Bicycle Headlights for Commuting. Can’t Decide

Asked by: Tatiana Gulliver

How do I choose a bike light?

The ideal bike light must be bright enough to see and be seen, but should not be so bright as to blind other people. Bike lights are rated in lumens, with 300 lumens being a minimum for commuter cycling in the dark.

Is 600 lumens bright enough for cycling?

If you’re riding on unlit roads, you’re probably going to want a front light that’s around 600 lumens as a minimum, but you also want to make sure that you’re not going to be dazzling any oncomers. When cycling on the road, it’s important to get a light that’s not going to blind any oncoming traffic.

Is 400 lumens enough for road cycling?

Generally speaking, we’d recommend a minimum of 200 lumens for urban commuting and 400 lumens for riding on unlit roads. If you’re after lights for riding off-road on trails, you’ll need something brighter, with greater power and battery life.

How many lumens do I need to ride a bike at night?

A minimum of 1,500 lumens will provide enough light for well-lit riding. You can get away with less, but if you ride fast or on technical trails more lumens is better than less.

How many lumens do I need cycling?

What is a Good Brightness for a Bike Light? Cyclists travelling through well-lit areas should aim for a 100- or 200- lumen light. If you’re cycling through unlit areas and need to increase visibility, you’ll need a higher lumen count. Anywhere between 200 to 600 lumens is ideal, especially for commuters.

How many lumens should my bike headlight be?

Commuters traveling on well-lit city streets can typically get away with a 100- or 200-lumen LED light, Irons says, while mountain bikers need at least 1000 lumens.

Is 800 lumens enough for a bike light?

An 800 lumen light, like the Cateye Volt 800 is bright enough so you can ride with confidence on pitch dark roads at 20 mph or even faster. If you ride blazing fast (25+ mph) or you ride on dark forest trails, you need an even more powerful light (1600 lumens or more).

How far does 800 lumens shine?

The brightness of an 800 lumen torch (UK for flashlight) is the power of light of 800 candles. This level is regarded as a very bright level of torch suitable for most outdoor tasks. The throw of light can be up to a 200m distance.

How bright should bike lights be Reddit?

500 lumens lets you brake enough to crash into something slowly. If you want to not crash into something at all you need at least 800 lumens and preferably 1000. For road biking anything over 800. Lights are cheap so get the brightest light which has a battery that lasts for the length of time you need.

Is 1000 lumens good for a bike light?

1000+ lumens: If you’re riding on rural roads at night, then you’ll need a light above 1000 lumens so you can ride with confidence. The on-road bike lights will have a powerful beam showing you a long way in front of you. If you’re riding off-road at night, you’ll need to be as far above 1000 lumens as possible.

Is a 1000 lumens bright?

A 1000 lumen flashlight is quite bright and, depending on the lens or reflector design, powerful enough to reach a distance of 200 meters or more. This type of flashlight allows you to see objects from a far distance.

How strong is 500 lumens?

Lumens is the unit measurement of brightness, with 1 lumen (lm) equalling the brightness of 1 candle, so 500 lumens has the brightness of 500 candles. 500 lm is a good level of light for LED, CFL or incandescent lighting.

How bright is 400 lumens?

Lumens is the unit measurement of brightness, with 1 lumen equalling the brightness of 1 candle, so 400 lumens has the brightness of 400 candles. 400 Lumens is a good level of light for LED, CFL or incandescent lighting.

How many lumens is enough?

Summary: Calculating Total Lumens Needed for a Room



Multiply your room square footage by the footcandle requirement. For example, a 100-square foot living room, which needs 20 foot candles, will need 2,000 lumens. A 100-square foot dining room, which needs 40 foot-candles, will need 4,000 lumens.

What is the most powerful bike light?

Best high-power front bike lights

• Lezyne Macro Drive 1300XXL. 2021/22 grouptest: Best performance/value blend. …
• Exposure Strada MK10 SB. 2021/22 grouptest: Best ‘money no object’ option. …
• KNOG PWR Trail 1100. …
• Blackburn Dayblazer 1500. …
• Ravemen PR1600. …
• Exposure Sirius Mk9 Daybright. …
• Lezyne Micro Drive Pro 800XL. …
• Knog PWR Rider.

How far should a bike light shine?

Front lights are required to be visible typically at a distance of at least 500 feet. Some states require only a rear red reflector visible at a distance of at least 500 feet, whereas some require a rear lamp emitting a red light at a distance of at least 500 feet.

Are flashing bike lights safer?

The study found the flashing light was far superior on the straight road, allowing detection of the rider from three times the distance of the steady light.

Are flashing lights on bicycles illegal?

The 2005 RVLR amendment means that it is now legal to have a flashing light on a pedal cycle, provided it flashes between 60 and 240 times per minute (1 – 4Hz). The amendment also allows a single flashing light so long as it meets the minimum brightness standards.

What is the brightest front bike light?

The Exposure Strada SL has a maximum output of 900 lumens, which is comfortably bright enough to light the way on dark country lanes. In fact, for most riders, this is all the light you’ll ever need.

Which is the best headlight for bike?

Headlight bulbs for bikes: For an enhanced on-road visibility

• Osram Rallye HS1 Halogen 62185RL Exterior Headlight Bulb (12V, 45/40W) …
• Osram HS1 Silver Star 64185SVS-01B Headlight Bulb (12V, 35W) …
• Nikavi NO2H LED Headlights AC/DC Bulbs for Motorcycle. …
• BLP H4 Led Headlight Bulb for All Bikes and Scooty.

What is brightest lumen for a bike light?

The Brightest Bike Light

• The Niterider 3600 Pro which shines with 3600 lumens is currently the brightest bike light (a typical car headlight produces about 1500 lumens). It sells for about $600.
• The brightest self-contained bike light is the Nitecore BR32 — a 1800 lumen OLED light, available for $130.