I've been riding around with a new taillight, the Niterider VMAX+ 180 and wanted to share some thoughts about it. This is an inexpensive, high-value option with some very visible flash patterns and good battery life. Because I believe every rider should be using a flashing red taillight, even in the daytime, the VMAX+ 180 is easy to recommend due to its low price.
MSRP
The Niterider VMAX+ 180 carries an MSRP of $34.99, so it fits right in to the accessible, value taillight segment. Despite the low price I found it to be packed with features.
There's also a VMAX+ 180 ALTO, which I did not test. It appears to be the same basic light, but adds the ability to sense when you are braking (presumably with some sort of accelerometer inside) and notifies those around you that you're slowing, for an extra $10. This feature isn't important to me, but it might be nice if you're a regular group ride participant.
Battery life and charging
Claimed charge time for the VMAX+ 180 is 2 hours and charging is via a modern USB-C port. This provides the flexibility to charge from a wall outlet, laptop, or your car on the way to the trailhead. Simple and a good choice. I wish all my devices were USB-C!
At just $34.99, and with plenty of competitors in the same space, clearly the days of lights that run on disposable batteries are numbered. While you can get a basic light for $10-15 that will run on disposable AAA cells, there's just no point, because the tiny amount saved on the original purchase will be eaten up by battery purchases quickly.
Some riders on multi-day backpacking or touring trips may complain that disposable batteries can easily be changed on long trips when the rider is away from a source of charging. True... but with a mobile phone, watch, and other devices also along for the ride, I'd rather carry a rechargeable power bank than deal with AA or AAA batteries.
Battery life on the VMAX+ 180 ranges from claimed 4:30h for the most resource-intensive mode and 24:00h for the most conservative mode.
Flash, steady, and pulse models
The VMAX+ 180 features 7 distinct modes that provide different brightness levels, visibility, and runtime. Many of them overlap and/or are quite similar - there's enough here to satisfy any need. You can cycle through them with a click, and I really like that the light remembers the last mode you used next time you power it up, so there's no need to cycle through all the modes until you find your favorite.
The "180" refers to 180 lumens - presumably on the brightest setting. For reference, the Niterider TL 6.0 a very basic model that runs on 2, AAA batteries, pumps out just 25 lumens. At the top end of the market, Niterider has a 330 lumen model.
Are more lumens better? Maybe? Riders need to balance weight, runtime, and other factors along with brightness. Lights with more lumen output are larger, heavier, and drain the battery faster.
Daylight visible flash
I'm not sure if Niterider was the first company to market the use of bicycle taillights during the daytime for additional safety, but I think the idea is sound and has a ton of merit. Runtimes have improved quite a bit, making charging must less frequent, so there are fewer concerns about running out of battery life even on all-day rides. As a result, I strongly encourage all riders to run a taillight at all times, even during the day.
Many riders may be able to squeak a week or more of riding out of the VMAX+ 180 on "Fast Flash" mode, which claims 11 hours, 30 minutes of runtime. If you're willing to compromise the "Econ Flash" mode stretches that to a claimed 20 hours which could more than cover a week of bicycle commuting.
Water and dust resistance
The VMAX+ 180 carries an IP64 ingress protection rating (learn more about IP ratings.) The first digit, "6", describes the dust resistance, and "6" is what GPS devices electronic shifting are commonly rated to. We're good there.
The second digit, "4", means "protection against splashing water" - so don't submerge the VMAX+ 180, and I'd remove it before washing your bike. Getting caught in a rainstorm shouldn't hurt it, but I'd definitely make sure to close the rubber "door" that covers the charging port while riding.
More expensive devices do have higher water ingress ratings, so if you often ride in the wet this is an area where it may be worth investing in a light with a higher rating (although at additional expense.)
Weight
Modern LEDs have gotten so good, the lithium ion and lithium polymer batteries needed to power them can now be quite small. As a result, the entire casing of this taillight is quite compact and lightweight - claimed weight is just 59 grams.
I can't imagine weight being the primary concern on a taillight in 2025, however, if you're outfitting a race bike, the VMAX+ 180 is one you can mount up with confidence knowing it won't weigh you down.
What about radar?
At $34.99, this tail light isn't going to have any "radar" capabilities, like a Garmin Varia or Wahoo TRACKR Radar - those are much more sophisticated (and expensive) systems that talk to your handlebar-mounted GPS cycle computer using ANT+ or Bluetooth protocols.
While no-name Chinese radar taillights can be had for around $99 at the entry level now, so those need to fall quite a bit in price before being truly accessible to the masses. We'll have to hold out a bit longer before we see radar features from a name brand in this price point.
Mounting and accessories
The Niterider VMAX+ 180 is intended to be used primarily on the seatpost, and comes with a rubber strap style mount claimed to fit seatposts from "15.8mm - 31.6mm" - I've never seen a 15.8mm post, but I assume that refers to the cross-section of an aero or oval shaped model, as opposed to the round style.
The taillight simply clicks onto the rubber strap and can be easily removed without tools for charging. Alternatively, riders with Di2 or AXS electronic shifting bikes may already have USB cables in the garage to do the job, and you can charge the light while it's mounted if desired.
The clip stays with the light, not the seatpost, and as a result you can also easily attach it to your waistband or a messenger bag. Niterider also sells helmet mounts that will work with the VMAX+ 180, so that's a nice option if you want a rear-facing light on the back of your helmet.
The VMAX+ 180 also included a USB-A to USB-C charging cable in case you don't already have one. Always nice to have a spare.
Conclusion
At just $34.99, it's easy to recommend the value-packed Niterider VMAX+ 180 tail light. It has features that cost double just a couple years ago, and it's a fine choice for riders looking for a general use taillight on a budget.
While it lacks some of the features of more expensive tail lights, it strikes a great balance between basic budget models that rely on disposable batteries and more sophisticated, expensive rechargeable models that cost significantly more.