Australian company Knog
first came to my attention when I bought a couple of their Frog bike
lights. The silicon encased LED lights looked great and were highly practical,
not relying on brackets to fix them to my handlebars or seatpost. Switching the
lights between bikes or attaching them to a helmet was a doddle and if you
looked at them through squinty eyes they really did look a bit like frogs. Having
said that, although bright, they weren’t quite powerful enough to use on their
own – I also had to use other, uglier and less amphibian lights to feel safe.
Knog have corrected that somewhat with the release of their new Blinder light.
First Impressions
In common with most Knog products, this is a funky bit of
kit. Unlike any other bike light I have seen, it has a flat square front with
an anodised aluminium face. The 4 LEDs are arranged in a square with the
aluminium forming thick go faster stripes (other patterns are available). The
whole thing is about the size of a compact bike computer. There is an ingenious
clip system that allows bracket-less mounting to the bike, with a metal catch –
a bit like a watch strap. The whole thing feels really well made and a big step
up in quality from the Frog lights.
Charge ahead
The light is powered by a lithium battery that is charged
via an inbuilt USB plug that clips out of the back of the Blinder. One charge
gives up to 50 hours of battery life in flashing mode, 3 hours in constant
mode. If you have a computer at work, it is an ideal way to make sure you never
have to ride home with a dim light.
Blinding Light
In use the light really lives up to its name, the LEDs
giving off 80 lumens, visible from a claimed 800 metres. There are 5 different flashing modes to help
catch the attention of other road users. The light is 100% waterproof and
survived the recent deluges with no problems at all. Bright enough to use
without additional lights, it looks great on the bike, although no amount of
squinting can make it look anything like a frog.
Summary
For: Compact,
lightweight, waterproof, USB charging
Surprisingly bright and looks
great.
Against: Quality costs - at £30 a light it’s a bit pricey.
Score: 4/5
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