Having the right rear bike light is essential if you plan on doing your cycling in low-light scenarios.
The presence of a good rear bike light will make sure that you are safe, visible and make sure you can see the road correctly.
It’s not just about the visibility of the cyclists from the rear.
The light will also provide a natural focus to the cyclist, allowing them to make quicker decisions of the environment, thus avoiding potential danger.
When choosing the right rear light for your cycling needs, you should consider a few things: lumen, battery life, rechargeability, weight and price.
As a cyclist, you also want to make sure that the lighting signal is clearly visible from all angles.
To make sure that you are choosing the best rear bike light for your cycling needs, we will be reviewing 10 rear bike lights, considering all the mentioned features, along with the brands’ histories and relevant features that set them apart from their competitors.
Best Rear Bike Light – Top Picks
Bontrager Flare RT
Bontrager is a cycling brand very well known for its products and innovative designs.
Specializing in road cycling and mountain biking apparel, they recently launched the Flare RT Rear Bike Light with several interesting features.
The light is very lightweight and small, providing 65 lumens and 8 different safety settings, making it a good choice for riding during the night.
The Flare RT runs on two AAA batteries, providing a life span of 15 hours in the highest-lumen setting.
The light is not rechargeable. However, its body is water-resistant, and it comes with a mount for the stem of the bike.
Specifications:
- Weight: 0.3 oz
- Maximum Lumens: 65 lumens
- Battery Life: 15 hours
- Rechargeable: No
Price: US$ 50
Garmin Varia RTL515
Garmin is an American multinational technology company best known for producing consumer and professional electronics, such as GPS and motion-tracking technology.
The Varia optics portfolio recently included the RTL515 Rear Bike Light.
The light is technically advanced, providing an impressive 150 lumens, plus multiple flash settings and a run time of 8 hours and 30 minutes in the highest lumen setting and up to 65 hours when in flashing mode. The product is rechargeable, with a one-touch control button for activating it.
The body of the light is compact and very light, weighing only 65g and with a USB rechargeable port.
Specifications:
- Weight: 65g
- Maximum Lumens: 150 lumens
- Battery Life: 8.5 hours
- Rechargeable: Yes
Price: US$ 175
Moon Nebula
Moon Nebula is a brand that specializes in various bike lights, with the Moon Nebula Rear Light being one of their most popular products.
It provides spectacular 140 lumens, allowing cyclists to make themselves visible at night or in low-light scenarios.
The light runs on a Li-Ion battery, with a run time of 7 hours.
The design is aesthetically pleasing and very small. Its light weight adds to the cyclist’s comfort, since it does not weigh more than 54 grams.
The body is also water-resistant, and it comes with an adjustable mount for stem and seat posts.
Specifications:
- Weight: 54g
- Maximum Lumens: 140 lumens
- Battery Life: 7 hours
- Rechargeable: Yes
Price: US$ 79
See.Sense Icon+
See.Sense is a cycling accessories brand specializing in introducing bike lights that adapt to their surrounding environment.
The Icon+ model of the brand was launched recently, and it’s the brighter version of the already popular Icon.
The light provides up to 260 lumens with plenty of different flash settings and a run time of 10 hours in the highest setting.
It is USB rechargeable, comes with an easy-to-use bracket mount, and is also weather resistant.
Specifications:
- Weight: 95g
- Maximum Lumens: 260 lumens
- Battery Life: 10 hours
- Rechargeable: Yes
Price: US$ 95
Lezyne Strip Drive Pro
Lezyne is a cycling accessories brand from California that focuses primarily on creating effective and innovative accessories for the cyclist.
The Strip Drive Pro Y11 is one of their redesigned lights, making it the perfect choice to fit any bike.
The light is crystal clear, with an impressive lumen output of up to 220 lumens and multiple flash modes.
It is rechargeable and comes in a very lightweight design containing a USB rechargeable port.
The maximum run time is 7 hours and it is water-resistant making it perfect for any environment.
Specifications:
- Weight: 0.3 oz
- Maximum Lumens: 220 lumens
- Battery Life: 7 hours
- Rechargeable: Yes
Price: US$ 55
Cycliq Fly6
Cycliq is an Australian based company specialized in bike cameras and accessories.
Their Fly6 products are light-based rear cameras, combining two amazing functionalities in one product.
The Fly6 provides an impressive 40 lumens, but its main feature is the fact that the body of the light has the capacity to record videos and take photos.
With an impressive battery life of 6 hours, it is rechargeable with a USB port, plus the video clips are stored in a micro-SD card.
Specifications:
- Weight: 0.3 oz
- Maximum Lumens: 40 lumens
- Battery Life: 6 hours
- Rechargeable: Yes
Price: US$ 239
Cateye Rapid X3
Cateye is a cycling accessories brand from Japan, famous for their cycling computers and lights.
