2016 Bike Lights Shootout Headlights

2016 is an exciting year for lights with brighter lights, more affordable options and new features such as wireless. We'll have mountain bike trail headlights here in one section and commuter lights on RoadBikeReview with many tail light options in another section.

The components to this light shootout are:

1. Integrating Sphere Lumen Measurements - View actual measured Lumen charts of each light
2. Beam Pattern Shots - Compare all the beam patterns photos side by side
3. Individual Reviews - Click on each light below to read the editorial review

Blackburn Central 700 Front



Price: $100
Claimed Lumens: 700
Measured Lumens: 715
Mounted Weight: 162 grams
Run time (on high): 1:15 Hours

Blackburn delivers a self-contained light with a very useable dual beam pattern. It features a GoPro compatible mount too. Read more »

Blaze Laserlight



Price: $200
Claimed Lumens: 300
Measured Lumens: 305
Mounted Weight: 208 grams
Run time (on high): 3:00 Hours

Primarily a commuter light, it's bright enough to get around on the trail or supplement a bar light. But you may get too distracted playing with the laser in the forest. Read more »

Bontrager Ion 700 RT



Price: $160
Claimed Lumens: 700
Measured Lumens: 706
Mounted Weight: 119 grams
Run time (on high): 1:45 Hours

Going up in price with a sophisticated remote, the Ion 700 RT is the same compact light that can now be part of a unified system of lights. Read more »

CandlePower Tech TrailTorch TT3000



Price: $299
Claimed Lumens: 3000
Measured Lumens: N/A
Mounted Weight: N/A grams
Run time (on high): 2:15 Hours

With the highest levels of U.S. craftsmanship, CandlePower Tech delivers a light with a very bright and even beam pattern. The GoPro compatible mounting is a big plus as well. Read more »

CandlePower Tech XFlare



Price: $89
Claimed Lumens: 750 Lumens (white); 1200 Lumens (strobing)
Measured Lumens: N/A
Mounted Weight: 106 grams
Run time (on high): N/A

LED bike lights have become so handy now that we end up using them for all kinds of other purposes. Here is a light from CandlePower Tech uniquely designed for all those other applications. Read more »

CatEye Volt 1600



Price: $220
Claimed Lumens: 1600
Measured Lumens: 1585
Mounted Weight: 257 grams
Run time (on high): 2:00 Hours

The Volt 1600 continues to be one of our favorites as the output bumps up to 1600 Lumens now. Chassis and mount are getting a bit dated now for this much light but this is still a self-contained powerhouse. Read more »

CatEye Volt 400



Price: $80
Claimed Lumens: 400
Measured Lumens: 379
Mounted Weight: 128 grams
Run time (on high): 3:00 Hours

The CatEye Volt 400 will not wow you with its blazing output or diminutive size relative to its brightness. Rather it will impress you with its day-to-day performance and solid design. Read more »

CatEye Volt 6000



Price: $800
Claimed Lumens: 6000
Measured Lumens: 7252
Mounted Weight: 718 grams
Run time (on high): 1:00 Hours

The brightest light we've ever tested also has the widest beam. And it has a trick up its sleeve, an integrated cooling fan. But is it flawed or perfect for trail use? Read more »

CatEye Volt 800



Price: $130
Claimed Lumens: 800
Measured Lumens: 782
Mounted Weight: 152 grams
Run time (on high): 2:00 Hours

It's a good helmet light, very similar to last year's CatEye Volt 700. Read more »

Cygolite Dash 450



Price: $65
Claimed Lumens: 450
Measured Lumens: 405
Mounted Weight: 100 grams
Run time (on high): 1:25 Hours

The Dash 450 from Cygolite offers a unique form factor with four auxiliary LEDs to complement the main lens. Read more »

DiNotte XML-3



Price: $229
Claimed Lumens: 1600
Measured Lumens: 1573
Mounted Weight: 355 grams
Run time (on high): 2:30 Hours

The XML-3 is light at 355 grams, bright at 1573 Lumens yet it does not break the bank at $229. Read more »

Fenix BC21R



Price: $80
Claimed Lumens: 880
Measured Lumens: 750
Mounted Weight: 155 grams
Run time (on high): 1:20 Hours

This is a surprising light because of its quality construction and really nicely shaped beam pattern and warm color for only $80. Field-replaceable batteries are a nice bonus. Read more »

Gloworm X2



Price: $255
Claimed Lumens: 1500
Measured Lumens: 1545
Mounted Weight: 323 grams
Run time (on high): 2:30 Hours

Gloworm X2 comes up aces once again. Though not a huge improvement from last year, it keeps marching on with a beautiful beam pattern, a well-conceived package and good value. Read more »

Indigo INDIGO5.01



Price: $180
Claimed Lumens: 1850
Measured Lumens: 1720
Mounted Weight: 259 grams
Run time (on high): 1:00 Hours

