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review

Knog Blinder Mini Chippy Twinpack

7
£45.99

VERDICT:

7
10
Good output, convenient recharging and quick to mount, but inadequate low battery warning
Weight: 
36g

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Knog scores high on the compact and convenient rating with its Blinder Mini Chippy Twinpack. Both the front and rear are super-easy to fix to the bike, give out sufficient light to make your presence known to other road users, are fully waterproof, and charge directly from a USB port – no cables required!

The light casings are identical in design: sealed units housing surface mounted COB (Chips on Board) LEDs behind a reflective face.

> Find your nearest dealer here

Each has an integrated USB plug for recharging, and Knog is clear about it being designed to withstand exposure to the elements.

I was initially concerned about how vulnerable it seemed – not just to rain and road spray, but I thought it could easily snap off as it just sticks out when the strap isn't attached. But on close inspection, the plug is integrated seamlessly into the silicone casing, resulting in a flexible joint that even the heaviest handed person will struggle to break. (And as for waterproofing – they survived being dunked in a bucket of water.)

The mounting system consists of a choice of different size detachable silicone straps (three for the rear, two for the front), which accommodate standard and oversize handlebars and seatposts, even aero ones. First you attach the strap to a clasp, and then to the light, which is the fiddliest part; once done you'll rarely have to change it – unless you're regularly swapping between drastically different diameter bars/posts. The lights have a notch to ensure that they stay in place on aero tubing, and this works really well.

Output

The COB LEDs only sit in a portion of the Mini's light face – an inner 12mm square to be precise – with the remaining area a reflective 4mm border, and give an effective output both front and rear, in any of the modes. Despite their small size the Chippys (Chippies?) are sufficient on their own to get you noticed by other road users.

They're in Knog's 'Be Seen' range, although the Chippy is also highlighted for 'Peloton' use. The wide beam (120 degrees) offered by the front light is impressive given its small source; lateral lighting is noticeably better than with many other small safety lights. As far as 'peloton' use goes, it was great to use in a group at night, but not without the addition of a much more powerful beam to light up the potholes and road ahead. The Chippy gives out a maximum of 20 lumens and is certainly only designed to get you seen.

Knog Blinder Mini Chippy Twinpack - front.jpg

That wide front beam can also be hindered by gadgets, brackets or clamps that extend from the front of your bar. The light face only sits 13mm away from the bar edge, so it's easy to see why. In fact the rear light could be partially obscured too, so you'd need to give some thought to the mounting position to avoid potential coverage by a long jacket or a sagging/loose saddlebag. It might be that you have an accessory-free bike, in which case, no problem.

The lights are easy to switch on and off with a prolonged and audible click, possible with even thicker gloves on, and they incorporate a mode memory feature – turning on in the last mode used. A simple single click cycles through the five different modes – steady, strobe, fading flash, lightning flash and eco flash. Five strikes me as overkill, though it seems most manufacturers are taking the multi-mode route.

Knog Blinder Mini Chippy Twinpack - rear.jpg

In steady you can expect the Chippies to last 2 hours, while the longest lasting is eco flash, which will keep going for 11 hours. Although accurate to Knog's claims, these run-times don't match a lot of other lights on the market. They recharge in just 2 hours, though.

> Buyer's Guide: The best rear lights for cycling

What's more disappointing is the low-battery warning feature. This is a tiny red light positioned in the reflective border, which lights up when the battery is low. It lights up just five minutes before the battery is empty, which isn't great – but because it's on the light face itself you won't see it while riding. It demands that you look directly at the light – cue disturbing flashing vision for several moments thereafter – and even then it's very difficult to see.

If you happen to turn the light off when the battery is almost empty, the LEDs will dim to a red glow, which is a better warning. Quite frankly, the tiny red light is pretty pointless given this latter feature, but even so, five minutes isn't ideal.

