Most cyclists will regularly ride when it’s dark in autumn and winter, either early in the morning or evenings. Bike lights are therefore an essential piece of kit. It’s also true that daytime-running bike lights are growing in popularity for safety reasons. They help you be seen on the road, even in bright sunlight.
Read the earlier post on Bike Lights for Winter
Our pick for the best front bike light is the Lezyne Macro Drive 1300XXL Bike Light. Although not a brand new model, it’s an impressive piece of equipment. It has many features that make it stand out from other bike lights on the market, such as its durable design and watertightness. It’s also easy to use, making it a great choice for anyone looking for an efficient lighting solution.
The Lezyne Macro Drive 1300XXL throws out a bright concentration of light in a centre spot within a large wide-angle beam pattern for optimal visibility on the trail or tarmac. With 1,300 lumens, you won’t be in short supply of light on those dark roads or trails.
The Macro Drive comes with 2 operating modes: Race with 2 lumens options or Standard in which you can choose between 7 options:
It’s constructed from machined aluminium and features integral cooling fins to optimise performance throughout the light’s full runtime.
Lezyne Macro Drive 1300XXL Features
- The Macro Drive lasts longer than other headlight tests at the highest setting, shining brightly for just under 3 hours. At 450-lumens, it lasts just under 8 hours.
- The mount offers a stable, versatile strap, easily adjustable to handlebars of various thicknesses Once it’s in place, it’s easy to adjust the position and the light stays solidly in place.
- Although not the cheapest of lights, this investment will certainly pay off over time since the Macro Drive lasts longer than its competitors due to its durable construction materials.
- The only real downside to the Lezyne Macro Drive 1300XXL is its size. It’s on the heavy side at 208 grams and it occupies a little more handlebar space than the thinner mount of, say, the NiteRider 1200 OLED Boost. This model, incidentally, comes a close second in the best front bike light UK competition but it’s more expensive!
Macro Drive 1300XXL Pros and Cons
Pros
- Long battery life
- Extremely solid construction
- Strong mounting system
- Easy to use
- Wide light beam
Cons
- A bit bulky on handlebars
Specs
MAX LUMENS: 1300
WEIGHT: 208g
MAX RUNTIME: 148 hours (in FEMTO mode)
RECHARGE TIME: 3:30 hours
We think the Lezyne Macro Drive 1300XXL (click through to compare) is currently the best front bike light. It’s a popular buy and offers plenty of benefits compared to other cycling lights on the market today.