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After spending over 5 hours comparing dozens of lights, I found the best bike wheel lights you can get – DAWAY Bike Wheel Lights (Rechargeable).
Discover below why they are the best and why you should consider buying them, such as a gift for your child or improving your night visibility.
Additionally, learn what to watch out for when purchasing them because they differ from each other more than you might expect.
What Are the Best Bike Wheel Lights?
DAWAY Bike Wheel Rechargeable Lights (Best Wheel Hub Bike Lights and the Best Overall)
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 smaller hubs diameters
These DAWAY lights have a significant advantage thanks to their design. You don’t need to ride fast to achieve the full-circle effect as they attach to the wheel hub, accommodating up to 30mm diameter hubs.
The rechargeable Li-ion battery lasts approximately 10 hours, with the option to flash or turn on the light permanently. You can also choose from seven colors and 16 modes (flash/steady for each color and RGB flash/steady rotation).
The package includes lights for both wheels and enough thickening sponge to fit different hub diameters, which is great news.
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 strip includes 21 individual LEDs that I recommend evenly dividing and attaching to each spoke, creating a full-circle effect even at low speeds.
The lights are available in multiple colors, such as red, green, blue, or multi-color, and are powered by three AAA batteries.
If you need lights for both wheels, you should purchase two packing for each wheel. Although the installation is simple, it may take some time, approximately 10 minutes.
TGJOR Lights with Patterns
Pros
- High brightness (80 lumens)
- 19 patterns, 16 colors
- Up to 40 hrs battery lifetime
- Waterproof
Cons
- The pattern changes every 4 seconds
If you want to turn your bike into a “disco bike,” these bike lights are perfect for the job. They include 32 modes!
They are visible from both sides of the wheel, attracting the attention of drivers and pedestrians easily.
To get the full pattern, you have to ride faster than 15 mph (24 km/h), but I recommend even higher speeds for better pattern visibility.
Remember, the 3×AAA batteries are not included, so you have to buy them separately.
Nite Ize Bike Wheel Lights (Best Lights for Night Riding)
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 are not designed to be crowd-pleasers, but they are simple enough to enhance your visibility at night. Moreover, they are easy to install and provide over 25 hours of battery life.
I recommend these lights for adults who want to improve their visibility rather than as gifts for children, as they are not too flashy. Nevertheless, they offer a disco mode in which the light changes colors.
You need to ride fast or use three lights for one wheel to achieve the full-circle effect. While this option may be slightly more expensive, it’s worth the investment.
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 is one of the most popular brands of bike wheel lights. Their lights provide a complete spectrum of colors and have a brightness of 40 lumens (in other words, they are pretty bright!).
The LEDs last for several tens of hours when using 3 AA batteries. Alternatively, you can choose a slightly pricier option with a rechargeable battery.
Monkey Lectric lights are fully waterproof, making them suitable for riding in the rain.
They work best for wheels with a diameter of 16 inches or larger. However, to achieve a full-circle light effect, you need to ride fast or use two lights for one wheel. If you plan to use these lights on 29-inch wheels, I recommend purchasing two 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’s cooler than bike wheel lights? Bike wheel lights with patterns!
These lights are effortless to install; you just screw them on the valve. They automatically switch between 15 cool-looking, easily visible patterns, particularly at speeds over 18 mph (~29 km/h).
Moreover, the package includes lights for the front and rear wheels, so you don’t need to purchase multiple packages to get a fantastic effect on both wheels.
The main drawback of these lights is their relatively short battery life, which lasts only a few hours. Therefore, ensure to turn them off once you arrive at your destination.
Nite Ize Bike Wheel Lights (See ‘Em)
Pros
- Easy to install
- Waterproof
- Twisting on/off mechanism
Cons
- The lights are not very bright
These Nite Ize lights are slightly different from the others on this list. The package comes in 2 and 4-packs and is easy to install by snapping them onto the spokes.
The lights can be turned on and off with a simple twist and will last up to 20 hours with the CR927 battery.
If you are a frequent rider, I recommend lights with rechargeable batteries, such as the DAWAY bike wheel lights. Buying new batteries for three lights in one wheel can become expensive.
Brightz Bike Frame Light (Best Bike Frame Lights)
Pros
- Easy to install
- Waterproof
- Available in multiple colors
Cons
- The lights are not very bright
The Brightz Bike Frame lights are easy to install on any bike frame and improve your visibility at night, increasing your safety.
They come in various colors and have a battery life of up to 15 hours.
