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TECH IT: The Best Small Lights for Bikes

Oh no! Winter is definitely creeping in. That’s right, it’s getting dark outside from 4pm now. How are we going to make it between spots without risking death at the hands of oblivious drivers? Lights, that’s how. Don’t roll your eyes just yet though. We have the lowdown on bike lights ideal for our needs, that’s clip on bike lights, compact lights and LED bike lights that hopefully are small enough so your mates won’t notice and take the piss for months.

“Oi, idiot, you not got any lights on that thing?!” calls some audacious self-righteous prick, as you bomb down the high street, at night, on wet tarmac and with no brakes. “Who does he think he is, huh?!”

That sounds pretty comical, but it’s very much true. For years and years, I’d ride without a light on my bike. You know how it is, right? Your Mum, Dad or anyone who even remotely cares for your health and wellbeing, they’d always ask,

“Scott, do you not have any lights on your bike? You can’t be riding about without any lights on your bike, Scott.”

That question, even though it being plainly obvious and indisputable common sense, would produce a smug scowl on my face. At that point, even if I did have a light, I’d not use it, just out of spite. It’s petty, I know. But young BMXers aren’t known for their sense of self-preservation or giving many fucks. Especially where public opinion is concerned.

Alas, I’m almost 30 now and I’ve given in. Too many close shaves with car doors opening directly into my path and too many taxi drivers screaming at me on the way to and from the skatepark. Yup, I now have a light. You could say – I’ve seen the light.

Here’s our rundown of the best bike lights.

SUBROSA COMBAT LIGHT

The Combat Light from Subrosa is arguably the go to choice for a BMX rider. It’s compact, light weight and you can take it on and off your bike in seconds. It’s a durable once piece design that fits on your handlebars by stretching the rubber band around the bars and clipping back onto itself. Simple, minimal and no-fuss.

The Combat Light is available in two versions. One front and one rear. The ideal setup.

KNOG FROG STROBE LIGHTS

A similar design to the Subrosa lights, the Knog Frog offer a simple, no-fuss, one piece rubber strap design. They are light, cheap and bright, available in some wacky colours, with long battery life to boot.

EXPOSURE LINK COMBO

The Exposure link is a different beast to the previous two small LED bike lights. The Link Plus is the perfect all-in-one commuting light. Compact and made from lightweight aluminium it features a powerful front and rear light that’s bright enough for day or night. It can be mounted on practically any component, thanks to the handy adaptive rubber clamping system. It can also be mounted to your helmet, perfect for the work commute. With USB charging, exceptional battery life and being handmade in the UK, you know it’s a quality piece of kit.

FWE 20 FRONT & 7 LUMEN REAR

This FWE duo make for a sleek and discrete light setup. With 20 Lumen front LED and 7 Lumen rear LED, they pack a punch. The robust and durable alloy body is mounted to the handlebar and seat post with a simple but strong rubber strap, easy to put on and easy to take off. Water resistant, tool free and up to 120 hours of battery life all for £15.