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I covered a large number of taillights last year, but some new products have come out since then, so I've been taking them out for some rides to get a sense for how they stack up. Almost all of the new lights in the past year have been rechargeable - AA(A) powered lights are declining in popularity, and for good reason. It's easy to spend $15-20 per year on batteries (if not more), so paying a little bit more for a rechargeable makes sense.

The winner of the 2012 tail light review was the Cygolite Hotshot. At the time, it stood out for its brightness, versatility, and for being the only reasonably priced rechargeable on the market. Cygolite hasn't released a new taillight in the past year, but there's a lot more competition in this category now - bright, rechargeable lights in the $30-50 range.

Why choose a rechargeable light over a standard light + a set of standard NiMH rechargeable batteries? (If you do go this route, get Sanyo Eneloops - everybody says they're the best rechargeable AAAs for lights.) First of all, energy density: Li-Ion batteries can hold about 3x more energy in the same space, and also retain their energy capacity over more discharge cycles. Additionally, most rechargeable lights have a built-in voltage regulator to prevent the brightness from dropping off as the battery drains. Most AA(A) lights do not have this, and start dimming almost immediately once you begin to use them. Rechargeable NiMH batteries also start at only 1.2V (vs 1.5V for a standard alkaline AAA battery), which means your light will be dimmer from the get-go. And finally, with so many affordable choices now for rechargeable lights, it's not even any cheaper to go with rechargeable AAAs, since a charger + batteries will cost more than it would cost to go for a more expensive but rechargeable light.

With that in mind, let's dive into the review and see what new lights are available:

Table of Contents:

Data Overview

This overview also includes information from the 2012 review, with links to each light's detailed review.

1: Cost on Amazon.com as of 09/01/2013, without shipping costs included. Prices subject to change. 2: Maximum brightness measured from ~20cm in lux. Value is relative to experimental setup and should not be used to compare with other reviews. 3: Battery life measured in hours. For new lights, battery life is measured in steady-burn mode; for lights marked with "(flashing)", measured on standard flashing mode. Non-rechargeable lights were tested with identical fresh AAA batteries from the same package. A few lights used different battery types, in which case fresh batteries were still used. Rechargeable lights were fully charged before testing. 4: Weight in grams, measured with standard batteries installed.

The new lights

Light and Motion

Price Brightness MSRP $100 0° 45° 90° Max Online $90 9000 4500 1200 9000 View mfc website | Buy on Amazon

The Vis 180 isn’t actually a new product, but this is my first time trying one out. All of Light and Motion's products are tested against the FL1 standard, an official standardized set of tests for flashlight manufacturers to validate their claims of brightness, battery life, water resistance, and drop rating. So far L&M is the only bike light manufacturer to implement the FL1 standard and post data validating its brightness claims.

Pros:

Very bright (up to 50 lumens, but with dimmer options to avoid blinding others at night).

Excellent wide-angle visibility. From the raw values measured in our brightness test, the Vis 180 doesn't appear to be any brighter than the average light tested. However, what's important to notice is where the light is being put: the Vis 180 is bright across 180 degrees (hence its name), and doesn't just have a super-intense bright spot with no side visibility. Compare the 45 and 90 degree brightness values to the other lights to see this in the numbers.

Amber side LEDs also improve side-visibility.

Mounting system is very sturdy – the light locks into place and cannot bounce out. To remove the light you push it back against the post and then slide it out.

USB rechargeable.

Battery indicator gives ample warning when the light starts to lose power. Because of the regulated output, brightness doesn't drop even at the end of the battery life. The battery lasted for 5:20 hours in solid-on mode.

Very solid aluminum construction – unlike most lights which are made out of cheap plastic.

Cons:

Only one brightness level for solid-on mode (although pulse mode has a dimmer setting).

Battery on my review unit stopped working after about 6 months, but was very quickly repaired for free under warranty (although I did have to pay shipping costs). I’m told this is an uncommon problem, and I haven’t seen any other reviews that had this same problem.

Mount is not easily transferable between bikes, and only works on a seatpost (and only at certain angles). You cannot mount the light upside down, on a rack, or on a rackstay. The rubber strap mounting mechanism does work for any post shape though.

Expensive (at $100, you’re probably better off getting 2 or 3 other lights and putting them in different locations on different settings), but you definitely get your money's worth for the light's quality!

