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The Best Mountain Bike Lights of 2024

We tested mountain bike lights from top brands like Outbound Lighting, Niterider, Exposure, Knog, and more to find the best options to light your way through the night.
Riding with the Knog Blinder X 1800 and 2300 mountain bike lightsTesting the Knog Blinder X mountain bike lights; (photo/Tucker Adams)
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Mountain biking at night is amazing when you have the best mountain bike lights to cut through the darkness. Whether you’re not ready to hang up the bike when the days are shorter or you simply enjoy riding at night for fun, novelty, or racing, a good set of lights is an absolute necessity.

Our expert testers are adventure racers, mountain bike coaches, and mechanical engineers who have been riding with mountain bike lights for years. We’ve tested over 30 different models while considering key performance characteristics like brightness, beam patterns, form factor, ease of use, battery life, price, and durability.

From the top-rated Outbound Lighting Hangover and Trail Evo to the premium performance — and price — of the Exposure Six-Pack Mk13, we’ve got recommendations to suit your needs and budget. If you need more help deciding what you need, be sure to read our detailed buyer’s guide and price & value sections, or check out our comparison chart to see all the models we tested at a glance.

Editor’s Note: We updated this guide for the fall and winter seasons on October 18, 2024, with the addition of several recently tested models, including the Outbound Lighting Trail Evo and Hangover, the Exposure Six Pack Mk13 and Zenith Mk3, and the Knog Blinder X 1800 and 2300.

The Best Mountain Bike Lights of 2024


Best Overall Mountain Bike Light – Helmet

Outbound Lighting Hangover

Specs

  • Type Helmet
  • Lumens (max.) ≈ 1000
  • Battery 3,500 mAh internal
  • Burn time 1.1 hrs. (high), 1.6 hrs. (adaptive), 6.5 hrs. (low)
  • Weight 108 g
  • Mounts (included) Helmet: GoPro
The Best Mountain Bike Lights of 2024

Pros

  • Sleek
  • Best included helmet mounting
  • Wide beam pattern
  • Great UX
  • Lightweight
  • Not too expensive

Cons

  • Can be underpowered for very fast night riding
  • Not the brightest or longest lasting
Best Overall Mountain Bike Light – Handlebar

Outbound Lighting Trail Evo

Specs

  • Type Handlebar
  • Lumens (max.) ≈ 2200
  • Battery 10,000 mAh internal
  • Burn time 1.7 hrs (high), 2.6 hrs. (adaptive), 8.5 hrs. (low)
  • Weight 275 g (light), 42 g (handlebar mount)
  • Mounts (included) Quick release handlebar mount
The Best Mountain Bike Lights of 2024

Pros

  • Well executed handlebar clamp
  • Wide beam pattern
  • Great UX
  • No external battery

Cons

  • Beam can be outrun during very fast night riding
Best Budget Mountain Bike Light: Helmet

Niterider Lumina Pro 1200

Specs

  • Type Helmet or Handlebar
  • Lumens (max.) 1200
  • Battery internal, not-specified
  • Burn Time 55 min. (high), 7 hrs. (low)
  • Weight 193 g
  • Mounts (incl.) Handlebar, (Helmet: not incl.)
The Best Mountain Bike Lights of 2024

Pros

  • Reasonably priced
  • Easy to use
  • Stable, tool free, included handlebar mount
  • Versatile option for trail riding (enough power for handlebar or helmet mounting)

Cons

  • Shorter battery life in Boost Mode
  • Slightly heavier on the helmet than other options
Best Budget Mountain Bike Light: Handlebar

Fenix BC30 Bike Light V2.0

Specs

  • Type Handlebar
  • Lumens (max) 2200 (burst), 1500 (high)
  • Battery 2 x 18650 rechargeable Li-Ion batteries (not incl.)
  • Burn time 2.3 hours (high)
  • Weight 154 g
  • Mounts Handlebar
The Best Mountain Bike Lights of 2024

Pros

  • Reasonable price
  • Bright for the price
  • Replaceable batteries
  • Wireless handlebar remote

Cons

  • Need to purchase batteries separately
Best Premium Mountain Bike Light – Helmet

