lights available
Knog PWR Road 700 Front Bike Light
The Knog PWR Road 700 Front Bike Light is one of the most distinctive (and expensive) bike lights within its category.
Knog’s modular approach let’s you swap out the power bank, which means you theoretically hook the light up to their maximum 10000 mAh battery.
Besides bike lights, Knog also offers torches, speakers, and the like to power with the battery, which is also a power bank.
I don’t know of other bike lights that offer this feature, which should put it on top of the list of bikepackers and long distance touring.
The head has a twist feature to power it on or of, which is a nice touch when you use this as a helmet light with the optional mount.
The waterproof aluminum housing is extremely well designed in anodized black with red elements.
It offers 2 flood light LED’s and a single spotlight, which offers a beam suitable for anything but mountain biking.
There are 6 light modes which can be further customized using a proprietary app. You toggle each mode by turning the light, so there’s no power button. And because there isn’t you have a 4-strip LED on top of the light as a battery indicator.
Charging is done with the help of a micro usb located on the inside of the 3300 mAh battery, ensuring no water can get inside the battery.
The design of this light feels fresh and well-thought out. It certainly is one of the best looking ones, and the plethora of available mounting options ensure you can place the light anywhere you want.
- Great-looking light, unique modular design
- Expensive
Kryptonite Alley F-800
In an ocean awash with similar products, I’m always looking for those that offer a high-value package, and the Kryptonite Alley F-800 does that.
With a single LED outputting a high-quality beam in a sturdy aluminum round housing, with side-illumination, it delivers in the most important area. It has excellent floodlight properties, with above average spread.
Furthermore it covers the basics in the settings department, with 3 standard settings, and 3 flash modes. As well as a power button / battery indicator, with 3 different colors.
The port is sensibly located underneath the light to prevent water damage.
The light offers a ratchet strap, and an optional helmet mount is available. I would have loved to see a GoPro or Garmin mount as well.
When the battery life drops below 10 percent it auto-adjusts itself to the low steady mode to lower the risk of riding unlit.
- Great allrounder, solid beam quality
- None
Kryptonite Alley F-650
The Kryptonite Alley F-650 sits underneath their F-800 light and has the exact same design and properties.
With a single LED outputting a high-quality beam in a sturdy aluminum round housing, with side-illumination, it delivers in the most important area. It has excellent floodlight properties, with above average spread.
Furthermore it covers the basics in the settings department, with 3 standard settings, and 3 flash modes. As well as a power button / battery indicator, with 3 different colors.
The port is sensibly located underneath the light to prevent water damage.
The light offers a ratchet strap, and an optional helmet mount is available. I would have loved to see a GoPro or Garmin mount as well.
When the battery life drops below 10 percent it auto-adjusts itself to the low steady mode to lower the risk of riding unlit.
- Great allrounder, solid beam quality
- None
Lezyne MICRO DRIVE PRO 800XL
The Lezyne MICRO DRIVE PRO 800XL offers a combination of many settings you can scroll through with a remote. That’s pretty unique for a 800 lumen bike light and immediately distinguishes itself from the competition.
Those modes are either the 800 and 150, or everything else, meaning 250, 400, and flash modes. The highest setting will offer you 1.45 hours of burn time, and with the remote you can easily extend that period well over 2 hours or more.
A remote is a very welcome addition to a light, especially one you use in less than ideal road circumstances, where removing your hand to operate a rather small power button is a hassle at best.
There’s an optional helmet and GoPro mount, which I would almost argue, is a must for such a bike light.
I would give this light a definite plus one in the bikepacking and gravel riding category, or when your daily commute is on roads less traveled, because of its remote.
- Remote included, great option for gravel riders and commuters
- None
Lezyne CLASSIC DRIVE 700XL
Coming in your standard black and a silver version, the Lezyne CLASSIC DRIVE 700XL is a beautiful front bike light, for commuting on unlit roads.
The distinctive feature of this light is its user-friendly setting where you can quickly swap between 2 modes only: 400 lumen and the maximum 700 lumen.
It’s this ease of use that’s a nice touch in an otherwise excellent setup, with a waterproof round aluminum housing.
The power button also serves as a stoplight battery indicator, something we’ve seen with many other lights as well.
And you’ve got your optional helmet and GoPro mount for an out front or Garmin setup.
A single spotlight with a maximum output of 700 lumens means it moves into the category of being seen rather than to see, though it does outshine many of its competitors.