Vis 180 Micro - $50 / $40

Price Brightness MSRP $50 0° 45° 90° Max Online $40 5000 2300 800 5000 View mfc website | Buy on Amazon

Pros:

Cheaper than the Vis 180 (but still $50).

USB rechargeable.

Wide-angle visibility and additional amber side LEDs. Like the Vis 180, the numbers are misleading: while this light isn't as bright straigt-on, its visibility at all other angles far surpasses any other light in this price range.

Mounting mechanism is built into the light, so you can use it on any bike.

Cons:

Built with plastic, and feels less sturdy than the aluminum Vis 180 (the build quality was still decent, and no worse than the average light, but definitely was not as good as L&M's other products).

Mount is supported only by a strap built into the light, and it is difficult to take off/put on the light. This is frustrating if you park your bike in a public location where lights could get stolen and like to take your lights with you, and the light also moves around a lot.

No battery level indicator to warn you when the battery's getting low.

The button on the first review unit I received was sticky, making it very hard to turn the light on and off. The button finally stopped working altogether, and I had to leave the light turned on until the battery completely died. Light and Motion did replace the entire unit at no cost, and the replacement has not had this problem (so far), but the Vis 180 Micro definitely has lower build quality than the Vis 180. While most of L&M's products stand out for their superior quality, this light feels a lot more like any other generic bike light in this price range. It's worth noting though that L&M's customer support was extremely prompt and helpful.

Niterider

Price Brightness MSRP $45 0° 45° 90° Max Online $38 7000 1300 130 7000 View mfc website | Buy on Amazon

With a 2W LED and USB rechargeable battery, this light is very similar to the Cygolite Hotshot – last year’s light review winner – in both form and function.

Pros:

Diffusing lens makes a broader beam of light, improving off-axis visibility. However, the lens does focus the light on a horizontal plane, so you cannot mount the light sideways and must ensure that it stays aligned for maximum effectiveness.

Solid-on has a high and low power mode, but is not incrementally adjustable like the Hotshot.

Sturdy mount.

USB rechargeable.

Best battery life of the rechargeable taillights (5:22 on brightest solid mode).

Cons:

No rack mount available.

Mount is not easily transferable between bikes.

Light does not remember flash mode when turned on.

No battery level indicator.

The Solas is very similar in many ways to last year's winner, the Hotshot. The key difference is with the lens: the Hotshot projects a very intense beam straight back, but has poor off-axis visibility. The Solas has a diffusing lens that spreads the light horizontally, making it not quite so bright directly behind (20,000 vs. only 7,000 lux measured in my tests) but much better at off-angles (1300 at 45° for the Solas compared to only 600 at 45° for the Hotshot).

Although the Hotshot looks more impressive by sheer numbers - 20,000!! - the Solas is probably the more effective light, at least when used alone, since cars don't always approach from directly behind. One of the recommended setups for 2 taillights is a Hotshot in steady-burn mode and a Solas in flashing mode: this gives you the long-distance visibility and distance tracking advantage of a solid light, while grabbing people’s attention from off angles with the flashing light.

Portland Design Works

Price Brightness MSRP $50 0° 45° 90° Max Online $45 3000 300 60 3000 View mfc website | Buy on Amazon

Portland Design Works makes two of my favorite non-rechargeable tail lights from last year - the Radbot 1000 and the Danger Zone. They've just released their newest light, the Aether Demon. The Demon has a very similar design to PDW's other lights, with an easy-to-click button and narrow but bright beam with eye-grabbing flash patterns. This light is essentially a USB-rechargeable version of the Radbot 500.

Pros:

Light output doesn't drop as the battery is consumed, which is a problem with PDW's AAA-powered lights.

Uses the same mounts as PDW and Planet Bike's other lights, which is handy for swapping it between bikes you already have set up.

USB rechargeable.

Low-power "group ride" mode, which dims the light and sets it to a calmer flash, for when traveling with others.

Cons:

Not as bright as the Radbot 1000 is with fresh batteries, but the Demon's brightness stays constant while the Radbot's drops as its batteries' voltages drop.

Kind of pricey at $50, but you'll save more from not buying batteries than you would by buying one of PDW's other lights.

No battery level indicator.

Despite relatively low brightness for a rechargeable light, it was the first to die (4:15 hours on solid mode).

The Aether Demon is an exciting entry into the rechargeable market, and I'm looking forward to seeing what other rechargeable products PDW may come out with in the future.

