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What are people using?
Looking for something to use on the trails and to get me back home for a few miles on the road.
The Moon Pulsar is a good rear light if you are happy with AAA batteries. I got one to use with my Exposure Tracer & went for something with AAA batteries as the battery life is very good.
It mounts easily & comes with several mounting options, is easy to use & so far seems durable.
Cateye Rapid Micro - well under 20 quid, rechargeable, multi-mode including pulsing. Seem pretty well-proofed though I've mostly ridden in the dry so far
I've had a couple of phaarts and been very happy with both of them.
I'm using two of those free Chinese ones that you get when you buy cheap Chinese lights. I'd much rather have one that has a steady and blink mode like my old DiNotte 140R though.
Thanks everyone. I was tempted by a Phaart but the postage costs put me off, shame its £3.95 postage for a £4.99 item. The Moon Pulsar looks good to, only works out about £3 more. Hmm!
The Aldi copy of the Moon light is pretty good, about £12.
Couple of mates have these, great if you have a dropper post:
That’s pretty cool looking, not seen them before.
Cool looking, but by the photos you attach the saddle rail hooks with Zip ties, which would get tedious quickly unless the charge last months.
I had a battery powered BBB one that lasted years, and was lost rather than broken. Don't make the same model any more, but I'd have another by them.
I've been very impressed with my Alpkit Tau, slimline design, 14 quid and free delivery
I've been using one of the fwe rear lights from Evans for 2 years, twice daily through the whole winter. No issues, still decent charge so can't complain and just bought another for spare. £15 individually I think, cheaper in a pack with front
but by the photos you attach the saddle rail hooks with Zip ties, which would get tedious quickly
Looking at the last picture in the link it looks like the light removes from the mount for charging
Really like my dosun lr260 - about £13 ish
Another vote for the Alpkit Tau here. I just got a rear light to match the front that I use to cycle at the start of our evening rides. They work well, charge easily and are easy to put on and off the bike.
This one is ok for just over £11. USB rechargeable and will fit a seatpost or a seat stay. I got mine as an additional light to sit on the seat stays - I’ve got a Moon Nebula as my main light (not so cheap but very good).
the best rear commuting light i've had is a £5 smart light powered by AAAs. lasted years and years of horrible offroad commuting and razzing in the rwoods in all conditions and totally totally neglected. I smashed it to pieces with a mahosive OTB that left me off the bike for 2 months. all the posh lights i used over the period of its existance died within 1.5 years max. The Topeak redlight has been the best of the bunch. I`m on my third.
I'd not get anything USB rechargeable as the lights just die when you fforget to charge them and they get low on charge which is not what you need - at least with a replceable battery it gets dimmer and you can get home without getting runover or you can carry a spare.
my conclusion is that most bike lights are really shit and not made for being wet/muddy for extended periods
I have one of these: https://www.halfords.com/cycling/bike-lights/bike-lights/bikehut-25-lumen-rear-bike-light
cheap enough, usb rechargeable, lots of diferent modes.
pretty bright too.
Smart rear lights - last one I got from ebay from Parkers of Bolton - £6 posted, uses 2x AAA, cheap, bright, solid mounting bracket, batteries last ages, don't seem to die in wet/mud - for the price can't fault them!
Aldi had bike stuff recently. Their lights are often really good.
Thanks everyone, ended up getting a Moon Comet X from Halfords for £15.99, seems very bright and decent runtime on the lower settings.
Aldi had bike stuff recently. Their lights are often really good.
See recent thread about Aldi cycling stuff and all the lights dieing within a year.
It might be pushing the definition of budget at £30 but the Bontrager Flare City is a nice light: compact, USB chargeable and bright.
I see a good rear light as essential so am prepared to pay extra for one
I've an Arcturus Auto which is c£20 on eBay and loaded with features. Just bought a rear triple from mtb-batteries for a teenager at similar cost, it's simple and probably bullet proof but we'll see.
The Bontrager Flare City R (as per drofluf's post above) is available from Rutland Cycling for £19.99 inc carriage:
Should help bring it closer to the OP's budget. It's an excellent rear light.