The 5 Best Mountain Bike Light Under $100 in ​2020

The first product we have on our list is no surprise. It is from Bright Eyes. We are looking at their rechargeable headlight that is capable of 1,600 lumens. When you are buying a headlight, you have to be sure that it is powerful enough. Especially if you are planning on taking your mountain bike to darker areas. Or you own a dirt or a mountain bike.

The bike light is brimming with some amazing features. Namely the high-quality LEDs. Not just that, you have three power modes. These modes allow you to shift between lumens. Which ultimately helps you preserve battery life. The bike light outputs 1,600 lumens at peak and lasts 4 hours. You also have the option of 800 lumens at 6 hours. Last but not the least, an impressive 16 hours at 350 lumens. Moreover, you are getting a strobe and flash mode with this light. Lastly, the light also comes with a taillight.

The only place where some might complain about is the battery. The difference between 1,600 and 800 lumens is only 2 hours.

Pros

• Excellent brightness.
• Different brightness modes.
• Comes with a taillight.

Cons

• Battery life might not satisfy everyone.

The next option we have is the Cygolite Metro Pro. A great option for bicycle users. This light is one of the cheaper options available in the market. However, just because it is cheap does not mean it is not good enough. As a matter of fact, the Metro Pro is great due to its slim design. Let’s find out what’s good about it.

To start with, you have a design that looks great. The profile is slim and lightweight. To top it all off, you have a construction that is primarily done using aluminium. The performance in higher power modes is amazing. You also get 1,100-lumen brightness, which is great based on the intended use.

There is not much to dislike, but the Cygolite Metro Pro does not have good battery life. Especially on higher performance mode. But everything else about this light is right on the money.

Pros

• Excellent value for money.
• Gets pretty bright.
• Lightweight construction.
• Durable build quality.

Cons

• The battery on higher performance mode is not good enough.

#3 Magicshine MJ 900

Magicshine is a renowned brand when we are talking about mountain bike lights. They have delivered excellent products over the years. The best thing is that Magicshine MJ 900 is no different. This is one of the more affordable offerings available in the market. Trust us when we say, it gets the job done and does not cost a lot of money, either. Let’s have a look at how good this is.

Normally, with mountain bike lights such as this. People have questions as to how it performs. Thankfully, the manufacturer does not make egregious claims. If you are looking for something that is easy to use. This is the way to go. Another great thing here is that the overall construction of the light is good. You are getting CREE LEDs. Additionally, the construction is something that you should be satisfied with. Simply because it can stand against heavy rain and other similar weather situations.

Although the performance is good and the Magicshine MJ 900 manages to get ​super bright. I did realise that the beam pattern is somewhat primitive. This is not a problem, however. Given how affordable this light actually is.

Pros

• The light is very, very affordable.
• Made out of solid construction that is fit for every weather condition.
• The light is easy to install and use.

Cons

• The beam pattern is outdated.

#4 NiteRider Lumina 1200 Boost

When you are talking about mountain bike lights, NiteRider is a very trusted name. They have been making some stellar mountain bike lights for some time. The same can be said about the NiteRider Lumina 1200 Boost. If you are looking for excellent light. This is the one you should be going for. What makes this light so special? Let’s find out.

To start with the good things. You are getting a separate mode selection feature. The beam pattern is pretty wide. More importantly, the light also gives you a fully digital display. This display allows you to make all the settings with ease. Plus, 1,200 lumens mean that this light is pretty bright.

The downside that I noticed is that the light comes with a bulky bracket. If you forget to lock it, there are chances of it easily being turned on.

Overall, the NiteRider Lumina 1200 is a pretty great light for the budget. It is bright, small, and very durable.

Pros

• Separate mode selection for easier use.
• Wide and flat beam patterns.
• Digital display for the easier reading experience.

Cons

• The bracelet is bulky.
• Gets switched on by accident.

#5 SKYBEN Ravemen PR1200

The last light on the list is from another reputed company called SKYBEN. The light we are looking at is the Ravemen PR1200. A fairly straightforward and simple light that has earned itself a reputation. Why is it a good light for anyone in the market? That is what we are going to tell you.

The build quality is excellent with a solid aluminium body. You are also getting natural white LEDs. The light also presents you with both low and high beam options. It can be charged via a power bank as well. The light gives a low battery warning which can be handy.