Exposure Zenith Mk3

Specs

  • Type Helmet or Handlebar
  • Lumens (max.) 2200
  • Battery 5,000 mAh internal
  • Burn Time 1 hr. (high), 18 hrs. (low)
  • Weight 147 g (light), 11 g (incl. helmet mount)
  • Mounts (incl.) Handlebar, Helmet, GoPro (not incl.)
The Best Mountain Bike Lights of 2024

Pros

  • Beautifully machined
  • Powerful helmet spot light, but wide enough combined with handlebar lights
  • Eight modes so you can find which works best for your riding
  • Long throw is difficult to outrun
  • Easy to pop on the lanyard and use as a normal flashlight
  • Will most likely last forever
  • Great packaging to keep everything together

Cons

  • Included clamp mount works well, but may not work with some helmet designs
  • Expensive
  • Relatively high charge time
Best Premium Mountain Bike Light – Handlebar

Exposure Six Pack Mk13

Specs

  • Type Handlebar
  • Lumens (max) 5450 (max Reflex++), 3900 (constant)
  • Battery 17,000 mAh internal
  • Burn time 2 hrs. (high), 36 hrs. (low), 3 hrs. (Reflex++)
  • Weight 404 g (light), 27 g (incl. handlebar mount)
  • Mounts Handlebar
The Best Mountain Bike Lights of 2024

Pros

  • Reflex++ works quickly and intuitively
  • Beautifully machined
  • Built to last
  • Very bright
  • Wide beam pattern
  • Great packaging to keep everything together

Cons

  • Expensive
  • Heavier weight

Best of the Rest

Knog Blinder X 1800

Specs

  • Type Handlebar or Helmet
  • Lumens (max) 1800
  • Battery 10,000 mAh external
  • Burn time 2.5 hrs. (high), 6.5 hrs. (med), 15 hrs. (low)
  • Weight 153 g (light/handlebar mount), 280 g (battery)
  • Mounts Handlebar, Helmet, Battery
The Best Mountain Bike Lights of 2024

Pros

  • Comes with helmet and handlebar mounts
  • Handlebar remote (wired)
  • Bright
  • Great beam throw and spread
  • Long run times

Cons

  • External battery pack adds complexity
  • Heavier system weight
  • Helmet mount won't work with all helmets

Light & Motion Seca Comp 2000

Specs

  • Type Handlebar
  • Lumens (max) 2000
  • Battery 28 Wh
  • Burn time 1.5 hours (high)
  • Weight 221 g
  • Mounts Handlebar (also works with GoPro mount)
The Best Mountain Bike Lights of 2024

Pros

  • Simple use and interface
  • Flood/spot light combination
  • Easy to attach
  • Bright enough

Cons

  • Not the longest burn time
  • Rubber handlebar strap isn't the most secure

Lupine Lights Wilma R 7 Helmet Light System

Specs

  • Type Helmet
  • Lumens (max) 3600
  • Battery 6900 mAh external (compatible with other sizes)
  • Burn time 1.45 hours on high
  • Weight 122 g (lamp head only)
  • Mounts Helmet (lots of other aftermarket options)
The Best Mountain Bike Lights of 2024

Pros

  • Many compatibility options for mounts and batteries
  • Bluetooth controllable through an app or remote
  • Exceptionally bright
  • Great beam throw and spread

Cons

  • Very expensive
  • External battery adds complexity

Light & Motion Vis Pro 1000 Trail

Specs

  • Type Handlebar or Helmet
  • Lumens (max) 1,000
  • Battery not specified
  • Burn time 2.5 hrs. (high)
  • Weight 142 g
  • Mounts Handlebar, Helmet, GoPro
The Best Mountain Bike Lights of 2024

Pros

  • Lightweight
  • Durable
  • Can light the way while charging

Cons

  • 1,000 lumen max output is lower end of functional
  • Rubber mounting system isn't 100% stable

Gloworm X2 Adventure Lightset

Specs

  • Type Handlebar or helmet
  • Lumens (max) 2000
  • Battery 5,000 mAh
  • Burn time 2 hrs. (high)
  • Weight 79 g (light head), 211 g (battery)
  • Mounts Handlebar, Helmet
The Best Mountain Bike Lights of 2024

Pros

  • Excellent value
  • Small footprint on handlebars or helmet
  • Wireless remote
  • Interchangeable lenses
  • Customizable through Gloworm app

