Best Rear Bike Lights

Review & Comparison, Last Update November 26, 2023
Many people enjoy riding bikes, but some actually rely on a bicycle in order to get around time. What are such people to do when ...Read more
PROS

Featuring rubberized coating, the quick-release clip mount does not scratch the bike. Its one-touch dismount mechanism lets you remove the light without taking off the mounting bracket. The strap and the mount fit almost all seat posts (as long as they're not measuring above 1.8 inches).

CONS

The half-brightness mode is a little disappointing range-wise.

OUR VERDICT
With the silicone mount strap and the quick-release clip mount, these two rechargeable LED lights from Ascher will fit not just bikes but also dog collars, different helmets, backpacks, and more, making sure that you're visible during nighttime even when you're not biking. 
detailed parameters
Kit Contents

2 x rear lights

Brightness

~70 lumens

Beam Angle

240°

Lighting Modes

4

Power Source

Rechargeable battery (up to 16 hours)

USB charging cable included

Extras

Water-resistant housing (IPx4 protection class), quick-release clip mount included

Warranty

Amazon's 30-day return policy

PROS

You can switch between red and blue lights. The construction is protected against the elements, so you can ride even when it is raining cats and dogs and snowing. You can even attach the light onto MTBs since the housing is 100% sealed from dust and dirt.

CONS

The battery does not last. 

OUR VERDICT

The Canway OT-BT0102 is commanding the smallest footprint, stretching around 3.4 x 1 x 1.2 inches. You can even secure this light around the sneakers' laces. Nevertheless, this is one bright light, ensuring that you remain visible even against stoplights and neon signs.

detailed parameters
Kit Contents

1 x rear light

Brightness

168 lumens

Beam Angle

260°

Lighting Modes

5

Power Source

Rechargeable battery (up to 4 hours)

USB charging cable included

Extras

Water-resistant housing (IPx4 protection class), rubber strap mount included

Warranty

Amazon's 30-day return policy

PROS

The lights are resistant to vibrations and shock damage, which means that they will also fit MTBs and hybrids, easily surviving bumpy trails. The diodes used here should also survive at least 10,000 hours, so you will not have to replace the lights anytime soon. 

CONS

The beam angle is less than 150 degrees. 

OUR VERDICT

Ascher AS-3L will basically replace light reflectors, keeping you visible in front and in the back. Both lights have received effective waterproofing treatment so that even the most considerable downpours could not seep inside and damage the circuits. 

detailed parameters
Kit Contents

1 x headlight, 1 x rear light

Brightness

~80 lumens

Beam Angle

~150°

Lighting Modes

4

Power Source

Rechargeable battery (up to 10.5 hours for the headlight, up to 9.5 hours for the rear light)

USB charging cable included

Extras

Water-resistant housing (IPx4 protection class), silicone strap mount included

Warranty

Amazon's 30-day return policy

PROS

The integrated clip mounts attach and release the lights in 3-5 seconds tops. The silicone housing is quite durable, protecting the lights from the elements and making sure that low-impact drops do not cause any malfunctions. The batteries are also easy to replace. 

CONS

Not too many lighting modes. 

OUR VERDICT

Malker Bicycle Lights, packing 2 rear lights and 2 headlights, have you covered, both literally and figuratively speaking. The lights weigh less than 0.7 ounces and can squeeze around 70 hours from 2 CR2032 batteries. They let you switch between full and low brightness and strobe flashing. 

detailed parameters
Kit Contents

2 x headlights, 2 x rear light

Brightness

Not listed

Beam Angle

180°

Lighting Modes

3

Power Source

2 x "CR2032" batteries (up to 70 hours)

Extras

Water-resistant housing (IPx4 protection class), built-in quick-release clip mount 

Warranty

Amazon's 30-day return policy

PROS

The beam angle reaches 70 degrees. Between 11 lighting modes, this model can accommodate different needs and lighting conditions. Even on medium lighting settings, the battery should give you around 50 hours before dying out. 

CONS

The package does not include a charging cable. 

OUR VERDICT

Lezyne Strip Drive Pro Bicycle Tail Light shines the brightest, not just beating its competition but downright destroying them. With the highest brightness mode outputting 300 lumens, this light will make sure that even complete darkness does not stand a chance. 

detailed parameters
Kit Contents

1 x rear light

Brightness

300 lumens

Beam Angle

270°

Lighting Modes

11

Power Source

Rechargeable battery (up to 53 hours)

USB charging cable is not included

Extras

Water-resistant housing (IPx4 protection class), rubber strap mount included

Warranty

1 year

Not Just Bikes

The Ascher 2-Pack USB Rechargeable LED Bike Tail Light offers a pretty convincing package. First things first, you're shipped two back lights, with the lights not trailing behind the competition and costing less than two separate comparable models would have cost you. Second, these lights are offering easy one-touch dismount where you press one button and you can already slide the light on and off the mount, all without removing the entire mounting bracket. Working with that bracket, the product adopts this silicone mount strap, featuring 4 openings that fit most handlebars and seat posts.

Emitting an eye-catching wide-angle (240 degrees) beam, the type that people see from blocks away, the light lets you ride without fretting that you will get knocked over. Besides that, the 2 lights come equipped with 4 brightness modes, including full brightness, the mode that halves the brightness, and 2 flashing modes with more and less lengthy delays between the flashes.

Some might find the half-brightness setting a tad disappointing range-wise. Apart from that, the Ascher 2-Pack USB Rechargeable LED Bike Tail Light will get you around. Bicycles aside, you can attach these lights onto backpacks, dog collars, helmets, and more, improving visibility and, when necessary, illuminating the path ahead.