> Check out our guide to the best front lights and our beam comparison engine 

Overall, if you want convenient, compact and weather-resistant front and rear lights to get you seen on your commute, or to add to your bike as secondary lights while doing winter evening group rides, the Blinder Mini Chippy Twinpack is a good choice. Just make sure you establish a recharging routine so you aren't caught out with a flat battery.

Verdict

Good output, convenient recharging and quick to mount, but inadequate low battery warning

road.cc test report

Make and model: Knog Blinder Mini Chippy Twinpack

Size tested: n/a

Tell us what the light set is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Knog says that the Blinder MINI Chippy front and rear lights, featuring Chips on Board technology to give a panel of light, boast surface mounted LEDs offering 20/11 lumens (front/rear) to get you seen from over (800m) away. The Chippy comes with an integrated reflector face for added safety. Tool-less attachment securely connects both rear and front lights to handlebars and posts of 22–32+mm, they are designed to fit both standard and oversize handlebars and aero style seatposts. The size and weight of the lights are their most appealing features- a combined weight of 36g and only 31x31x14mm. The Chippy is designed for 'peloton' use according to Knog; the wide angle (120 degrees) offered by the Chippy is ideal for lighting the space around you when riding close to others. However, they do come from the 'be seen' range so don't be fooled into thinking that the front light is sufficient on its own for group riding, it isn't!

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the light set?

SPECIFICATIONS

Dimensions: 46x43x30mm

Weight: 15g

Materials: UV-Resistant Industrial grade silicone, Polycarbonate Housing, Optical grade PMMA Lens, Hard-Anodised aluminium fascia.

USB Rechargeable Lithium Polymer Battery (USB). This saves using about 600 AAA Alkaline batteries during the light's lifetime.

LEDs: Efficient LEDs designed to provide maximum brightness level for up to 90% of the battery burn time for each mode. Rather than LED brightness deteriorating during your ride

Battery: Rechargeable Lithium polymer battery via integrated USB plug.

Peak brightness: Front: 20 Lumens, Rear: 11 Lumens

5 Light modes: 1. Steady, 2. Strobe Flash, 3. Fading Flash, 4. Lightning Flash, 5. Eco Flash.

Run-time: Blinder MINI front models last 1.8-2.5 hours in Steady mode, 3.5-4 hours in Strobe Flash, 3-3.8 hours in Fading Flash, 3.5 hours in Lightning Flash and 10-11.5 hours in Eco Flash.

Blinder MINI rear models last 1.8-2.2 hours in Steady mode, 3.5 hours in Strobe Flash, 3-3.2 hours in Fading Flash, 3-4.5 hours in Lightning Flash, 10.5-11 hours in Eco Flash.

100% Waterproof: The Blinder MINI is IP67 Tested and 100% waterproof against all elements

Beam angles (degrees): 20° (Dot), 90° (Niner), 120° (Chippy)

Bar Diameters: Fits bars / posts 22-32mm+ and aero.

Rate the front light for quality of construction:
 
9/10
Rate the rear light for quality of construction:
 
9/10

Both lights are identical in design. The fully sealed units have the USB integrated into the light and different sized silicone straps (two front, three rear) can be interchanged depending on bar/post diameter. Although the charging strip is integrated it is somewhat exposed – it does not tuck away or have any kind of protective cover.

Rate the light set for design and ease of use. How simple were the lights to use?
 
8/10

The lights are straightforward: prolonged press to switch on and one click to change between modes. A little faffy with thick gloves as the button is so small, but not impossible.

The lights are, as would be expected, mini- ideal if you have gadgets or clamps cluttering your front bar or limited seatpost at the rear, though anything too bulky would obscure the beam as the Chippy sits plush to the tubing.

Rate the front light for the design and usability of the clamping system
 
9/10
Rate the rear light for the design and usability of the clamping system
 
9/10

Both lights use the same clamping system. Select the correct sized silicone strap and fix it to the light! This is the worst part but necessarily fiddly to ensure a secure attachment. Once you have the strap attached you are unlikely to want to be changing it very often anyway. They are easy to take on and off if you want to remove them when you leave the bike.

