The best front bike light is the Garmin Varia UT800, which can connect with compatible bike computers and provide numerous smart features. If you require a standard bike headlight, the CatEye Volt 800 is the best option that’s more affordable and provides excellent performance for the money.
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Front Bike Light Comparison
| Front Bike Light | Lumens | Max Battery Life |
|---|---|---|
| Garmin Varia UT800 | 800 | 6 Hours |
| CatEye Volt 800 | 800 | 80 Hours |
| Apace Illuma ZT3000 | 300 | 12 Hours |
| Knog Blinder Mr Chips | 50 | 60 Hours |
| CooSpo Bike Headlight | 1600 | 34 Hours |
| Lezyne Micro Drive | 450 | 25 Hours |
As a cyclist cycling in the dark, it’s your legal requirement to use appropriate front and rear bike lights. Considering the low cost and huge availability, there really isn’t an excuse not to have one installed to your bike.
Below is a list of the best front bike lights that easily mount to the handlebars and provide clear forward vision.
The Best Front Bike Light
1. Garmin Varia UT800 Smart Headlight
Garmin are a highly reputable brand that produce high quality gadgets and their Varia UT800 follows that great reputation. It’s a smart bike headlight that can connect with their compatible bike computers. The benefit of this is that it can automatically adjust the light based upon the riders profile, conditions and cycling speed.
In terms of the lighting itself, it has a maximum light output of 800 Lumens and it can be set at 5 different operation modes to best suit your requirements.
Other features of the Garmin Varia UT800 include:
- Works independently or with a bike computer
- Automatically adjusts the light output
- Choice of 5 different lighting modes
- Universal “out-front” mount
- Weighs less than 140 grams
- Battery life of 4 hours
- Low profile and lightweight design
If you already own a Garmin bike computer or plan to in the future, the Varia UT800 is the ultimate bike headlight. Not only does it provide excellent lighting performance but the automatic functionality allows you to focus on your cycling.
2. CatEye Volt 800 Front Bike Light
CatEye are a brand that specialise in bike lights and the Volt 800 is their flagship front light. It comes with a premium price tag but it’s built to the highest of standards and offers excellent performance too.
In terms of the lighting modes available, there is two flashing and three constant modes, which can be easily selected using the button upon the light.
Other features of the CatEye Volt 800 include:
- 800 Lumens
- Patented FlexTight mounting
- Heavy duty aluminium body
- Choice of 5 lighting modes
- Recharges in 5-11 hours via USB
- Run time of up to 80 hours
- Low battery indicator
- Also compatible with helmet mounts
Although expensive, the CatEye Volt 800 is the ultimate front bike light that offers great performance and is backed by the reputable brand. If you don’t require the powerful light output, the brand offer lower powered models.
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3. Apace Illuma ZT3000 Bike Headlight
By far the most popular front bike light within this article is the Apace Illuma ZT3000. It’s a universal fit light for most bikes and comes with all the hardware required for the installation as well as a one year warranty.
Also included with the ZT3000 light is a USB charging cable, 2 silicone mounts, 8 mounting rings and a user manual.
Other features of the Apace Illuma ZT3000 include:
- 300 Lumens
- Choice of 5 light settings
- Max battery life up to 12 hours
- Recharges within 2 hours
- Installs and comes off in seconds
- Backed by a one year warranty
- Supplied with spare mounting parts
The Apace Illuma ZT3000 is a compact yet ultra bright bike headlight that offers outstanding value for the money. It even comes with additional mounting hardware for cyclists that own multiple bikes and wish to transfer it over.
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4. Knog Blinder Mr Chips Front Bike Light
One of the smallest front bike lights on the market is the Knog Blinder Mr Chips, which is just 5 x 9 cm in size. In terms of its performance, it provides a peak light output of 80 Lumens, which can be controlled via the five different modes.
Other features of the Knog Blinder Mr Chips include:
- Suitable for standard and oversized bars
- Light output rated at 50 Lumens
- Rechargeable via USB
- Choice of 5 different lighting modes
- 100% waterproof construction
- Matching rear lights available
The Mr Chips light by Knog is the perfect option for those requiring a compact and subtle light for their handlebars. As great as the more powerful alternatives are, they are fairly bulky and can ruin the aesthetics of the bike. This is where the Knog headlight becomes highly desirable but you do have to pay a premium.
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5. CooSpo Waterproof Bike Headlight
For those that require the brightest front bike light on the market, the CooSpo Headlight is the best option. Whilst set on its most powerful mode, it’s able to output an impressive 1,600 Lumens of light.
Another standout feature of this front bike light is the wired controlled shifting, which allows you to switch between the modes without taking your hands off the handlebars.
Other features of the CooSpo Bike Headlight include:
- 1,600 Lumens of light output
- Choice of six different light modes
- Suitable for all types of bikes
- Supports wired control of the modes
- Battery life up to 34 hours
- Waterproof rating of IPX6
- 360 degree rotation upon the mounting bracket
Although expensive, the CooSpoo Front Bike Light is a high performance option and features the desirable wired control. Although you probably won’t require 1,600 Lumens of light all the time, there may be times when it can make a big difference and improve your safety.
6. Lezyne Micro Drive Front Bike Light
The Lezyne Micro Drive is one of many front bike lights that the brand produce and it’s also one of the best. It combines performance with value for the money and features an impressive 8 different operation modes.
Other features of the Lezyne Micro Drive include:
- Light output of 450 Lumens
- Battery life of up to 25 hours
- Suitable for all-weather use
- Lightweight handlebar strap for mounting
- Choice of 8 different operation modes
- Low battery warning indicator
Overall, the Lezyne Micro Drive is an excellent all-round light that easily mounts to the handlebars and won’t disappoint. If you have a larger budget, the brand also offer more powerful lights if required.
Conclusion
Due to the advancement of modern LED’s, there are hundreds of front bike light options to choose from. All of our recommendations cover each possible scenario and includes lights for those on a tight budget as well as performance based options. It’s your legal requirement to use a front light upon your bike and any of the recommendations are more than ideal.
