USB Bike Light: The 3 Best USB-Rechargeable Bike Lights in 2017
Both rear lights and front lights on your mountain bike or road bike are essential if you’re going to be driving in less than ideal weather or if you’re going to be riding in the dark. A good quality light is important and it needs to be bright enough that a car or even another bike rider will be able to see where you are at all times. With a USB rechargeable light, you’re going to have a super easy to charge light that doesn’t need batteries all the time, which definitely saves you some money.
However, with so many super bright USB rechargeable bicycle lights on the market, it all comes down to performance and battery life. Therefore, to help make your decision a little easier, we have put together a review of the best USB rechargeable bike lights for 2017.
Cygolite Hotshot Pro 80
With this Cygolite Hotshot Light, you’re going to get a whole lot of power and you’re going to have no problem getting it for a decent amount of time. It gives you 50 lumens of super bright light that lasts for about 2 hours and 45 minutes so you can definitely have a nice long ride. It even lets you know when the battery is starting to get low so you can start heading back to get it charged back up. Because it charges your laptop’s USB port via a USB cord you don’t have to worry about carrying batteries around or making sure you have extras in your house. You just plug it into a computer or other outlet and you’re going to be all set to go.
If you’re looking for something that will really let people know you’re there you can use this light on one of the two brightness levels available as well as the flashing or pulsing modes. With a moderate price, it’s definitely something to consider and it’s going to help you stay safe no matter what. It’s completely water resistant and can be mounted on a seat post or seat stay so you’re going to have no problem keeping yourself in good shape.
Pros:
- 2 hours 45 minutes battery power
- Multiple light options
- Water resistant
- Burns very bright
- Easy to recharge
- Can see light up to ½ mile away
- Easy assembly and mounting
Cons:
- Not easy to turn off
- Can be difficult to mount
- Brightness level of flashing light not adjustable
- Light output beam is somewhat narrow
Fenix BC21R
The fenix-bc21r-image is capable of putting out 880 lumens, which is definitely more than enough for riding no matter where or when you want to go. It provides a neutral white LED with color rendition to make sure you’re easily visible no matter what. It also has a quick release mount that ensures you can always see where you’re going and everyone can see you. It uses a dual distance beam system so you’re safer than ever and can be charged with a micro USB. Included in the system, are additional lithium-ion batteries so you’ll never be without the light you need to be safe.
This system is a little bit more expensive, but you get a whole lot for that. The system is designed to make sure lights don’t end up in someone’s eyes and there’s no glare. It’s also able to work for up to 15 hours depending on the intensity that you set it to and with four different levels plus a flashing option, this is definitely going to get you just the amount of light you need. All you need to do is flip one switch and you’ll be ready to go all the time plus there’s a low-battery warning indicator.
Pros:
- 5 different light modes
- Extra lithium-ion batteries included
- 410 ft. beam distance
- Anti-glare headlight light output capabilities
- Quick release bike mount
Cons:
- Mount requires a little adjustment
- Doesn’t dissipate heat as well as aluminum
- Difficult to remove cover on positive battery terminal
Cateye Rapid Mini
If you’re looking for an inexpensive option for your next light then the Cateye Rapid Mini is definitely a great one to choose. It’s priced around $30 and offers a whole lot for that low price. It’s actually designed as a taillight, keeping you visible from behind rather than shining to light your way in the front. It has a light mode memory and can run for up to 30 hours on just one single charge. Plus, it charges with a USB cord rather than needing new batteries every time the light dies out. You’ll even have an auto save feature for the battery and an indicator when it starts getting low.
Ultra lightweight, this light can attach any way you want and offers 4 different modes of light so you are always visible. It comes with a number of different mounting brackets and systems so you can get it where you want and it can be mounted either vertically or horizontally, to fit your own personal preference. Not only that but it is small enough to store and carry around when you don’t need it and you can set it up again without the need for tools. You can get going on your ride whenever you want and you’ll be more than happy with the results that you get when you use it for nighttime riding as it has a decent amount of power.
Pros:
- Easy to set up
- Runs for an extended period of time
- Price is lower than most similar lights
- 4 different light modes that keep you visible
- Works well in different configurations
- Lightweight and small for easy transport
Cons:
- Rubber band attachment system is not high quality
- Must be attached firmly or can slide or get lost
- Not as bright as would be ideal
- Not a good daylight light
- Only visible up to ¼ mile
The USB bike headlights and rear bike lights here are definitely going to help you stay safer when you’re getting out there on your bike. With a rechargeable battery (and some with spares) and several features, such as a flash mode and a helmet mount, they last for an extended period of time with a long battery life, so you can take a bike ride as long as you want. From different light modes to different intensity levels, these bike lights are definitely going to provide you with a whole lot of great features that are going to make it easier than ever for you to ride your mountain bike whenever you want and however long you want.
