Whether you cycle for fun or as part of your commute to work, you’re going to come across a range of weather conditions on your rides. That’s just the nature of life in the UK!
But wet weather can have its challenges.
Choosing the right waterproof bike lights isn’t just important for their longevity and durability. It’s also an important bike safety essential that will help you to see and be seen in all weather conditions.
Here’s all you need to know.
There’s no set standard for how waterproof a bike light has to be.
In fact, it’s rare to find one that’s 100% waterproof.
So, knowing what to look for is key. Here’s the lowdown.
Waterproof ratings on bike lights can vary hugely.
To find out how waterproof a bike light is, you’ll need to look for the ‘IP’ rating.
‘IP’ stands for ‘Ingress Protection.’ These letters will be followed by two numbers.
The first number tells you the level of protection the bike light offers from solid particles (dust) – although you might see it replaced with an ‘X’ if this is unknown.
Meanwhile, the second number tells you the level of protection from liquids.
We’d typically recommend getting a bike light that’s rated at least IP64. This means it will be protected from water spray coming from any direction.
However, higher IP ratings will offer even more protection.
For instance, if you want a fully waterproof bike light, consider one rated IP67 or higher.
IP67 can withstand immersion up to 1 metre – which will likely be plenty for your needs!
| IP rating | What it means |
| IPX4 | Protected against water splashes from any direction |
| IPX5 | Protected against water jets from any direction |
| IPX6 | Protected against powerful water jets from any direction |
| IPX7 | Protected against temporary immersion in water |
IP ratings aside, here are some features to keep in mind when you’re considering how suitable a bike light is for use in wet weather conditions.
The best bike lights today are rechargeable. But that means a sealed charging port is a must to prevent water ingress in wet weather.
Wet weather conditions can make visibility especially problematic. A high lumen bike light will help you to see and be seen in the fog and rain.
Likewise, a bike light with flashing modes can help to make you more visible to other road users – which is especially important in poor visibility conditions like wet weather.
There’s no point in having a waterproof bike light if it slips and slides all over the place as soon as it gets wet. Look for a secure quick-release mount or non-slip rubber straps to ensure your light remains stable in all weathers (more on mounts in a bit!).
Of course, you’ll need more from your bike light than just water resistance!
The best bike lights will have high IP ratings along with a host of other features to make your life easier and enhance your safety on the roads.
Here are some things to consider.
You’ll need to make sure your bike light’s battery can last the duration of your rides – or that you can easily recharge it on the go.
The brightest front bike lights can often only last up to around 2 hours on full power, but they may be able to last much longer at 50%.
So, make sure to dig into the ins and outs before purchasing to check any bike lights you’re considering will meet your needs.
If you never want to have to worry about the battery running out, you could consider investing in dynamo lighting. These are powered by rotational energy, thanks to a generator hub built into the front wheel.
However, once you stop moving, they stop generating – meaning your lights will turn off unless they have a ‘stand light’ (make sure to check this before buying). Plus, they don’t generally emit more than 700 lumens and can be expensive and complicated to set up – so, they’re not as versatile as many high lumen rechargeable options.
The best bike lights on the market nowadays are rechargeable. However, not all bike lights will charge in the same way.
We recommend opting for a bike light that has a USB-C charging port, as the EU has recently approved legislation to make USB-C charging mandatory for smartphones, cameras and tablets by the end of 2024.
With this in mind, a bike light that’s compatible with USB-C charging will mean you can confidently recharge it using your phone charger.
Charging time can also vary widely between bike light models and manufacturers.
As a rough guide, you’re looking at an average of around 5 hours to get a powerful front bike light back to full battery from empty – but it’s always worth checking the technical specifications.
There are no set rules around how bright your bike lights must be.
But as a general guide, your front light should be a minimum of 100 to 200 lumens, while your rear light should be at least 50 to 100 lumens.
That said, a bike light with super bright modes will help you to see further and make you visible from greater distances – covering you for many more scenarios, from daytime riding to off-roading in the dark.
As well as the maximum lumen output of your bike lights, check how many modes are available and whether that includes flashing modes.
The more brightness levels and modes available, the more versatile your bike lights will be.
Bike lights today can do so much more than just help you to see where you’re going.
You can find bike lights that do all kinds of interesting things – from sending out SOS signals after a fall to adjusting their brightness levels to let other road users know that you’re braking.
In particular, you might want to opt for a bike light that can integrate with technology such as smartphones or bike computers.
At SeeMe Cycle, our waterproof bike light set even includes an integrated HD video camera so you can record your rides and access footage of any poor behaviour from other road users.
While front and rear bike lights are a legal requirement for cycling on the roads at night, they won’t ensure that you’re seen from all angles.
Investing in additional side visibility features will keep you safer on the roads by ensuring you’re seen by other road users and drivers.
For instance, at SeeMe Cycle, our 360 visibility bike light set combines high lumen LED front and rear lights with super bright LED strip lights radiating to the sides.
This provides 100% side coverage to help prevent cycling accidents.
Another important consideration is how you mount your bike light to your bike.
Different bike lights will attach to your bike in different ways. The most common methods include:
Fixed mounts are the most convenient and safe option as they don’t need to be re-set up every time you remove your bike light for charging.
Instead, you can take your time to set them up correctly just once, and then quickly clip your bike lights back in every other time, safe in the knowledge that you won’t blind other road users with badly-adjusted beams.
You’ll need to make sure that you can mount your chosen light to your bike without other equipment – like saddle bags – obscuring it.