Serfas

Thunderbolt UTL-6 - $45 / $41

Price Brightness MSRP $45 0° 45° 90° Max Online $41 350 180 60 350 View mfc website | Buy on Amazon

The Thunderbolt headlight was the top pick for light-weight visibility in the headlights review, and its red counterpart shares an identical design with the same great features. It fits well underneath the seat, on the rack, or on the seat post.

Pros:

USB rechargeable

Very even, wide-angle visibility

Versatile mounting straps allow it to be strapped on anywhere. I also discovered that it can be attached underneath the seat if the seat rails are spaced the right distance apart - pictures coming soon!

Easy to put on and remove

Cons:

Short battery life - only 1:20 on solid

Most effective when mounted horizontally, because of how it spreads light, which limits the otherwise very versatile mounting options.

Shield USL-TL60

Price Brightness MSRP $60 0° 45° 90° Max Online $55 35000 500 60 35000 View mfc website | Buy on Amazon

Pros:

Obscenely bright.

Reasonably priced for this level of output.

Simple wrap-around rubber strap mount should work on almost any size or shape of seat post.

USB rechargeable.

Daylight visible in both steady burn and blinking modes.

Cons:

Directional beam - it's bright from all angles because of how much light it's putting out, but a more diffuse beam would spread the brightness more evenly.

No warning that battery is dropping.

Lowest brightness setting is still too bright for riding in groups at night.

Rack mounting is by a single screw directly into the light, meaning you can't remove the light easily if it's rack-mounted. For those of us who park our bikes in high-theft areas, this essentially negates the rack mount option.

This light is truly amazing - it's by far the brightest light you can find for under $75, and even outshines some more-expensive lights. It lasts 2 hours on maximum brightness at 60 lumens, and should last about 4:30 hours on the misleadingly titled "low" setting of 35 lumens. Riding with a group at night, I actually wished there were a super-low mode - it's frankly too bright in some situations. I would be hesitant to even use the brightest setting at night unless on a very busy road. This light's also great for daytime visibility: it looks brighter in broad daylight than many lights look at night.

Planet Bike

Super Flash Turbo update - $34 / $28

Planet Bike recently updated the Super Flash Turbo in conjunction with the release of their new Blaze 2W Micro headlight (review coming out next week!). The new Turbo seems to be almost exactly identical to the old one, with one important difference: the switch. The switch on Planet Bike’s taillights has always been a point of frustration – the plastic would often crack or stick, making it hard to turn the light on and off. The new design has a rubber switch that gives a reassuring “click” when you push it. It seems much less sticky and has better tactile feedback. I’ve only had the new Turbo for a couple months, so it’s too early to evaluate its durability over years of use, but already it's been a significant improvement over the previous versions of this light. Planet Bike has also informed me that all of their other Blinky series lights with the same design (PB SuperFlash and Blinky 7) have the new switch as well.

Other lights to consider

There are a few other new taillights that have come out since my last review or didn't make it into the original review, but I wasn't able to get review samples of all of them.

Knog Blinder 4 ($45 / $38): USB rechargeable light that snaps on with a silicone strap. Knog also makes a front version, which will be in the upcoming headlights review. The front and rear lights are physically identical, so stay tuned for the full review next week.

($45 / $38): USB rechargeable light that snaps on with a silicone strap. Knog also makes a front version, which will be in the upcoming headlights review. The front and rear lights are physically identical, so stay tuned for the full review next week. Knog Blinder Road ($60 / $50): Knog's first "super powerful" light. This is the only light here I haven't even seen in person yet, so I don't have much to say. The specs look fairly decent though.

($60 / $50): Knog's first "super powerful" light. This is the only light here I haven't even seen in person yet, so I don't have much to say. The specs look fairly decent though. Serfas Thunderbolt ($45 / $45): A 3-inch long bar of light with 15 diodes spaced out to make an even, wide-angle light. Uses rubber straps to attach anywhere on the bike. Serfas also makes a front version, which will be reviewed thoroughly in the headlights comparison next week.

($45 / $45): A 3-inch long bar of light with 15 diodes spaced out to make an even, wide-angle light. Uses rubber straps to attach anywhere on the bike. Serfas also makes a front version, which will be reviewed thoroughly in the headlights comparison next week. DiNotte 300R ($189): DiNotte, long recognized as making the brightest (although certainly not the most cost-effective) taillights, now has a version with an integrated battery, unlike their previous versions which required an external battery pack. DiNotte has rejected requests for a review sample on multiple occasions.