While they don’t create fancy effects (they remind neon lights on tuned cars), they will make you more visible to drivers.
| Bike Wheel Lights | Batteries | Patterns Available | Type | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DAWAY Bike Wheel Rechargeable Lights | USB Rechargeable Li-ion | No | Wheel Hub Light | Check Price |
| Activ Life Bike Wheel Lights | 3×AAA | No | Light Strip | Check Price |
| TGJOR Lights With Patterns | 3×AAA | Yes | Spoke Light | Check Price |
| Nite Ize Bike Wheel Lights | 2×CR2016 | No | Spoke Light | Check Price |
| DAWAY Bike Wheel Lights | 3× AG13 or LR44 | Yes | Valve Light | Check Price |
| Monkey Light Bike Wheel Lights | 3×AA or USB Rechargeable | Yes | Spoke Light | Check Price |
| Nite Ize Bike Wheel Lights (See 'Em) | 1×CR927 | No | Wheel Hub Light | Check Price |
| Brightz Bike Frame Light | 2×AAA | No | Frame Light | Check Price |
My Verdict
My favorite bike wheel lights are the DAWAY Bike Wheel Rechargeable Lights. They are easy to install, saving you time and effort.
You can choose green, white, blue, red (and many more colors) and switch between modes with a simple button press.
The rechargeable battery helps keep operating costs low as you don’t need to purchase a new battery every time it runs out of power.
These lights also make it effortless for you or your child to achieve the full-circle effect, providing superior visibility at night.
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
People buy bike wheel lights because they provide a fun experience. Take a look at the champ in the gif below.
How cool is that? He demonstrated excellent bike handling skills, taking his performance to the next level with the lights.
But what if you don’t have such impressive bike handling skills? Are bike wheel lights still worth it for you? Absolutely!
Even if you just want to ride your bike with the lights on at night, you will attract much attention.
The technology of bike wheels is incredible. When I first saw the following video, it blew my mind!
Can you guess the price of the lights from the video above? Well, this system costs $995 for one wheel(!).
Of course, you don’t have to buy such expensive bike lights. Instead, you can choose from more affordable options.
2. They Increase Your Visibility at Night
Darkness can be scary and dangerous, especially when riding a bike without lights. For instance, in California, about 20% of bicyclist injuries occurred during the dark with street lights, without street lights, and at dawn or dusk between 2007 and 2013.
I can only imagine how much lower this rate would be if every rider equipped their bike with lights.
Chances are you already own front and rear bike lights. If not, be sure to purchase them. If you have some extra money, consider investing in 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 can be exhausting. Bike wheel lights can save the day.
They come in a wide price range, from $5 to $100, so it’s up to you to decide how much you want to spend on them. They make a perfect and unique gift for your children.
Not only do they make your child’s bike look cooler, but you can also bond with your child while installing the lights together.
How to Choose Bike Wheel Lights?
The following guide will help you understand what to consider when selecting 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
Here are more battery standards. (Wikipedia)
Bike wheel light batteries typically last between 10 to 50 hours, depending on the type of battery and lighting system.
To save money in the long run, consider purchasing lights with a rechargeable battery. This way, 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.
If you want your bike lights to be visible during the day, buy brighter lights, but expect to pay more.
However, some manufacturers don’t specify the number of lumens their lights emit. The best bike wheel lights listed above offer good brightness, so don’t worry. You won’t go wrong if you choose any of these lights.
Types of Bike Wheel Lights, Number of LEDs & Colors
Let’s explore the different types of bike wheel lights. There are three main types:
- ‘Light Strip’ – Lights installed through the spokes around the whole wheel. These lights usually contain around 15 or more individual LEDs. The LEDs are divided from each other in a similar way as Christmas tree lights. The advantage of these lights is that you can easily achieve the full-circle effect. However, these lights usually cannot create unique patterns.
- ‘Spoke Light’ – Lights attached to a few spokes in one place. These lights contain fewer LEDs concentrated on the printed circuit board. Their advantage is that they can create patterns (although not every light can do that). On the other hand, getting the full-circle effect is only possible at high speeds. The lights must circle the entire wheel’s circumference, and thus high angular speed is needed.
- ‘Wheel Hub Light’ – Lights attached to the wheel hub. Achieving the full-circle effect is very simple, but this effect is slightly dimmer compared to the lights of the first type. Additionally, these lights may not fit on your wheel hub since their clamp mechanism is limited to, for example, 30mm 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 other parameters such as brightness.
Cheaper variants of bike wheel lights use monochrome LEDs (red, green, blue, etc.). More expensive lights can often switch between colors. However, this may not always be true, especially if the single-color bike wheel light has a higher luminosity or is powered by a rechargeable battery, making it 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.
I love these bike wheel lights! They’re perfect as a gift.