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Knog Frog front and rear lights

6
£16.78

VERDICT:

6
10
Stylish, pretty lights but form outweighs function
Weight: 
38g
Contact: 
www.todayscyclist.co.uk

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

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Weighing little more than a handful of paper-clips Knog’s Frog’s are surprisingly bright miniature LEDs, ideal for contingencies and complementing ultra compact Li-on lighting systems but fall dangerously close to the trap of being style over substance-especially compared with their Bullfrog siblings.

Encased in medical grade silicone and available in a choice of twelve colours to complement or contrast your bike’s livery, these stretch fit securely around most handlebar and seatpost diameters-or if you prefer, fork legs and seat-tubes. Minute dimensions and clever styling prevents them spoiling a race bikes’ clean lines and they’re a delight to use even wearing winter weight training gloves thanks to positive switches. However, despite claimed visibility of up to 600metres, single beams lack the presence of larger designs and the latest generation of micro lights.

Build quality is definitely up to the firm’s usual standards-our pumpkin coloured rear unit came unexpectedly adrift at speed, taking quite a knock as it hit the asphalt but mercifully, bulb and internals remained completely unscathed. This is largely attributable to the silicone casings, which, while not waterproof in the literal sense, shouldn’t succumb to the elements anytime soon. Burn times are pretty faithful to manufacturer claims, our test pair managing 77 hours in constant and 156 flashing modes respectively.

Ultimately, style conscious riders wanting beautifully designed emergency micro-lights for late summer/autumn evening ride contingencies won’t be disappointed but others within the Knog range and elsewhere represent better value.

Verdict

Very stylish, pretty lights but form outweighs function.

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Knog Frog front and rear lights

Size tested: n/a

Tell us what the product 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?

The Knog Frog's are good looking, tactile micro LEds designed to appeal to style concious riders wanting ultra compact Led safety lights.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Encased in medical silicone and in a choice of twelve different colours, there's pretty much something for everyone here and they are as close to universal fit as you'll find. Claimed visibility is 600m from a tiny single bulb and long run times (80 and 160 hours) in static/flashing modes respectivelt is broadly accurate.

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
6/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
7/10
Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
8/10

36g pair

Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
7/10

Very tactile

Rate the product for value:
 
6/10

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

As a micro light they consume nominal bar space, don't clutter a minimalist bike's clean lines and are very pleasant to use but the tiny beam while undeniably bright, lacks the outright presecence of other designs.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Tactile, tiny and very, very stylish.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Form just wins over functions and their bigger brothers, the bull-frogs make much better secondary illumination-albeit consuming more bar/seatpost space.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? On balance, no

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Possibly

Overall rating: 6/10

About the tester

Age: 35  Height: 1m 81  Weight: 70 kilos

I usually ride: Rough Stuff Tourer Based around 4130 Univega mtb Frameset  My best bike is: 1955 Holdsworth Road Path and several others including cross & traditional road

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

I regularly do the following types of riding: cyclo cross, commuting, touring, fixed/singlespeed, mtb,

Shaun Audane is a freelance writer/product tester with over twenty-eight years riding experience, the last twelve (120,000 miles) spent putting bikes and kit through their paces for a variety of publications. Previous generations of his family worked at manufacturing's sharp end, thus Shaun can weld, has a sound understanding of frame building practice and a preference for steel or titanium framesets.
Citing Richard Ballantine and an Au pair as his earliest cycling influences, he is presently writing a cycling book with particular focus upon women, families and disabled audiences (Having been a registered care manager and coached children at Herne Hill Velodrome in earlier careers)

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1 comments

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cactuscat | 14 years ago
0 likes

That first pic - are those frog lights making baby frog lights?  4

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