KNOG BLINDER ROAD R70

I was eager to try the Knog Blinder Road R70 after being impressed by the quality and dependability of the Blinder Mob V Four Eyes they tested last season. They had a couple of complaints with the Mob V, which the R70 addresses in part but then brings a couple of niggles of its own. To begin with, this is yet another rear light that performs admirably. A little chunkier, a little brighter, and a little more expensive, but with most of the qualities that made the Mob V Four Eyes so appealing to me.

The same simple mounting technique and convenience of usage from the saddle with the rear button are particularly appealing. Stick your thumb down between the seatpost and the lamp to find the on-off switch. One push to navigate through the five appropriate settings; one push to switch on and off (two steady, three flashing). The Road R70 remembers your previous setting and returns to it automatically the next time you use it.

The light arrived during the summer months and has performed admirably as a high-visibility day-running light. They primarily chose the 'Eco' mode, not so much for the longer battery life as for the strobing pattern's suitability for daylight use. Even from half a mile behind (yep, that's the gap they put in him on that hill), one of my riding buddies commented on how obvious the light was. This is due in part to the high-quality optics, which let the light travel a long distance despite the low advertised power of 70 lumens. Now, in the dead of winter, it's proving to be equally soothing in dim light. Although the robust construction is good at this time of year, they still like to use a mudguard to protect it from salt and grit.

Knog advertises 20 hours on the 'Eco' setting, however they only got 15 hours, which is still adequate in real-world settings, though it may fall short if you wish to ride extended distances with the light in Steady mode. The recharge time, on the other hand, is lightning fast. You may charge it by either inserting the built-in USB bayonet into a socket or using the high-quality Knog-branded extension cord that comes with it. The clear gasket between the two sections of the aluminum case enables some light to escape sideways. This addresses one of my complaints regarding the Four Eyes' lack of side visibility. However, the quantity of light escaping to the sides appears to be fairly minimal, owing to the large fourth LED at the cluster's bottom, which is active in four of the five patterns.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Maximum lumens: 70
• Battery life: up to 20 hours
• Rechargeable: yes

REASONS TO BUY

• Very bright
• Solid battery life
• Side illumination

REASONS TO AVOID

• A bit bulky maybe

BUY NOW: amazon.com/dp/B01789N9MG