Cons

  • External battery – and associated complexity
  • Heavier system weight

NiteRider Pro 4200 Enduro

Specs

  • Type Handlebar
  • Lumens (max) 4200
  • Battery 8-cell Li-Ion
  • Burn time 3 hrs. (high)
  • Weight 3 lbs., 1.6 oz.
  • Mounts Handlebar
The Best Mountain Bike Lights of 2024

Pros

  • Blazing 4,200 lumens
  • Long burn time at 600 lumens

Cons

  • Price
  • Heavy system weight

Mountain Bike Lights Comparison Chart

Mountain Bike LightMSRPLumens (max.)BatteryBurn TimeWeightMounts
Outbound Lighting Hangover$135≈ 10003,500 mAh internal1.1 hrs. (high), 1.6 hrs. (adaptive), 6.5 hrs. (low)108 gHelmet: GoPro (incl.)
Outbound Lighting Trail Evo$245≈ 220010,000 mAh internal1.7 hrs (high), 2.6 hrs. (adaptive), 8.5 hrs. (low)275 g (light), 42 g (handlebar mount)Handlebar
Niterider Lumina Pro 1200$1151200not specified55 min (high), 7 hrs. (low)193 g
Handlebar (incl.), Helmet (not incl.)
Fenix BC30 Bike
Light V2.0
$120
2200 (burst), 1500 (high)
2 x 18650 rechargeable Li-Ion batteries (not incl.)2.3 hrs. (high)154 g Handlebar
Exposure Zenith Mk3$3202200 5,000 mAh internal1 hr. (high), 18 hrs. (low)147 g (light), 11 g (incl. helmet mount)Handlebar, Helmet (incl.), GoPro (not incl.)
Exposure Six Pack Mk13$5365450 (max Reflex++), 3900 (constant)17,000 mAh internal2 hrs. (high), 36 hrs. (low), 3 hrs. (Reflex++)404 g (light), 27 g (incl. handlebar mount)Handlebar
Knog Blinder X 1800 $220 1800 10,000 mAh external2.5 hrs. (high), 6.5 hrs. (med), 15 hrs. (low)153 g (light/handlebar mount), 280 g (battery)Handlebar, Helmet, Battery
Knog Blinder X 2300$270230010,000 mAh external1.8 hrs. (high), 5 hrs. (med), 15 hrs. (low)153 g (light/handlebar mount), 280 g (battery)Handlebar, Helmet, Battery
Light & Motion Seca
Comp 2000
$225200028 Wh1.5 hrs. (high), 6 hrs. (low)221 gHandlebar (works with GoPro, not incl.)
Lupine Lights Wilma
R 7 Helmet Light System
$65036006900 mAh1.45 hrs. (high)122 g (light head only)Helmet
Light & Motion Vis Pro Trail 1000$1001000not specified1.5 hrs. (high)142 gHandlebar, Helmet, GoPro
Gloworm X2 Adventure$26920005,000 mAh2 hrs. (high)79 g (light), 211 g (battery)Handlebar, Helmet
NiteRider Pro 4200 Enduro$45042008-cell Li-Ion1.5 hrs. (high)1,406 g (total system)Handlebar
Scroll right to see more product specs.

How We Tested Mountain Bike Lights

The crew at GearJunkie has certainly spent their fair share of time in the saddle. Many among us steal away for after-work mountain bike laps, and some even participate in international adventure racing — where a good light can be the difference between a sunrise and a DNF. After years of both casual riding and full-tilt pedal mashing, we’ve keyed in on the best mountain bike lights on the market today that’ll see you through the night.

During our many seasons of testing, we’ve learned that a light for downhill won’t be the same as a light for all-night cross-country travel, so we carefully weighed each light against one another with these use profiles in mind. We also aimed to assess the real brass tack performance metrics such as brightness, burn time, and weight. Both battery and LED technology are constantly being improved upon, and the MTB lights of today are only getting better as time goes on.

Riding at night while testing mountain bike lights
Our testing process involved lots of riding at night with our selection of mountain bike lights; (photo/Paul Clauss)

Our Expert Testers

Testers Chelsey and Jason Magness kicked off this guide in the winter of 2021 by testing a wide selection of 25 mountain bike lights. As professional adventure racers (you might remember Team GearJunkie from a recent USARA National Championship Race), the Magnesses have spent countless hours riding at night and rely on bike lights to get them through the dark hours of races safely and efficiently.

As such, they have a thorough understanding of what separates the best mountain bike lights from the rest. Additionally, they leaned on their friends and fellow racers for testing and their opinions on the lights in this guide.

