Hear me out: Forget fancy 'Smart' features, these budget bike lights are probably all you need, and some are half price this Black Friday
You don't actually need smart features, and sometimes they actually make things worse
I've spent a lot of time testing out all sorts of lights recently to pull together my guide to the best bike lights. I've tried ones with every bell and/or whistle for hundreds and hundreds of dollars, and I've also tried plenty at the bargain end of the spectrum.
What I learned is that, with a few exceptions, 'Smart' features tend to just complicate things unless you invest the time into getting to grips with all the features. Dumb lights, or what people just used to call 'bike lights' are a lot more user-friendly; just strap 'em to your bars, hit the button, and away you go.
The epitome of this for me is the wonderful Cateye AMPP900. It's simple, durable, bright, and cheap. While it isn't on offer for Black Friday - at least not yet, but be sure to check our Black Friday Bike Deals hub regularly - but plenty of other lights in the AMPP range are.
USA: Quick Cyber Monday Deals
- Magicshine SEEMEE300: Best rear light on the market with 25% off
- Continental GP5000 S TR: Best ever price on our benchmark tyre
- Rapha Core Rain Jacket II: 48% off with double discount
- Gore C5 Thermo Gloves: 25% off test winners
- Zwift Ride w/ Kickr Core: Zwift focussed smartbike with 20% off
UK: Quick Cyber Monday Deals
- Magicshine SEEMEE300: Best rear light on the market with 30% off
- Continental GP5000 S TR: Best ever price on our benchmark tyre
- Rapha Core Rain Jacket II: 48% off with double discount
- Gore C5 Gore-Tex Gloves: 25% off lightweight waterproof gloves
- Zwift Ride w/ Kickr Core: Zwift focussed smartbike with 20% off
You basically just need to pick your brightness. Anything from the diminutive AMPP100 (don't buy this one, as the AMPP200 is the same price) through to the blinding AMPP2200 can be yours. The best deal of the lot in the UK is on the AMPP800, which is extremely commuter-friendly, or the AMPP1700, which could happily take you off-roading.
For those in the States, the discounts are a little smaller, and while it isn't the biggest discount my pick is to go for the Cateye AMPP900. It's the best option for most people, most of the time and it's dead cheap for what it does. That's why it's my 'best budget front light' in the guide. For more budget-friendly lights head to our sister guide to the best budget bike lights, too.
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Cateye AMPP1700
UK: £139.99 £79.99 at Amazon
43% off: 1700 lumens is enough to cover you for pretty much all after-dark road riding, and even bright enough to head off-road too. The mount is universal, so will work on aero bars, the light works just as well upside down, and it's got a really simple control scheme with one button and no unnecessary features.
Cateye AMPP900
USA: $69.95 $59.46 at Amazon
15% off: Certainly a more modest discount than in the UK, but there's every chance the price will drop over the actual Black Friday weekend, so sit tight if you have the patience. This is the light I rate as the best for most people, most of the time, it's ace. Simple, unfussy, effective, and cheap. My old one from the previous line is still going 8 years on, too.
More Black Friday deals
- Black Friday bike deals - All the best deals in one place
- Black Friday Garmin - Smartwatches and bike computers
- Black Friday Wahoo - Bike computers and indoor trainers
- Black Friday Rapha - 25% off sitewide
- Black Friday cycling clothing - All soft goods, all good deals
- Black Friday kids bikes: That's Christmas sorted
- Black Friday cycling shoes: Fantastic footwear for less
- Black Friday headphones: Turning up the deals!
- Black Friday turbo trainers: Smart trainers for smart money
- Black Friday bike helmets: More safety, less money
- Black Friday electric bikes: Ebikes for all budgets
- Castelli Black Friday: Deals on the popular clothing brand
- Black Friday gravel bikes: Drop-bar off-road bargains
- Black Friday GoPro: Action camera deals
Will joined the Cyclingnews team as a reviews writer in 2022, having previously written for Cyclist, BikeRadar and Advntr. He’s tried his hand at most cycling disciplines, from the standard mix of road, gravel, and mountain bike, to the more unusual like bike polo and tracklocross. He’s made his own bike frames, covered tech news from the biggest races on the planet, and published countless premium galleries thanks to his excellent photographic eye. Also, given he doesn’t ever ride indoors he’s become a real expert on foul-weather riding gear. His collection of bikes is a real smorgasbord, with everything from vintage-style steel tourers through to superlight flat bar hill climb machines.