The Rapid X3 is one of the latest light models from the brand, making it the perfect choice for urban cyclists.
The design is very light and small, providing an impressive 80 lumens with 7 different light options, plus a wide angle view for the cyclist to be visible from different angles.
The battery has a run time of 5.5 hours, the body is weather-proof and the product is not rechargeable.
Specifications:
- Weight: 0.3 oz
- Maximum Lumens: 80 lumens
- Battery Life: 5.5 hours
- Rechargeable: No
Price: US$ 50
Exposure Lights TraceR DayBright
Exposure Lights is a British brand specialized in making bike lights that can be used in any kind of environment.
The TraceR Day Bright model is suitable for riders during the day and night, providing an impressive 135 lumens.
The design of this product was made to provide incredible light output with a low power consumption.
The body is water-proof, comes with an adjustable support to fit any bike and the light is USB rechargeable.
The battery life is 7.30 hours in constant mode, with a maximum output of 135 lumens and the the price for this light is very affordable.
Specifications:
- Weight: 0.3 oz
- Maximum Lumens: 135 lumens
- Battery Life: 7.30 hours
- Rechargeable: Yes
Price: US$ 45
Lezyne Zecto Drive Max 250
Lezyne is a company that specializes in creating cyclist accessories, with their Zecto Drive Max 250 being one of their latest light models.
With a maximum lumen output of 250 this is one of the brightest models that the brand provides.
The light contains a very light and compact design with several interesting features.
The battery life is 6 hours in the maximum lumen setting, while the USB rechargeable capacity makes it versatile.
The water-resistant light comes with a universal strap mount and packs a punch with an impressive lumen output.
Specifications:
- Weight: 0.3 oz
- Maximum Lumens: 250 lumens
- Battery Life: 6 hours
- Rechargeable: Yes
Price: US$ 70
Cygolite Hotshot Rear Bike Light
Cygolite is a cycling accessories brand specialized in making powerful bike lights.
The Hotshot bike light is the perfect choice to make cyclists visible during low-light scenarios.
This product is not the brightest compared to the others in our list, but it provides a bright flash mode in which the lumen reached 55.
The body is small and fits any bike, while the product is USB rechargeable, with a run time of 6.5 hours in the constant mode.
Specifications:
- Weight: 0.3 oz
- Maximum Lumens: 55 lumens
- Battery Life: 6.5 hours
- Rechargeable: Yes
Price: US$ 21
Best Rear Bike Light Key Takeaways
After evaluating this list of nine rear bike lights, I would recommend the Cygolite Hotshot Rear Bike Light, the Garmin Varia RTL515, and the Lezyne Strip Drive Pro.
The Cygolite Hotshot Rear Bike Light is an excellent alternative to the Bontrager Flare RT, as it is USB rechargeable and offers excellent visibility, battery life, and ease of use.
This rear bike light provides a powerful output of up to 150 lumens, ensuring you are visible to motorists in various lighting conditions.
The Hotshot also features six flash modes, including a steady mode, allowing you to customize the light to suit your needs.
The light’s battery life ranges from 2 to 210 hours, depending on the mode, and its USB rechargeable design ensures convenience and costs savings over time.
The Cygolite Hotshot is also water-resistant, making it suitable for different weather conditions.
The Garmin Varia RTL515 stands out for its unique radar technology, which alerts cyclists to approaching vehicles from up to 153 yards (140 meters) away.
This rear bike light not only enhances your visibility to motorists but also helps you stay aware of your surroundings, adding an extra layer of safety to your rides.
The RTL515 provides up to 65 lumens of brightness and has a battery life of up to 16 hours in flashing mode.
The light is also compatible with select Garmin Edge devices, allowing you to receive radar notifications directly on your bike computer.
The Garmin Varia RTL515 is a smart investment for those who value safety and situational awareness.
Lastly, the Lezyne Strip Drive Pro is a versatile, high-performance rear bike light suitable for many riding conditions.
The Strip Drive Pro offers an impressive maximum output of 300 lumens, ensuring you’re seen in various light conditions.
The light features 11 modes, including a daytime flash mode and a memory function that returns to the last mode used.
The Lezyne Strip Drive Pro Y11 is USB rechargeable and has a battery life of up to 54 hours, depending on the mode.
The light’s durable and weather-resistant construction ensures reliable performance in various weather conditions.
While the other rear bike lights on the list offer specific benefits and features, the Cygolite Hotshot Rear Bike Light, Garmin Varia RTL515, and Lezyne Strip Drive Pro stand out for their combination of visibility, innovative technology, and battery life.
Each rear bike light is suitable for a wide range of cyclists, from commuters to long-distance riders, and offers a reliable solution for those looking to enhance their safety on the road.
The choice between these three rear bike lights ultimately depends on your specific needs and preferences, but you can be confident that any of them will serve you well on your cycling journeys.