Last updated price $14.99
Stock In stock
ASIN B07FDVSVDX

Compact, Attractive, Powerful

The Canway OT-BT0102 is the single most impressive tail light we could find that matches specs with size and overall convenience. Sure, there are lights that beat this one on the maximum brightness and beam angle fronts but those lights are massive.

This light though, measuring less than 3.4 x 1 x 1.2 inches, can be even attached onto sneakers, letting you jog at night knowing that drivers can see you. The size is a massive advantage, but one that entails disadvantages too. Due to its reduced profile, the battery that comes with this light does not last, usually draining out within 4 hours tops.

Looking at the compact light's maximum brightness, we can see why that's the case though. Pushing 168 lumens, this red tail light can be seen from at least ~500 feet. What's more, its beam angle reaches 260 degrees, which is ridiculous considering its space-saving form factor, ensuring the widest visibility.

Not unlike its competition, this light comes adopting 5 lighting modes (these also include red and blue modes) and IPx4 protection class. Waterproofed and protected against dust, the model does not care about the elements, not one bit. No, with this light, you can ride, jog, and hike with complete confidence, not worrying about what the environment and its surroundings might throw your way.

Last updated price $15.99
Stock In stock
ASIN B077CZK75L

100% Visibility

The Ascher AS-3L packs one headlight and one tail light. Between these two, you'll be 100% visible cruising down crowded paved roads at night. Now, because the lights are around, the beam angle is a little disappointing, advertised around 150 degrees but, when push comes to shove, not quite reaching there.

On the bright side (apologies, we had to), these two lights are not as fragile as they look. Quite the opposite, actually, the lights are protected against shock and vibrations, so you can have them on an MTB hitting the bumpiest trails knowing that the lights will not give out anytime soon. Plus, the diodes inside these LED lights should last around 10,000 hours, meaning that you will not be replacing these two in the foreseeable future. Sweetening the spot, these lights have been waterproofed and sealed against dust, which means that, again, you can ride anywhere, what the road entails does not concern them.

Relative to the compact profile, the lights are also quite bright (capping at 80 lumens) and do not consume batteries as fast as most headlights and tail lights, squeezing around 10 hours from them.

In short, people that need both a headlight and a rear light cannot go wrong with this set from Ascher.

Last updated price $15.99
Stock In stock
ASIN B01EUQ7ZQG

Hassle-Free Installation and Removal

The Malker Bicycle Lights easily land among the most hassle-free lights. To elaborate, the kit presents you with two headlights and two tail lights, not the hassle-free part but we're getting there. Reaching the said part, what makes these silicone lights so convenient are the integrated quick-release clip mounts that let you install and remove them within three-five seconds tops.

Besides that, featuring durable silicone housing, these lights shake off the elements and low-impact drops like they're nothing. The last (but not the least, not even close) selling point is battery life. While, the lights are not shipped with rechargeable batteries, which is a little unfortunate, they also do not burn through batteries as fast as most headlights and tail lights, so two CR2032 bats' will last at least 70 hours.

Borrowing from the industry playbook, the lights incorporate 3 modes: full brightness, low brightness, and strobe. Most bicycle lights nowadays will usually let you adjust the strobe frequency but this is not quite the case here.

Even so, knowing that riders seldom use these features anyway, the Malker Bicycle Lights can compete with the most expensive models, weighing around 0.7 ounces and fitting MTBs and commuters alike.

Last updated price $9.99
Stock In stock
ASIN B01L773R9A

They Do not get Brighter than this One

The Lezyne Strip Drive Pro Bicycle Tail Light is tremendous, referring both to its size and the light's excellent specs. Sure, this is not the most petite light (though not the largest issue as well) but, all things considered, the size is actually more compact than you would expect. By "all things", we primarily mean its maximum brightness pushing 300 lumens, making you visible from almost a mile, even when it is foggy outside. We also mean its 270-degree beam angle though, ensuring wide-angle visibility.

Though these are the two most important parameters, the product's impressive specs do not end with these two numbers. No, the light also contributes 11 lighting modes (nobody needs that much but we like having the option anyway) and, much more valuable, the rechargeable battery that is shipped with the light can last above 50 hours on one charge, whereas most batteries powering comparable tail lights do not even reach 20. Unfortunately, the battery is shipped without a charging cable but you can buy one practically anywhere.

So, provided you don't mind its increased size, the Lezyne Strip Drive Pro Bicycle Tail Light should prove the best bang for your buck, keeping you visible in any and all conditions.

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price $54.99
Stock In stock
ASIN B07W6NJMY8

What Are Rear Bike Lights?

Anyone who loves riding their bicycles throughout the day will be well aware of the dangers of doing so once the sun has set. People on bicycles tend to be far less visible on the road in low-lighting conditions, so it is always of the utmost importance to make yourself visible should you be out on the road after dark. Many bicycles include lighting solutions to help with visibility and safety, but the problem with many of them is that they are fully focused on the rider's ability to see, and not to be seen.

This is where a rear bike light comes in. These lights are specially designed to increase the visibility of the rider, making it far easier for them to be seen by other users of the road, and in any types of conditions, whether it be daytime with bad weather or night time with almost no light. These lights are usually made to be much stronger and more powerful than those that come with complete bike lighting kits, which enables the rider to be far more easily seen in low visibility. This not only includes after sunset, but in other conditions such as heavy fog or rain. In short, any serious bicyclist who often finds themselves out on the road after dark or in other low-visibility conditions should take a serious look at dedicated rear bike lights.

Rear bike lights are not the only lights needed by bicyclists. If you don't have one already, then take a look at our selection of the best bike headlights for safe and comfortable riding.

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