My wife and I bought some cheap bikes just to tool around the neighborhood, ride down to the park, maybe hit up some of the bicycle trails around here.

What brands of bicycle lights do you recommend? Something that would either run off of AA NiMH rechargeable, 18650 rechargeable, or rechargeable (or even standard) CR123.

Looking for a) medium cheap, $30-50 for front and rear set, b) low profile or not ugly, and c) decent visibility for safety purposes.

Thanks in advance!

Niterider and this set might check the boxes based on what you describe.

https://www.niterider.com/prod...-and-sabre-80-combo/

Not showing in that link for whatever reason but the page listing all the lights shows this combo as $50

I have a Niterider light that I have zero complaints with. It's now discontinued and replaced so no link.

Picked this up last year. I don't ride at night much but it'll get me home if I get caught.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d...pop_mob_b_asin_image

You can pick up a pair of tears
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d...tail_0?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Fenix makes a holder that mounts to your handlebars and allows you to attach most of the pocket or tactical lights many of us have.

https://www.fenix-store.com/bikers-corner/

They also make bike specific lights.

Don't know if you're looking for lights that light up the night, or lights that make you visible to cars. If the latter, look around on the bike sites (REI, Bike Nashbar, Performance Cycle, others) for LED blinky lights. Red for rear, white for front. You don't need to spend an arm and a leg for those, and I highly recommend getting one or more sets.Anything that makes you more visible to cars is good.

Others here have recommendations for light up the night. I don't do night riding, so I can't help you there.

These are what I bought back in 2015 when I was riding a ton. Both are rechargeable.

Headlight
https://www.amazon.com/gp/prod...02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Taillight
https://www.amazon.com/gp/prod...02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Cygolite & Portland Design Works have been my go to for bicycle lighting. I do use my Streamlight Strion in a Fenix bicycle light holder..I like the stobe light for daytime use.

Glad you are getting a bike light. Some of the locals here wear dark clothing and ride at night. They are getting thinned out at a rapid rate as there are very few bike lanes in the area. Reflective clothing is a wise investment as well.

New Orleans just had their Naked Bike Ride to bring awareness to drivers. Of course it was the people you do not want to see without clothing.

For the rear, I use this one:

Planet Bike Grateful Red Bike Tail Light

Fast flash is pretty obnoxiously noticeable even in moderate daylight. My "distance" bike has two (one clipped to the seat bag, one on the seat stay about 18" off the road) usually with one on flash and one on steady.

For actually illuminating the road ahead, you need some pretty heavy output. This one- NiteRider Lumina Micro 550 Front Bike Light- has worked OK for me WHEN THERE'S BEEN AMBIENT LIGHT. It makes you visible regardless. Adjust/align it so that it's actually lighting up the road a few yards ahead, showing the stuff you're about to hit. If you get really serious about nighttime riding, consider something with about twice the output. Also, carry a spare.

Pontificating: Lots of reflective material. Reflective tape on seat stays and fork, reflective tape on the rear of your helmet, reflective striping on your shirt or wear a reflective vest, reflective ankle bands, in addition to your lighting. I've had close calls riding at night that were "close" instead of fatal only because I was lit up like a fire engine as soon as a car crested a blind hill or came through a blind curve. I cannot encourage this enough. It's cheap but priceless.

quote:

Originally posted by Largefarva:
These are what I bought back in 2015 when I was riding a ton. Both are rechargeable.

Headlight
https://www.amazon.com/gp/prod...02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Taillight
https://www.amazon.com/gp/prod...02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I have these and they work great. The headlight is extremely bright

Recommendation? HAVE ONE! HAVE SEVERAL! I can't tell you how many times I've come across a bicyclist at night here with no bike light, wearing black, no reflectors. I've almost run over several, and I don't need that aggravation.

flashguy

I have a Cygolite. Get something cars can see with, different light/pulse modes. These are USB rechargeable - you don't want ones that you have to replace batteries. Is a little over what you wanted (it always works that way) but getting rechargeable will save you batteries and time.

https://www.performancebike.co...t-stk-450-sl/p523498

Thanks everyone. Settled on the Cygolight Metro 700 and Hotshot 100 combo for $50.