Adding to this guide is GearJunkie contributor Paul Clauss. Paul is a mechanical engineer, avid mountain biker, coach, and trail builder who lives in northern Vermont. When the days get shorter, Paul keeps riding into the darkness on his trail and fat bikes, and he has relied on mountain bike lights to brighten the way for many years.

Given his engineering background, Paul enjoys digging into the details of design as it relates to functionality and the user experience. In addition to mountain bike lights, he has contributed his knowledge and expertise to numerous other review categories, including the best bike pumps, flat pedal mountain bike shoes, and the flat pedals that go along with them.

All of the parts that come with the Knog Blinder X 1800 mountain bike light
Familiarizing ourselves with each mountain bike light, its parts, mounts, controls, and settings is one of the first steps in the testing process; (photo/Jeremy Benson)

Our Testing Process

To test the best mountain bike lights, we first assess the current market through extensive online research to identify the latest, greatest, and most highly regarded models on the market. We then gather up our choices and put them through rigorous testing to see how they fare in the real world.

The first step is unboxing each product as it arrives, taking stock of all the included parts, and examining the build quality. We then weigh each model for consistency and comparison to the manufacturer’s specifications. After charging the lights, it’s time to ride, so we mount each bike light to our bikes using the included mounts to analyze the ease of installation on handlebars and/or helmets.

Once mounted and adjusted, we take each model out for a number of night rides to get a feel for each model’s brightness, beam throw, beam spread, brightness settings, controls, stability, and overall ease of use. When possible, we switch between models to get a more direct side-by-side comparison. Additionally, we use each brand’s associated app (when applicable) to make adjustments and customizations to light settings.

After testing each model for months, we compare notes and determine which models are our favorites and those that excel for specific reasons compared to the rest. Many of the lights here have been used by our staff for years of tough riding and are still going strong today. As soon as new lights are on the market, we will test them and update our list to reflect the current best of the best in mountain bike lights.

Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Mountain Bike Lights

When the time comes to select a mountain biking lighting system, there are several key factors to consider. In this how-to-choose guide, we’ll cover the major variables that will help inform your decision.

A mountain biker riding at night while testing mountain bike lights
How you intend to ride in the dark will be a factor that dictates how bright your lights should be; (photo/Darren Steinbach)

Types of Riding

Mountain bike lights vary as widely as the types of riding that people do, so you’ll want to be sure to get lights that suit your riding style. This applies to the brightness of the lights, but also to the size of the battery, and the form factor of the lights.

The faster you ride and the more technical your trails, the brighter and more stable you’ll want your lights to be. Low to moderate speeds and smoother surfaces typically don’t demand as much brightness, but you’ll still need your lights to be bright enough. Regardless, we always recommend riding with lights on both your helmet and handlebar, as the combination provides the best illumination in the dark.

You’ll also want to consider ride duration, as that will play a role in determining which light will work best for your needs. If you’re like most people and you only ride for a couple of hours at a time, just about any light will do. If you’re hardcore and need your lights to last through the night, then you’ll want to find something that can run for many hours on end. Additionally, if you’re riding primarily in the winter over snow, your lights don’t need to be quite as bright since the white surface is more easily illuminated.

The Exposure Six-Pack Mk13 mounted to a mountain bike handlebar
The Exposure Six-Pack Mk13 has a super sturdy handlebar clamp mount and is an exceptionally bright mountain bike light; (photo/Paul Clauss)

Helmet vs. Handlebar Mounts

There are two places where mountain bike lights are designed to be mounted: on your handlebar and on your helmet. As mentioned above, a proper setup for riding at night includes lights mounted in both locations. You can get away with one or the other, but for the best visibility, having both is ideal. Many lights will come with one mounting system or the other — sometimes both — or you can often purchase an aftermarket mount to switch locations.

Handlebar-mounted lights always point in the general direction you’re traveling but will move with the handlebar as you steer, meaning it may not always be pointed directly at what you’re looking at. Many mountain bike lights mount to the handlebar using a hinged clamp that is tightened with an allen key — these are usually the most secure and stable. Typically, these types of mounts will come with shims to fit on both 31.8 mm and 35 mm handlebars.