Plus, your light will need to be the right height to increase visibility and decrease the shadows of ground objects.
Usually, the obvious place to mount your front light will be your handlebars, although you can also mount front lights to the steerer, eyelet or axle of your bike.
Meanwhile, your rear light will usually attach to your seat post or bike rack.
It’s important that your mount can securely hold your bike light in place, even in wet weather.
After all, even if you don’t plan on riding in the rain often, the UK weather is unpredictable. The last thing you want is to be caught out.
A secure quick-release mount or non-slip rubber straps will help to ensure your light remains stable in all weathers.
Meanwhile, make sure to check that any tech-heavy mounts – like ones with charging contacts built in – are sealed and weatherproof, just like your lights.
Not all mounts are suitable for all bikes. So, make sure to check compatibility before buying.
If you own several bikes, it’s also worth checking that your mount and lights are compatible with all of them.
That way, you can easily switch your bike lights between your commuter bike and your mountain bike to cover you for both work and leisure.
Surprisingly, there are no legal requirements in the UK to do with bike light waterproof ratings.
This means that the onus is on the buyer to check the lights you are offered are waterproof – and beware, because there are brands of lights, particularly those sold on online marketplaces, that aren’t.
Fortunately, you can be reassured that all SeeMe lights are waterproof.
It’s also worth noting that you are legally required to have working front and rear lights on your bike between the hours of sunset and sunrise – and these must be clean and working properly.
With this in mind, we think it’s safe to say that choosing bike lights rated at least IP64 is a must.
After all, your lights will need to be able to withstand a certain amount of wet weather in order to make sure they’re working properly when you need them!
Remember also that these are minimum requirements. Going above and beyond what’s required will enhance your safety and experience on the road. For instance:
Ultimately, the best bike lights for your needs will depend on what kind of bike you have and what kind of riding you plan to do.
Which brings us onto…
There’s no ‘one size fits all’ when it comes to choosing a bike light.
Rather, the best waterproof bike light for your needs will depend on lots of different factors, such as what time of day you ride, the lengths of your rides, ambient lighting conditions, and urban vs rural riding.
With that in mind, here are some usage scenarios along with some key considerations.
At night, bike lights are vital to help you both see and be seen.
During daylight, on the other hand, you may not need lights to help you see where you’re going. But they can still help to make you more visible to other road users.
A Danish study cited by We Love Cycling showed that cyclists using lights during the day could reduce the risk of colliding with a car by 19%.
The key here is the lumen output. While 100 to 200 lumens is usually sufficient for cycling in well-lit urban settings at night, a daytime running light will need a higher lumen output of between 200 and 600 lumens to be effective.
Flashing modes can also be particularly helpful for attracting attention in daylight hours.
Waterproof bike lights are a must to ensure that your bike lights continue functioning properly in wet weather conditions.
But that’s not all. Weather like rain and fog can also have a huge impact on visibility – affecting both your ability to see and be seen.
In this case, bike lights with brighter modes can help to keep you safer on your rides.
A high lumen waterproof front bike light will ensure you can see where you’re going in bad weather conditions, at the same time as making sure you’re visible to other road users.
Similarly, a high lumen waterproof rear bike light will ensure that you can be seen from greater distances.
Bike lights exist to help you both see and be seen – but your priorities will shift depending on whether you’re cycling in urban or rural areas.
When cycling in unlit rural settings or off-road, your biggest priority will usually be to see where you’re going – after all, being able to identify obstacles like potholes and tree branches is a must.
On the other hand, when cycling in well-lit urban environments with lots of traffic, the priority is usually to be seen.
In this case, bike lights with flashing modes, high lumen bike lights and 360 bike lights can help to ensure you’re visible to other road users from all directions, playing a vital part in keeping you safe on the road.
As you can see, waterproof bike lights are a must if you’re cycling in the UK.
After all, even fair weather cyclists can get caught out in the rain from time to time!
A waterproof bike light with a rating of at least IP64 will ensure that your bike lights can function properly and consistently in all conditions, to keep you safe on the roads.
But it’s not just about IP ratings.
Features like mounting solutions, lumen output, flashing modes, 360 degree visibility and more all have their part to play when it comes to keeping you safe in wet weather conditions.
Just because visibility may be compromised, that doesn’t mean your safety should be too!
If you’re on the hunt for a waterproof bike light that puts your safety first, you’re in the right place.
The SeeMe Pro 360 is rated IP66, has a high lumen output with seven modes to choose from (including flashing modes), and is designed to make sure you can be seen from every angle.
We’ve got your back, whatever the weather!
Not all bike lights will necessarily be waterproof. The IP rating on a bike light will tell you how resistant it is to water – we recommend getting one rated at least IP64 so that it’s protected from splashes.
Looking after your bike light properly is key to keeping it working effectively and could even extend its lifespan.
A rechargeable bike light can typically last around 3 hours on a single charge. However, if you’re riding in wet weather, you might need to use the brighter modes, which can drain your battery quicker.
As a rough guide, the best waterproof bike lights typically last up to 2 hours on their brightest settings.
Yes, you can charge a waterproof bike light in wet weather – however, you’ll usually need to do so somewhere dry.
This is because most waterproof rechargeable bike lights require you to remove a weather seal to access the USB port. The batteries themselves aren’t usually rated for wet weather, so you should avoid removing the weather seal without shielding it from the rain first.
The lifespan of your bike lights can vary based on lots of different factors. These include:
If you’re going to be riding in wet weather, getting a waterproof bike light is crucial to extending its lifespan – otherwise, you can expect your bike light to last a few months at most.
