My wife and I are building up a little pile of lights that have just given up the ghost just outside warranty. We've had at least two each from from Moon, Kryptonite, Lezyne and Niterider. After around 13 months, they stop charging, or the brightness changes, or they stop holding charge. We commute in all weathers through an Edinburgh winter, and my wife commutes almost daily. We commute on unlit cyclepaths a lot so need decent lights to see with, rather than to be seen with. USB chargeable is a must. We tend to spend around £50, and would prefer not to spend more.
How long are regular, all weather commuters getting out of lights with between 500-1000 lumens (although realistically, probably at the lower end of that)? Any good recommendations?
Fenix BC30 v2. You'll need a couple of 18650's (or 4 for two spares). This is my main light, run it on various modes and the remote is great. About £100 plus batteries. For the unlit shared path, I use a £15 STVZO type light from ali-express - has a great cut off and about 1000 lumen at max - run it about 600.
Waay over your budget, but may be better value long term, my Hope r2 is entering its 7th year. Had an issue last year, sent it to Hope, they fixed it for free.
Dynamo system.
I had 1 B+M light die after 3 years (capacitor went pop), replacement is still going 3 years later. Cheap Chinese lamp is doing fine too. Both live outside in the wind/snow/rain/frost 365 days a year. No charging, no dead batteries, no cables/connectors.
It's over budget because a decent lamp is ~£60 (and the prices seem to keep going up!). And you need to build a wheel, and get a rear light. But ~£200 and you never need to faff with commuting lights ever again. I'm spec'ing up a new 4-season Sunday-best road bike (because the Summer has been too short to only ride a nice bike when the suns out) and even that's going to have a dynamo system.
Got an exposure Sirius and trance R combo. Used for commuting and rdes on and off road all year round and are 6 years old and are stil working fine.
More than you wanted to spend but they just seem to work.
They cost more than my commuting bike at the time but have been worth it.
My 440 lumen Exposure Strada Mk2 is still going strong after 10 years. I mostly use a Joystick (mk 12 with wider beam) now. That's about five years old. Backup is an even older Joystick. Buy a Strada from the outlet shop, you'll be at least cost neutral and have reliability. And service backup.
Magicshine rn1500 is excellent for this sort of thing. Usb c, Garmin mount versatility, powerbank function and a really good beam spread for this sort of application
Moon meteor storm lite
Moon meteor storm pro has been reliable for me commuting for a few years but only sees seasonal use. Definitely lasted a lot longer than 13 months. On offer at merlin currently https://www.merlincycles.com/moon-meteor-storm-pro-rechargeable-front-bike-light-95012.html?&&&app_clickref=1011lxV7neIq&source=PHG
Batteries replaceable not that i needed to. Only let down is the switch has started to make turning the light off difficult (its press and hold to turn off).
I found my Ravemen to be better quality than my Lezyne and it has a cut off beam for road use. For the rear, exposure and use the Singletrack discount
+ 1 on the Sirius, should be near your budget with member discounts & outlet store.
I have this model, it's great (but out of stock right now)
https://www.exposure-use.com/Brands/Exposure-Lights/Outlet-Store/Sirius-MK9-DayBright-EXPSIRIUS9DB
Light and motion, I have a few their MTB and commuting lights, they don't always have the sexiest designs or best claimed stats for the money but I've always found them absolutely bombproof,my Seca is 10 years old and still going strong.and my.Taz and Urban aren't far behind that.
Bikeparts.co.uk have the urban 500 for £52 and an Urban 1000 combo for £135, if you're really looking for quality I'd look there.
MTB Batteries were my commuting and night riding lights for the last 10 years, possibly longer.
Mark is always a pleasure to deal with.
However, I did have a secure area at work, so could leave everything on the bike.
Got an exposure Sirius and trance R combo. Used for commuting and rdes on and off road all year round and are 6 years old and are stil working fine.
What's more Exposure will carry out repairs to out of warranty lights for a reasonable fee, certainly a lot less than a new light. So their lights are not "disposable items".
Generally I’ve found Moon decent but I don’t use them daily. Generally 2-3 times a week in all weathers.
I’d suggest if you want something that is materially going to last a lot longer you go for Exposure. Will blow the budget but they go on and on and can be repaired / batteries replaced by exposure so in the long run it’s worth paying extra up front I think. I’m talking front lights there.
I think the shape they picked to make their rear lights in is a bit odd so haven’t bothered with the Trace rear light. Just running a Moon Nebula I’ve had for years on the back - at about £25 a time I find they’re pretty good value.
I have Ravemen 1600 which I've used for over 2 years; and just picked up a Cateye AMP 800 for under £50. Both doing an excellent job.
dynamo hub and the B&M light of your choice. Its the only thing that makes sense. Otherwise aldi / lidl lights are surprisingly good
My Aldi lights haven't died yet (crosses fingers). One is about 5 or 6 years old. My use is more weekly than daily but still I couldn't beat them for the money. One is fine for unlit cycle paths. I use 2 for a backup, or one flash one constant. USB rechargeable. The back one in the set was OK but I've lost or broken 2 of 3. Fronts all still good.
