How to Choose Bike Lights | Quick Guide for Cyclists
How to choose the right bike light
The best bike light for you will depend on where and when you ride. There are lights designed for city, road and mountain bike riding, and lights designed for lighting conditions ranging from total darkness to broad daylight. If you ride mostly riding during daylight hours, you will want a daytime running light that is visible during the day. We recommend the Flare RT as the best rear bike light for daytime riding.
The best lights for mountain biking
The best mountain bike lights should be powerful enough to light up the entire trail, which means they have 1,000 Lumen or greater brightness ratings. If you plan on mounting your bike helmet with lights, ensure that the light is compatible with your helmet mount and look for a lightweight yet powerful option. We recommend the Ion Elite R or Ion Pro RT as the best night-riding bike light options for MTB. Pro tip: one light on your bars and one light on your helmet can really help illuminate a trail.
The best bike lights for commuting
Many lights are rated with a bike light visible distance, typically measured in metres, which is super useful when comparing models. Lights visible from a long distance can help give other road users more time to notice and react to your presence. They can also help you see further down a dark path or trail.
The best bike lights for road riding
You should use daytime running lights on every ride – no matter how bright the sun is shining. For open road riding, we recommend the Flare RT/ Ion 200 RT light set. Both are visible from over 2 km away during the day, they’re compact and powerful, and they easily mount onto your road bike without added bulk for a clean, bright look.
Where do bike lights go and how do I install them?
It’s generally recommended that you mount a bike light directly onto your bike. If you mount a light onto your body, its beam will follow your body’s movement and may not be optimally visible at times. When you mount your bike lights, you should also ensure that they’re not obstructed by your bike or any accessories.
Mounting rear bike lights
We recommend attaching rear bike lights to your seat post. Check that the bike light mount is secure, tight and level with the horizon. It should shine straight backwards. If you’re using a bike rack, you may want to mount your bike light directly onto your rack so it’s not blocked.
Shop rear bike lightsMounting front bike lights
We recommend mounting front bike lights directly onto your handlebar. Just like your rear light, make sure the mount is secure, tight and level with the horizon. It should shine straight forwards. You can also mount your front light onto your helmet, which is a popular choice for mountain bikers who want their light to follow their line of sight.
Shop front bike lightsOther types of mounting options
Many bike stems and saddles also feature integrated mounting capabilities. Trek Blendr mounts make it easy to mount front and rear Trek lights and provide a clean, integrated look. You can also use clip-on mounts, or belt-clip mounts which can easily affix a light to your clothes, bike bag or backpack.
How do I know which brand to buy?
Not all lights are created equal. Lenses, flash patterns, visible distances, run times, modes and charge times can vary greatly across the bike light industry. This is especially important when it comes to daytime running lights. Trek Daytime Running Lights are designed with a specific flash, focus and range to help you stand out from a meaningful distance on every ride, day and night.