Rate the front light for waterproofing. How did it stand up to the elements?
 
10/10
Rate the front light for waterproofing. How did it stand up to the elements?
 
10/10

Excellent – even in a bucket of water! After a rainy commute I would remove the light to simply dry off the USB attachment. Knog also claims that they are dustproof, which isn't surprising as the casing is seamless. If they let you down on this front it's worth noting that Knog offers a two-year warranty.

Rate the front light for battery life. How long did it last? How long did it take to recharge?
 
5/10
Rate the rear light for battery life. How long did it last? How long did it take to recharge?
 
5/10

Not a huge battery life in comparison to many lights on the market but they can be recharged without cables, which is handy.

Rate the front light for performance:
 
7/10
Rate the rear light for performance:
 
7/10

The rear light is sufficient on its own to warn other road users of your presence. The front gives a good strong light and wide beam – you'll be seen, but it's not bright enough to highlight potential small hazards in the road surface. The front light is great for lighting the peripheries if riding with others. The low battery warning light is poorly positioned, and doesn't come on early enough.

Rate the front light for durability:
 
9/10
Rate the rear light for durability:
 
9/10

The USB plug position looks susceptible to wear and tear, but Knog claims it is designed to withstand the elements, and offers a two-year warranty.

Rate the front light for weight:
 
10/10
Rate the rear light for weight:
 
10/10

A combined weight of 36g won't hold you back.

Rate the light set for value:
 
7/10

Extremely handy set of lights for a decent price; both sufficiently bright on their own at night for a street-lit commute. The front doubles up as a super secondary light for evening winter training rides with a group, so all in all, good value.

Tell us how the lights performed overall when used for their designed purpose

The front light didn't quite have the punch I would have hoped for from a light claiming to be for 'peloton' use. Its wide beam was great for lighting the peripheries though. The striking rear light is ideal.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the lights

Integrated cable-free USB charging.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the lights

The front light's wide beam feature is hindered if you have a gadget extending off your bars. The low battery warning light.

Did you enjoy using the lights? Yes

Would you consider buying the lights? As standby/secondary lights, yes.

Would you recommend the lights to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your score

These are fully waterproof, easy to use lights that do a good job of making sure you can be seen from front and rear, and are hard to beat in terms of convenience and simplicity. I would score them an 8, but run-times aren't the longest, and the low battery warning isn't very well designed.

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 37  Height: 173cm  Weight: 64kg

I usually ride: Road  My best bike is: Carbon road

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting, touring, club rides, general fitness riding, getting to grips with off roading too!

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9 comments

Avatar
newrider7 | 4 years ago
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Poor design pretty much all around. First off the cradle area at the rear is for a 27 diameter seatpost not 31 so it totally DOES NOT FIT a 31 seatpost (of course it will stay on but looks naff standing on your 31 seatpost like a giant mutant bluebottle whose plastic "feet" will even put unneccessary scuffing on your post at that area if you want to be nitpicky about that.

Then there's the little metal clasp thing that says Knog on it. It doesnt click on, but just sits on so every time you take the light off the bike, unless you hold this piece very carefully with a finger it falls on the ground. Very handy indeed at night or anytime for that matter. And of course when you pocket or bag the light you would not only have you to dig about for the light when you next want it but also this tiny little runaway metal piece.

Thankfully it seems the light does stay on if you simply discard this metal piece although the connecting area at the left side (where the metal piece sits on) is not nearly as deep as the one on the other side (the one intended for the rubber rather than a clamp) so i'd imagine it's quite possible it could be prone to jumping off if you discard.

The metal thing seems to serves no purpose other than a better deeper grip for the rubber band. I mean it doesn't cover the built in yet potruding (male) usb drive on the data side so why they even have it i don't know. And funny that the light says it's 100% waterproof when the data side of the drive is exposed and will get completely wet in the rain (I guess that's waterproof too, but exposed to the elements like that i could easily see it rusting/otherwise going faulty in no time despite the claim's of Knog the reviewer talk about.

