The Best Mini Bike Lights

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For motorists and cyclists to travel on the same roads together, safety precautions need to be observed. Motorists obviously need to be aware of cyclists and refrain from driving at uncontrollable speeds, while cyclists must do everything they can to ensure they’re visible. 

Having lights on your bike may seem like a hassle, but that’s the only way motorists can recognize you in the dark. A very bright light is all that’s needed to raise some awareness of your presence. 

Ordinary bike lights may not be to everybody’s fancy. These are usually larger and heavier, making them increasingly difficult to install than their alternative—mini bike lights. Mini bike lights are small enough to fit in your bag or pocket when not in use and provide the brightness and performance level you’d expect from a standard size light. 

Choosing one to buy can be a tough choice. There are so many great products on the market, and the knowledge on which light is best suited for a person isn’t easy to come by; this is why we’ve taken it upon ourselves to review the best mini bike lights on the market. 

The list of the six best mini bike lights reviewed is as follows: 

From the reviewed products, our favorite is the Lumintrail Superbright. The other products are all great alternatives.

How to Choose a Mini Bike Light

The best mini bike lights no longer only illuminate the roads we’re cycling on but include other innovative features. These could be power saving modes or USB outputs to charge other devices, like your smartphone or tablet.

The latest versions have waterproof and dustproof features, making them robust and durable. Such products are more likely to be used by road and mountain bikers that experience harsh terrain and unpredictable weather. 

Lumens and Lux: The Brightness of Light

There are two important values to pay attention to when examining a light’s brightness. 

  • The lumen value—is the total amount of light emitted by the light source. 
  • The lux value—is measured in lumens per square meter and is the light brightness at a specified distance from its source.

Depending on the beam configuration, two LED lights with similar lumen values can have very different lux values. For example, if a floodlight beam is used, a mini bike light with a 400-lumen rating can have a relatively lower lux value than a 150-lumen light with a spotlight beam. 

Because the visibility a light provides is dependent on both of these values, you must consider both before purchasing. 

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

Beam Configuration

An LED bike light has three beam options. For those with a specific use for their bikes—city cycling compared to road biking—then one beam option may be more beneficial than the other:

  • Flood (or fixed): Because light is distributed in a shorter beam-width in this configuration, a resulting even floodlight illuminates a vast area; this enables you to see what’s on either side and directly in front of you. 
  • Spot (or focused): Spotlights concentrate the light in a narrow beam, allowing you to see much farther at the expense of peripheral illumination. 
  • Adjustable: With this option, you can seamlessly switch between a wide and focused beam or the different points in-between; this allows you to use a spotlight for an early morning city commute and then switch to a floodlight when traveling in a forest during the weekend.

Mounting Options

There are two popular methods to mount your bike headlight:

  • Helmet Mount: A better choice for mountain biking, this provides much-needed flexibility to target what the light beam is shining on. When you’re on a bike, your helmet—or head—is the tallest point of your silhouette. The higher the position of a light, the farther you’ll be able to see. 
  • Handlebar Mount: The more common option. Here, a knob fastens the rubber or plastic strap that’s wrapped around the handlebar. It’s simple to use and, in most cases, provides sufficient visibility for city cyclists who are unlikely to wear helmets. 

You shouldn’t feel constrained; it doesn’t have to be either/or option. There are bike lights—like the Night Provision Line—that offer both helmet mounting and handlebar mounting options.

Additional Features

Additional features are now included in high-end mini bike lights to improve the value and justify their price; these have become so popular that many customers regard them as necessities. The most common additional features are: 

  • Adjustable Power Settings – Mini bike lights with high and low power settings lure customers because they give you the option of dimming your lights when cycling in a well-lit street. 
  • Light Sensors – Light sensors ensure the mini bike lights automatically switch between night and day modes. An innovative feature in the sensors is the time delay that occurs to prevent a change in modes caused by car headlights driving by. 
  • USB Charging – Many models are USB rechargeable; this is convenient because you can take your light with you and charge it with your office computer. Some very well-crafted versions have charging ports for charging your smartphone or camera.

Click here to see the Best Bike Headlights reviewed!

Review of the Best Mini Bike Lights

The Best Mini Bike Light

Lumintrail Superbright

Lumintrail is a reputable brand that has satisfied customers all across America. They’ve outdone themselves with the Superbright light set. This product comes as a pair—a headlight and a tail light. The headlight is of particular importance; it has a maximum output of an astonishing 1000 lumens. That’s brighter than most flashlights on the market today. 

The high output is powered by a 3.7 Volt 2600 mAh battery, which is USB rechargeable. The charging system is incredibly fast. In a little over four hours, your headlight will be fully charged. 

Once fully charged, you can have two to eight hours of light, depending on the lighting mode used. This easy-to-install headlight comes with three different lighting modes while the tail light has two.

The build quality of the bike light is fantastic. It’s made from robust and sturdy aluminum that ensures the product is lightweight too. The IP44 waterproof rating is important; it guarantees the lights will work in all sorts of weather conditions. 

Pros: 

  • Comes as a set of two. 
  • IP44 waterproof rating. 
  • Maximum output of 1000 lumens. 
  • Robust and durable. 

Cons:

  • Mount isn’t sturdy. 

