A rear bike light is an essential safety device that makes cyclists visible to other road users from behind – especially in low-light conditions.
It’s also a legal requirement in the UK if you’re riding your bike between the hours of sunset and sunrise.
But with technology constantly changing, selecting a rear bike light can feel overwhelming. You can get high-lumen rear bike lights, ones with flashing modes or even ones that are part of a 360 bike light set, like the SeeMe Pro 360. So, which should you choose?
Here, we’ll cover all you need to know so you can make your choice with confidence.
A rear bike light – also known as a bike taillight – is a bike safety essential that will help you to be seen on the roads when you’re cycling.
Although it’s only a legal requirement during hours of darkness, studies have shown that using a rear bike light during the day can also play a big role in preventing cycling accidents.
With that in mind, more and more rear bike lights today are designed with daytime running features to help cyclists be more visible in bright sunlight and glare – as well as during hours of darkness.
A rear bike light should be a minimum of 50 to 100 lumens.
However, lights with a higher lumen output can make you visible from greater distances and increase your visibility in daylight. For daylight riding, we’d recommend a minimum of 200 lumens – but the brighter the better.
The SeeMe Pro 360 includes a 450 lumen rear bike light to ensure you can be seen from behind, whatever the conditions.
You’ll need to attach your rear bike light to the back of your bike so that it can illuminate the space behind you.
Rear bike lights can come with a range of different mounting options, but normally, it’ll attach to your seat post or luggage rack.
Flashing front and rear lights are legal in the UK – but they’re not in every country.
Research suggests that riding with a flashing, high lumen rear bike light is the single most effective measure cyclists can take to increase their visibility on the roads.
That said, steady front bike lights are recommended if you’re cycling in areas with no street lights. So, opting for front and rear bike lights with several modes will give you versatility.
So, what should you look for in a rear bike light? Here are some key features to keep in mind.
You’ll need to choose a rear bike light that has a long enough battery life to cover you on your longest rides – or a way of recharging it on the go.
Bear in mind that lights with several modes will have a shorter burn time on their brightest setting.
As a rough guide, the best high lumen rear bike lights could last anywhere from 2 hours to 6 hours on maximum power.
A rechargeable rear bike light will be better for the environment and more convenient for you. Plus, these lights tend to be better quality than the disposable options on the market today.
We always recommend looking for bike lights that have USB-C charging ports. This is because USB-C charging is now mandatory for smartphones, cameras and tablets in the EU. So this way, you’ll be able to charge your bike light with your phone charger.
Remember to check charging times too. Typically, it takes between 2 and 5 hours to get a powerful rear bike light back to full juice once it’s completely out of charge.
The best rear bike lights will have several different brightness settings.
This way, you can adapt your light’s lumen output to suit the environment – making them a versatile choice.
The SeeMe Pro 360 has a high-intensity 450-lumen rear main beam with adjustable brightness levels to ensure you’re covered for both daytime and nighttime riding and can be seen from afar.
As well as a range of brightness settings, look for a rear bike light with both flashing and constant modes.
A rear bike light with flashing modes is ideal for daytime running, as it will attract attention even during glare and sunlight.
In the UK, there’s no set standard for how waterproof a bike light has to be – meaning the onus is on the buyer to check if their bike lights will be able to withstand wet weather.
We recommend getting a bike light that’s rated at least IPX4, which means it will be protected from water spray coming from any direction.
Higher IP ratings will offer even more protection. For instance, the SeeMe Pro 360 is rated IPX6, which means it can withstand powerful water jets from any direction without experiencing harmful effects.
Your rear bike light will need to be safely mounted to your bike without the beam being obscured by other equipment – like saddle bags.
Different bike lights will attach to your bike in different ways.
However, fixed mounts with quick-release settings are the safest and most convenient option. You’ll easily be able to remove your bike lights for charging without having to set them up from scratch every time, meaning you can be confident your bike lights are properly adjusted for every ride.
So, now we’ve covered the key features to look for in a rear bike light.
But technology is evolving all the time. So, it’s possible to get a rear bike light nowadays that goes above and beyond what’s required to enhance your safety and convenience even more.
Here are some advanced features you could consider.
A bike camera can be a great way to capture every twist and turn of your ride – while also providing clear evidence if you’re unfortunate enough to be involved in a near miss or incident.
In fact, a rear-facing camera is particularly important, as a quarter of fatal cyclist accidents involve a vehicle hitting the rear of the bicycle (according to ROSPA).
