Bike lights have two main roles – to help you see, and to help you be seen. Opting for high lumen bike lights can be a great solution to both.
Here, we’ll explore the best high lumen bike lights for night and day riding – including the different use cases and which features you should consider.
But first…
High lumen bike lights are bike lights that have a high lumen output.
Put simply, the higher the lumens, the brighter the bike light.
There are no rules around how many lumens a bike light should have.
Rather, it will all depend on what kind of cycling you want to do – and whether that’s in daylight or in darkness.
As a rough guide, a front bike light should be a minimum of 100 to 200 lumens (which is often sufficient for cycling in well-lit urban areas). But a high lumen bike light could be between 800 and 2,000.
Meanwhile, a rear bike light should be a minimum of 50 to 100 lumens. But a high lumen rear bike light could provide between 200 and 450, making you visible from greater distances.
A brighter light doesn’t always mean better – rather, it all depends on what kind of riding you want to do.
Most high lumen bike lights have several brightness settings to give you the flexibility to adapt to different scenarios.
Here’s how many lumens are generally recommended for various cycling environments.
If you’re cycling in well-lit, urban areas, 100 to 200 lumens will usually be sufficient.
This will allow you to be seen by other road users without blinding pedestrians or drivers.
For a daytime running light, opt for between 200 and 600 lumens.
Bike lights are just as important in the day as they are at night – according to We Love Cycling, cyclists using lights during the day are able to reduce the risk of collisions with other vehicles by 19%.
In suburban areas or streets with less lighting, 400 to 600 lumens is recommended.
This will give you better visibility of potential hazards.
In areas with no street lighting, you’ll be relying purely on your bike lights for visibility.
A high lumen output of 800 to 1,500 lumens will help you to see where you’re going and spot every pothole.
For trail riding and mountain biking at night, opt for a high lumen output of 800 to 2,000 lumens.
This way, you’ll be able to see every obstacle – from rocks to roots – which is a real safety essential, especially when riding downhill.
It’s not just about the lumens. When you’re choosing bike lights, there’ll be several other factors you’ll need to take into account.
Here are some additional features to consider if you’re on the hunt for a high lumen bike light.
Would you prefer a wide or focused beam?
A bike light with a wider beam is better for general visibility, while a focused beam will light up a smaller area with greater intensity – ideal for seeing far ahead on unlit roads.
Bear in mind that higher lumens typically use up more battery power.
Always look into the details instead of just relying on a brand’s claimed lumen output. As an example, a bike light might claim to be 1,000 lumens, but it may only be able to run at full power for an hour. On the other hand, it may be able to run at 50% for two or three hours.
You’ll need to ensure your bike light can provide the lumen output you need for the duration of your rides – or that you can recharge it on the go.
When it comes to being seen, it’s not just about lumens.
A 360 visibility bike light set like the SeeMe Pro 360 will make you visible to other road users from all angles, helping to prevent cycling accidents.
Likewise, a bike light with flashing modes can help you to be seen more easily.
These are especially useful when it comes to daytime running lights or cycling in well-lit, high-traffic areas. In dimly-lit or rural areas, a constant beam is preferable so that you can see where you’re going.
It’s important to make sure that your chosen light can be safely mounted on your bike – and that the beam isn’t obscured by other equipment, like saddle bags.
Different bike lights will attach to your bike in different ways. The most common include elasticated straps, clips and clamps, and fixed mounts with quick-release fittings.
Fixed mounts are the most convenient and safest option, as they won’t have to be re-set up each time you remove the bike light for charging – meaning other road users won’t be blinded by badly-adjusted light beams.
Rechargeable bike lights are the best option for the environment and also tend to be better quality than the disposable bike lights on the market.
The EU has recently approved legislation to make USB-C charging mandatory for smartphones, cameras and tablets by the end of 2024.
With that in mind, looking for bike lights that also have USB-C charging ports will mean you can confidently charge your bike lights using your phone charger.
Charging time can vary hugely between bike light models and manufacturers.