I highly advise against these particular lights. While quite bright they are smaller than i thought too so don't give off great lighting compared to my only slightly bigger (and nice compact fitting) Decathlon BTWIN standard USB lights that have worked great for me for 2 years now. They cost about 18,00 euro for a set which is less than this rear light cost. And they charge far quicker than 2 hours (is that really what this Knog takes?)...about 1 hour max from dead I think for the Btwin's pair (simultaneously, on a dual charge cable as included). They also last quite a few hours. Their only flaw is one the review says this Knog also exhibits; the low battery warning comes on when the batteries are about to die, in fact with the Btwin it's happens about 2 minutes from them being dead!

Anyway, the fact the cradle is incompatable with 31 seatposts (which are just as common as 27 seatposts) is a huge product flaw and the design of the rest of the stuff i mentioned is unbelievably poor.

Avatar
StraelGuy | 6 years ago
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Odd. I have one on the front, in slow pulse mode, for extra visibility and it was going strong after a five and a half hour sportive yesterday.

Avatar
gsavill90 (not verified) | 7 years ago
0 likes

I bought some of these, and on constant the rear light wont even last an hour and a half!

Avatar
belabatnom | 7 years ago
0 likes

Do the reflectors on these count as reflectors? IE can i remove the rubbish looking reflectors from my bike and replace with these and still be road legal?

Avatar
gsavill90 (not verified) replied to belabatnom | 7 years ago
0 likes
belabatnom wrote:

Do the reflectors on these count as reflectors? IE can i remove the rubbish looking reflectors from my bike and replace with these and still be road legal?

 

I'd have thought so!

I'm planning on getting a set as a backup set of lights (I like to have a main set which I use, and a second incase they run out of battery/fail). That way when they're off they're still serving a function. Plus they'll be a nice looking set of lights for daytime use on the road bike during the summer too!

Avatar
Prosper0 replied to belabatnom | 7 years ago
2 likes
belabatnom wrote:

Do the reflectors on these count as reflectors? IE can i remove the rubbish looking reflectors from my bike and replace with these and still be road legal?

lol, cute. 

Avatar
Jharrison5 | 7 years ago
0 likes

The larger version: Blinder mob mr chips is on sale at planet x at the moment for £15 front and £15 rear.

Avatar
arckuk replied to Jharrison5 | 7 years ago
0 likes
Jharrison5 wrote:

The larger version: Blinder mob mr chips is on sale at planet x at the moment for £15 front and £15 rear.

Thanks for the tip - there's a variety of Blinder MOB lights on sale at planet x for £8 and/or £15 depending upon colour and LED configuration, rather than the RRP of £35 ish. I just ordered myself a pair of Blinder MOB Kid Grid 16 LED lights (reviews http://road.cc/content/review/205979-knog-blinder-mob-kid-grid-front-light and http://road.cc/content/review/206819-knog-blinder-mob-v-kid-grid-rear-light) for £8 each, plus £4 delivery.

Avatar
Jharrison5 replied to arckuk | 7 years ago
0 likes
arckuk wrote:
Jharrison5 wrote:

The larger version: Blinder mob mr chips is on sale at planet x at the moment for £15 front and £15 rear.

Thanks for the tip - there's a variety of Blinder MOB lights on sale at planet x for £8 and/or £15 depending upon colour and LED configuration, rather than the RRP of £35 ish. I just ordered myself a pair of Blinder MOB Kid Grid 16 LED lights (reviews http://road.cc/content/review/205979-knog-blinder-mob-kid-grid-front-light and http://road.cc/content/review/206819-knog-blinder-mob-v-kid-grid-rear-light) for £8 each, plus £4 delivery.

I saw similar last week and ordered myself front and rear 16LED kid grid lights at £11 each. Prices at Planet X seem a bit kangaroo at the moment.

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