Some of the best rear bike lights (including the SeeMe Pro 360) include integrated 4K UHD video cameras – meaning you won’t have to clutter your bike with all sorts of gadgets, and you won’t have to remember to recharge your bike light and camera separately either.
If you opt for a rear bike light with a built-in camera, check whether it includes memory card storage.
SeeMe PRO 360 bike lights are fitted with 5G wi-fi, allowing direct viewing of live footage and download of stored footage to be viewed via an app on a smartphone. It can also be downloaded by removing the MicroSD card and using a card reader.
Some bike lights use technology in innovative ways to enhance safety and improve the cycling experience.
For instance, they might be able to use motion-sensing technology to respond to what’s happening around you – like adjusting brightness to account for surrounding light conditions.
Some lights can even collect data about your ride, send SOS signals after a fall or alert you if your bike has been stolen.
A bike light system that offers 360 degree visibility can ensure you’re seen from any angle – including from the side.
After all, most accidents that cyclists are involved in are because ‘I didn’t see you.’
At SeeMe Cycle, we’ve developed the most advanced 360 degree visibility bike lights to date. Our SeeMe Pro 360 Light Set combines high lumen LED front and rear lights with super bright LED strip lights radiating to the sides – to provide 100% side coverage.
Wondering what type of rear bike light you should be looking for?
Here’s a quick lowdown of the different types you’ll typically come across.
Disposable battery bike lights are now few and far between.
They’re typically powered by standard AA or AAA batteries or button cells.
While these lights aren’t usually as powerful or good quality as the rechargeable options, they can make great back-up or emergency lights.
Pop them in your bag or strap them onto your bike as an extra, so that if your main light fails, you’ll be covered.
The best rear bike lights on the market nowadays are USB-chargeable.
They’ll either be powered by built-in rechargeable batteries, or a swappable battery pack.
This allows them to be more powerful than the disposable options still on the market – and they’re also better for the environment.
You’ll just need to make sure that the battery life will last you your longest bike rides – or, find a way to charge your lights on the go.
Dynamo bike lights are powered by rotational energy, thanks to a generator hub built into your bike’s front wheel.
In this way, you won’t ever have to worry about the battery running out – and some dynamo light setups will even allow you to charge other devices, like bicycle computers or phones.
However, the downside is that, once you stop moving, they stop generating. That means your lights will turn off unless they have a ‘stand light.’
They’re also tricky to install – and finding the right hub and light combination to meet your requirements can take some trial and error.
So, which rear bike light should you choose?
Well, only you can decide! But here’s our pick of the best.
The Sigma Buster RL 150 is a small and compact rear light that comes with a brake light function to alert other road users when you’re slowing down or stopping.
Pros: Small, lightweight, easy to use, braking alerts, cost-effective
Cons: Not particularly powerful
Rough price: £25
Max lumens: 150
Battery life (max power): 4 hours
Mounting system: Flexible silicone mount
Special features: Braking alerts, battery level indicator, side windows for increased side visibility, flashing modes
The Lezyne Strip Drive Pro 400+ is an advanced rear bike light with ten LEDs, known for its efficiency and runtime.
Pros: Easy to operate, long battery life
Cons: No charging cable included, 400 lumens only available in flash mode
Rough price: £60
Max lumens: 400 in flashing mode (80 in constant mode)
Battery life (max power): 5.5 hours
Mounting system: Rubber strap
Special features: Flashing modes, IPX7 rated, long battery life.
SeeMe Cycle’s rear bike light is about as bright as you can get, at 450 lumens. It also comes as part of a full bike light set, which includes a high lumen front light and LED strip lights, to ensure 360 degree visibility.
The Garmin Varia RTL515 is an impressive rear bike light with a radar that can detect and alert you to cars from up to 140m away when connected to a compatible head unit.
The Magicshine Seemee 300 is a smart light with an incredible battery life and advanced features such as the ability to project a 360° red halo around you to ensure all-around visibility.
Pros: Long battery life, smart light, braking alerts
Cons: Big, heavy
Rough price: £50
Max lumens: 300
Battery life (max power): 6 hours
Mounting system: Quick release mount
Special features: 360° red warning light, smart motion sensor, auto-adjust brightness, battery level indicator
| Lumens | Modes | Flashing modes? | Runtime (max power) | USB-C chargeable? | Mounting system | IP rating | Rough price point | |
| Sigma Buster RL 150 | 150 | 5 | ✓ | 4 hours | ✓ | Flexible silicone mount | IPX4 | £25 |
| Lezyne Strip Drive Pro 400+ | 400 | 7 | ✓ | 5.5 hours | ✓ | Rubber strap | IPX7 | £60 |
| SeeMe Pro 360 | 450 | 6 | ✓ | >3.8 hours (inclusive of front light & camera) | ✓ | Quick release mount | IPX6 | £299 (for whole bike light set) |
| Garmin Varia RTL515 | 65 | 4 | ✓ | 6 hours | X | Garmin mounting hardware | IPX7 | £170 |
| Magicshine Seemee 300 | 300 | 5 | ✓ | 6 hours | ✓ | Quick release mount | IPX6 | £50 |
There’s no ‘one size fits all’ when it comes to choosing a rear bike light.
