RANKED:THE 3 BEST CYCLING LIGHTS OF 2023

If you are anything like me, you just LOVE cycling and your cycling gadgets are a big part of that love.I had been using the same generic front light since 2015, which didn’t do much, apart from illuminate the road and perform with a poor battery life.

When it finally broke a few months ago, I decided it was time to upgrade. But which one? There are so many options and so many conflicting opinions. Perhaps you’ve run into the same problem.

So I tried all the top brands, and rated them based on features, battery life, and price. Here’s what I found…

The Farina is the best cycling light on the market today.

BUY FARINA AND GET A FREE CLIQ SMART TAILLIGHT

Features: 100%
Battery Life: 96%
Price: $$
Lumen Output: 1100lm
Overall: A+

Based on a friend’s raving review, I gave the lesser-known Farina a try…and boy was I amazed. It offered features and tech that are not seen in any of the current lights, and is dubbed a ‘smart light.’ Farina has a unique set of custom optics the create a cut-off line which prevents dazzling of oncoming traffic, 1100lm peak brightness, and smart sensors that allow for an ambient light mode, auto brake light and anti-theft alarm! It has an IP67 waterproof rating, up to 20 hours battery and is daylight visible. On top of that, it boasted the SmartGird app, which lets you customize every aspect of the light, and gives you access to unique training articles, blog posts and will shortly host a variety of features that will replace the bike computer! And it’s all compatible with android and Apple phones. Did we mention it is USB-C compatible too? I took this light on multiple rides, which gave me a great experience and the anti-theft alarm even informed me when someone touched my bike. Where the Farina really stands out, however, is the price and the fact that it is future proofed as SBL continuously roll out new features via the app. Currently on sale for 50% off and lasting over two weeks on a single charge (yes, you heard that right–14+ days), this is hands down the overall best (smart) cycling light on the market in 2023.

Features: 80%
Battery Life: 70%
Price: $$$$
Lumen Output: 800lm
Overall: B+
The Garmin Varia UT800 needs no introduction and is without a doubt one of the best cycling lights on the market. It has the most features of any flagship cycling light on the market, and its price ($180USD) falls way above everything else. Meanwhile, the battery life can be extended up to 16 hours on low power mode. Still not great, but it’s workable. I can use it for most of the week without issue, but if I push it to its 800lm max output, it’s dead very quickly. It does however have the ability to connect to Garmin Edge, however its functionalities are quite limited given the lack of smart sensors with the light. Overall, a decent product, however low lumen output, lack of cut-off line technology, low battery capacity and lack of smart sensors prevent it from become a true smart light.

Features: 60%
Battery Life: 25%
Price: $$$
Lumen Output: 1300lm
Overall: C+
Nothing about the Bontrager Ion Pro wowed me, but nothing turned me off either (apart from the battery life). The battery life is an awful 1.5 hours, with no smart light sensing tech to help extend this. Bluetooth connectivity is available however the features provided re relatively basic but nice to see. Where the Bontrager Ion Pro really shined was the simplicity of its mount and consistent beam pattern (although still no cut-off line technology). It is not a bargain, priced at over $130 USD, the Bontrager is a decent choice, although there are better lights on the market.

With so many amazing cycling lights out there, I wanted to take the time to tell you more about why I chose the SBL Farina as my number one. I already told you about the unbeatable price, massive battery life, and awesome smart features via its advanced technology, but what I didn’t tell you about how this cycling light created a killer cycling routine that changed my life?

I wake up at 5am sharp every morning. I instantly get ready and I go for a 60-minute ride as part of my commute to work. During winter, its dark in the morning on the way to work and dark on the way home from work. With long work days other lights that I have tested simply do not have enough juice to last for my ride to and from work. Farina’s smart light sensing tech automatically adjusts the visibility throughout the changing light conditions to and from work, which gives me extended battery life. As part of this routine, I always stop by a café for my coffee, where I activate the anti-theft alarm – there has already been 3 instances where I was notified about someone tampering with my bike! You would believe how much this happens.

I also have a weekend cycling routine where I typically cycle with a large group. The crew can get congested quite frequently with a small accident from time to time, however with the addition of the brake light function on Farina and Cliq (Farina’s accompanying taillight), I keep getting told from my cycling crew that the brake light is super helpful at alerting them that I’m reducing my speed! A few of the guys also have Farina, which we use the app to group sync the blinking patterns which is super helpful at night. We always stop for lunch and if my work routine has taught me anything its to activate the anti-theft mode while the bike is parked.

The best part? I get to do it all over again tomorrow morning, and I do not even have to worry about charging my light knowing it will last for days.

As a fan of these lights and SBL, I have been following their updates and am looking forward to signing up to SBL+, which is an app service that will essentially replace the features available in a bike PC, saving you hundreds and future proofing yourself. In addition, the OnTrack Smart GPS looks like a great addition and a real robust solution to bike theft, as the features look outstanding. In short, SBL is innovating in this space and they are creating an awesome ecosystem of hardware and software that other brands are simply lacking.

CLIQ against the competition