Mountain Bike Lights
Built for trail, enduro and cross-country night riding. Every one of our mountain bike lights is self-contained with no external battery packs or wires, USB-C rechargeable, and designed around a beam pattern instead of a lumen number. Trail Evo goes on the handlebar, with a wide, even beam that shows you the trail surface. Portal is our first pick for the helmet, and Hangover is the lighter option. Want the full setup? The Portal Downhill Package and Evo Downhill Package pair a handlebar light with a helmet light. Light so good you forget you're riding at night.
Mountain Bike Light Specs, Side by Side
Lumens are only part of it. Where the light goes matters more than how much of it there is.
| Light | Mounts On | Output | Runtime (Adaptive Mode) | Weight | Built For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trail Evo | Handlebar | ~2,200 lumens | 2.6 hours | 275 g | Wide, even beam that shows you the trail surface |
| Portal | Helmet | 1,600 lumens | 2.5 hours | 170 g | Our first pick for the helmet, the most power |
| Hangover | Helmet | 900 lumens | 1.6 hours | 105 g | The lightest option, for when weight matters most |
Mountain Bike Light Questions
What are the best bike lights for mountain biking?
One on the handlebar and one on your helmet. The handlebar light sits low, so rocks and roots throw shadows and you can read the trail. The helmet light follows your eyes into the corner before the bike gets there. Our pick is Trail Evo on the bars with Portal up top, which is what the Portal Downhill Package is. If you want less weight on your head, the Evo Downhill Package swaps in Hangover.
If I can only buy one light, which one?
Trail Evo. A handlebar light on its own gives you a wide, even view of the trail with real depth. A helmet light on its own works, but the trail looks flat because the light is coming from right next to your eyes. Start with the bars and add a helmet light when you can.
How many lumens do I need for mountain biking at night?
Fewer than the number on most boxes would have you believe. Lumens tell you how much light comes out, not where it goes. A light that throws half its output into the trees or into one hot spot needs a huge number to feel bright. Ours put it on the trail, which is why ~2,200 lumens on the bars and 1,600 on the helmet is a full speed setup. The longer version is in this post.
Will the battery last a whole night ride?
Adaptive mode is the default, and it's tuned around a typical night ride. In that mode Trail Evo runs about 2.6 hours, Portal about 2.5 and Hangover about 1.6. Those numbers are conservative, and cold, heat and battery age all move the real figure, so treat them as a guide. Going longer? Every light charges over USB-C and supports pass-through charging, so a small power bank keeps you going. It's how people get through 24 hour races on one light.
Will the mount hold up on rough trails?
Yes. Trail Evo uses a bolt-on quick release clamp, not a rubber strap, so the beam stays where you aimed it, even on chunky trails. Unlike a strap mount, the light goes back in the exact same spot ride after ride, so you aim it once and you're done. It fits 31.8mm and 35mm bars out of the box. Running smaller bars? Add the 25.4mm shim or the 22.2mm shim. Helmet lights ship with a wide mount that bridges the vent hole on a lot of helmets and a standard curved one. Helmets that come to a strong point at the center need the notched mount.
What happens when I crash and break it?
Tell us what happened and we'll sort it out. Every light has a three year warranty, plus our Don't Be A Dick lifetime extension. Two rules: be kind, and be honest, even if it was your fault. We'd rather fix it and learn from it than argue about it. Details are on the warranty page.