LED

AXA dynamos

The design concept of this RSP Urban 8 light bears more than a passing resemblance to Cateye's TL-LD 1000, with a row of LEDs facing backwards and a couple more at each end of a barrel shaped body. The net result is a light that can be seen from pretty much any angle, just what you want in a busy urban environment. Unlike the Cateye, which has a body covered in light directing knobbles, the RSP has a plain, transparent casing which lights up nicely and has nothing to interfere with the light it throws out.

RSP’s Astrum is a really funky design with retina burning output, frugal battery consumption in flashing modes, a positive switch that doesn’t accidentally engage in the bottom of a bag yet easily operated in full-length winter weight gloves. Even the rubberised seat post bracket seems better than most. However, disappointing eighteen and three-quarter hour run-times (twenty hours quoted) in static mode and suspect sealing blotted its copybook.

Little bigger than a memory stick Moon’s Gem 1.0 might be the baby of the of the Moon Gem family but has a mightier output than its size would ever suggest.

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.

One of the newer generation of LED lights from the USE Exposure brand, a name already well known in the mountain-biking world, the Toro promises an outstanding mix of car-dazzling illumination, small size and long battery life.

Nuke light 3watt (crop)

Nuke light 3watt

Something a wolf in sheep’s clothing, the Nuke Light enjoys neat, albeit slightly boxy styling and a small lens suggesting very meagre output. However, clever optics and several settings ensure you can see and be seen-even on pitch-black rural roads. Convenient run times, a choice of either mains or USB charging coupled with keen pricing means its one of the best compact designs I’ve used in a very long time.