Typically, it can take around 5 hours to get a powerful front bike light back to full battery after it’s completely out of juice. However, always check the technical specifications before buying!
The IP rating of a bike light will reveal how resistant it is to water.
We recommend getting a bike light that’s rated at least IP64 to ensure it’s protected from water spray coming from any direction.
Bike lights today can do more and more.
You can find high lumen bike lights that integrate with bike computer systems, include integrated video cameras or even send SOS signals after a fall.
So, now you know what to look for in a high lumen bike light.
But which are the best high lumen bike lights to choose from? Here are our favourite options, spanning a range of different price points (in no particular order!).
As well as being reliable and durable, the Exposure Strada is packed with features. One of the most impressive is its ability to dip the beam in the face of oncoming traffic.
The Knog Blinder is a no-regret choice. It’s precise, powerful and fully waterproof – as well as both lightweight and small in profile.
The Cateye AMPP900 is a fantastic option if you’re looking for a budget high lumen bike light that’s suitable for both commuting and riding on unlit roads.
Designed primarily for urban riding, the Magicshine Allty 1500S features a wireless remote control and an OLED screen display to show battery level, mode and runtime with precision.
The SeeMe Pro 360 is a full bike light set that includes high lumen front and rear lights, as well as LED lighting strips to ensure cyclists can be seen from every angle. The powerful front light includes an integrated HD video camera.
| Bike light | Lumens | Modes | Flashing modes? | Runtime (max power) | USB-C chargeable? | Mounting system | IP rating | Rough price point |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exposure Strada SB Mk12 | 1,450 | 4 | ✓ | 2 hours | X | Proprietary | IP65 | £295 |
| Knog Blinder 1300 | 1,300 | 6 | ✓ | 1.5 hours | ✓ | Rubber strap / GoPro style mount | IP67 | £100 |
| Cateye AMPP900 | 900 | 5 | ✓ | 2 hours | ✓ | Universal FlexTight bracket | IPX4 | £65 |
| Magicshine Allty 1500S | 1,500 | 6 | ✓ | 1 hour 40 | ✓ | Garmin quarter-turn mount | IPX5 | £90 |
| SeeMe Pro 360 | 1,500 | 6 | ✓ | >2 hours | ✓ | Quick-release mount | IP66 | £349.99 (for whole bike light set) |
The Lezyne Strip Drive Pro 400+ is an advanced rear bike light that adjusts its outputs to signal deceleration and stopping.
The Magicshine Seemee 360 is more than just a rear bike light. This smart light projects a 360° red halo around you to ensure all-around visibility and keep you safer on the road.
SeeMe Cycle’s rear bike light is about as bright as you can get, at 450 lumens. However, the real attraction here is that it comes as part of a full set, which includes a high lumen front light and LED strip lights – to ensure you can see while also being seen from all angles.
| Bike light | Lumens | Modes | Flashing modes? | Runtime (max power) | USB-C chargeable? | Mounting system | IP rating | Rough price point |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lezyne Strip Drive Pro 400+ | 400 | 7 | ✓ | 5.5 hours | ✓ | Rubber strap | IPX7 | £60 |
| Magicshine Seemee 300 | 300 | 5 | ✓ | 15 hours | ✓ | Quick release mount | IPX6 | £50 |
| SeeMe Pro 360 | 450 | 6 | ✓ | >2 hours (inclusive of front light) | ✓ | Quick release mount | IP66 | £349.99 (for whole bike light set) |
In summary, opting for a high lumen bike light means versatility.
Most high lumen bike lights have a number of different modes, which means you can adjust your light’s brightness settings to cover you for all scenarios – whether you’re commuting or mountain biking.
But remember, a high lumen output isn’t the only thing to consider.
At SeeMe Cycle, our high lumen bike light set is designed not only to help you see, but also to help you be seen – with a 1,500 lumen directional main front beam, a high-intensity 450 lumen rear main beam and 160 lumen quadrant LED lighting strips.
In this way, you can be confident that, as well as being able to see where you’re going, you’re also visible to other road users from all angles – helping to keep you safe on the roads.