The Indigo5.01 is a self-contained powerhouse boasting 1850 Lumens. But the best part about the light is its uncompromising quality and very big and clean beam pattern. Read more »

ITUO Wiz1 800



Price: $120
Claimed Lumens: 800
Measured Lumens: 795
Mounted Weight: 208 grams
Run time (on high): 2:00 Hours

Great construction, beam patterns and honest output are the highlights of these two lights from ITUO. One delivers two hours of run time and the other keeps going for an impressive three hours. Read more »

Knog Blinder Arc 640



Price: $120
Claimed Lumens: 640
Measured Lumens: N/A
Mounted Weight: 150 grams
Run time (on high): 1:40 Hours

Knog from Australia makes a serious effort in lights with a staggering selection. Honest outputs, good beam patterns and the best form factors in the business are some of its virtues with this 640 as their brightest offering. Read more »

Lezyne Deca Drive 1500XXL



Price: $150
Claimed Lumens: 1500
Measured Lumens: 1390
Mounted Weight: 279 grams
Run time (on high): 1:45 Hours

Lezyne made their mark with honest, infinite battery lights. But with the dangers of loose Lithium cells, they are going with sleeker and more compact designs. Read more »

Lezyne Power Drive 900XL



Price: $100
Claimed Lumens: 900
Measured Lumens: 1044
Mounted Weight: 154 grams
Run time (on high): 1:20 Hours

Good optics, good price and form factor make this a good purchase as long as the customer is able to access the hidden Overdrive mode from right away. Read more »

Light & Motion Urban 850 Trail



Price: $180
Claimed Lumens: 850
Measured Lumens: 771
Mounted Weight: 123 grams
Run time (on high): 1:30 Hours

This latest Urban 850 Trail model remains very bright and light. Now the side lights have been turned down to optimize for trail use. GoPro mount compatibility is offered now as well. Read more »

Lupine Betty R 15



Price: $1,155
Claimed Lumens: 5000
Measured Lumens: 4989
Mounted Weight: 653 grams
Run time (on high): 2:00 Hours

Lupine Betty came in at 4711 Lumens last year. This year, it clocked in at 4989 forest piercing Lumens. We don't know how they do it but they keep extracting more light from this little beast. Read more »

Lupine NEO 2



Price: $245
Claimed Lumens: 700
Measured Lumens: 695
Mounted Weight: 185 grams
Run time (on high): 2:00 Hours

At 188 grams, it is the ideal helmet light with the battery mounted at the rear of the helmet to provide balance to the light head up front. Read more »

Lupine Piko 4 Smartcore



Price: $375
Claimed Lumens: 1500
Measured Lumens: 1489
Mounted Weight: 218 grams
Run time (on high): 1:45 Hours

From its humble beginnings of 550 Lumens, the new Lupine Piko 4 now sports 1500 Lumens, a wireless remote and smartphone app. Read more »

Lupine Wilma 7



Price: $615
Claimed Lumens: 3200
Measured Lumens: 3134
Mounted Weight: 392 grams
Run time (on high): 1:45 Hours

The Wilma 7 is the 'practical' exotic light of the Lupine line. Its incredible brightness is balanced out by light weight and good runtime. The new remote is a very welcome addition. Read more »

NiteRider Lumina OLED 800



Price: $160
Claimed Lumens: 800
Measured Lumens: 797
Mounted Weight: 131 grams
Run time (on high): 1:30 Hours

This latest Lumina bumps output to an honest 800 Lumens. It also incorporates an OLED display to make switching through modes very easy. Finding out remaining runtime on any light level is handy as well. Read more »

Sigma Buster 600



Price: $90
Claimed Lumens: 600
Measured Lumens: 599
Mounted Weight: 149 grams
Run time (on high): 5:00 Hours

The Buster 600 puts out an honest 600 Lumens in a handy, no frills package for $90. Impressed with this offering from Sigma of Germany. Read more »

Specialized Flux Expert Headlight



Price: $275
Claimed Lumens: 1200
Measured Lumens: 780
Mounted Weight: 250 grams
Run time (on high): 1:45 Hours

The Flux Expert is a great commuter light that can be complemented with a helmet light for trail use. And while not a bang-for-the-buck winner, it is a sleek, high-quality device. Read more »

<a href="https://reviews.mtbr.com/review-trail-led-ds-2">Trail LED DS




Price: $550
Claimed Lumens: 3000
Measured Lumens: 3100
Mounted Weight: 496 grams
Run time (on high): 1:30 Hours

Already an excellent light year, Trail LED improved their light with 400 more Lumens and an elegant new mount. This is American ingenuity and manufacturing at its best. Read more »

This article is part of Mtbr and RoadBikeReview's 2016 Bike Lights Shootout. See the 2016 Mtbr Headlights Index and the RoadBikeReview Commuter Lights Index.