The world's most in-depth and scientific reviews of outdoor gear

Light and Motion Urban 800 Review

Fast to switch between bikes, excellent beam quality and 360 degree pivot.
Light and Motion Urban 800
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Price:  $150 List | $85.00 at Amazon
Pros:  Fast to switch between bikes, excellent beam quality, 360 degree pivot, lightweight
Cons:  Expensive, difficult to quickly take on and off of the handlebars single-handed
Manufacturer:   Light and Motion
By Gentrye Houghton ⋅ Senior Review Editor  ⋅  Jan 14, 2018
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69
OVERALL
SCORE

RANKED
#7 of 16
  • Brightness - 40% 8
  • Beam Quality - 25% 8
  • Battery Life - 20% 4
  • Portablity - 15% 6

Our Verdict

The Light and Motion Urban 800 offers exceptional beam quality with lightweight packaging and a number of unique features. While it scores relatively high, it did not win an award because it was not nearly as bright as many of the competition, especially in the top tier price range. Our Editors' Choice, the NightRider Lumina 750 exceeds the Urban 800 with a higher brightness score and costs $50 less!


Compare to Similar Products

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Awards  Top Pick Award Editors' Choice Award   
Price $85.00 at Amazon$241.76 at Amazon$99.95 at Amazon$140 List$36.95 at Amazon
Compare at 2 sellers
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Pros Fast to switch between bikes, excellent beam quality, 360 degree pivot, lightweightGreat beam distance and quality, lasts four hours in high modeWide even beam pattern, bright, illuminated on/off button, swivel mountWide, even beam pattern, multiple blinking modesBright, wide and even beam pattern, illuminated on/off switch, easy on and off handle bars, good value
Cons Expensive, difficult to quickly take on and off of the handlebars single-handedVery heavy, expensive and time-consuming to install and removeBeam could be more even/less narrow, battery life on the short sideMinimal swivel, short battery lifeShort (1.5 hour) battery life
Bottom Line Fast to switch between bikes, excellent beam quality and 360 degree pivot.This is your go to light for quality and distance of beam.This light is bright, swivels nicely and even has an illuminated on/off switch.Although it has a shorter battery life, it has a wide even beam with multiple blinking modes.This light not only is a great value but it has a super bright and even beam pattern.
Rating Categories Light and Motion Urban 800 NiteRider Pro 1800 NiteRider Lumina 750 Cygolite Expilion 850 NiteRider Lumina 550
Brightness (40%)
10
0
8
10
0
10
10
0
9
10
0
9
10
0
8
Beam Quality (25%)
10
0
8
10
0
9
10
0
8
10
0
8
10
0
8
Battery Life (20%)
10
0
4
10
0
10
10
0
6
10
0
4
10
0
5
Portablity (15%)
10
0
6
10
0
3
10
0
9
10
0
7
10
0
8
Specs Light and Motion... NiteRider Pro 1800 NiteRider Lumina 750 Cygolite Expilion... NiteRider Lumina 550
Max Beam Distance (m) 136 m 175 m 180 m 147 m 146 m
Battery Life (hours) 1.5 hrs 3.8 hrs 1.7 hrs 1.4 hrs 1.5 hrs
Battery Type USB Recharge USB Recharge USB Recharge USB Recharge USB Recharge
Mount Options Handlebar/Helmet Handlebar Handlebar/Helmet Handlebar/Helmet Handlebar/Helmet
Installation Attached Tool-free Tool-free Tool-free Tool-free
Swivel Mount Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Weight 122 g, 4.3 oz 500 g, 17.6 oz 182 g, 6.4 oz 174 g, 6.1 oz 180 g, 6.3 oz

Our Analysis and Test Results

If each of our 16 reviewed bike lights were to be put into "good, better, best" categories, we feel the Urban 800 would be the lowest performing of the 'best' - it does everything right, but with such stiff competition there are a handful of lights that do things better. That being said, this is an incredibly strong light for the compact size and can easily sneak away in a pocket or backpack.

Performance Comparison


This light is a great option for urban commuting with some great features that help oncoming traffic see you.
This light is a great option for urban commuting, with some great features that help oncoming traffic see you.

Brightness


While the Urban 800 is pretty bright, it is not quite as bright as the competition and earns an 8 out of 10. It has a maximum measured beam distance of 136-meters, or about 445-feet, compared to the Lumina 750's 180 meters!

As you can see in the photos below, it has a very wide and even beam, but just does not illuminate as brightly down the bike path as the Lumina 750, pictured on the right.

Beam Distance Photos
Beam photo of Light and Motion Urban 800
Beam photo of NiteRider Lumina 750

Light and Motion Urban 800
NiteRider Lumina 750

Beam Quality


This light's beam quality is excellent and scored an 8 out of 10. It tied our Editors' Choice winner, the Lumina 750, and as you can see in the comparison below, it casts a very even and wide beam.

Beam Diameter and Pattern
Beam photo of Light and Motion Urban 800
Beam photo of NiteRider Lumina 750

Light and Motion Urban 800
NiteRider Lumina 750

Battery Life


We took three factors into consideration when scoring battery life: beam power in correlation to longevity, type of battery (rechargeable versus non-rechargeable), and regulated versus non-regulated beams.

Battery life for this light is slightly below average in our overall comparison, and only fell short to the Lumina 750 by a very small margin. The Urban 800 lasted 1.5 hours in high beam mode during our coffin test, which is essentially the same as the much less expensive Light and Motion Urban 350. You can see in this chart that the main difference between the Urban 800 and 350 models is the 800's consistency in beam distance throughout its longevity.

If you can fit your hand in a pocket you can also slip this compact light into a pocket as well.
If you can fit your hand in a pocket, you can also slip this compact light into a pocket as well.

Portability


The Urban 800 is relatively lightweight, quick to install, and easy to switch between bikes. However, the mounting system does not lend itself to easy one-handed on and off operation, and unlike its sister light, the Urban 350, we found the rubber mounting system to be much stiffer than the 350's. For example, if you make a quick stop at the store, you may need two hands to remove it and will almost certainly need two hands to put it back on. This is not a big deal, but we do prefer mounting systems that offer fast one-handed removal. We are also fans that this light comes with an optional helmet mount, adding to it's versatility.

Best Applications


This is a great light with a wide, evenly lit beam pattern. We used it commuting around town in well lit, as well as poorly lit streets, and during quick evening trail jaunts. Just as its name suggests, we found the Urban 800 to be the most at home in urban settings.

Value


This is a premium priced light and is about $50 more expensive than the higher scoring NiteRider Lumina 750.

This light stays secure on the mount by attaching with a rubber belt and the amber side lights increase your visibility on the road.
This light stays secure on the mount by attaching with a rubber belt, and the amber side lights increase your visibility on the road.

Conclusion


This light scores well and has exceptional beam quality. All of the Light and Motion lights tested are fast to transfer between bikes, pivot 360 degrees, and offer side amber lights. If these features are important to you, this one is worth a hard look. However, competition in this category is stiff and other lights are brighter and easier on your wallet with similar beam quality.


— Gentrye Houghton