Best Rear Bike Lights

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.