morning all - I don't know about you but I seem to get through rear lights like I do toilet roll. I had a few of those cheapo Planet X ones which take a couple 2032 battery (which cost more than the light 🤣 ) but they've all died/disappeared now. Also tried the rechargable one that's on Planet X now - that was crap.
Looking for some reliable rechargeable rear lights that are ideally USB-C as I have a hundred of those cables for other things.
Like to have a few of them so I can have one on the Brompton, a back up in my work bag and another couple for the road and mtb.
Or maybe if I buy one and spend a bit more on it I'll be less likely to lose it. Suggestions welcomed.
I've got a couple of Moon ones (micro-usb). Run one in flash for day rides, and one flash one solid for night rides. They last at least 5 hours in flash, and have never run out on a 5 hour road ride. Had them 4 years and still going strong.
Did have a Lezyne zekto, but the clip isn't secure and it bounced off my saddle bag somewhere (someone else had same experience) but they're OK if using the rubber strap. Battery life not so good tho
Watching with interest, I too am a serial rear light loser/breaker. After several bad experiences with rechargeable rear lights that wouldn’t last for a three hour night ride, I have gone back to a Cateye using AAA batteries. They last a reasonable length of time but I always carry spare batteries just in case.
Alpkit Tau are good - have lots of them so that there's one for every bike in the house, all have lasted many years. MicroUSB though (unless they have updated since I last bought one).
Moon Helix or Sirius, Nebula to save a few quid and go old MicroUSB. All can be found for about £20-30 these days (and less if you hit it right - some of our Nebula's were £12) if you avoid the pro model.
We have about 8 in the household, one set has been used for 3 year of Deliveroo work in Edinburgh, and they still Just Work.
I have a Sirius Pro - while a fabulously reliable and bright light, and the braking and auto light sensing features work well, I am not sure I would pay for them in future and struggle with the 'morse code' nature of the settings buttons.
Rolling out my standard advice here: Just buy an exposure trace and be sorted for life. Stop buying cheap stuff that dies. Go secondhand if needed. Exposure stuff can be repaired.
https://www.exposurelights.com/products/tracer-daybright-mk3?_pos=3&_fid=bf929e487&_ss=c
Always had good results with Cateye rear lights. Battery and rechargeable. A good range of mounts too. Rack and seatstay available as well as regular seatpost. Cheap enough to run two or three.
Moon - the Ronseal of bike lights.
Moon comet.
Decathlon SL510. Price has crept up to a tenner now, earlier ones were half that. But they work, they are plenty bright for most road riding, they stay attached, and they double as an emergency front. We have a drawer full (of different versions over the years). They might still be micro-USB though, I haven't bought a new one for a while.
I have a USB rechargeable rear I picked up for £4.99 from the middle aisle in Aldi. Bargain and no complaints so far!
My favourite was a Lezyne Strip Drive 150 but I was using it on my MTB whilst my gravel bike was out of action and it popped off at a set of traffic lights when I lowered the dropper post. Didn't notice it until I got to work, then the next day saw it crushed between the cobbles at the traffic lights where it fell off 😥
I had a spare Femto Drive (shite) but am currently using a Cateye Rapid Drive X2 that I found in the woods, which is really good.
Rolling out my standard advice here: Just buy an exposure trace and be sorted for life. Stop buying cheap stuff that dies. Go secondhand if needed. Exposure stuff can be repaired.
I have loads of Exposure front lights but I haven’t tried their rear lights. The main reason for this is that I tend to put lights on my rack or sometimes a pannier/ bag and those little flat ones are quite versatile and I have a Cateye one screwed onto a tubus rack on one bike.
I need to look at how adaptable are they to sticking them on different places on the bike/bags…. Any advice?
Rolling out my standard advice here: Just buy an exposure trace and be sorted for life. Stop buying cheap stuff that dies. Go secondhand if needed. Exposure stuff can be repaired.
I have loads of Exposure front lights but I haven’t tried their rear lights. The main reason for this is that I tend to put lights on my rack or sometimes a pannier/ bag and those little flat ones are quite versatile and I have a Cateye one screwed onto a tubus rack on one bike.
I need to look at how adaptable are they to sticking them on different places on the bike/bags…. Any advice?
Something like this maybe?
https://www.cateye.com/intl/products/safety_lights/SL-WA100/
As per irc above, I've always liked Cateyes, there's several in varying states of repair (mostly missing brackets, clips etc) in the drawers. The older ones take AAA batteries, but most recently with the likes of Cateye-viz-150 they're USB rechargeable. Work fine.
Another vote for exposure, various aftermarket mounts to fit most scenarios. Moon are good though some mode options are odd
Regular (A?) USB rather than C but these Specialized ones are nice and solid on the bike and good quality. Half price currently as well here so you could buy a few:
I need to look at how adaptable are they to sticking them on different places on the bike/bags…. Any advice?
Klickfix Mini-Mount will fit most lights that have a transverse bolted bracket (Exposure rears etc) to the seat stay -
https://klickfix.com/en/products/detail/variants/1648
I went for the exposure rear light.
It was expensive,
It's been reliable
It's incredibly bright
Every time I see some tiny not very bright rear light I'm glad I forked out for it
If riding on the road I wouldn't be without one of these or any of the other radar rear lights.
https://share.google/MYVP6OlTfw1quSEZ 3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bryton Gardia R300L Rear Light & Radar review | Cycling Weekly https://share.google/MYVP6OlTfw1quSEZ3
Been happy with my rockbros light that I've had for over a year now:
Decent brightness & battery life, usb-c, easy to remove/attach, comes with both a saddle and seatpost mounts so leave one mount on each bike for quick swapping.
Also use Alpkit Blips on my bag, clothing or back of helmet
I needed a set delivered quickly so bought these. Have been really impressed with them. Lots of settings, charge quickly and hold their charge well. Super bright. Use them on my road bike and commuter.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lights-CIRYCASE-Rechargeable-Waterproof-Lighting/dp/B0BBPZNXR1/ref=sr_1_23?crid=1TY5R883JYZGK&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.-TYQS9-Gn4mMrMcjONMIgCZl0G1fboNBM0gdr7W1X0GJrBqOr2DsfzIpeF0yTQdpjp_h9ywOJQbmszbcvk7u6utx5lX2iFpYacehV-ltXqeSpAcef8e1aGkxlv9dFa4ZDgDaUJezg75BQp5gEESxIDm4ATF1RniOxtk3jGuYyRPjeJuW47m2PTe6XUOpK3BOw-fLIKv5jvuvAoBBRNnjWe5G-Asb7r09ieK99sbnCsM3WxYfDeooa5WUyq8NNXAvP6ndEez8U63FiRnr_YjytKtzlWq-1Gp1uNRTxstkosU.A2mpuOXxSDYiLcvHLNxwIca9U4Zi8HShJ0NSBbbANj0&dib_tag=se&keywords=bike%2Blights&qid=1762795049&sprefix=bike%2Blight%2Caps%2C182&sr=8-23&th=1
I needed a set delivered quickly so bought these. Have been really impressed with them. Lots of settings, charge quickly and hold their charge well. Super bright. Use them on my road bike and commuter.
I went for the exposure rear light
it was expensive
it lasted 10 minutes
Moon. My Moon Rings have been on the go for years. Like them so much I bought a front and rear set for my sister.