- Solid commuter option
- None
Lezyne CLASSIC DRIVE 700XL oilslick
The Lezyne CLASSIC DRIVE 700XL also comes in the very bling oil slick version.
- Oil Slick version
- None
Lezyne MICRO DRIVE 600XL
Coming in your standard black and a silver version, the Lezyne MICRO DRIVE 600XL is a beautiful front bike light, for commuting on unlit roads.
The distinctive feature of this light is its user-friendly setting where you can quickly swap between 2 modes only: 400 lumen and the maximum 600 lumen.
It’s this ease of use that’s a nice touch in an otherwise excellent setup, with a waterproof round aluminum housing.
The power button also serves as a stoplight battery indicator, something we’ve seen with many other lights as well.
The beam quality is bright and wide, and for standard urban and road cycling you’ll hardly need the brightest setting, giving you a burn time well over 2 hours.
And you’ve got your optional helmet and GoPro mount for an out front or Garmin setup.
- Very easy to use
- None
Light & Motion Vis 1000 Trooper
The Light & Motion Vis 1000 Trooper is a high-quality offering from this long standing brand.
The light ticks all the right boxes. A 1000 lumen single LED spotlight with a waterproof aluminum casing.
A high-quality beam predominantly meant for road riding and commuting, with a strap mount to attach it to your handlebars.
It has standard modes, including a daytime flash mode, and side lights for added visibility.
Additional GoPro mounts are available for either an out front or helmet setup, but other lights offer that out of the box.
It means that if you’re looking for just a light and nothing more, you get a lot for your money.
- Excellent beam quality
- None
Light & Motion Vis 700 Tundra
The Light & Motion Vis 700 Tundra is a commuting and road cycling oriented front bike light.
A single strong LED and amber side lights ensure you’re seen in busy urban environments. The beam pattern is strong and tapers smoothly into the side, enabling a well-lit view on unlit roads.
Just as with the Lezyne lights this one has a toggle mode between the highest and the medium setting, which is exceptionally useful and user-friendly.
Its black-silver housing has a premium high-quality feel to it, and the light has one of the highest waterproof ratings.
Furthermore you’ve got your stoplight power button battery indicator, and a smattering of helmet and GoPro optional mounts.
- Excellent beam quality
- None
Magicshine ALLTY800 Rechargeable USB-C Road Bike Light
The Magicshine ALLTY800 Rechargeable USB-C Road Bike Light offers a Garmin compatible mount out-of-the-box.
That’s a big plus besides the perfect beam quality it offers as well. So if you already own a Garmin you can go for an out front mount with an inverted light mount. There’s an optional helmet mount available as well.
The light is fast-charged using the latest USB-C standard instead of the more traditional micro-USB.
Just as with the Lezyne it has a setting which switches between the highest and an economy setting, if you like riding at full output, but still want to be able to easily extend battery life.
The single LED offers a bright spotlight and the top half of the lens offers floodlight characteristics for improved visibility side to side.
It’s one of the most affordable high-quality options within its category.
- Fantastic light, USB-C port, easy-to-use, affordable, one of the best in the sub-1000 lumens category
- None
Magicshine ALLTY600 Rechargeable USB-C Road Bike Light
The Magicshine ALLTY600 Rechargeable USB-C Road Bike Light offers a Garmin compatible mount out-of-the-box.
That’s a big plus besides the perfect beam quality it offers as well. So if you already own a Garmin you can go for an out front mount with an inverted light mount. There’s an optional helmet mount available as well.
The light is fast-charged using the latest USB-C standard instead of the more traditional micro-USB.
Just as with the Lezyne it has a setting which switches between the highest and an economy setting, if you like riding at full output, but still want to be able to easily extend battery life.
The single LED offers a bright spotlight and the top half of the lens offers floodlight characteristics for improved visibility side to side.
It’s one of the most affordable high-quality options within its category.
- Fantastic light, USB-C port, easy-to-use, affordable, one of the best in the sub-1000 lumens category
- None
NiteRider Lumina Micro 750 Front Bike Light
The NiteRider Lumina Micro 750 Front Bike Light is a solid front bike light with a proven high quality beam.
The distinctive IP64 waterproof nylon shell with silver heatsink houses the single powerful LED that offers enough light for both road cycling and gravel riding on unlit roads.
The three main settings are operated using the power button, which also doubles as a stoplight battery indicator. They let you cycle to low (250), medium (500), and high (750) settings.
