LED cycle light

RSP, Raleigh's product arm, make some very decent lights. Star among them is the excellent Asteri 3 so we were hoping the Asteri 6 would be twice as good. It's not though: the build quality lets it down a bit but the major problem is the beam pattern.

Bright, brash and now USB chargeable, Knog’s Boomer is certainly bright enough for city and suburban streets and dark lanes with reliable output and charge-times- it even survived five minutes continuous onslaught from the garden hose but so do many others and the silicone bracket is neither secure, nor particularly versatile when it comes to mounting the rear version tested here – we've also included technical details of the front though because USB recharger apart it is identical to the Boomer front light we've already tested.

Nite Rider’s MiNewt 150 cordless could be the ultimate commuter/training lamp for those wanting high power without the clutter and faff of external battery systems. Lifetime warranty covers mechanical defects while the lithium ion battery can be charged either from the computer USB or mains socket thanks to a sensible adaptor. That said the twin lamp MiNewt Cordless 250 comes with helmet mount as standard and has the edge if you’re looking for adventures sans asphalt.

One23’s 1-watt extreme light has plenty to offer commuters and winter training bikes nervous about piling on the grams through the darker months. A choice of handlebar or helmet mounting coupled with good build quality means it’s well suited as a complementary system for a spot of rough stuff too.

Kirk to Bridge… Err, perhaps I’ve been watching too many episodes of Star Trek but One23’s rear led is strangely reminiscent of the US Enterprise with a quaint profile and adjustable bracket but performance outstrips many twice the price. Simple, weatherproof and remarkably solid construction and with batteries available on pretty much every street corner it’s an absolute bargain but care is required when tensioning the universal mounting bracket to prevent it exploring strange new worlds…

A bit of a mixed bag, the Boomer. On the one hand it's a super bright little light that's simple to fit and gives good all round visibility. On the other it's hampered by a fiddly switch which is also prone to turning the lights on in your bag, and you have to be careful with the mount to keep them properly weather sealed.

Moon Gem’s imaginatively monikered 2.0 is a very capable emergency light, perfect for getting home safely from late summer/early autumn evening’s race meets/training runs. Reasonable output means it’s a great complement to dynamo and high power rechargeable systems too. However, while the power to weight ratio is impressive, burn times between charges are likely to frustrate tourists and long-haul audax aficionados.

A very well made light with a great run time, the Asteri 3 is an excellent choice if your commute takes you beyond the city limits. It's a pity there's no side visibility but apart from that there's plenty to like.

These Niterider Ultrafazer LEDs are remarkably well made with excellent output and design we’ve come to expect from NR. What I wasn’t expecting was the low asking price. £28 buys you a front and rear light set providing ample light to been seen by while just about good enough to see with. Weather seals are reassuringly efficient- the front is even guaranteed waterproof to 50 metres should you fancy a bit of deep sea diving or your offspring lose a Lego man in the lake.