Rather, which is the right bike light for you will come down to several different factors. Here are just a few.
What kind of cycling you do will have a large impact on the best rear bike light for your needs.
For instance, when it comes to commuting in urban areas, drawing attention to your presence should usually be the biggest priority.
In this case, a high lumen rear bike light with flashing modes will be your best friend. Better still, opt for a light that can give you side visibility too, to ensure you’re seen from all angles.
In contrast, if you’re riding on quiet rural roads, a bike light that can alert you to the presence of approaching cars could be a no-brainer.
Similarly, if you regularly cycle in a group, a light with a peloton setting could be right up your street, ensuring that you don’t dazzle your fellow riders.
It’s also worth thinking about the environmental impact of your choice.
A rear bike light that uses disposable batteries will generate waste. Meanwhile, a rechargeable bike light will be better for the environment and should last you for years.
In a similar vein, an efficient bike light that has a long battery life will need charging less frequently, which will reduce your energy usage.
Choosing the right bike light is always going to be a careful balance between performance and budget.
You can’t put a price on safety. But equally, there’s a wide price range when it comes to rear bike lights, and a higher price tag doesn’t always mean a safer light.
Instead, the price difference may be down to features and design elements that aren’t a deal-breaker to you. It’s all about finding the best price-to-performance ratio for your needs!
Lastly, don’t forget to factor in practicalities – like installation and maintenance.
Can your chosen bike light be easily installed on your bike? What mounting options are available?
Similarly, will you be able to keep up with the maintenance requirements of your particular bike light? Some bike lights will be less durable than others and will therefore require more care.
For instance, a bike light that doesn’t have a good waterproof rating will need to be removed or covered in wet weather. Which brings us onto…
Taking proper care of your rear bike lights will ensure that they continue to work as effectively as possible – and could even extend their lifespan!
With that in mind, follow these simple steps to give your rear bike lights some TLC.
A rear bike light should be a minimum of 50 to 100 lumens. However, rear bike lights with a lumen output of between 200 and 450 lumens can help you to be seen from greater distances and increase your visibility in daylight.
The brightest rear bike lights typically emit up to around 450 lumens.
Yes, rechargeable rear bike lights tend to be better-quality than those with disposable batteries. They’re also better for the environment.
How long a rear bike light lasts on a single charge can vary between manufacturers and models. You’ll also find that more powerful bike lights have shorter burntimes on their brighter settings.
To give you some idea, your rear bike light could last anywhere from around three to 200 hours on a single charge.
Not necessarily. The best rear lights will have several modes and brightness settings to make them suitable for both day and night riding.
Yes! Almost all bike lights nowadays are LED lights. These are brighter than traditional bulbs and have a longer battery life.
The best way to attach a rear light to a bike rack is to buy a rack-mount bracket that’s compatible with your light and rack.
There’s no ‘one-size-fits-all’ when it comes to which rear bike light you should buy. Rather, it will all depend on your needs, preferences and budget.
That said, if you tend to use your bike for urban commuting, the SeeMe Pro 360 bike light set is certainly a cut above the rest.
Its innovative design combines high lumen LED front and rear lights with super bright LED strip lights radiating to the sides – to provide 100% side coverage and ensure you can be seen from all angles on the roads.
As you can see, there’s a huge choice out there when it comes to rear bike lights.
When you’re choosing the best one for your needs, look for key features such as a high lumen output, flashing modes, USB-C charging and a decent waterproof rating.
And don’t forget to consider advanced features too – like built-in cameras and smart integration options.
Ultimately, the best rear bike light for you will depend on lots of different factors – from the kind of cycling you do to your budget.
But by prioritising rear bike light features that enhance your visibility on the roads, you can make sure you’re as safe as possible on your bike.
On which note, don’t forget to check out the SeeMe Pro 360.
This high-lumen bike light set comes with adjustable brightness settings, flashing modes and LED lighting strips to ensure you’re visible to other road users from all angles – increasing your safety with every ride.
