If you are out buying bike lights you’ll soon spot Knog products. I’ll start this Knog Blinder review by comparing a pair of Knog lights to a Mac. A PC might be cheaper and do the job just as well, but you’ll want to own the Mac.
So far, design and innovation have set Knog apart in a field of very ‘samey’ bike lights. Out went cheap plastic clips; in came gummi bear silicone wraparounds.
Earlier products have inspired, yet the company’s new Blinder is still a rare sight – and may remain so if its styling is not to cyclists’ liking.
Knog Blinder review
I’ve not read any other reviews – and in most cases prefer not to – so if I miss something please chip in.
Out of the box
Companies that make an effort with packaging are onto something. I’d much rather my money went into good product design than flash wasteful packaging. Knog are onto this and impress from the off with biodegradable egg cup-like boxes.
First Impressions
On first view (online) these look amazing. But out of the box the finish looks cheap. It’s actually not, although the silver fronts didn’t look up to the quality I’d expected. Not a good start, yet fears were put at ease once I’d played with them a while.
The black gummi bear rubber is clearly still very much in favour down under, and overall, with the neat – but a little flimsy looking – USB connection and the clasps considered, I was happy with the funky 4.
Functions and fittings
Just like with a Mac during this Knog Blinder review they took a while to get used to. First use, it’s all a little different; second time round it makes sense, but it’s still not as you expected; and third time and the penny drops.
If like me, you want to use the clasp in the wrong direction and you can’t cycle the functions first time, don’t worry. Hours on design have not been wasted – just go with it and you’ll soon see why Knog bothered.
Tech Specs
100% waterproof, lithium polymer battery, 80 lumen to the front, 44 to the rear, three hours constant, up to 50 hours on Eco-flash (30 for the rear). Visible from up to 800 metres, charge time 5 hours from in-built USB, law battery warning light, 5 flash modes.
Knog Life
The rear light reminds of some sci-fi /industrial / municipal vehicle’s hazard light and is an inspired design. It’s very cool.
Having 5 flashing modes is 1, perhaps 2 too many for my liking – but some are clearly part of the lights’ identity: The ‘Organic’ modes fade and return, like some robotic death throe.
That said, I like to push a fat finger at my lights and get results – don’t think you’ll find it easy to turn around and tinker with your rear – as you do -when sat at traffic lights.
Same goes for the front: For now the function button is just too fiddly. But with the Knog factor I’ll probably get the hang of it.
I haven’t seen another pair yet – odd for a town so full of cyclists… Still, if there were to be a set that might encourage cyclists to start buying bike lights and using them more, the Blinders would be in the running.
The question is: Will they stay on the bike? Really, the answer should be no. But I’ve a sneaky suspicion the rear light will stay.
Buying bike lights
I don’t choose form over function when it comes to safety, but as they work on both counts I recommend them if you are buying bike lights…. To conclude this Knog Blinder review I score them:
Knog Blinder:8/10
Price: 6.5
Practicality: 7.5
Power/Fuction: 7.5
Funk: 9.0
Eco: 9.0
Best for: commuters and dumper trucks, but still loved – if not used – by road racers.
