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After spending more than 5 hours and comparing dozens of lights, I found the best bike wheel lights you can get – DAWAY Bike Wheel Lights (Rechargeable).
Below, you find out why they are the best and why you should consider buying them, for example, as a gift for your kid.
You will also learn what to be aware of when buying bike wheel lights. They differ from each other more than you may think…
What Are the Best Bike Wheel Lights?
NOTE: All of the best bike wheel lights in this selection are available in multiple colors.
Activ Life Bike Wheel Lights (Best Bike Spoke Lights)
Pros
- Available in single & multi-color options
- Waterproof
- Full-circle effect in lower speeds
Cons
- More time-consuming installation (± 10 min)
The Activ Life lights package contains 21 individual LEDs. You can divide them evenly and attach them to individual spokes. This gives you a full-circle effect even at low speeds.
The lights are available in several colors: red, green, blue, …, or multi-color. Three AAA batteries power the whole set.
If you want lights for both wheels, buy them twice (one for each wheel). The installation is easy but relatively time-consuming. It takes around 10 minutes.
Monkey Light Bike Wheel Lights
Pros
- Available in multiple colors and unique patterns
- Random mode
- Waterproof
- Quick installation
Cons
- You won’t get a full-circle effect unless you ride fast
Monkey Lectric belongs to one of the most popular bike wheel lights brands. Their lights offer a complete color spectrum and a brightness of 40 lumens.
The LEDs last for several tens of hours when using 3× AA batteries. You can also go for a slightly more expensive version of the lights with a rechargeable battery.
Monkey Lectric lights are fully waterproof, so you don’t have to worry about riding them in the rain.
They are ideal for wheels with a diameter of 16″ and larger.
Their major disadvantage is that you have to ride fast or use two lights for one wheel to get the full-circle light effect. If you want to use these lights on 29″ wheels, I recommend buying two lights for each wheel.
DAWAY Valve Bike Wheel Lights
Pros
- Multiple patterns available
- Super easy to install
- Lights for both wheels included
- Waterproof
Cons
- No single color option
- You won’t get a full-circle effect unless you ride fast
- Short battery life
What is cooler than bike wheel lights? Bike wheel lights with patterns!
These lights are super easy to install (you just screw them on the valve). They automatically switch between 15 cool-looking patterns that are easily visible, especially at speeds above 18 miles per hour.
Additionally, lights for the front and the rear wheel are included, so you don’t have to buy multiple packaging to get a nice effect for both wheels.
The main downside of these wheels is the relatively short battery life. It lasts only a few hours. So, make sure to turn them off once you arrive at your destination.
Nite Ize Bike Wheel Lights
Pros
- Super easy to install
- Available in 2-pack and single pack
- Up to 25 hrs battery life
- Waterproof
Cons
- You won’t get a full-circle effect unless you ride fast
- No patterns
The Nite Ize bike lights were not designed to impress crowds. But they are simple enough to increase your visibility at night. In addition, they are super easy to install, and they provide you with more than 25-hour battery life.
I recommend these to adults who want to increase their visibility, not as gifts to your children. After all, these lights are very decent, not too fancy. Yet, they offer disco mode in which the light changes colors.
To get the full-circle effect, you have to ride fast or use three lights for one wheel. Yes, this option may be a bit more expensive, but it is worth it.
Monkey Light Bike Wheel Lights With Patterns
Pros
- High brightness (80 lumens)
- 19 patterns, 16 colors
- Up to 40 hrs battery lifetime
- Waterproof
Cons
- You won’t get a full-circle effect unless you ride fast
If you want to transform your bike into a ‘disco bike,’ these bike lights can do the work. The 10 LEDs can light in 19 different modes and hundreds of combinations.
The lights are visible from both sides of the wheel. You will attract the attention of drivers and pedestrians easily. They won’t ignore you on the road or the bicycle path because the lights are very bright (80 lumens).
These Monkey Light lights are more expensive than the other lights on this list. Unfortunately, they don’t have motion detection (you have to turn them on manually).
Additionally, the full-circle effect appears at higher speeds only.
DAWAY Bike Wheel Rechargeable Lights (Best Wheel Hub Bike Lights)
Pros
- Easy to install
- Waterproof
- USB Rechargeable Li-ion Battery
- Full-circle effect even at low speeds
- Lights for both wheels in one box
Cons
- The lights look like they are dimmed
- Fit only 30mm or less hubs diameters
These DAWAY lights have one significant advantage thanks to their design. You don’t have to ride fast to get the full-circle effect because they are attached to the wheel hub. They can fit up to 30mm diameter hubs.
The rechargeable Li-ion battery lasts around 10 hrs. The light can flash or be turned on permanently. You can also choose from 7 colors and 16 modes (flash/steady for every color and RGB flash/steady rotation).
The good news is that the package contains lights for both wheels and enough thickening sponge to fit different hub diameters.
Nite Ize Bike Wheel Lights (See ‘Em)
Pros
- Easy to install
- Waterproof
- Twisting on/off mechanism
Cons
- The lights are not very bright
These lights from Nite Ize slightly differ from the rest in this list. The package is available in 2 and 4-pack. The lights are easy to install because you can snap them to the spokes.
You can turn them on and off with a simple twist. They will last up to 20 hrs with the CR927 battery.