Alternatively, some lighter-weight lights come with a stretchy rubber strap as a mount, and these are tool-free and very easy to use for frequent installation/removal, but they aren’t quite as secure as the clamp mounts. Generally, you want to mount the light as close to the stem as possible so the light is centered on your bar at the steering axis.

The Outbound Lighting Hangover mountain bike light mounted to a mountain bike helmet
Outbound Lighting’s Hangover helmet light attaches securely to a GoPro mount; (photo/Paul Clauss)

Helmet-mounted lights are excellent because they are attached to your head, so the beam moves in relation to where your head is pointed and you are looking. Additionally, the light source is higher up, so you can cast light over and around obstacles more easily. As such, we feel they are incredibly important to have, especially on twisty, chunky, or undulating terrain.

Many lights come with helmet mounts which are often a Velcro strap system that gets threaded through the vent holes on the top of your helmet. Others may come with a stick-on or clip-on mount or an adapter that attaches to an action camera mount (like a GoPro).

The only real drawback to helmet-mounted lights is that the mounts can sometimes be a bit less stable — particularly the strap variety — so they can bounce around a bit while riding. The weight of a light on your head can also take some getting used to and may require tightening your helmet more than usual to keep it steady. That said, most helmet-mount lights weigh around 200 g or less, so they aren’t too heavy on the head.

Riding on snow on a fat bike while testing mountain bike lights
Considering how and where you ride will help you determine how bright your lights need to be. Snow is a forgiving surface for night riding and doesn’t require lights to be quite as bright; (photo/Paul Clauss)

Brightness and Lumens

The brightness of a light is typically measured in lumens. While mountain biking in low light, you’ll definitely want a bright light that adequately illuminates the terrain ahead.

If you plan to ride in full darkness, you’ll want to use lights with a bare minimum of 500 lumens on your handlebars and 500 lumens on your helmet. This will get you by for lower speed, less aggressive riding scenarios, but realistically, we recommend getting lights that put out 1,000 lumens or more for doing any proper night riding. The brighter your lights, the more clearly you’ll be able to see and the faster and more safely you’ll be able to navigate mountain bike trails in the darkness.

Light technology has advanced greatly in recent years, and mountain bike lights are now smaller and brighter than ever. Many of these compact marvels are as bright or brighter than car headlights, with some boasting 4,000+ lumens that you can attach to your handlebar.

Honestly, lights that bright are almost overkill, but they can be nice to have from time to time. We’ve found that the sweet spot for most riding is in the neighborhood of 2,000 lumens. This is adequately bright for virtually any speed or riding scenario without being excessive.

The high setting of the Exposure Six-Pack Mk13 lighting up a trail on a night ride
It doesn’t get much brighter than the Exposure Six-Pack Mk13. The beam also provides a great balance of spread and throw so you can ride with confidence at any speed; (photo/Paul Clauss)

That said, most lights have numerous brightness settings, so you can turn them down to optimize them to your liking, the speeds you’re traveling, or the terrain at hand. While it is often ideal to have your lights at full brightness for descents, turning them down for slower speeds on climbs or mellower terrain is a great way to conserve battery.

The brightest light we tested is the Exposure Six Pack Mk13 which tops out at 5,450 lumens for short periods in its Reflex++ mode and can put out a continuous 3,900 lumens in its high setting. The Lupine Lights Wilma R 7 has a max output of 3,600 lumens, and the Niterider Pro 4200 Enduro can put out a whopping 4,200 lumens. These lights can illuminate the forest like it’s daytime.

The beam of the Niterider Lumina Pro 1200 lighting up a mountain bike trail at night
The Niterider Lumina Pro 1200 is fairly bright, but you can see that it has a bit more of a focused, spotlight-style beam than the Exposure Six-Pack; (photo/Paul Clauss)

Beam Pattern

It’s important to understand lumens are not the only factor that determines a light’s performance. Beam pattern and beam throw will also play a role in how well you can see while riding. While lumens are important, a super bright light only fulfills its potential if the beam pattern is effective.

A light’s beam pattern refers to how it disperses light across the trail. Our favorite beam patterns fill the entire trail with light and focus the brightness where you need it most.

Some lights have more of a focused, spotlight type of beam, while others are more of a flood light. The best lights manage to combine the two for a balanced beam pattern. Many lights are actually made of multiple lights with varying beam characteristics.

