The Best Bike Helmet Lights

Cyclists will know that there’s nothing like the freedom the open road brings. A lengthy bike ride can ease the troubles of everyday life and keep us fit in the process! 

You can’t neglect safety while on the road, though. It’s essential to choose the best bike helmet lights to make yourself visible to motorists, whether you’re riding at night or during the day. 

If you’re in a hurry to hit the road, our first choice is Topside Bike Helmet Light . Read on to see how the Topside compares to the rest.

The top choices for the best bike helmet lights are: 

When looking for the best bike helmet lights, there are several things to consider to ensure you get the best one possible. Remember, your headlamp will be brave all weather and terrain with you, so before handing over your hard-earned cash, make sure it ticks all the boxes. 

What Should I Look For In the Best Bike Helmet Lights? 

Consider the following points when shopping for the best bike helmet lights: 

Durability 

You never know what might come your way on a bike ride. You want your headlamp sidekick to be durable enough to withstand sand, water, high winds, and whatever else gets thrown at it. 

It should be constructed of tough material. Thick polycarbonate plastic is mostly used to allow for brightness, while still being strong. The rest of the torch body can vary, but silicone or anodized aluminum are great options. 

The best bike helmet lights should not crack, break, or get badly scratched while you’re out on the road. 

How durable is it? What does IPX6 mean? Read our Ultimate Guide to the ANSI/PLATO FL1 Standard symbols!

Battery

Rechargeable or not rechargeable? That is the question. This is a choice that will vary from user to user—both options have advantages and disadvantages.

Regardless of your choice, you want to know that your headlamp will last the whole ride and not die and leave you in the dark.

Most headlamps give a rough indication of their battery life, but the best way to find reliable info on this is to check out customer reviews.

Learn everything you need to know about Batteries with our Ultimate Guide to Batteries!

Weight & Usability 

When you’ve got a pack on your back, and you’re biking over rough terrain, the lighter your headlamp can be, the better.

Whether it’s in your bag, on your head, or strapped to your belt, you want something that’s lightweight and easy to handle. 

You also don’t want a heavy object on your head that will throw you off balance when turning corners or bouncing over rough terrain. 

Versatility

Look out for a light with added features such as dual-colored lights, mode options (such as constant, flashing, strobe), and whether you can clip it to a belt or a bag when not used as a helmet light.

When and where you prefer to ride can also be a factor here. If you only ride after dark, then a single-purpose headlamp might be fine. If you’re an occasional trail biker, it’s possible you could require a warning light for during the day, you might need to be more selective to find something that can be seen in brighter conditions. 

Read our Ultimate Guide to Flashlights to learn what to look for when finding the best flashlight for your needs

Brightness

They usually measure the brightness of a lamp in lumens. The number of lumens output that a lamp gives is important to look for. A driver needs to see you, and you need to see the road ahead. The brightness of the light you choose is what will make that happen.

We recommend that the minimum you should go for in white light is 300 lumens. If you do plenty of off-roading, 1000 and upwards are more suited. 

Our Lumens, Lux, and Candela article is a great resource to learn more about Lumens and light output

Product Reviews 

Here are our recommendations for the best bike helmet lights: 

Best Overall Headlamp 

Topside Bike Helmet Light

Our top choice is a rugged little headlamp that can withstand a lot of beating from the weather. It’s made from waterproof materials and is also dust and frost-proof. Perfect for any conditions! 

It can run for around 43 hours and is USB-rechargeable, so no fiddling with batteries. The USB port is deep, so you must make sure it’s plugged in properly when charging it.

The downside is that, although the battery can stand up to 20,000 charging cycles, once it’s done, you must buy a whole new lamp.

It comes with two mounts in distinct styles to suit differing headwear, and zip ties to secure it to your helmet in various positions. You don’t need a tool to mount it, so it’s easy for anyone and everyone to use.

You can choose between constant light mode or flash mode, and the front (white) light and back (red) light can be set independent of the other. You can have one light blinking and one solid, or both flashing, or both constant. 

The white light beam is powerful but is wide rather than far. It will give you excellent visibility in front and to the side of you for about 10 to 15 feet. 

It’s versatile, compact, and durable, as well as being able to withstand harsh conditions! What’s not to love? 

Pros

  • Dual lighting options with variable settings. 
  • Waterproof, dustproof, and frost-proof. 
  • Tool-free mounting.
  • USB rechargeable. 

Cons

  • The battery can’t be replaced – once it’s done, you must buy a new headlamp.
  • The USB port is quite deep, so it can be hard to use. 

Best Multi-function Headlamp

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This versatile torch is ideal for any situation. You can use it as a handheld flashlight or mount it on a helmet or handlebars. 

It comes with a separate rear red light, which can be mounted separately, allowing for a degree of versatility in positioning.

This little kit contains a powerful torch, a red light, a mounting unit, a head strap, a rechargeable battery, and a universal charger.

The torch is quite bright, up to 1200 lumens. There are five modes to choose from: high, medium, low, strobe, and SOS. There’s a mode for every situation, which is super for being out on the road. 

It’s also zoomable, so you can select whether you want a wide or narrow beam in the moment. 

The rear red light is a separate unit, which makes it versatile in terms of placement. The body is made of durable silicone, and it’s also waterproof. It uses a CR2032 coin battery, which comes in the package. 

The kit has a one-year warranty, and the fact that they include a universal charger means you won’t have to replace the battery often. Although it’s hard to tell how long a battery might last on a charge, the bulb has a lifespan of 100,000 hours. 