As far as the negatives are concerned, we cannot think of a lot. The SKYBEN Ravemen PR1200 is more or less the perfect light for your bike. If you have the budget, we don’t think you can get a better option than this.

Pros

• Excellent beam.
• The light gets super bright.
• High quality, natural white LEDs.
• Solid aluminium build quality.
• Offers low and high beam.
• Good battery.
• Can be charged using a power bank.

Cons

• None

Buyer’s Guide

Equipped with long-lasting battery life and amazing features, there are an array of light options in the market to choose from. However, some are obviously better than the others and with a budget, of less than $100, finding the best ​lights according to your needs can be quite a bargain. So how can you make the right choice without going too overboard? Here are some of the things you need to keep in mind before making the final decision.

Bike Light Types

In broad terms, you have the option of choosing from headlights, taillights or a combo set for your mountain bike. Headlights can either be helmet mount or handle mount to illuminate the path in front of you. Mounting a light on the bars is quick and easy, but a helmet-mount light makes mountain biking a lot easier during the night as the beam can follow the movement of your head, allowing you to see through corners. On the other hand, taillights are essentially used to ensure your visibility to other riders on the trail. They are either mounted under the saddle, at the back of the helmet, on your backpack or on the bike's seat stay. For mountain biking, it's best to opt for combo light sets that contain headlights and rear mountain bike lights so that you can benefit from both the options in a single package and minimize shadows on the trail.

Lumens

Lumens are the industry standard for measuring the brightness of a light source. A road bike can get away with around ​500 lumens light as the surroundings are well lit but since mountain biking imposes different challenges, you need a light with a high lumen output. A minimum of 800 lumens headlight is necessary to ride safely on rock infested trails in the dark at a speed of 20mph. However, bright rear bike lights are equally important to ensure your safety. Taillights with lumens in the range of 50 to 150 are suitable as they can be spotted from over a mile away. Some MTB lights also high lumen flash features so that your bike can be spotted over a long distance.

Beam Pattern

Along with the lumens, a key performance indicator of an MTB headlight is its beam pattern, or how the lumens in the light is spread out. Essentially, the ​pattern can either be spot or flood but a few light models combine these two under one product. Spot-patterned LED bike lights have a focused beam that spans over long distances with a relatively small angle, generally between 17 and 20 degrees. This makes them a great choice for mounting on the helmet as the extended beam can help you easily look through turns even at high speeds. Meanwhile, flood-patterned bike lights have a beam angle between 25 to 35 degree and hence they can illuminate a wider area ahead of you. They are a great choice if you're more concerned about visibility than the distance, particularly for low-speed biking. We recommend choosing a spot-pattern light for the helmet and flood-pattern light for the handlebars.

Battery Life

Battery life is an important feature that needs to be considered since you don’t want to be left in the dark halfway through your journey. The run time can differ between the models due to the brightness settings. In fact, the battery life can range between 4 to 10 hours on the lowest brightness settings in some MTB light models. However, most MTB lights on the market have around 1 to 2 hours of run time when being operated at their maximum allowable lumen intensity. For mountain biking, it’s a good idea to purchase a light with a greater lumen output that’s actually required so that you can use the light on lower settings and extend its run time. You can also follow these basic tips to conserve the battery:

• Turn off the lights when not in use
• Adjust the lumens as needed
• Make sure the lights are fully charged before you head out on the trail
• Cold temperature tend to drain the batteries quite easily, so place the lights in a warm area when you're not riding your bike
• Keep spare battery pack and/or charger with you at all times

Water-Resistance

How often does unexpected downpour hinder your plans of going for a mountain biking adventure or stops you from proceeding further on the tracks? In such situations, waterproof bike lights can come to your rescue. You can rely on them to improve visibility as you ride without worrying about them being damaged under the pouring rain.

Weight

The weight of the light should be an important consideration particularly if you plan to mount it on your helmet. After all, you don’t want to feel like you’re carrying an extra burden on your head instead of concentrating on the trail and making the most out of your night riding experience. Anything under 4 ounces should virtually go undetected in terms of weight, so make your decision accordingly.

Conclusion

A good MTB light can facilitate your journey and greatly improve your overall experience. However, investing in suitable lights under $100 can be challenging given the array of options available to you but with this comprehensive guide, we hope that this task will be quite stress-free for you. Our product listing contains some of the top-rated models under $100 available in the market so make sure to give them a try.