Best Adjustable Mini Bike Light

Volcano Eye LED

This 500-lumen mini bike headlight comes with four different lighting modes, which isn’t extraordinary for a product on our list. What makes the Volcano Eye LED special is the adjustable mount it features. It allows for 360-degree rotation and ensures you can adjust the height between the base of the mount and the light. 

The higher a light is from the ground, the easier it will be to see further. But in some cases, you may want to see what’s directly beneath you—to avoid a thorny branch, for example. So, being able to switch between different heights is a true convenience. 

This product also comes as a set of two. Both lights are USB rechargeable and have a water-resistant rating of IPX4. They can be fully charged within two to three hours and offer a runtime of four to six hours. 

Because of the military-grade materials used and the clever design of the adjustable mount, this light is best suited for those who do off-road cycling. 

Pros: 

  • Comes as a set. 
  • Adjustable mount. 
  • Four lighting modes. 
  • Decent runtime. 

Cons: 

  • The IPX4 rating is decent but not great. 
  • The light is slightly heavier than other comparably sized ones on our list. 

Best Versatile Mini Rear Bike Light

Night Provision LINE-120R

Versatility is an essential factor when choosing a mini bike light. The Night Provision Line is a rectangular shaped light that can be mounted on both your helmet and bicycle. Its unique shape allows you to position and mount it vertically or horizontally, depending on what you feel will make you more conspicuous. 

It features 180-degree visibility, which means motorists will be able to notice you even if you’re within their blind spot. 

With a weight of 1.4 ounces, those with racing bikes can benefit from this light. It adds minimum weight to your bicycle, and when position vertically, it’s aerodynamically efficient. 

The 120-lumen light comes with a two-year warranty. You’ll also be gifted with a lifetime labor-free repair and the option to buy replacement parts at cost. There’s very little one would want more from a rear bike light. 

Pros: 

  • Helmet mountable. 
  • Decent battery life. 
  • Two-year warranty. 
  • Visibility of 180 degrees. 
  • Lightweight. 

Cons: 

  • Must buy matching headlight separately. 
  • No official waterproof rating. 

Click here to see the Best Bike Tail Lights reviewed!

Best Mini Bike Lights with Sensors. 

Bright Road Bike Light Set

The problem that plagues most forgetful cyclists is solved with this pair of lights. These people usually forget to turn off their lights after cycling. When they wake up early in the morning to commute or get some exercise, they realize their battery is completely drained from the light being on the entire night. 

The Bright Road Bike Light Set features motion sensors that completely turn off your lights two minutes after you’ve stopped cycling. To turn on your lights, all you have to do is start cycling. 

The 80-lumen front light and the 40-lumen rear light both have an IPX6 waterproof rating, making sure you can confidently cycle on those rainy days.

You can have a fully charged light in under three hours using a USB charger. The convenience offered by this product is truly outstanding. In addition to all of this, Bright Road provides a minimum 1-year warranty on this product. They have a great deal of faith in their product, and so should you. 

Pros:

  • Motion sensors. 
  • Comes as a set. 
  • IPX6 waterproof rating. 
  • One-year warranty. 

Cons: 

  • Mount could be sturdier. 

Brightest Mini Bike Light

MagicShine MJ 900

The MJ 900 is one of the smallest lights on our list but offers a mind-boggling 1200-lumen output. It’s amazing how such a tiny product can be reliable and still provide that much light output. Because of this performance, many mountain bikers will find this an invaluable component of their cycling gear. 

In addition to its brightness, the MJ 900 also offers a helmet mounting option; this means you can use the mini bike light for various other activities, like skiing or camping. 

The Magic Shine uses built-in rechargeable batteries. The 2.6 Ah 3.7 Volt provides a runtime of two hours when the light emits its maximum output. The circuitry is configured to ensure the battery performs well in cold conditions. 

The IPX4 rating is decent, but isn’t sufficient for heavy rain; this questions the durability of the light. But it does come with a one-year limited warranty and a six-month warranty for the batteries. 

Pros: 

  • Maximum output of 1200 lumens. 
  • Helmet mount option. 
  • Efficient battery system. 

Cons: 

  • IPX4 waterproof is decent but not great. 
  • Replacement batteries are expensive. 

Best Mini Bike Lights for Beginner Cyclists

Wrangler Wheel Bike Light Set

If you happen to be trying out cycling as a sport or commuting method for the first time, then these lights are an excellent option. They include most of the incredible features the products on this list have, but at an affordable price. 

The Wrangler lights are featherweight and offer a decent waterproof rating. They come with USB rechargeable capabilities and can function for up to ten hours on a single charge. 

A 100 percent money-back guarantee accompanies the easy-to-install lights. Being a risk-free purchase, most customers are highly likely to be satisfied with this product. 

Pros: 

  • Affordable price.
  • Featherweight.
  • Good battery life. 
  • Easy to install. 

Cons: 

  • Not very bright. 

Click here to see all of our Bike Light Reviews!

Conclusion

This detailed guide has hopefully highlighted the benefits offered by mini bike lights. From our analysis, it seems a logical conclusion to label the Lumintrail Superbright as the best. 

The lightweight and waterproof certified casing, coupled with its 1000-lumen maximum output, makes Lumintrail Superbright the winner. Plus, it comes as a set of rear and front lights!

The other products are great purchases too. The Volcano Eye LED has an adjustable mount while the Bright Road Bike Light Set features convenient motion sensors.