Which bike light should I buy? Here's some recommended setups...

Note: this list is somewhat out of date. We now have a frequently-updated list of the best bike taillights, with choices for various price ranges and use scenarios.

Safe setup with an affordable cost

The cheapest rechargeable taillight is the Cygolite Hotshot, and it's still every bit the great light it was in last year's review. Some of the newer lights offer additional improvements, especially in terms of off-angle visibility, but you still won't go wrong with the Hotshot. It's currently $28 on Amazon, and probably about $35 at your local bike shop. For a few bucks more, you could get the NiteRider Solas 2W ($35 on Amazon) which is very similar, but solves the Hotshot's off-angle visibility problem with its diffusing lens design. Personally, I think that if you're just going to buy one the NiteRider Solas is the better choice due to its better light spread, but both are great lights.

A balanced setup for safety up close and afar

According to some safety research users on the Bicycles Stack Exchange site found when pondering whether flashing or steady lights are safer, a flashing light catches your attention faster, but a steady-burn light is easier to judge distance by. If you have room in your budget for two lights, it's a good idea to set up one on steady-burn and another on flashing mode, and physically separate them by at least 1 foot so that they don't just look like a pulsating steady light from a distance.

I set up my bike with the Vis 180 in steady burn, mounted on my seatpost, and a home-made high-intensity flashing light (which I have a blog post written up about but haven't gotten pictures for yet) on the rear of the rack. This is an excellent setup but certainly overkill - you don't really need a $100 light nor a custom made one, and you can achieve the same effect with other lights.

I set up my friend's bike with the Cygolite Hotshot on the rack and the NiteRider Solas on the seatpost. The Solas has better side-visibility, so I mounted it on the seat post where it would be seen by side traffic. The Solas flashes as the attention-grabber and the Hotshot - which has better straight-on, long-distance brightness - is on steady burn. This setup is also handy because the Hotshot's brightness can be finely adjusted, so you can dim it at night or when riding in a group. The Solas + Hotshot combo would run you about $65, and is probably the best two-light deal you'll find, but any of the other rechargeable lights would work well in this application, too.

The ideal all-out setup

If you really want to make a statement with your lights, take the "balanced setup" and add a second steady-burn light. Having two steady burn lights at the same height, separated by as much distance as you can put between them, makes it much easier to judge how far away your bike is. The closer your bike is, the farther apart the lights appear in drivers' vision. You could mount a Hotshot on each side of your bike (either on the sides of the rack or on the seat stays) in steady burn, and then mount a third light (an Aether Demon or Niterider Solas would work well here) on the seat post in flashing mode.

If you already have a non-rechargeable light that works ok but you're looking to upgrade, you could also buy 2 new lights, stick one on each side of your bike as recommended above, and then put the old light on the seat post in flashing mode. You'll want to have the rechargeable light for the steady burn, since steady burn runs through batteries faster.

Money to burn

If you just feel like spending some money on lights, there's no denying that the DiNotte is brighter than any of the other ones here. That being said, for $190 you could get six Cygolite Hotshots or a Vis 180 and two Aether Demons or any other combination of more than enough lights for the same cost. It's always a good idea to have 2 lights (even if one of them is a cheap AAA light) just in case one goes out or falls off, which makes it feel silly to spend so much on a single light. It is worth considering that both the DiNotte 300R and the Light and Motion Vis180 are manufactured in the USA, so if you can afford the extra cost, it's nice to support the (more) local economy. But for most users whose bikes might cost less than a front and back set of DiNotte lights, these products are just too expensive to justify.

Conclusions

The taillight market has expanded a lot in the past year. The Cygolite Hotshot still stands out as a high-performance light with a reasonable price tag, but some of the new players bring exciting advancements to the field - in particular the NiteRider Solas impressed me with its wide-angle visibility and superior battery life, and the improvements with the Planet Bike SuperFlash Turbo renews the appeal of the classic SuperFlash series. With so many high-quality and affordable lights available, every cyclist should be investing in their safety.

Headlights

If you're also looking for a good headlight, check out my recent bike headlights review and the beamshot comparison tool!

If you're interested in bike lights - or anything else bike related - check out some of the top questions on the main Stack Exchange Bicycles Q&A site, or ask your own question today!