Link to the lights although not currently available worth considering if they return:
https://www.aldi.co.uk/bikemate-rechargeable-bike-lights/p/086287232202700
Exposure link 4 yrs old, Tracer 5.
Still working.
Moon front LX 350 with a removable cell even older.
Just to add to what everyone else is saying, I've found Exposure lights to be very reliable. One of my Joysticks must be getting on for 15 years.
Not really usb chargeable (you can get a special cable, but that's hardly convenient), but in practice I've never found it to be an issue - the battery indicator gives you plenty of warning of charge levels that for commuting purposes you're never caught short.
Cant beleave that noone has said the Halfords 1600 lumen ones ,. Every year the questons get ask and every year they get great reviews . Loads of usful light and good modes and run time
Exposuere Sirius and rear TraceR lights. faultless. The Sirius is easily bright enough for a section of trail that is pitch black, but then happily switches back to bright flashing mode. Battery lasts forever too.
Another vote for dynamo here. Bit of a faff to get set up but always on, always working (no remembering to charge it up) and much less to go wrong. Nearly all stvzo certified so much better light down the road as well
We tend to spend around £50, and would prefer not to spend more.
There's your problem.
I've two old Exposure lights that are now used occasionally, a Joystick bought circa 2008/9 and a Toro bought in 2010 - both work fine. I think I paid a bit less than £200 for the Toro.
Since bought a Diablo and a MaxxD, streets ahead of the old lights but I expect/hope to get a decade from these two.
Buy cheap, buy twice/three times etc...
6 year old Exposure Strada here - been faultless and turns night into day on unlit roads/paths.
Yeah, they're out of budget - but alluded to above - your budget is £300 over 6 years...
Not sure if its applicable, but you can buy lights via the C2W scheme - that is how i bought this one.
See.Sense Beam. I bet they would replace the battery if it stopped charging, but I doubt it will.
I did really like my Lezyne, but the charge lasts about 10 minutes now.
https://www.merlincycles.com/moon-meteor-auto-x-pro-rechargeable-front-bike-light-157535.html
All weather commuter in Manchester. Had one if these for 2 years and it's not showing any signs of deteriorating.
Just checked and I got my Moon Meteor Storm Pro at the end of September 2018, so it's five years old. The switch problem was evident last year. Used all weathers 5 days a week commuting 9-5 only when lights needed, £80 when purchased. It's bright - has 9 brightness settings but for commuting I only ever use it on #2 or #3.
TBH OP it sounds like you and your missus have a good use case for dynamo lighting.
My wife probably is to be honest. Her rims are about to wear through so maybe that'd be a good time to sort that. I switch between several bikes so it doesn't suit me.
To be honest, I don't think £50 is inexpensive for a light. But I've already killed a Moon Meteor Storm and I see those are now £90 from the link above. I hadn't realised you could get Exposure lights for less than £300 these days so one of their lower end options looks like the best bet for me.
I think Munrobiker it's the daily use - I think a few of the recommendations above are folk who are not using them 5-7 days a week....
Eldest also commutes and Deliveroo's daily in Edinburgh. His Moon's have lasted just over 2 years - but he's just bought a new front light as it started turning off randomly.
I make a point of not storing lights/ battery things in my cold and damp shed - I hope that might help batteries last longer.
Another vote for exposure. Used a Trace-r and Sirius switch when commuting for a number of years. Don't cycle commute anymore (WFH) but both are still going strong.
Edit: Sorry is a switch.
My wife probably is to be honest. Her rims are about to wear through so maybe that’d be a good time to sort that. I switch between several bikes so it doesn’t suit me.
If her commuter is using rim brakes you're more likely to score a bargain dynamo hub/wheel, dynamo disc wheels are obviously more popular now (I've just gone that way).
I still use a rechargeable bar mounted light with mine in the depths of winter, but knowing I always have 'running lights' as a minimum, if the battery or LED fails, is reassuring.
If you're going ~£50 a throw on rechargeable lights every 12-18 months(?) Then a dynamo setup will pay for itself after what four to five years or so? Depends on how much you spend of course, and assumes they don't fail/need much maintenance...
Dynamo or whatever is suitable by Exposure ime.
The Aldi Moon copies are also indestructible but only 700lm for about an hour.
Not as brutal as daily in Edinburgh, but at least twice a week I have a c20m each way commute across the Fens. It's not Edinburgh cold, but cold enough!
I run a mixture of Lezyne and Moon lights, always two up front (one on, one ready in case the other dies) and however many I can fit on the back (at least three normally). Most of mine have been bought when they were on sale if I'm honest, so
https://www.leisurelakesbikes.com/accessories/lights/moon-meteor-storm-pro-front-light-black__332533
And
https://www.leisurelakesbikes.com/accessories/lights/moon-sirius-pro-rear-light-blackred__352871
Would tempt me (I own both, but these are well priced). No idea what the seller is like, don't think I've bought from them.