Riding with the Knog Blinder X 1800 and 2300 mountain bike lights
Knog’s new Blinder X 1800 and 2300 lights are not only very bright, but they have a well-balanced beam pattern that we found to work very well; (photo/Tucker Adams)

For example, the Knog Blinder X models have 12 LEDs. The center of the lens is clear for a longer throw, while the side of the lens is textured to spread the light out toward the sides. Taking it a step further, the Gloworm X2 Adventure comes with interchangeable lenses that allow the user to choose the beam pattern that best suits their needs or preferences.

Similarly, you want the beam to extend a good distance ahead of you so you can see what’s coming. This is more important at faster speeds, as the faster you go, the more important it is to see farther down the trail. Generally speaking, the brighter the light, the farther the light can shine down the trail.

The Knog Blinder X 1800 mounted on a mountain bike helmet
A light’s brightness and battery size dictate its burn time. The 10,000 mAh external battery of the Knog Blinder X 1800 can support 1,800 lumens for up to 2.5 hours; (photo/Jeremy Benson)

Ride Duration and Burn Time

Are you looking for something to brighten up your trails for an all-nighter or 24-hour race? Or are you just looking for a light that you can use once or twice a week on a 2-hour ride? Your answers to these questions will help find a light that best suits your needs.

Burn time is the total length of time a bike light can stay on before its battery is depleted. This is a function of a light’s battery size and output level. The brighter or more powerful a light is, the more battery power it uses. The larger the storage capacity of a battery, the longer it will last.

Like lights, battery technology has advanced rapidly in recent years, and batteries have become more compact and lighter than ever. And, since light technology has also advanced, they are brighter and use power more efficiently.

Still, it can be difficult to balance the power demands of bright lights with the weight and size of batteries to create lights that are bright, compact, and lightweight. Regardless, we’re way better off than we were a decade ago. Some bike light batteries used to be the size and weight of full water bottles.

Riding at night with the Knog Blinder X mountain bike lights
A light’s brightness and battery size will dictate the burn time. The 10,000 mAh external batteries of the Knog Blinder X models provide plenty of juice for most people’s night rides; (photo/Tucker Adams)

Batteries vary in size, which is usually listed in Milliamp Hours (mAh). The higher the number, the more power it can store. You’ll also notice that brighter lights tend to have larger batteries, and this is because a more powerful light will burn energy more quickly. It’s also important to note that batteries are one of the heaviest parts of bike lights, so that’s something to keep in mind if weight is a consideration.

A good example here is the Exposure Six-Pack Mk13 which has a 17,000 mAh battery — the largest of all the models we tested. This internal battery gives the Six-Pack a larger overall size and its heavier 404g weight — even though that’s still impressively light for what it is.

The majority of lights we tested can run on their highest setting for around 1.5 to 2 hours. Running them at lower settings or switching back and forth depending on your speed or the terrain can extend the battery life significantly. Since most of us are going out for shorter length night rides, the burn times of most lights are more than adequate.

If you’re a 24-hour racer, you’ll need to search out the longest-lasting light — like the super heavy Niterider Pro 4200 Enduro — and run it on a lower output setting to make it through the night. Or, be prepared to swap batteries or recharge at some point during the night

The Outbound Lighting Trail Evo light mounted to a mountain bike handlebar
The Outbound Lighting Trail Evo handlebar light has an internal battery, making for a self-contained package; (photo/Paul Clauss)

Internal vs. External Batteries

When choosing mountain bike lights, there are self-contained units with internal batteries and those that have external battery packs. Both work well, but generally speaking, the all-in-one units are a bit more straightforward and easy to use. That said, internal batteries are often, but not always, smaller, which can result in shorter burn times.

Lights with internal batteries are sometimes a bit heavier, as well, which can be noticeable when used as a helmet-mounted light. Additionally, you typically can’t swap out the batteries, so they need to be recharged once depleted.

We tested a number of models with internal batteries, including the Exposure Zenith Mk3 and Six-Pack Mk13, the Outbound Lighting Hangover and Trail Evo, and the Niterider Lumina Pro 1200. These lights top the charts for ease of use.

The external battery pack of the Knog Blinder X mountain bike lights
Many mountain bike lights have external batteries, like the Knog Blinder X 1800 and 2300, which need to be attached to your frame or stashed in your pack depending on the placement; (photo/Jeremy Benson)

Lights with external battery packs separate the light head from the battery, and they need to be connected with a cord that runs between them. This adds a bit of complexity, considering you need to mount the battery to your bike frame or stash it in a pack or jersey pocket (when used with a helmet mount). You’ve also got a cord to deal with, which can potentially snag on things if not secured properly.