Available with optional GoPro and Helmet mounts to extend its functionality has made it a favorite design for many years.
- Distinctive design, proven beam quality, waterproof nylon shell, relatively lightweight
- None
Towild Cl 600 Bike Light
The Towild Cl 600 Bike Light is one of the few true budget lights that deserves a place on this list.
It does everything its bigger brand competitors do for half the price. That means it packs a 2000 mAh battery in an aluminum waterproof case, with a stoplight battery indicator doubling as a power button.
It has a Garmin-style twist mount and out front bracket, with your standard low, medium, and high modes, operable by a wireless remote.
There’s an optional helmet mount as well, and you can charge the thing with a USB C cable.
Apart from the remote, that may sound very familiar, except for the fact the light is markedly cheaper than the rest.
- Extremely cheap
- None
Specifications bicycle lights for commuting
Name | Price | Max lumen | Battery type | Battery capacity (mAh) | Battery life (Hrs) | Mount type | Rating | Light control | Weight | Body | Helmet mount | Buy at Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cateye AMPP800 | 70 USD | 800 | internal | 2500 | 1.5 – 30 | bracket | IPX4 | light | 136 | aluminium | optional | |
Exposure Sirius Mk9 DayBright | 85 pounds | 850 | internal | 2900 | 1.5 – 36 | bracket | IPX6 | light | 84 | aluminium | optional | |
Garmin Varia UT800 Smart Headlight | 100 USD | 800 | internal | 1.5 – 25 | Garmin mount | IPX7 | light / garmin | 130 | aluminium | optional | ||
Knog Blinder Road 600 Front Bike Light | 65 USD | 600 | internal | 1 – 9 | strap | IP67 | light | 95 | aluminium | no | ||
Knog PWR Road 700 Front Bike Light | 90 USD | 700 | internal | 3340 | 1.7 – 165 | bracket | IP66 | light | 125 | aluminium | optional | |
Kryptonite Alley F-800 | 75 USD | 800 | internal | 1.5 – 24 | strap | IP64 | light | 162 | aluminium | no | ||
Kryptonite Alley F-650 | 65 USD | 650 | internal | 2 – 12 | strap | IP64 | light | 162 | aluminium | no | ||
Lezyne MICRO DRIVE PRO 800XL | 75 USD | 800 | internal | 1.5 – 19 | strap | IPX7 | remote | 114 | aluminium | optional | ||
Lezyne CLASSIC DRIVE 700XL | 65 USD | 700 | internal | 2 -19 | strap | IPX7 | light | 124 | aluminium | optional | ||
Lezyne CLASSIC DRIVE 700XL oilslick | 54 USD | 700 | internal | 2 -19 | strap | IPX7 | light | 124 | aluminium | optional | ||
Lezyne MICRO DRIVE 600XL | 55 USD | 600 | internal | 1 – 17 | strap | IPX7 | light | 97 | aluminium | optional | ||
Light & Motion Vis 1000 Trooper | 60 USD | 1000 | internal | 1.5 – 9 | strap | IP67 | light | 121 | aluminium | optional | ||
Light & Motion Vis 700 Tundra | 48 USD | 700 | internal | 1.5 – 9 | strap | IP67 | light | 121 | aluminium | optional | ||
Magicshine ALLTY800 Rechargeable USB-C Road Bike Light | 60 USD | 800 | internal | 4000 | 1.5 – 11 | strap | IPX7 | light | 172 | aluminium | optional | |
Magicshine ALLTY600 Rechargeable USB-C Road Bike Light | 40 USD | 600 | internal | 1.5 – 7 | strap | IPX7 | light | 107 | aluminium | optional | ||
NiteRider Lumina Micro 750 Front Bike Light | 70 USD | 750 | internal | 2 – 12 | bracket | IP64 | light | 130 | nylon / aluminium | optional | ||
Towild Cl 600 Bike Light | 30 USD | 600 | internal | 2000 | 1.5 – 10 | Garmin | remote | aluminium | optional |
Johan van Seijen
FoundeR Restoration.bike
Johan van Seijen is the founder of restoration.bike. His passion for cycling in general, and restoring older bikes turned into a website to share his knowledge with a broader audience. Starting out on his father’s road bike and riding classics as the Amstel Gold Race and Liege Bastogne Liege he has shifted his attention to trail, XC, and gravel riding since. No matter how much he loves writing about everything related to cycling, nothing beats actually using his ever-expanding bicycle collection.
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