Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

Back to REVIEWS
review
Knog Blinder ARC 640 Knog Blinder ARC 640
Knog Blinder Arc 640

Knog Blinder ARC 640

6
by Andy Ward
UPDATED Sun, Apr 17, 2016 19:46

First Published Apr 17, 2016

1
£89.99

VERDICT:

6
10
A bright, good looking light that integrates everything you need, but the mount could be better
Weight: 
152g
Contact: 
todayscyclist.co.uk
How we test

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.

What the road.cc scores mean

Good scores are more common than bad, because fortunately good products are more common than bad.

  • Exceptional
  • Excellent
  • Very Good
  • Good
  • Quite good
  • Average
  • Not so good
  • Poor
  • Bad
  • Appalling

The Blinder ARC 640 is the brightest light that Knog offers. It produces a bright, broad beam with decent battery life in a compact and good-looking package.

Knog claims the light is fully waterproof and it coped well with some pretty foul conditions. One switch accesses all functions and it's easy to operate even in gloves, providing a positive click.

> Find your nearest dealer here

​> Buy this online here

I was able to ride confidently in an unlit park with the light on full beam, but would want something a bit brighter if taking on some night-time trails or unlit country roads. The other modes were excellent for general commuting, and when using the flash function I was pretty sure no motorist would miss me.

Knog Blinder Arc 640 - beam shot.jpg

A built-in plug enables the light to be charged straight from a USB port without cables, so theoretically all you need to carry around with you is the light itself. In reality, while this works well on a laptop, when the weight of the light is supported by your desk, you'll probably need to use the provided extension cable when charging from a PC.

In common with all Knog lights, the mount system is integrated, making it easy to swap between bikes and avoiding problems with losing important bits and pieces. Unfortunately the mount is probably the main weakness of the light. When strapped straight to my bar I found that it slipped a little after hitting bumps or potholes. Not a dramatic shift, but enough to possibly dazzle oncoming drivers.

Mounting the light to a bar-taped area stopped this from happening, but meant less room for my hands when riding on the tops. The straps can also be changed according to handlebar size and two sets are included for 25-30mm bars and 30-35mm bars.

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

The silicone straps lock into place using a small catch – a bit like that on a watch strap. This is secured by a small magnet. On a previous version that I tested, the magnet fell out and got lost, meaning the catch would not hold firm. So far on this light, the magnet has stayed put despite a fair bit of abuse. Replacement mount systems are available relatively cheaply, so if you really like the look of the light don't let that put you off.

Verdict

A bright, good looking light that integrates everything you need, but the mount could be better

road.cc test report

Make and model: Knog Blinder ARC 640

Size tested: n/a

Tell us what the light 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 describes the Blinder ARC 640 as its top of the range light, aimed at serious road and trail riders. It belts out 640 lumens from a compact package with an integrated mount and USB recharger plug. It's certainly bright and gives a broad beam, although I would prefer something brighter on unlit roads.

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

LIGHT OUTPUT : 640 lumens

DIMENSIONS : 32 x 32 x 100.5mm

WEIGHT : 150g

LIGHT MODES : 4 light modes: High, Medium, Low & Flash

BIKE ATTACHMENT : 2x interchangeable straps for bars 25-30mm / 30-35mm in diameter. Helmet Mount included

BEAM ANGLE : Elliptical beam; 16° (vertical) x 24° (horizontal)

RUN TIMES: High beam 1.7 hours. Medium beam 3.3 hours. Low beam 7.3 hours. Flash 15 hours.

Rate the light for quality of construction:
 
7/10

The body of the light is chunky, solid and well put together. It has survived intact despite being dropped quite a few times! The switch gives a positive click and can be operated when wearing gloves. The integrated silicone mounting straps can be changed according to handlebar size and two sets are included for 25-30mm bars and 30-35mm bars. They secure to the bike with a catch similar to a watch strap and are held in place with a small magnet. (More on this in the main review.) A helmet mount is also included in the package, but this is quite bulky.

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

There is a single switch to operate the light; a prolonged press is required to turn it on, reducing the chance of accidentally turning it on in your bag and running the battery down. A single press then circulates through the various modes. An LED light next to the switch indicates which mode you are in and warns you when battery life is getting low.

Rate the light for the design and usability of the clamping system/s
 
6/10

The built-in clamp does make swapping the light between bikes very easy, but it tended to slip when riding on rough ground when attached straight to the bar. This was solved by attaching the light to a taped area.

Rate the light for waterproofing. How did it stand up to the elements?
 
9/10

No problems despite being used in some pretty horrible conditions.

Rate the light for battery life. How long did it last? How long did it take to recharge?
 
8/10

Recharges quickly and lasts well, especially on flashing mode. The built-in plug can be slotted straight into a USB port, great if you're using a laptop, but it tends to fall out if its weight isn't supported. A short extension cable is provided and gets over this.

Rate the light for performance:
 
7/10

On full beam the light is very bright with a good, broad beam. I used it when cyclo-cross training in an unlit park and felt confident riding fairly quickly. On unlit roads I would want something a little brighter, though. Commuting on flashing mode, there's no way drivers could miss you...

Rate the light for durability:
 
8/10

No problems so far. The mounting system may be potentially vulnerable.

Rate the light for weight:
 
5/10

Quite a chunky light and fairly heavy. Only really noticeable when using the helmet mount.

Rate the light for value:
 
5/10

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

Great as a bright commuting light but you might want something brighter for serious road and trail riding.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the light

Looks great. Nice to have everything included in one package.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the light

The mounting system was not really secure enough for riding on rough ground when mounted directly to the handlebar.

Did you enjoy using the light? Yes

Would you consider buying the light? Maybe

Would you recommend the light to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your score

If the mount was a bit more secure this would score 7; it's good, especially for commuting on lit roads, with some off-road capability, but it's not one for serious riding on unlit roads. It's also a little overpriced.

Overall rating: 6/10

About the tester

Age: 46  Height: 182cm  Weight: 75kg

I usually ride: Genesis Day One Singlespeed  My best bike is: Souped-up Cannondale CAADX

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: A few times a week  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: cyclo-cross, commuting, club rides, fixed/singlespeed, mountain biking

Knog Blinder ARC 640 2016
Knog Blinder ARC 640
Knog 2016
Knog
Andy Ward

Andy Ward works his socks off for the NHS as a GP and teaching at Leicester Medical School. After a brief foray into road racing he decided it hurt less to fall off on mud and is now most likely to be found on his cyclocross bike. He recently surprised himself by completing the Three Peaks without breaking his bike or any limbs

Add new comment

1 comments

Avatar
cyclotripper | 8 years ago
0 likes

Have this light, biggest downside to me is that the flashing mode is too bright, its annoying. The mount for me is OK, it holds well enough, but I fear it probably has poor durability. 

 

Latest Comments