On the plus side, the light head can be lighter than it would be with a battery attached to it, so it may be less noticeable on your head. The battery packs can also be larger and interchangeable — within the same brand — for longer rides or overnight races.

Some of the best lights on the market have external batteries, including the new Knog Blinder X 1800 and Blinder X 2300, the Lupine Lights Wilma R 7, and the Gloworm X2 Adventure. All of these lights are fantastic, but you’ll have wires to deal with.

The Niterider Lumina Pro 1200 mounted on a handlebar
Ease of use varies between models, with some, like the NiteRider Lumina Pro 1200, being very easy to set up and use and others being a bit more complex; (photo/Paul Clauss)

User Experience

Are you able and excited to put in the time to program and set up your light system? Or do you want to take it out of the box, clamp it on, and have it ready to go? There are many lights out there that cater to both as well as some in-between.

There are many that are ultra-fancy, like a really expensive watch that can do nearly everything you can imagine (and more you’ll likely never use), and then there are others that are super simple. They charge by the cord you already have or, better yet, just take batteries. Self-contained lights with internal batteries are generally a bit easier to deal with than those with external batteries.

Take some time before you buy to think about the amount of time you’re willing to put into your lighting system. Systems like the Lupine are easily upgradeable in nearly every way but might seem overly complicated for less serious night riders.

While the top-level performance, fancy features, and customizability of a light like the Exposure Six-Pack Mk13 make it arguably the best handlebar light you can buy, it might be overkill for a lot of riders. There’s a reason why we chose the Outbound Lighting Hangover and Trail Evo as our best overall lights instead. These lights are exceptionally easy to use while being bright and long-lasting enough for the vast majority of people’s needs — and much less expensive, too.

The Exposure Zenith Mk3 mounted on a mountain bike helmet
Mountain bike lights vary pretty widely in price. If you’re serious about your night riding, investing in something like the Exposure Zenith Mk3 might be well worth the higher price; (photo/Paul Clauss)

Price & Value

In the mountain bike lights market, there’s a very wide range of prices. The models we tested range from around $100 all the way up to $650. Generally speaking, brighter lights, bigger batteries, and more advanced technology drive the price up, but often the differences will only truly be appreciated by a select few.

Budget

You can buy some super cheap bike lights off Amazon, but you’ll almost definitely be disappointed. If you want to do some real-deal night riding but you’re operating on a budget, we recommend spending between $100 to $150 on some higher-quality lights that will actually be bright enough to light your way, last long enough to get through a ride, and not crap out on you after only a few uses.

Lights in this price range tend to be a bit simpler overall, with brightness ranging between 1,000 and 2,000-ish lumens, along with smaller batteries. In some ways, this simplicity is great because they are easy to use, relatively compact, lightweight, and adequate for infrequent use or rides of shorter durations.

One of our favorite inexpensive lights is the Niterider Lumina Pro 1200 ($115). This light can be mounted on your handlebar or helmet, lights up the trail with 1,200 lumens, and is incredibly user-friendly.

While we don’t necessarily consider it a budget light, the Outbound Lighting Hangover’s ($135) price is so competitive that it qualifies. Given its impressive ease of use, compact form, light weight, and great beam spread, this is one of our favorite helmet-mounted lights, regardless of price.

Mid-Tier

As we climb the price ladder, we typically see an increase in brightness, larger batteries, and a generally higher level of performance. Most lights in the mid-tier will set you back between $150 and $300, but they usually boast 2000+ lumens and batteries big enough to handle the increased power needs.

Outbound Lighting’s Trail Evo ($245) boasts an impressive 2,200-lumen max output, a stable and secure handlebar mount, and a 10,000 mAh internal battery. Like the Hangover, it’s super easy to use, making it our overall favorite that we feel will work best for most people.

Similarly, Knog’s new Blinder X 1800 ($220) and Blinder X 2300 ($270) lights are impressively bright, stable, and long-lasting with 10,000 mAh external batteries. The wired battery-to-light connection isn’t as user-friendly, but the performance is otherwise stellar.