Pros

  • The headlamp kit contains two lights and mounts. 
  • Zoomable to make the light beam narrow or wide.
  • Rechargeable battery. 
  • Five adaptable modes.
  • Multi-functional.

Cons

  • Rear red light doesn’t come with a battery. 

Best Safety/Warning Headlamp 

Serfas Helmet Safety Light

This little headlamp is super compact. It would be easy to place just about anywhere, with a belt clip and a Velcro strap. 

It’s designed in the universally known, safety triangle shape. It uses a 3-LED light system, one on each corner of the triangle.

The LED lights are surprisingly bright for their size, and the three-light system is well-rounded and provides enough of a warning for anyone to see. It would be suited for use during misty, wet days as well as at night. 

The one-button design makes it quick and straightforward to use. You can also choose from three modes of use—steady, flash, and chase. 

Pushing the button cycles through the modes until you settle on the one you want.

The lamp comes with the CR2032 lithium battery pre-installed, which is a thumbs up. They should last up to 95 hours on the steady mode, and up to 130 on the other two. They aren’t rechargeable, but they’re easy to get hold of, and as long as you use it smartly, 95 hours can be a pretty long time!

The headlamp is reflective, which adds an extra element of safety. Although the safety and warning aspects of this headlamp are amazing, it’s not great for illuminating the surrounding area. It’s definitely best for safety and visibility purposes.

Pros

  • High-quality lenses to increase brightness.
  • Three modes. 
  • Run time of up to 130 minutes.
  • Built-in reflector.
  • Very compact.

Cons

  • The velcro strap is short. 
  • Not suitable for illuminating. 

Click here to see the Best Headlamps reviewed!

Best Headlamp For Rugged Terrain 

Planet Bike Blinky Safety 1-Led Bicycle Light Set

The roads can be bumpy, and if you like off-roading, we know it’s not going to be smooth! They designed this little headlamp to be super stable.

It’s a decent size but is a safety and warning light to be seen, rather than to see with. Although some customers report it not being bright enough, it’s definitely able to be seen in the darkness. Others report it being effective even in sunlight. 

The most significant feature of this little warning torch is that it’s self-leveling. Once it’s on your head, it levels itself no matter which way you tilt. 

That’s an outstanding function for use on bumpy terrain, as it will stay in the correct position at all times. It’s the only one that we could find that has this feature, and it makes quite a difference when you’re bouncing around.

It’s incredibly light, so you’ll hardly even notice it on you. One AAA battery is all you’ll need for up to 8.5 hours of constant use! 

Pros

  • Run time of up to 8.5 hours. 
  • ScotchliteTM side reflective strip. 
  • Multiple mounting options. 
  • Self-leveling.

Cons

  • Some customers report it not being bright enough. 
  • Not the most durable, as it’s an almost entirely plastic casing. 

Best Value Headlamp 

Sigem Clip on Flashing Strobe Light

You’ll get three lights in this set, all of which have five ultra-bright LEDs included. They’re powered by two CR2032, coin-type batteries, which come already installed.

Clip or strap the lights just about anywhere, and each can last for up to 100 hours. With an option of constant, fast strobe, or slow flash modes, you’ll be seen in any dull or dark conditions. 

Rainy and misty days won’t be a problem either. These bright little LEDs are waterproof to a degree, they’ll be great for being out and about in the rain, but don’t go submerging them in anything. 

There are color options too: red, white, blue, and green. Besides getting three seriously bright lights, your purchase includes two extra batteries, three adjustable, elastic straps for mounting, and a mini screwdriver to make replacing batteries simple.

Pros

  • Comes in a pack of three. 
  • Adjustable elasticized straps for mounting.
  • Weather-resistant. 
  • Runs for up to 100 hours.

Cons

  • Recommended for night/dull light use only. 

Best Mounted Headlamp 

Topeak HeadLux Helmet Light

This dual-light headlamp is not the most versatile, but it’s great for mounting on a helmet to increase your visibility to motorists. 

It is reversible, with a white light on one end and a red light on the other. Thanks to its unique shape, the lenses provide visibility on either side, as well as straight ahead.

Each light contains two LEDs, and can be set to one of three modes—white constant and red blinking, both constant, or both blinking. 

Depending on what modes you use most often, it can run for up to 100 hours before it depletes the batteries. Two batteries are supplied.

It’s incredibly light, at 0.84 ounces, and it operates with a simple one-button design.

This little lamp may not be the most versatile, but mount it where it needs to go, and it will serve its purpose admirably. The small design makes it easy to forget it’s even there.

It can be hard to see from the sides during the day, but it’s perfect from straight on. At night, you can’t miss it! 

Pros

  • Wrap-around lenses for better visibility.
  • Batteries included. 
  • Lightweight at less than an ounce. 
  • Easy to mount with the velcro strap.

Cons

  • Light is dull, best used only as a warning light. 

Click to see all of our other Headlamp reviews!

Conclusion

Finding the best bike helmet lights can be a daunting task, but each one we’ve covered here is durable, lightweight, and has a variety of modes and a long battery lifespan.

If you have to pick one, we’d recommend the Topside Bike Helmet Light . It’s waterproof, dustproof, and frost-proof, so you can take it anywhere. The battery lasts up to 20,000 cycles, and the wide-angle beam allows you to see 10-15 feet ahead with ease.

Its versatility and durability make it our top choice to ensure the safest ride possible!