I recommend lights with rechargeable batteries like the DAWAY bike wheel lights if you are a frequent rider because buying new batteries for three lights in one wheel can get costly.
| Bike Wheel Lights | Batteries | Patterns Available | Type | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Activ Life Bike Wheel Lights | 3×AAA | No | Light Strip | Check Price |
| Monkey Light Bike Wheel Lights | 3×AA or USB Rechargeable | Yes | Spoke Light | Check Price |
| DAWAY Bike Wheel Lights | 3× AG13 or LR44 | Yes | Valve Light | Check Price |
| Nite Ize Bike Wheel Lights | 2×CR2016 | No | Spoke Light | Check Price |
| Monkey Light Bike Wheel Lights With Patterns | 3×AA | Yes | Spoke Light | Check Price |
| DAWAY Bike Wheel Rechargeable Lights | USB Rechargeable Li-ion | No | Wheel Hub Light | Check Price |
| Nite Ize Bike Wheel Lights (See 'Em) | 1×CR927 | No | Spoke Light | Check Price |
My Verdict
My favorite bike wheel lights are the DAWAY Bike Wheel Rechargeable Lights.
They are easy to install, so you don’t have to spend too much time installing them.
You can choose from green, white, yellow, red, pink, and blue and switch between modes with a button press.
The battery is rechargeable, so the operating costs are close to zero because you don’t have to buy a new battery every time it runs out of power.
It will be very easy for you or your child to get the full-circle effect with these lights. And, you will get much higher visibility at night. asd
3 Reasons to Buy Bike Wheel Lights
I have already outlined this in the introduction. There are several reasons to buy bike wheel lights. Here are the main 3:
1. They Are Fun & Cool
Most people buy bike wheel lights because they can experience a lot of fun with them. For example, check the man in the gif below.
How cool is that? He proved excellent bike handling skills. And, thanks to the lights, he took his performance to another level.
But, let’s say you don’t handle your bike as well as him. Are the bike wheel lights worth it for you? Absolutely!
Even if you just want to ride your bike at night with the lights turned on, you will grab a lot of attention.
The technology of bike wheels is incredible. When I first saw the following video, it blew my mind!
Do you dare to guess the price of lights from the video above? Well, this system costs $995 for one wheel (!). The Monkey Lectric engineers did an incredible job.
Of course, you don’t have to buy such expensive bike lights. Instead, you can choose from cheaper options.
2. They Increase Your Visibility at Night
Darkness can be scary but also dangerous, especially if you ride a bike without any lights. For example, in California, about 20% of bicyclists injuries occurred in the dark with street lights, without street lights, and in dusk & dawn in 2007-2013.
I can only guess how much lower this rate would be if every rider equips his bike with lights.
The chances are that you already own front and rear bike lights. If not, make sure you buy them. And, if you have some money to spend, make sure you also choose some of the best bike wheel lights above.
PRO TIP: Use bike wheel lights in combination with bike bells to maximize your safety. Check my selection of the best bike bells on the market.
3. They Are the Perfect Gift for Children
Thinking about the right gift for your child every year over and over again can be exhausting. Some people enjoy it, but bike wheel lights can save you if you are not one of them.
They are not expensive. Their price varies from $5 to $100, so it is up to you how much you want to spend on them. Thus, they are a perfect and original gift for your children.
Not only that they help to make the bike of your kid much cooler, but you also connect a bit more with your kids when installing the lights – because you can do it together.
How to Choose Bike Wheel Lights?
In this guide, you learn what to be aware of when choosing the best wheel lights.
Battery Type
Bike wheels use different battery types. The following types are the most common:
- Rechargeable Lithium-Ion batteries
- AAA, AA batteries
- CR2032, CR2016, and other CR type of batteries
- LR type of batteries
To find out more about the battery standards, please check the comprehensive battery standards table on Wikipedia.
Usually, the batteries in bike wheel lights last between 10 to 50 hrs depending on the battery type and lighting system.
If you want to save money in the long run, buy lights with a rechargeable battery. You won’t have to buy new batteries every time they run out.
Brightness
The brightness of bike wheel lights is stated in lumens. Lumens measure the amount of light you get from the light source. The more lumens the light produces, the higher the brightness.
In other words, if you want the bike lights to be seen in the daytime, you have to spend a bit more and buy those with higher brightness.
The problem is that manufacturers often don’t state the number of lumens of their lights. The best bike wheel lights I included in my selection above offer good brightness. So, don’t worry. You won’t make a mistake if you decide to buy any of these lights.
Types of Bike Wheel Lights, Number of LEDs & Colors
Let’s dive into the type of bike wheel lights. There are three main types:
- ‘Light Strip’ – Lights that are installed through the spikes around the whole wheel. These lights usually contain around 15 or more individual LEDs. These are divided from each other in a similar way, such as Christmas tree lights. The advantage is that you can achieve the full-circle effect very easily. However, these lights usually cannot create unique patterns.
- ‘Spoke Light’ – Lights that are attached to a few spikes in one place. These lights contain a smaller number of LEDs, which are concentrated on the printed circuit board. Their advantage is that they create patterns (yet, not each spoke light could do that). On the other hand, getting the full-circle effect is possible at high speeds only. The lights must circle the entire circumference of the wheel, and thus high angular speed is needed.
- ‘Wheel Hub Light’ – Lights that are attached to the wheel hub. Achieving the full-circle effect is very simple, but this effect is slightly different from the lights of the first type. It is a little dimmer. Simultaneously, the lights may not fit on your wheel hub (their clamp mechanism is limited, for example, to 30 mm diameter hubs).
TIP: Don’t buy bike wheel lights based on the number of LEDs. First, choose the type of lights and then look at the other parameters like the brightness, etc.
Cheaper variants of bike wheel lights use monochrome LEDs (red, green, blue, …). More expensive lights can often switch between colors. However, this may not always be a rule of thumb, especially if the single-color bike wheel light has a higher luminosity or is powered by a rechargeable battery and thus is more expensive.
Bike Wheel Lights FAQ
This post is regularly updated to provide the most up-to-date product tips. If you find a product that is not up to date, please, contact me.
