Infini Olley rear light

The Infini Olley is a diminutive rear light that looks sleek on a race bike yet is very bright with good battery life, and can also be attached to clothing or a backpack for versatility. It's a good light and easy to use, but there are brighter options for the same money.

• Pros: Compact, light, good choice of modes
• Cons: There are brighter lights for similar money

I'm a real fan of the compact form-factor of the Olley rear light. It almost disappears on the back of the seatpost, you hardly see it during the daytime – a good thing if you're concerned with the aesthetics of your bike and don't want its clean lines ruined by a bulky light. I think you're more likely to keep it on all the time as well for that reason, or that might just be me...

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A thick silicone band fixes it in place, and it accommodates a range of seatpost diameters from 25.4mm round posts to aero seatposts. It also has an integrated plastic clip for attaching it to clothing, say the back of your jeans, or to a rucksack. That means you can use it as your main light on the bike or as an accessory light on your person. Also included in the box are cable ties and a Velcro strap for extra attachment options.

The 20-lumen output from the 38-chip LED gives a decent brightness that is sufficient for commuting and riding into dark countryside lanes. It's more than capable of being the main light and not just a backup/emergency light, though some might prefer a brighter option.

There's a choice of modes from constant to flashing, easily operated by the top button. One of the modes is a daytime flashing option, though it's a good choice for night as well as using during the daytime. Side-on visibility, ideal for dealing with junctions, is helped by the contour shape that increases viewing angles.

The small plastic light is water resistant to IPX4 standard. That means it offers protection from a splash of water in any direction for at least 5 minutes. That doesn't sound overly impressive, but I got caught in a horrendous downpour that instantly turned roads into rivers and the rain was accompanied by hail, as good a test as any for a rear light. It coped admirably, continuing to project its red beam into the growing darkness that surrounded me.

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Infini claims 8 hours on the daytime flashing mode, and between 5 and 20 hours on the other four regular flash modes, and 1.5 or 4.5 hours on the two constant modes. It's a good selection of modes and the run-times compare favourably with other diddy rear lights and are sufficient for daily commuting and training rides. I found the cited durations about on the money in my testing.

Charging is via a mini USB socket located underneath a thick rubber cover, with just two hours required to brim the battery. To prevent overcharging, the light has an auto full-charge cut-off system, handy for leaving the light on charge overnight.

All things considered, it's a well-made light that is tiny and lightweight and a good option as your main light for commuting and training, or as a backup to a brighter main light. It's easy to use and mount, has a good selection of modes, and the run-time is decent.

The price is reasonable, too, though there are brighter lights for the same or less money. The Oxford Ultratorch Slimline is a similarly compact light and costs a few quid less but does boast a 50-lumen output, so if you want more brightness it has the edge.

Costing precisely the same is the Sigma Nugget Flash rear light which looks to offer easy mounting, good battery life and a useful selection of modes.

Verdict

Compact and easy to use light, though there are brighter options for the same money