The Exposure Six-Pack Mk13 may be very expensive, but it’s very bright, loaded with tech, and has one of the nicest builds of any light we’ve ever used. The storage case is a nice touch, too; (photo/Paul Clauss)

Premium

As we crest the $300 mark, we enter the high-end of the mountain bike light market. Again, we typically see an increase in brightness with lights capable of blasting 2,000 to 4,000-ish lumens. We also see an increase in build quality with nicer finishes. Technology also comes in to play with advanced features like companion apps, touch sensitivity, or auto-adjust brightness.

Our favorite premium bike lights are those made by Exposure. These also happen to be the highest-performance lights we’ve tried. The Zenith Mk3 ($320) is a compact helmet mount unit that puts out a whopping 2,200 lumens and weighs in under 150 g with an internal 5,000 mAh battery. It features TAP technology for on-the-fly changes to settings and has a super slick design.

Likewise, the Six-Pack Mk13 ($536) shares a similar sleek design but takes brightness to another level with the capability of putting out 3900 lumens continuously in its high setting. The 17,000 mAh internal battery adds some weight but keeps it running as long as you want, while its advanced Reflex++ mode makes automatic changes to brightness based on speed and the pitch of the trail. That performance will cost you, but it is truly an incredible handlebar-mounted bike light.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need lights on both my handlebars and my helmet?

While you can get by with just one light on your helmet, we always recommend riding with lights on both your helmet and your handlebar for the best visibility while riding in the dark.

If you have to choose just one, we think a helmet-mounted light is the most important as it moves with your head and always points where you are looking. It is invaluable on trails with many technical features and tight turns.

Meanwhile, a handlebar-mounted light will point toward where your bike is headed — which is not always the direction you want to go. Still, since your bike is generally pointing in the direction you’re going most of the time, it’s great to have a light on your handlebar as a secondary source of illumination.

Do I need mountain bike lights if I only ride during the day?

That depends. If you only ride midday, chances are you won’t need to use a light, maybe ever. Still, it can be wise to be prepared for anything. We often carry bike lights just in case, for the same reason we carry a first aid kit. You never know what’s going to happen on your rides.

Whether you have a mechanical issue that keeps you out after the sun goes down, you’re just having too much fun to stop riding, or you misjudged your ride distance and timing, having a bike light in the pack can be a huge benefit. Even a low powered light can be the difference from riding out safely and efficiently or feeling your way out in complete darkness.

Fortunately, many modern bike lights are relatively small and weigh in the neghborhood of 200 grams or so, so putting one in the pack or a jersey pocket doesn’t come with too much of a weight or space penalty.

How long do mountain bike lights last?

Eventually, all battery-powered mountain bike lights will be depleted and need a recharge. The battery life or burn time of a light ultimately depends on the size of the battery, brightness of the light, brightness settings used, and the air temperature.

If you’re running a high-quality bike light at peak power, it will generally only stay on for between 90 and 150 minutes. At lower outputs, the same lights may be able to last for two to three times as long or longer. The mountain bike lights with the biggest and most powerful battery packs may be able to stay on at full output for up to 4 hours.

To get the most out of your lights, we recommend always starting your ride at full charge. Additionally, switching between brightness modes — using lower settings for lower speeds like climbing — can extend the battery life. And just because some modern lights can put out a ridiculous number of lumens doesn’t mean that it’s necessary. You can often run many of the lights we have listed at half power and it will still be plenty bright.

How bright should my mountain bike lights be?

Compared to road cycling or commuting, where the emphasis is often on being seen by motorists or lighting up a road, mountain bike lights typically need to be much brighter to illuminate narrow, twisty, and often rocky trails. While it depends somewhat on the trails you ride and the speed you’re traveling, we typically want bright lights with a long throw while also having a good amount of spread to light up the periphery.

Through our testing, we’ve found that we like to have a bright light on our helmet and usually prefer to have a slightly brighter light on the handlebar. In general, lights with a maximum output of about 1000 lumens are at the lower end of what we like to use for faster-paced riding or in more technical terrain.

The faster or more aggressively you ride, the brighter you’ll probably want your lights to be. For most riders, however, a 1,000-lumen light on the helmet will provide adequate illumination where you’re looking with a brighter — 1,500 to 2,000-ish lumens — light on the handlebar.

Even then, you probably won’t need to run your lights on full blast all of the time. Turning down the brightness for lower-speed riding will help you conserve battery so you can stay out for longer.

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